By Jonathan B Geddes and J.B Photography 

WEST Harbour hit the jackpot when they recruited Wallaby forward Pete Samu this season.

The warhorse Waratahs backrower has gone all in at the Pirates, and it is no coincidence that with his presence the Pirates won their second successive game on Saturday defeating finals contenders Norths 33-28 at Concord Oval.

Wests coach Ben Rutherford said Samu’s big shot on rising Norths No.7 Blair Tagi-Fuimaono in the 80th minute was instrumental in his team securing the win they deserved.    

“I’ve been loving it, it reminds me why I started playing footy with mates,” Samu told Rugby News after the victory. “They have welcomed me, and my family love coming out to the games every Saturday and supporting West Harbour as well.”

On a personal level, Samu hopes to influence the younger Wests players around him to enjoy their footy and improve.

“Obviously Wests has had a tough season, and it was good to get a couple of wins back-to-back. It really lifts the club and lifts the morale of the boys as well,” he said.

Samu also wants to better his own game as he chases a Wallabies’ recall under the new regime of incoming Aussie coach Les Kiss.

“That is my goal and West Harbour is definitely going to help that and be another stepping stone to try and get back into the Wallabies,” he said. “If all goes well, I will stay injury-free and keep playing some good footy with West Harbour.   

“When I am enjoying my footy I think that is when I am playing my best – and I definitely am really enjoying it.”

A FAMILY AFFAIR    

DESPITE all his achievements, Rutherford described Samu as “incredibly humble”.

“He’s won a couple of Super Rugby comps with the Crusaders, a Champions Cup with Bordeaux, a Super Rugby AU comp with the Brumbies and played in the Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies,” Rutherford said.

The Pirates’ coach has been impressed not only by Samu’s humility but also by how engaged he has been since joining the club.

“He and his young family have been at plenty of events through the year,” Rutherford said.

The club’s biggest event each year is their Culture Night.

“Pete wasn’t even playing for us at the time, but he was there with his young family, and he got up and danced,” Rutherford said “Our superpower is our cultural diversity, and he has obviously embraced that and is enjoying it.”

He also ran the water in the game against the Two Blues after being a late withdrawal due to injury.  

On the field, Rutherford said Samu provides a cool, calm head.

“He has a silent presence, I think is the best way to describe it,” he said. “When he is there, he is fully present and engaged, and the boys appreciate that he has come on and hasn’t tried to take over.”

UNLEASHING THE SHACKLES

SAMU said his team turned up and got the job done against Norths.

The foundations laid by Rutherford are now starting to pay dividends.

“I think we have been much more competitive than we were last year,” Rutherford said. “We have been heading in the right direction for a while.

“On Saturday they finally unleashed the shackles and really backed themselves and took it to Norths. More than anything it is nice to see the guys show some belief in themselves.”

Rutherford said the return of outgoing Waratahs No.10 Jack Debreczeni helped the team display more patience and not play hot potato football when inside the opposition 22.  

“I have been saying to the guys for a while once we got one win, I honestly thought that we would probably get a couple in a row, without being arrogant,” he said.

This Saturday is another big challenge for Rutherford as Wests tackle his former club Randwick at Concord Oval.
“I’m really looking forward to Randwick at home this week,” he said. “There are a lot of good people at the club and a lot of friends I’ve still got there, and there will be no lack of motivation to get up and take it to them.”