Pumba
John Morris
Sau-ing into first place
BY MATTHEW RUSSELL
Junior Sau
JUNIOR Sau knew he would be making his first grade debut on the Monday before the Bulldogs match. The only problem was, noone else did. Coach Brian Smith told the centre to remain silent about replacing Keith Lulia in the starting line-up, in order to keep the hype and media attention away from the 21-year-old.
It was a plan to allow the debutant the chance to concentrate on his preparation for the big match out of the spotlight, as well as to keep the opposition guessing. “On Monday we had video session and Smithy came up to me and said ‘are you ready’,” Sau said. “I said ‘yeah’, but on Tuesday after training he said to keep it a secret that I’m in.” Sau proved to be a strike weapon for the Knight’s backline, making 148 metres, 13 tackles and 5 tackle breaks.
He says his first grade debut has been three years in the pipeline, but it was well worth the wait. “I’m really excited, I’ve been waiting three years
for that,” he said. “This year, for myself I set a goal to play one or more first grade games – so I have already achieved one of my goals.” The highlight of his night was scoring two tries that would make any centre proud. “I just got a no-look pass from Patto [Cory Paterson] and I saw open space and just ran for my life,” Sau said. “My second one supported on the inside and got a ball from Cooper, and it was the same again.” With the family living in Brisbane, they were unable to make the trip to Sydney, but they held their own party to celebrate Sau’s first match in the top grade.
“They had a massive barbecue and a drink up with all the family round at my house, and they watched it there,” he said. The New Zealand born centre moved to Brisbane at the age of 10, and played his junior career at the Queensland Cup club, Logan Brothers from the age of 11. Growing up as a Queenslander he idolised Mal Meninga, and the Brisbane Broncos, fondly remembering playing alongside Karmichael Hunt as a junior. He spent the last three seasons playing in Canberra’s lower grades, before making the move to the Hunter this year, where he has played most of the season in the New South Wales Cup.
But rugby league was not the only sport Sau played as a youngster, trying his hand at volleyball, cricket, rugby union and athletics. As he showed in his debut, he has blistering fast acceleration, most likely stemming from his school days in track and field, where he made the 100 metre sprint his own. “I went to Ipswich grammar, and did track and field there,” he said. “I made Queensland and hold the school record [over 100 metres] from when I was 13.” After outstanding form in the trial match against the Sharks and an equally impressive NRL debut, Sau is determined to make sure his first grade career lasts longer than one game.
“[I want to] just get back in the team and keep my head down and not get too far ahead of myself,” Sau said. “It was only one game.” But if the Bulldogs game is any indication of the strike power of the bulky centre, Adam MacDougall and Wes Naiqama better keep an eye out over their shoulder for the rest of the season.
Inside The Castle - Issue 7
I am hoping that when it is time Smith can keep Aku's debut under wraps.