Australia the team for me: Radradra Brad Walter Semi Radradra joins his new Australian teammates at Coogee on Monday.
Photo: EDWINA PICKLES Semi Radradra wants to be Fiji's greatest rugby league player, but to achieve that goal he believes he had to turn his back on playing for the Bati and try to make the Australian team. 
Radradra will complete the biggest switch by a Fijian player since former Parramatta teammate Jarryd Hayne quit to try his hand at NFL when he runs out for the Kangaroos in Friday night's trans- Tasman Test against New Zealand.
He confirmed Australian coach Mal Meninga had played no role in his decision.
The Eels winger, who has represented Fiji in two Tests, said he could not get the type of recognition that Hayne or Greg Inglis got playing for the Bati because they rarely played against the top nations.
So, as soon as the 23-year- old qualified for Australia on residency grounds, he changed allegiances.All attempts to talk him out of the switch proved fruitless but as far as Radradra is concerned he will now be representing Fiji in a Kangaroos jersey, as Hayne, Petero Civoniceva and Lote Tuqiri had done.
"I want to be known as the best Fijian rugby player around the world and I want to be playing the top teams," Radradra said. "I want to play alongside all the big names. That's how I made my decision and Australia is the right team for me to showcase my talent."When I first came playing rugby league, the first club that called me is Parramatta and after that I started dreaming about [how] I want to be the best Fijian player ever. Fiji is not in the Four Nations.
"It would be nice to see Fiji in the coming years be in the Four Nations."
Despite being unable to play State of Origin and now being ineligible to represent Fiji at next year's World Cup if he does not make the Australian squad, Radradra said he was determined to back himself. He was also confident that fans in Fiji would understand his decision and support him when he played for the Kangaroos."Everyone back home, they support whatever decision you make," Radradra said. "If you're Fijian, you're still Fijian and they support you with everything.
Everyone back home supports me as well for playing this week.
"I speak to my family every week and ask them for advice and stuff.
"They're very excited. They told me they support me in every decision I make." Radradra said he had never spoken to Meninga before joining the Australian players in camp on Sunday and found out about his selection at training with the Eels last Tuesday.
"It was a bit emotional for that time. I'm pretty happy. Words can't even describe how I feel when they announced my name.
Everyone wants to play for Australia," he said.
"All these people around here have been my idols when I started playing league and I was pretty excited to play alongside them. It will be a good experience for me."