ABELE Atunaisa played sevens for Fiji and has spent the past two seasons bumping off defenders on a path to the tryline in Brisbane.
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Similarly, fellow Fijian flyer William Lewesi was a crowd favourite in Melbourne - and not just because of a striking resemblance to former Parramatta cult hero Semi Radradra.
Hunter Wildfires coach Scott Coleman has seen glimpses of the power and pace of the excitement machines at training.
On Saturday, he hopes to see both at their destructive best.
The Wildfires finalise preparations for the Shute Shield with a hit out against Canberra outfit Norths Uni at Ernie Calland Field.
Atunaisa played 20 minutes and Lewesi 50 minutes in the 24-7 loss to Randwick at a rain-drench Latham Park last Saturday. The conditions against the Wicks were anything but conducive to spreading the ball.
Coleman expects a different scenario on Saturday.
"We have dry weather and I want the game to be played at pace," he said. "Thursday night was our best training session by far. You can sense that the boys are excited and want to have a crack.
"Abele is a little wrecking ball. He will start on the left wing but has a licence to roam. I want him hitting the ball off the nine and ten and getting involved. Lewesi has been a bit subdued at training. Against his teammates he plays within himself. They will be two excitement machines in the back line.
"It won't be an easy game. Norths Uni came third in the Canberra comp last year. They have recruited five players and kept all their cattle.
"Their combinations will be a lot better, but it is a chance for us to really get our attacking shape. We have a really big forward pack that is going to give us front-foot ball and some exciting backs. I definitely think we are a team with a lot of points in us."
Coleman said competition for spots in round one remains fierce, especially in the front-row.
"It is the area in the team where we have the most depth," Coleman said. "Someone like Blair Rush has really stepped up and been a surprise package. He came into the campaign late but is definitely staking a claim. We have eight quality props."
The Wildfires open the Shute Shield away to Sydney University on April 10.
"It is definitely getting exciting with how close the comp is now," Coleman said.
The Wildfires launch their season at the NEX club on Friday April 9. Former Wallabies coach and influential broadcaster Alan Jones is one of several special guests. Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos will be part of a Q & A panel, while World Cup-winning captain Nick Farr-Jones heads the list of Wallabies attending.
A junior coaching clinic will be held at Ernie Calland on Saturday from 11am. Registered juniors players will receive a season pass for Wildfires' home games.
Wildfires: 1 Dave Puchert, Chris 2 Ale, 3 Favaae Sila, 4 Ngaruhe Jones, 5 Sam Liebezeit, 6 Henry Stowers, 7 Teuiti Asi, 8 Kirk Tufuga, 9 Leon Fukofuka,10 Brendan Holliday, 11 Abele Atunaisa , 12 Carl Manu, 13 William Lewesi, 14 Tom Watson, 15 Will Feeney ,
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
