Shute Shield 2020: Emmanuel Maliko’s bid to be big hit with Western Sydney Two Blues
This rugby youngster is so strong he isn’t allowed to go 100 per cent at training. Now he’s been unleashed on the Shute Shield.
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Hulking youngster Emmanuel Maliko has a lot of people he wants to make proud by playing well in the Shute Shield.
There is Western Sydney coach Joel Rivers, his teammates at the Two Blues, his parents in Dandenong and his 10 brothers and sisters.
And while he’s hard to miss in any crowd, the giant youngster is campaigning to be a standout on the field for his new club after making his debut in the Shute Shield in the Two Blues loss to Manly on Saturday.
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A former member of the Junior Wallabies extended squad and both the Reds and Brumbies Academies, 149kg Maliko works packing orders at Coles and spents his spare time in the gym and working on his rugby skills.
“Family is everything to me. I want to be a role model to my brothers and sisters,” said 194cm Maliko, who admits he was in tears when one of his younger siblings gave a speech about him at school last year.
“I want to achieve something for them. I want to be a Waratah, I want to be a Wallaby, I want to play in the green and gold.
“Since I was young all I have wanted to do is play and make my parents proud.”
There is no second gear. He goes from zero to 100
The No.8 is expected to make a big impact in the Shute Shield this season but said he has been reeled back in training by Two Blues coach Joel Rivers.
“I love the contact, I love smashing,” Maliko said.
“When the coach told us we could go 100 per cent full contact I was so happy.
“But then he me to come in front of the whole team and he told me ‘you cannot be 100 per cent’.”
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Coach Rivers said he has been impressed with his young charge since joining the squad.
“He’s one of the biggest kids I have seen and he has speed. He loves to hit people,” Rivers said.
“There is no second gear. He goes from zero to 100.”
The Two Blues Open their second game of the season against Gordon on Saturday.
SHUTE SHIELD 2020
ROUND 2 JULY 25
Randwick v Warringah.
Eastern Suburbs v West Harbour
Gordon v Western Sydney
Northern Suburbs v Penrith
Sydney University v Manly
Newcastle v Eastwood
BYE: Southern Districts
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