Tane Edmed stamps himself as future Wallaby with another dominant display
By Jon Geddes
AS debate rages around the contentious Wallabies 10 jumper, Tane Edmed sent a timely message to national selectors by showcasing leadership as well as playing skills in Eastwood’s 32-26 win over Manly in last Saturday’s sudden death semi-final.
The dominant performance only bolstered his credentials as an Australian Test player in the making, as well as increasing the threat posed by Eastwood in their race to the premiership title as they prepare to face Sydney University at Rat Park on Sunday.
Skippering the Woodies for just the second time, Edmed scored 22 points after a flawless display with the boot kicking six penalty goals and two conversions, as well as setting up a try for winger George Worth with a pinpoint cross field kick.
But being responsible for 27 of his side’s 32 points only tells part of the story as Edmed’s game management was also spot on.
The icing on the cake came a minute from fulltime with Eastwood clinging to their 32-26 lead, when Edmed was instrumental in holding a desperate Manly forward Aaron Blacklock up over the tryline to save a try.
A “positions vacant” seems to have been stitched onto the Wallabies five-eighth jumper, with Quade Cooper injured, James O’Connor dumped from the squad and the veteran Bernard Foley recalled.
For Edmed it appears to be a case of when, not if, he gets his opportunity. Right now, it makes more sense for him to prepare and play in a pressure game for Eastwood rather than be holding up tackle bags at a Wallaby camp.
His display against Manly followed on from the 21 points he scored in the Woodies’ win over Easts the previous week.
Eastwood coach Ben Batger knows better than anyone the value that Edmed brings to a team.
“He is probably our best player, he is our captain and our goalkicker,” Batger said. “He is going pretty good at the moment, he’s a great young talent, he’s a great young kid.
“I’m always hopeful he goes into the Wallabies – but maybe not just yet,” the coach said with a smile.
Edmed was in full voice on Saturday for the full 81 minutes and 25 seconds as he continually rallied his troops, vindicating Batger’s decision to appoint him skipper at just 22.
“If you are good enough, you are old enough is the saying,” Batger said. “He was our leader before he had the ‘c’ next to his name and he does a lot of the talking being the 10, so he hasn’t changed much.”
Batger said Edmed was also one of those special players whose presence lifts the rest of the team.
“When I was coming through Scott Fava and Tim Donnelly were that for Eastwood,” he said. “That’s pretty esteemed company but I put him in that kind of class, he is that important to us.”
A NATURAL LEADER
FAR from showing any hesitancy, the captaincy is something Edmed has fully embraced and he finds it quite natural.
“I’d love to try and develop into a leadership role with the Waratahs and one day, if I get the chance to play for the Wallabies, I’d like to think I could be a pretty good leader,” he told Rugby News.
And what a refreshing attitude Edmed has to his rugby and to his Woodies.
“Every chance I get to come back and try and make a difference, I take it,” he said. “I think this club has given me so much … and I love trying to add some spark here and there where I can.”
Despite his crucial role in the semi win which sees his side now set for their showdown with Sydney University this weekend, Edmed still had his feet planted firmly on the ground.
“It’s awesome fun coming back with these boys and they just have so much heart,” he said. “And a lot of credit has to go to them for all those points.”
A UNI ASSIGNMENT
BAGTER rated the semi-final almost the perfect build-up to this week’s showdown with Uni.
“Manly have replicated Uni’s style, and we also know that Uni is probably a step-up in class,” he said.
“They have a lot of quality players, are well coached and have been the best team for a long time, so it is going to be a good battle.“
Batger rated Eastwood’s performance in the win over the Marlins as a seven out of 10.
“We did a lot of good things but I was pretty disappointed with our discipline,” he said. “We knew the only way they could get points was through our ill-discipline.
“You saw that in the first half with their penalty goals and in the second half give a penalty, go to a maul and that’s how they go their two tries.
“We knew that was their biggest weapon.”