No dogging this fight as Waratahs’ Alofa Alofa readies to face giant Crusader Nemani Nadolo in final

ALOFA Alofa is preparing for his battle against Nemani Nadolo, Super Rugby’s most fearsome winger, in Saturday’s grand final.

Waratahs winger Alofa Alofa after scoring a try against Brumbies in the Super Rugby semifinals.

STANDING in the blue corner, measuring 185cm and weighing 93kg is Alofa Alofa. Standing in the red corner, measuring 196cm and weighing in at a whopping 125kg is Nemani Nadolo.

But it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, as Alofa stated as he prepares for his individual battle against Super Rugby’s most fearsome winger in Saturday’s grand final.

“I’ve always been small person, but I think if you have a big heart, I reckon just go for it,” Alofa said.

“I’m not too scared no matter how big the person is, if you have heart I think you win all the time.”

Alofa has enjoyed a meteoric rise this year, coming from an extended playing contract to be the regular starting winger in a back-three featuring Wallabies Israel Folau and Rob Horne.

News_Image_File: Waratahs winger Alofa Alofa bursts on to the ball in the Super Rugby semifinal against the Brumbies..

But he has yet to face Nadolo, given the Tahs and Crusaders didn’t play each other in the regular season.

Nadolo has also stormed into Super Rugby this year, becoming the second leading tryscorer in the competition behind Folau.

After a failed stint at NSW — Nadolo signed with the Waratahs in 2008 but never played a game for them — the giant winger had stints in France and England.

But it was Japanese team NEC Green Rockets that he caught the attention of the Crusaders after scoring an astonishing 41 tries from just 32 games between 2011-13.

Nadolo, 26, is a close friend of Tahs backrower Wycliff Palu.

News_Image_File: Crusaders winger Nemani Nadolo charges with the ball against the Western Force in May.

“I brought him down to Manly Marlins [in the Shute Shield], he was really good for us,” Palu said.

“It’s good to see him getting an opportunity over there, and I think he was probably a bit unlucky not to get an opportunity here, because he’d started to play really well.

“Going overseas, he benefited from that.

“There were guys in front of him [here].

“I think he was killing it in Japan, scoring five tries a game or something like that.”

Alofa doesn’t plan to concede any tries to Nadolo at ANZ Stadium, but added that he will not be their sole focus.

News_Rich_Media: Richard Hinds, Paul Kent and Peter Lalor share their thoughts on the Waratahs' super coach Michael Cheika.

“I don’t think we’re going to focus on just one player, but because he’s on the side I play on, if I do get picked this week, I’m just going to try to throw my body at him and top him no matter what,” Alofa said.

“We’ll see how things work out.

“I can’t wait, I’m pumped for it.

“I’ve grown this year, every week I’ve learned something new. It’s just exciting to be part of this, and hopefully win the title for the first time.”