By Jon Geddes

NSW Waratahs hooker Mahe Vailanu has emerged as arguably the most influential player in the Shute Shield as his Gordon side defeated Northern Suburbs 25-22 in their local derby last Saturday to claim the Baxter/Mortlock Cup.

Just as their 2022 campaign appeared to be heading down the spout, the Highlanders have now notched up four victories on the trot after previously beating Eastwood, West Harbour and Randwick.

It is no coincidence the winning streak began when Vailanu returned to the side following the Waratahs’ season and he immediately made a huge impact.

The livewire forward was again a dominant figure in the weekend game at North Sydney Oval, which included burrowing over for a crucial try with eight minutes left. That saw the scores levelled at 22-all following the conversion.

What is particularly impressive about Vailanu is that he is genuinely happy to be back running around in the Shute Shield and having a real crack with his club.

“It’s unreal, it’s my fourth game and I absolutely love it,” he said with a big grin after fulltime. “It’s been a long year for me but I enjoy it.

“I’ve always wanted to come back and play for Gordon, they have done so much for me.”    

As for his try near the death Vailanu laughed: “I’m pretty low to the ground, it was easy, I was happy with that.”    

But the player who just exudes energy on the field played down suggestions that he was Gordon’s lucky charm.

“It’s not me, it’s the boys that turn up every week – and it’s good to get another win,” he said.

Gordon coach Billy Melrose explained that the impact that Vailanu has on his team extends beyond his individual efforts in games.

“He makes a lot of difference, just his spirit aside from his play,” he said.

His presence has clearly given the players around him a lift.

SUPER OPPORTUNITY

VAILANU won the Ken Catchpole Medal in 2020 and was also man of the match in the Highlanders 28-8 grand final win over Eastwood, despite playing for 50 minutes with a broken hand.

He then had a stint with Major League Rugby in the US before he got a chance at the Waratahs under new coach Darren Coleman this season and repaid the faith shown in him.

“I didn’t think I would get a game for the Tahs but I ended up playing seven games,” Vailanu said.

“I have one more year (with the Waratahs) and hopefully I will get more games.”

Coleman recognised Vailanu’s ability after previously having coached him at Warringah, Gordon and in America.

Had Coleman not been appointed NSW coach, Vailanu, who is also a more than handy backrower, would in all probability have become another talent lost overseas.

JACK’S REDEMPTION

THE man of the moment at North Sydney Oval was Gordon fullback Jack McGregor, who quickly turned from villain to hero in the space of 29 minutes.

He was yellow-carded and referee James Quinn awarded a penalty try to Norths – which gave then a 17-12 lead – after it was ruled McGregor had deliberately knocked the ball down.

Then, with four minutes to go and the scores locked at 22-all, all eyes were on McGregor as stepped up and booted the penalty goal from 42m. out to give Gordon their winning lead.

“I was actually a bit nervous, but because of my yellow card I thought I had to get one back for the boys,” the former Australian Schoolboy and graduate of Riverview College said.

“There was a little bit of pressure but that is the fun thing about rugby.”

As for Gordon’s turn recent turn around in fortunes, McGregor said Vailanu was a great player and has been a big part of it.

“I think we just came down to a do-or-die situation,” he said. “If we kept losing we would be out of finals, if we won then we’d give ourselves a chance.

“We started playing good footy and gave ourselves a shot at the finals.

“I think we’ve always known that we are a top four team, but we didn’t really put it into practice.”

It was a very important four competition points for Gordon in terms of keeping those finals hopes alive. They now sit in seventh spot, with their next game at home this Saturday against Souths.

“A couple of boys coming back has helped with getting that bit more stability and when you get a bit of confidence it starts to build,” coach Melrose said.

“We were finding a lot of ways to lose by three points and now we are finding ways to win by three points.”