By Jonathan B Geddes

A FORMER Canterbury Bulldogs rugby league player with a touch of Sonny Bill Williams has emerged as a key figure in the revitalised Northern Suburbs’ fight for a place in the Shute Shield play-offs.

Forward Blair Tagi-Fuimaono produced his best performance for Norths since joining the club this season in their courageous 41-30 victory over Sydney University at North Sydney Oval on Saturday to keep their finals hopes alive.

The 21-year-old ex-New Zealand Schoolboys rugby representative was a real presence in both attack and defence. The young forward has tremendous potential and is a player to watch develop over the next few seasons.

Tagi-Fuimaono’s most impressive moment came in the sixth minute when he made a clean break, threw a dummy and slipped a sensational flick pass a la Sonny Bill to winger Callum Sirker, who then sent fullback Shane Wilcox over for North’s first try.

When Rugby News observed the similarities of that play to dual international Williams, a humble Tagi-Fuimaono responded: “I look up to Sonny Bill a lot, he’s my inspiration.”         

He described his effort on Saturday as “an improvement, I’m still working on stuff, but it was my best game yet.”

IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN      

AFTER playing for New Zealand Schoolboys, Tagi-Fuimaono joined the Auckland Academy, playing NPC and with the Under 20 Blues.

After two years with the Under 20 Blues, he switched codes and joined the Canterbury Bulldogs last season, playing in the Jersey Flegg and Ron Massey Cup competitions.

Then he decided he wanted to come home to rugby.

“I just missed it,” he explained. “There is more opportunity in rugby here, and it’s more tactical.”

But he believes that his time with the Bulldogs provided a great education, which has seen him come back a better player.

“I have probably improved in my ball running and tackling-wise because when I was playing second rower, I had to tackle a lot,” he said.

“My main goal is to try to get to the professional level and either get an opportunity with the Waratahs or somewhere playing professionally,” he said.

Norths coach Zak Beer said Tagi-Fuimaono was outstanding against the Students.

“He played No.7, but he shows his versatility and can play lock, seven, eight,” Beer said.         

“It took him a summer to convert from a rugby league backrower back into rugby union, and he still has to put a bit more size on – so he is only going to get better over the next couple of years.

“Firstly, he has to focus on dominating the Shute Shield, which he did today and then doing it consistently.”     

NO SURPRISE

IT was a gutsy effort from Norths against a University side which dominated both territory and possession.

It was understandable that Beer was a happy man after his team’s effort.

“Uni have the most depth out of all the grade programs and has carried a full eight fresh reserves every week,” he said.

“We knew they are sitting on top for the most points scored in the last 20 minutes of every game. We knew we had to have a bit of a margin heading into that 60-minute mark, and we did.

“But I’m not surprised at all, I know what our group is capable of.”

Beer called out one particular play in the game to illustrate his side’s character.

“When they scored (a try) at the end, there we had four Norths jerseys diving at them – and for the conversion we had the whole team charging it down, and they ended up missing it,” he said.

A WEEK AT A TIME

SATURDAY was North’s third on the trot, following on from victories over the Two Blues and Hunter.

After a shaky start to the season, they now sit in eighth spot on 30 points, but only two behind fifth-placed Hunter and one behind both Uni (sixth) and Randwick (seventh).

Norths have won one more game than Hunter, Uni and Randwick, but have only picked up four bonus points.

Beer reiterated to Rugby News that all that mattered to Norths was the week ahead.

And that means this Saturday’s clash with competition leaders Warringah at North Sydney Oval.

“Every week we want to get better – and that’s what we are doing,” Beer said.