By Jon Geddes 

WARRINGAH assistant coach Boyd Killingworth has described dynamic back rower Zac Barnabas as Australian rugby’s third-best No.7 after another explosive Shute Shield performance for the Rats in their 18-13 win over Gordon at Narrabeen on Saturday.

“He is outstanding,” Killingworth told Rugby News after the game. “I honestly think after Fraser McReight and Luke Reimer, he is the third-best No.7 in Australia.”

Killingworth could not believe that Barnabas did not get picked up by a Super Rugby franchise last year.

“I have that much faith in him, he shouldn’t just be signed by a Super Rugby club, he should be starting,” Killingworth said.

“He is one of the toughest guys I have ever met – he plays so far beyond his weight and is such a quality player,” Killingworth said.

HOW LOW CAN HE GO  

KILLINGWORTH’S view is high praise indeed, but carries a lot of credibility as he was a top-flight backrower in the Shute Shield with Warringah and an Australian Sevens representative whose trademark was his powerful work over the ball.

And one must question the recruitment processes of some Super teams if a player consistently displaying the form of Barnabas cannot get a look in.

In the Rats’ previous game against Norths, Barnabas made six turnovers.

The best backrow comparison Killingworth could make was with was the champion former Wallaby George Smith.      

“We know there is a guy there who is the best player in his position in the comp,” Killingworth said. “He gets that low to the ground but still with such a solid, strong position.

“I try to clean him out at training and I can’t do it and none of the boys can. He must have the strongest core strength.”

Barnabas’s resilience was demonstrated on Saturday when he left the field in the second half on Saturday with blood streaming down his face.

After some minor repairs on the sideline he returned to the fray and had stitches in his eyebrow after the game.

 SUPER AMBITIONS 

THE Newport Breakers junior has settled back nicely into the Rats’ fold after moving from arch-rivals Manly this season, where his form was also exceptional.

“I’m loving it, it’s great up here, it’s nice and close to home and a good crew of boys,” he said.

And Barnabas, who turns 23 in two weeks, still has a burning passion to get a crack at Super level.

“One hundred per cent it is still a goal,” he said. “I’ll hopefully just keep chipping away and see what happens.”         

Switching to the Rats has given Barnabas the chance to play with younger brother Jake, a backrower in the same mold who was a member of Warringah’s premiership winning first grade Colts side last season.

“It’s awesome to get to play together, we’ve done it a few times before in junior footy at Newport rugby,” he said.

LEADERS OF THE PACK

KILLINGWORTH said Barnabas has formed a tremendous combination with fellow loose forwards Charlie McKill and Chlayton Frans.

“Our backrow at the moment is really good and they are all playing out of their skin,” Killingworth said. 

Killingworth was also very happy with the effort of the big boys in the Rats’ engine room who did the tough stuff as heavy rain fell throughout the 80 minutes.     

“Our frontrow did really well, we got an injury early on so it stuffed the rotation a bit,” he said.

 “Wayne Borsak had to play 70 minutes. It was really good and everyone stepped up.”