By Jon Geddes

A PROMISING young Colts inside back in just his second season playing rugby has been earmarked a future star after coming through his Shute Shield debut baptism of fire for Warringah in their nail-biting 19-17 victory over Eastwood last Saturday.

Rats’ coach Michael Ruthven gave rugby league recruit Witika Rees-Hatu his first taste of the top grade with 12 minutes to go when the game was on a knife’s edge in an old-fashioned knock ‘em down battle of attrition at Rat Park.

It was a real vote of confidence in the 19-year-old rookie to throw him into the action at such a dramatic stage of the game after he had played for the Warringah Colts earlier in the day.

And Rees-Hatu, who had never trained with the Shute Shield side, showed a real coolness under pressure, even stepping up to take to the line kicks and dropouts.

What was just as significant was what he didn’t do – not getting overawed and not going into his shell.

Rees-Hatu has had a taste of second grade this season as a part of his steady development and Ruthven had not hesitation in handing him his next opportunity.

“We spoke about it during the week that he was going to get some minutes,” Ruthven said.

“You’ve got to back the kid – he is composed, he is talented, he’s got good vision, backs himself when he sees opportunity.”

And he is a sharp goalkicker to boot.

“He will be better for that – albeit it was a short little opportunity,” Ruthven said. “He is first grader at this club.”

“RUGBY HAS OPENED DOORS”

REES-HATU is another good young player who has slipped through the rugby league net and switched codes.

“I’ve only played (rugby) for two years,” he revealed to Rugby News.

He had previously been playing league for the local Narraweena Hawks rugby league club. But surprisingly, he never got a look in with any of the Sea Eagles junior representative teams.

“Then Covid struck and I had a few mates who said ‘give union a crack’ and my grandpa is a really big union supporter,” he said.

“I thought I would come down for a run with the Rats and here I am.

“And it has kind of opened doors for me.”

The transition has been quite seamless and already his ability has been identified higher up as he was a member of the Australian 20s squad last year and a shadow player this year.

Rees-Hatu’s delighted Colts’ teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders in the middle of Rat Park after his Shute Shield game debut.

“It was a lot different from playing first grade Colts, I’ll tell you that,” he said as he was surrounded by family and friends on the field.

“There was a little bit of pressure but I was ready for it, really prepared for it.

“I got thrown into the deep end a bit, but I loved every minute.

“It was really good to get the win in front of a packed crowd at Rat Park.”

Ruthven was justifiably pleased his side was able to come away with four competition points in a game where they showed they can grind out a win.

“We spoke a lot about how we knew it was going to be a really tough contest against a physical forward pack,” he said.

“I was really proud of the boys, I thought defensively we were pretty bloody good.”

Saturday’s result was a massive turnaround from the fifth-round clash between the two sides at TG Millner Field when Eastwood hammered Warringah 45-0.