By Jon Geddes

A PROMISING Randwick backrower earmarked for a bright future is the latest son of a former rugby league star to start making his mark in rugby.

Saxon Gillies’s dad Simon played 161 NRL games for the Bulldogs between 1988-98 and was a key member of their premiership-winning side which defeated Manly in the 1995 grand final.
During his career he was recognised as one of the rugby league’s toughest and most hardworking warriors.

Now Saxon is following the path of current Waratahs Tane Edmed and Jack Grant – whose fathers Steve and James respectively also forged outstanding careers in the other rugby code.

And Randwick coach Ben McCormack is excited about the potential he sees in 21-year-old young Gillies.

After missing a lot of last season with a foot injury, Saxon is starting to realise his potential in 2022.

“Now he’s in his second season out of Colts and has been in the first grade set-up virtually all year – either starting or coming off the bench,” McCormack said.

“And I’m really positive about the type of player Sax will be in the future. He’s aggressive, he’s physically really capable and athletic.”

Simon also had a reputation as one of the most dedicated players of his era and that is clearly a trait his son has inherited.

As McCormack said of Saxon: “His application towards his game knowledge and his learning is really good. I think he will continue to develop over the next period.”

FATHER KNOWS BEST

NOT surprisingly, Saxon says his dad has been a massive influence on his rugby career.

”We just like watching the footy – watching a bit of the NRL and Tahs games – and chatting about it, it is good,” Saxon said.

“When I  was very young running around in the backyard I’m sure he was keeping an eye on me and making sure I was doing all the right stuff.”

 He has clear memories of going along to training when Simon was coaching at the Sydney Uni rugby club.

“And after school he was nudging me to stick with it and keep giving it a crack,” Saxon said.

After completing Year 12 at Riverview College he headed down to Randwick Colts following a discussion with Simon.

“I brought one of my mates from school and we’ve had a blast since then,” Saxon said.

Another great mentor for Gillies has been the champion former Wallaby and Randwick backrower Simon Poidevin.

“He’s always involved, coming down to training and just giving boys taps on the back and a bit of a rev up,”  Saxon said. “He definitely influences me to keep going hard and it’s great having him around.”

RUNNING INTO FORM

SAXON is making up for lost time after his long stint on the sidelines and is relishing being back on the field again.

“Every minute out there in the top grade I’m loving it and want to soak it all up,” he said. “Just growing my experence at this early stage is really helpful, every week I feel like I am learning a lot and figuring out things about my game.”

As Gillies’ confidence grows each week, he has aspirations to kick onto the next level and get into a fulltime rugby environment at some stage.

”It’s tough in the middle of the season to really be thinking about all that kind of stuff,” he said. “I  just try and nail the next training session and if it’s a Friday, nail the game tomorrow.

“With my age it’s not make or break time for me at all.”

A WORK IN PROGRESS

RANDWICK currently sit in sixth spot and McCormack said while the team progressing, they are probably a little bit behind where he thought they would be at this point of the season.
“But at the same time it is not panic stations and I have a lot of confidence in the group we have got,” he said.

The Wicks have now a record of four wins and four losses, and McCormack said  they have been in every game bar the loss to Sydney University where they were clearly beaten.

He said a lot of people at the Easts and Wildfires games could not comprehend how Randwick ended up losing.

“We led and looked comfortable through large periods of both games and then just failed to close the games out,”  McCormack said. “Easts and the Wildfires came from behind to beat us on the bell.”

The team has been working hard on building cohesion and their game management through the newish combinations they have this season – and that takes time.

Randwick will be looking to consolidate their position in the top half of the ladder when they play West Harbour at Drummoyne Oval on Friday night.