Star centre Hunter Paisami tips Reds to benefit from Jordan Petaia’s move to fullback
Jordan Petaia has been switched to fullback in a move that could lead to more try-scoring opportunities for his Queensland Reds teammates, including Hunter Paisami.
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Powerful centre Hunter Paisami plans to exploit the “gaps and holes” that will emerge from Queensland’s decision to move excitement machine Jordan Petaia from wing to fullback.
Despite Jock Campbell’s good form in the No.15 jersey in the Reds’ unbeaten start to the Super Rugby Pacific season, he and Petaia have switched positions for Queensland’s clash against Fijian Drua at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
It’s a move that will please Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who is keen for the electrifying Petaia to spend more time at fullback.
“Jordy’s just one of those guys … you let him do his thing,” Paisami said.
“You just get the ball in his hands, (and allow him to) play around and play his game.
“We’re all excited and confident he can lead us from the back.”
Paisami is also relishing the prospect of the opportunities he will receive from the extra attention that will be on Petaia.
“He’ll attract two or three defenders, and it’ll leave gaps and holes for blokes like me, ‘Stewie’ (Hamish Stewart), ‘Flooky’ (Josh Flook) and ‘Rabs’ (James O’Connor).”
In his return from injury last week, Paisami was at his brutal best in defence in the Reds’ 29-16 win over Western Force.
He was unlucky to be sin-binned for a crunching tackle on the Force’s Fijian winger, Manasa Mataele.
“I was more nervous with the big man running at me, especially a Fijian that’s got gas and can step,” Paisami said.
“I was expecting anything. He’s a strong ball carrier, he’s quick, and he’s got good feet as well.”
Despite being yellow-carded, Paisami will remain uncompromising in defence against Mataele’s countrymen this weekend.
“I’ll try to stick to my normal thing – just try to make my tackles for the boys and the team,” he said.
“Teams like (Fijian Drua), they’ll just keep coming and coming.”
As part of the Queensland Rugby Union’s Pasifika Round, eight Reds players – Paisami (Samoa), Taniela Tupou (Tonga), Seru Uru (Fiji), Kalani Thomas (Maori), Jordan Petaia (Samoa), Feao Fotuaika (Tonga), Zane Nonggorr (Papua New Guinea) and Tuania Taii Tualima (Samoa) – will wear the flag of their pacific background on their jersey.
The jerseys will be signed and auctioned off after the match to raise funds for UNICEF Australia’s Tongan Recovery Appeal following January’s explosion of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano and subsequent tsunami.
Uru, who moved to Queensland five years ago, said he was “super excited” at being able to “represent” Fiji with the flag on his chest while playing for the Reds.
“To have a Super Rugby team is really good for Fiji,” Uru said.
Originally published as Star centre Hunter Paisami tips Reds to benefit from Jordan Petaia’s move to fullback
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