Words: Jonathan B Geddes; Image: J.B Photography

HE is the globetrotting Romanian World Cup forward who grew up in the USA and is now leader of the pack at West Harbour in the Shute Shield.

Hooker Rob Irimescu is the Pirates’ first grade captain in his first season with the club where he has wasted time making a big impact.

“He was born and raised in New York and has a Romanian background,” Wests coach Phil Blake told Rugby News. “He played for the Romanian national team at the World Cup in 2023.”

Irimescu’s name was mentioned to Blake who contacted the international forward and  pulled off a coup getting him to Concord.

“One conversation led to another one and he ended up on our shores,” Blake said. ”He was keen to come out and play some rugby in Australia and experience the lifestyle

“He’s a great kid, he’s a very good footballer.”

Blake said Irimescu has brought a great mindset and standards to the club. He was just the type of player the incoming coach was looking for to help his rebuild and get the Pirates shipshape.

“We needed to shift in a different direction and couldn’t have had anyone better to fill that position,” Blake said. “So it was an easy decision for myself and the other coaches to make him first grade captain.” 

Irimescu will be a key figure in Saturday’s “battle of the west” when the Pirates take on the Two Blues at Concord Oval in what will be a fierce and bruising battle upfront.

While some people don’t like the influx of overseas talent in the Shute Shield, the fact is that local up and comers benefit greatly playing alongside – and against –  experienced campaigners like Irimescu.

SMART RECRUITS

BESIDES Irimescu, No.8 Onehunga Havilli Kaufusi has also won praise from his coach. He linked up with Wests this season from Major League Rugby and had two seasons in France.

The club has also recruited lock Sau Ofahengaue, the son of Wallaby legend Willie, from Manly.

He made his Wests‘ first grade debut in last weekend’s game against Gordon.

“He was a very nice pick up because the kid’s got a lot of talent,” Blake said. “Big boys need to play football and he will get better as the season goes on.”

Ofahengaue played some outstanding rugby while at the Marlins but his progression was stalled by a bad run with injuries.

‘BIGGER THAN THE BOKS’

WEST Harbour will again field a monster set of forwards against the Two Blues.

“There is no bigger team than us in the competition, we have a huge pack,” Blake said. “Someone told me the other day our pack weighs more than the Springboks.”

The Two Blues are not short of size either, so Saturday’s western Sydney derby is shaping up as a physical battle  between two heavyweights.

And there is genuine feeling between the sides.

Since linking up with Wests Blake has come to appreciate the fierce rivalry that exists between the western Sydney clubs.

“Talking to a few people at the club it is high on their itinerary once the draw comes out each year,” Blake said.

ON THE UP      

BLAKE has seen the gradual  improvement in his side over the first three rounds of the competition.

After going down to Sydney Uni 59-26 and 52-0 to Warringah, Wests took a big step forward last weekend when beaten 29-17 by competition leaders Gordon.

“We’ve had 10 or 11 players who have never played together in the team over the last couple of weeks,” Blake said.

“It takes time to jell. We saw a vast improvement last week against Gordon and if we can build on that we will put ourselves in a really good position to get the result on the weekend.”

Blake has been impressed by the attitude of his players, working hard and doing whatever it takes.

“And the more we play, the better we’ll get,” he said.

“Gordon have a very good scrum and were dominating the opposition the first two rounds. I thought we got some parity there throughout the game and mauled very successfully.”