Tupou on why Zane Nonggorr can be the Reds’ next big thing

Zane Nonggorr enters his first full Super Rugby campaign as one of the best young stars to watch, and a Wallabies ace believes the 19-year-old’s “no bullshit” approach can take him to the top.

ZANE Nonggorr enters his first full Super Rugby campaign as one of the best young stars to watch, and a Wallabies ace believes the 19-year-old’s “no bullshit” approach can take him to the top.

The Australian Schools under-18s representative made his Super Rugby debut off the bench for the Reds last season and will be set for a bigger role as Brad Thorn’s side prepares for its charge to a first title since 2011.

Queensland Reds players Zane Nonggorr and Taniela Tupou. Picture: Stewart McLean

Nonggorr, who was born in Cairns and raised in the Papua New Guinean highlands town of Mount Hagen, has long been earmarked as a player to watch, winning two titles at The Southport School and enjoying an undefeated campaign as captain in 2019.

Taniela Tupou, the man known as “Tongan Thor” who has played 16 games for the Wallabies since his 2017 debut, said while fans were fixated on what Nonggorr could do on the field, it was his attitude off it that impressed him most.

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“Coming out of school, obviously he’s a big boy and has a lot to learn,” Tupou said.

“At tight head, you have to be good. It took me two or three years to debut with the Reds but he debuted in his first year, which is awesome.

“If he keeps working hard – and I’m trying to help him as much as I can, but it’s up to him – (he can) be a world-best front-rower.”

A “no bullshit” approach to training and playing also helps.

“He’s a humble kid, he gets along with his business, doesn’t talk, there’s no bullshit, he just works hard,” Tupou said.

“He has his head screwed on when it comes to game time, which is good. He plays hard and does his job. He’s still young, there’s things he needs to work on, but he’ll eventually get there.”

Zane Nonggorr and Taniela Tupou with William Irvine, 9 from Barron Trinity Bulls and Ethan Schnider, 9, from Northern Beaches Mudcrabs. Picture: Stewart McLean

A Reds Academy member, Nonggorr was last week elevated to the Reds’ playing squad, and this week joined his front-row partner in Cairns for the three-day Reds to Regions program.

Clinics with junior and senior players on Wednesday afternoon made way for a day of manual labour at Rainforestation Nature Park on Thursday, and while the duo return to Brisbane on Friday, it is the time together that will benefit Nonggorr the most.

“I really like watching Taniela, and after he’ll pull me aside and tell me what I’ve done wrong, what I can do better,” Nonggorr said.

“Having those one-on-one conversations can really help me as a prop.”

The Reds open their Super Rugby season against the Waratahs on February 19.

Originally published as Tupou on why Zane Nonggorr can be the Reds’ next big thing