Wests Tigers rookie Zac Cini has all the makings of a rugby league cult hero
There’s plenty that goes into the making of a rugby league cult hero and Tigers flyer Zac Cini has fast joined some of the NRL’s most beloved figures.
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There’s plenty that goes into making a rugby league cult hero.
Sometimes all you need is a memorable name, such as Parramatta legend Fuifui Moimoi. But don’t underestimate the power of a good nickname — “Rambo” Ron Gibbs and Mark “Piggy” Riddell come to mind,
Being a big unit also helps the cause, just ask George Rose, Dave Taylor or Mark Tookey, while having a bit going on with your hair can just about seal the deal, as in the case of David Williams, Geoff Robinson or the newest addition to the club, Tigers rookie Zac Cini — who burst on to the scene in his debut NRL match against St George Illawarra last weekend.
CULT FIGURES: Scroll down for Nick’s top-10 rugby league cult heroes
Armed with a flowing mullet and a group of rowdy Minchinbury mates, Cini has plenty of footy talent to back up the flowing locks.
“A mullet is a mullet at the end of the day,” said Ben Gardiner, coach of Wests’ NSW Cup side where Cini starred before his elevation last weekend. “But you don’t judge a person on their haircut — you judge them on how they play their footy.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Cini has the talent and the work ethic to back up the shock hair — and he gets another chance when he backs up against the Gold Coast Titans at Campbelltown on Saturday night.
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“He just works hard,” said Tigers coach Michael Maguire. “It’s a well-deserved opportunity for him and it was nice to see a few highlights, but now it’s about backing it up.
“Zac is one of those guys who works really hard at his game — building consistency is the big one for him.”
Cini is an overnight success who was years in the making.
He was a childhood Tigers fan despite growing up in Panthers country. His grandmother used to ring the local paper once a week to give updates on how he was travelling in the junior grades.
He bobbed up at the Tigers two years ago and lost most of last season to COVID, but has not looked back in 2021.
Before he made his dream NRL debut against the Dragons — scoring one try and going close on several other occasions — Cini led the NSW Cup in metres gained, hit-ups, post-contact metres and tackle busts.
“He likes to be around the ball,” Gardiner said. “Get it in his hands, and he’s the sort of player who can create something out of nothing.
“Lots of metres, lots of carries, plenty of involvement and loads of enthusiasm. He’s the perfect bloke to bring into your team.”
A cult hero can also be a flash in the pan — remember former Bronco Steele Retchless, one-time Raider Royston Lightning or the memorably named Irish international Wayne Kerr.
But there seems to be far more to Cini than one or two memorable games and his inclusion has helped reinvigorate a Tigers fanbase who were crying out for some positives after a tough start to the year. They need a few heroes right now.
TEN MEN WHO ROSE TO RUGBY LEAGUE CULT HERO STATUS
RON GIBBS
Alias: Rambo
Roosters 1983-85, Manly 1986-87, Gold Coast 1988-90, Wests 1991
A kamikaze backrower with Manly, Wests, Easts and Gold Coast, Gibbs only knew how to play one way: flat out. Well-known for his thunderous charges and strong, front-on defence, Gibbs was never far from the action whenever he took the field in the 1980s and 90s.
MARK RIDDELL
Alias: Piggy
Dragons 2001-04, Eels 2005-08, Roosters 2011
Riddell’s salute prior to taking conversions plus his robust playing style made him a fan favourite but it was his post-try celebrations that turned him into a legend. The footage of him jumping the fence at WIN Stadium to give himself a round of applause after scoring a runaway try against the Cowboys in 2002 is still one of the best.
KERRY HEMSLEY
Alias: Buckets
Balmain 1980-88
Another hairy prop of the 80s, Hemsley was also fond of getting around town on his Harley-Davidson and looked more like a Hells Angel than a Balmain Tiger. An old-school enforcer in the front row, Hemsley remains one of Balmain’s favourite sons.
DAVE TAYLOR
Alias: Coal Train
Broncos 2006-09, Rabbitohs 2010-12, Titans 2013-15, Raiders 2017
Clocking in at 188cm and a bit north of 100kg, Taylor could have dominated just about anybody he came across with his size and strength but he preferred audacious flick passes, tricky little grubbers or a chip kick here and there. Did it drive his coaches crazy? Absolutely. But it also gave hope to every battling front-rower out there who is certain he could play five-eighth.
JOHN FERGUSON
Alias: Chicka
Newtown 1980-83, Roosters 1984-86, Canberra 1986-90
The ageless winger began life with Newtown — Ground Zero for more cult heroes than most — before going on to represent New South Wales and Australia while at Easts. he is best remembered for his final years with Canberra, where he won two premierships — the second at the ripe old age of 36.
FUIFUI MOIMOI
Alias: Fui
Eels 2004-14
A lot of things can go into making a cult hero. A great name is a good place to start, and a wild hairstyle doesn’t hurt either. Fui had both of those, but it was his hard-running, dead-straight style carrying the ball that had Parramatta fans screaming when he touched the ball. The Tongan warhorse is still running around at age 40 for Rochdale Hornets in England.
MARK TOOKEY
Alias: Tooks
Crushers 1996-97, Eels 1998-99, Warriors 2000-04
The big man was far from just a punchline and played plenty of solid football with the Eels and Warriors in his heyday and for a while screaming out “TOOOOKS!” as he returned a kick-off was the best time you could have at the footy.
GEOFF ROBINSON
Alias: Robbo
Canterbury 1977-1986
With his long hair, bushranger beard and fearless charges, Robinson was one of the most beloved front-rowers of the 1980s in his Canterbury years. There was nothing fancy about Robinson but his bullocking style in the front-row was unforgettable.
GEORGE ROSE
Alias: Big Georgie
Roosters 2004-05, Sea Eagles 2006-13, Storm 2014, Dragons 2015
Rose gave good service across four clubs in his 11 years in the league, most notably with Manly, and was living proof you don’t need to be built like a superhero to make an impact at the game’s highest level.
DAVID WILLIAMS
Alias: Wolfman
Sea Eagles 2008-15
David Williams’ beard transformed him from a mild-mannered Sea Eagles winger into “The Wolfman”. The hirsute Williams caught the eye immediately after his debut in 2008 and his all-action style would have earned him plenty of fans even if he were clean shaven. After the Sea Eagles won the comp in his rookie year, Williams was shorn like a sheep by teammate Michael Robertson. Later he dyed it bright pink for the annual Women in League round.
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