Jesse Sene-Lefao reveals his ‘special’ link to Featherstone team-mate
Photo courtesy of Featherstone Rovers
Jesse Sene-Lefao will be extra proud to wear the number 12 shirt for Featherstone this year thanks to a special link to his team-mate Morgan Smith.
The 32-year-old former Samoa international joined Rovers in the off-season from Super League neighbours Castleford.
Sene-Lefao has been given the number 12 jersey for 2022, and it has sentimental value to him.
“I researched a bit of history on my jersey and the last time Featherstone won the Challenge Cup, Morgan Smith’s grandad (Peter Smith) wore the number 12,” Sene-Lefao told Love Rugby League.
“Morgan is a local around here and his grandad wore number 12 so for me that’s massive. I’m wearing his grandad’s jersey every week this year and for me that’s special.
“I’m grateful. I love the history of the club and researching whose played for those teams (in the Championship) and what type of rugby they play and what they stand for, it’s interesting.
“I can’t wait for all these experiences. The people around here being called the collieries because they used to come from the mines straight onto the field and how rugby league saved this village.
“Rugby league is so essential in this town that people live for this game. They work all week and they do stuff that they don’t really love but this is what brings happiness to them and I find that really special.”
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Jesse Sene-Lefao helping Joey Leilua settle in
Sene-Lefao has also been teaching Featherstone’s blockbuster signing Joey Leilua about the club’s history and heritage.
The pair played together for Samoa in the 2014 Four Nations and they’ve kept in touch every since.
“I picked him up from the airport and helped him settle in,” Sene-Lefao added.
“We spoke about the club coming in when driving in from the airport and I don’t think he realised how special it is and what the club has been through. Even the stand at the stadium, the locals went and picked the stand up from Scarbrough and brought it down, put it all together and now its sacred. Little things like that are what makes the club special.”
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