By Jon Geddes

FOLLOWING his eye-catching first season with the revitalised Waratahs and ahead of his debut for Australia A, five-eighth Tane Edmed could have been excused if he put his feet up last weekend.

But instead of some well-earnt R&R, he opted to turn out for his club side Eastwood in their Shute Shield game with Gordon at TG Millner Field last Saturday.

It was a refreshing move by the rising star and one that hopefully will set a precedent for other players and coaches moving forward.

“Tane is the blueprint for a lot of the way we should be treating our development players,” said Eastwood coach Ben Batger.

“He did a year in Colts, he did a year in first grade, bides his time on the bench in Super Rugby, then took his chance in Super Rugby – and then after Super Rugby he gives back to the club that helped him get there.

“I reckon if we had more players doing that, the whole of NSW would be in a better position,” said Batger, one of the Shute Shield’s most astute coaches.

It must be said Waratahs head coach Darren Coleman and his team have managed Edmed’s professional rugby apprenticeship in the best possible manner.

The same with the Wallabies coach Dave Rennie who has not rushed Edmed into the main Wallabies’ squad and instead will get him gaining valuable experience playing with Australia A against Fiji, Samoa and Tonga during the Pacific Nations Cup next month in Fiji.

SUPER IMPROVEMENT

BATGER has been one of Edmed’s greatest supporters. He recognised his talent and was singing his praises two years ago, when he was still a fresh new face running around for the Woodies in the Shute Shield – long before being signed by the Waratahs.

And when Edmed returned to the Woodies to prepare for the Gordon game last week, Batger could see how much he has benefited from being in the Waratahs’ environment.

“Just at training he has certainly taken his game to the next level,” Batger said.

“I thought he was a good player before – and if was seven out of 10, he’s eight and a half now.”

Batger said another big plus was what Edmed’s presence brings to the rest of the group.

“And the best thing about him is he is so down to earth,” he said. “He didn’t have to play this weekend but he decided to play for the club.

“He realises as a young player the only way he gets better is by playing games, which I think some of the Super Rugby guys get wrong because they tend to horde their players and just want to get them faster and stronger and they forget about football.”

Batger said while his side was out-enthused by Gordon last Saturday going down 35-30, Edmed was Eastwood’s most enthusiastic player and that is as is he is about to play for Australia A.

“Tane was excellent,” Batger said.

But with his Australia A commitments, it will be a while before Eastwood see Edmed again.

Waratahs’ assistant coach Chris Whitaker said a lot of those young guys like Edmed are just keen to play footy.

“Going back to play for their clubs is what they enjoy, it goes back to where they are from and playing with your mates and having a beer after,” he said.

“It all starts there and it’s always good to go back and play with them.”

TAH VERY MUCH

WHITAKER has played a big part in Edmed rising to prominence this season after he joined the Super side, although the former Waratahs and Wallabies halfback would be too modest to admit it.

“His skills have developed by playing footy this year obviously,” Whitaker said. “Also his game management has developed enormously.”

He said for the young No.10s that growth was hampered last year by COVID.

“But you can see with some games under their belt steering teams around the field how quickly they develop,” Whitaker said.

“When you think about it, he hasn’t played a heap of first grade footy.

“You throw him into Super Rugby and each week he got better and better. He got so good he cemented his spot there.”

Whitaker said while Edmed’s skills had come along nicely on the field, there were also the things that people did not see behind the scenes.

“Calling the shots, steering the team around the field all those leadership type of things,” Whitaker said.

What also earns Edmed a big tick is his personality, which makes him a very valued member of the squad.

“The boys like playing with him, he likes playing with them so it is a good mix,” Whitaker said.