Shute Shield Grand Final: Rugby career for Ratu Tuisese, Nathan Cleary’s old Penrith teammate
He played alongside Nathan Cleary and Jerome Luai for Penrith in under 20s and shared their dream of playing an NRL grand final. But things have worked out differently for this footballer.
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Ratu Tuisese spent years playing rugby league with and alongside young guns including Nathan Cleary and Jerome Luai at the Penrith Panthers.
It was his love, his passion and he had hoped that it would be his career.
Last Sunday he watched his old teammates from the 2015 Holden Cup final compete in the 2020 NRL decider against Melbourne Storm.
This weekend they can tune in and watch him play in a grand final in a completely different sport.
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Tuisese is part of an impressive Eastwood side taking on minor premiers Gordon in the grand final of the Shute Shield premier club rugby competition on Saturday.
It’s not where he imagined he would be when his aunt first asked him if he would like to try out for the Penrith Panthers back in 2015 as a teenager living in Fiji.
But it’s where he is happy to be as he pushes to secure a professional rugby contract off the back of a strong season with Eastwood.
The courier driver, who still lives at Penrith, said his new goal is to make Super Rugby as soon as possible.
“I like to push on in rugby. I want to play football professionally, that’s my goal,” said the winger, playing his first season with the club.
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“I used to play rugby league with Nathan Cleary and Jerome Luai in the under 20s with the Panthers. It didn’t work out for me.
“It was exciting to watch them in the grand final. It was little sad. But it is what it is.”
Now he’s key to Eastwood thwarting Gordon for their first Shute Shield crown since 1998 in the season decider at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.
“I’m enjoying the rugby union and pretty excited about the grand final,’’ he said.
“I feel I have become a better player at Eastwood.’’
SHUTE SHIELD GRAND FINAL
Saturday at Leichhardt Oval (3pm AEDT)
Gordon v Eastwood
Live TV on 7Two and 7plus