By Jonathan B Geddes

DEFENDING premiers Eastern Suburbs have pulled off a coup by catching one of Australian rugby’s fastest players as their Shute Shield campaign gains momentum.

Australian Sevens flyer Henry Palmer, who runs 100m in the range of sub 10.5s, has wasted no time making an impact on the wing in his first two Shute Shield games for the Beasties.

In his debut against Sydney  University Palmer scored two tries in Easts’ 40-36 win. The second was an intercept when the 21-year-old sprinted 70m to score the try that ended up securing Easts their victory.

“It was a very good debut and he did a couple of other things that were quite impressive as well,” Easts coach Ben Batger told Rugby News.

In the 55-12 victory over Wests on Saturday Palmer showed real rugby smarts – delivering the final pass for tries by winger Joel Cobb and centre David Vaihu and cutting through the Wests’ defence with a midfield break which led to a try by lock Jack Tougher Wells.    

Palmer’s blistering pace is a rare and much sought after weapon in a rugby player.

As Batger said: “I heard about his blinding speed and you can’t coach speed.”    

Palmer and the Easts team, who are third on the ladder, face their biggest test so far on Saturday when the face second-placed Warringah at Woollahra Oval. 

THE WALLABY DREAM   

AS well as chasing a premiership, Palmer also plans to use the rest of the season as an audition to win a Super Rugby contract if the opportunity presents itself.

And if his impact continues, he is sure to get on the radar of the Aussie franchises.  

“I’m definitely not saying no to sevens … but the end goal would be play for the Wallabies, home World Cup and all that,” he said. “Every kid grows up wanting to play for the Wallabies.

“Hopefully I can use this season to show I am one of the best back three players in Australia.”  

Palmer went into the Brumbies system straight out of school for three years, but with so much strength in their back three it was suggested he go to the sevens to further develop in  their professional environment.

After recently moving to Sydney Palmer was looking to join a competitive premiership club and had a connection to Easts through his Aussie Sevens teammates Henry Paterson and Sid Harvey.

Then came his defining meeting with Batger.

“Ben was so enthusiastic for me to go to Easts it pretty much sealed the deal to go there,” Palmer said. “He is an awesome coach and he has been teaching me heaps.”                  

ON A  WING AND A DARE 

THE super quick Palmer was a missing piece of the jigsaw Batger was looking to fill at Easts’ this season.

“When you hear about someone with a bit of speed you tend to listen,” he said.

“We were lacking a bit of that and we found that out last year. When we had Darby  (Lancaster, Waratahs winger) back it was a big difference.”

As coach, Batger is excited about the untapped potential he sees in Palmer’s game.

“He is an ambitious young man and being a former outside back I thought I could help him hopefully get to the next level one day,” he said.

“I did homework on him, found out from a lot of boys in the sevens that he is a good young fella, so we got him to the club and he has been excellent so far.

“Henry is eager to learn and will get better throughout the year because he obviously hasn’t played a lot of 15s recently due to being involved in the sevens.

“So he has a high ceiling.”  

Batger showed his coaching experience by not rushing his new recruit, easing him into the Easts’ systems and 15s rugby again.

“He played three games in twos so he didn’t get chucked straight in,” he said.

MAKING THEIR POINTS

AFTER a big turnover in personnel this season, Easts are starting to get back into a rhythm after seven rounds as Batger has adapted to the changed circumstances.

“Things are starting to click,” Batger said. “We put a lot of effort into our defence which was very good and now we are putting a  bit more into attack.

“We are not quite as big and bruising as we were last year – we are trying to be a little bit more skilful and use the ball a bit more.”

And in their last three games Easts have scored 161 points.