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Cowboys' teenager ready to make his mark for Queensland
Queensland’s bench swung the tide in their State of Origin series victory despite never utilising arguably their biggest weapon.
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After avoiding serious injury and acclimatising in Sydney, Jeremiah Nanai is jumping at the chance to contribute to a series win in Perth on Sunday.
The North Queensland teenager’s exploits as a high-flying, try-scoring backrower were one of the storylines leading into the series opener.
But while his air space may have been restricted, the debutant still played solidly after bravely returning to finish the game despite carrying an ankle injury.
Instead it was Harry Grant probing around the ruck and forward Pat Carrigan and Lindsay Collins producing barnstorming bench stints that proved the difference in a 16-10 win.
“They all had big jobs and they all did them well,” Nanai said of his fellow reserves.
“Now I’ve got that first game under my belt it feels great and I’m pretty comfortable.
“Fingers crossed Chez (halfback Daly Cherry-Evans) kicks it up there and I’ll be there mate, don’t worry, if they’re going to kick it up.”
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Nanai will have another Cowboys teammate in Murray Taulagi with him in Perth, the winger replacing injured flyer Xavier Coates.
“He’s going to kill it,” Nanai said.
“He’s keen and excited and I’m looking forward to watching him run that ball and do some magic.”
The New Zealand-born talent grew up in Brisbane playing rugby before switching codes to join the Cowboys.
He led Brisbane State High School to the 2016 GPS title alongside current Wallabies back Jordan Petaia.
He was named fullback in the GPS team of the season that featured Super Rugby standouts Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Len Ikitau, Josh Nasser and Matt Faessler, as well as Japan-based five-eighth Isaac Lucas and Manly NRL backrower Ethan Bullemor.
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“He’s going rip-in, he steps up every level he gets to and that’s the exciting thing,” former BSHS coach Sione Fukofuka, who is now with the Wallaroos, told AAP.
“There’s lots of talented kids that you see in those emerging squads that are clearly gifted, they can play the game, have athleticism, speed and the rest of it.
“But to get to the level that he’s at now, that takes hard work and a whole lot of graft to get there.
“We saw a young man that had potential in year 11 and then by the time he finished he was the best fullback in the competition.”
Comments on RugbyPass
that backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
24 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
24 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
24 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
24 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
24 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
24 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
17 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
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