NRL dream splits identical twins and Jersey Flegg duo Kruz and Felix Niutili-Schmidt
Kruz and Felix Niutili-Schmidt were inseparable growing up, but the dream of one day playing in the NRL has, for now, split the brothers up.
NRL
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When Victoria Thunderbolts hooker Kruz Niutili-Schmidt looks up from dummy-half against the West Tigers on Saturday, he’ll be seeing double.
For the first time ever, Kruz will play against identical twin brother and backrower Felix.
The Victorian duo were inseparable growing up, but the dream of one day playing NRL has, for now in Jersey Flegg, split the brothers up.
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“We’re excited for Kruz and his family. They’d played together their entire lives until last year. The Tigers made Felix an offer he couldn’t refuse,” Thunderbolts coach Ben Jack said.
“In an ideal world we’d love to have them stay with us. It’s bittersweet for us.
“They played Jersey Flegg with each other in 2019 with us so now they are playing against each other in 2021.”
Melbourne have enjoyed an embarrassment of riches in the hooking position.
Cameron Smith, arguably the greatest player of all time, was succeeded by reigning Rookie of the Year Harry Grant and Brandon Smith. Now Kruz, who trains one day a week with the NRL squad, is also making an impression.
“He’s a bit different to Harry and Brandon, they are quite nippy and get out of dummy half. Kruz has a lot variation in his game, especially with the ball and he’s a very strong defender. When you have Nelson Asofa Solomona running at you, you have to be good defender. He’s also really measured when he plays,” Jack said.
Not to be outdone, Felix has is also making huge strides in his development at Concord.
“He put on a bit of weight, a bit of bulk in the pre-season and was a lot fitter, that was probably where he lacked last year. His physical presence has improved dramatically,” Tigers pathways manager Tyrone Collins said.
“His line running is his asset and that’s only getting better now.”
But Kruz isn’t the only youngster turning heads down south.
Boom back Sua Fa‘alogo is well on his way to becoming the fifth Victorian product to make his NRL debut after Dean Ieremia was blooded by coach Craig Bellamy in round eight against Cronulla.
“There was a fair bit of time between the third and fourth Victorian, being Dean, to play NRL, we want to shortening that between the short and the fifth Victorian to play for the Melbourne Storm,” Jack said.
“He’s got the skill to make the NRL and put his best foot forward when he starts training full-time in the pre-season.”
The Storm have recognised Fa‘alogo’s talent and moved to lock-in the hard funning fullback for another three seasons.
Fa‘alogo has been elevated to Jersey Flegg despite still eligible to play in this year’s Schoolboy Cup for Mount Ridley P-12 College.
“In his first game of Flegg, he was our Players Player award. He’s an exceptional talent,” Jack said.
“He can do thing I haven’t seen a lot of players do. He backs himself, he’s confident and self aware.
“He has plenty of speed, he plays ridiculously above his weight.
“In the gym he can bench press 140 kilograms. For someone who is quite small, it’s ridiculous what he can do in the gym.
“He’d be around 78 kilograms, he’s about 5’8 or so … he’s the in same ilk as Ryan Papenhuyzen, not the biggest bloke but plays above his weight.”
Son of NRL great to be back for Bunnies when it matters
- Nick Walshaw
Rabbitohs coach Steve Antonelli knows enough about Jed Cartwright to know he will not have him for long.
Especially on the eve of this year’s State of Origin series.
“Because we’ll likely have four or five NRL boys represent,” Antonelli says.
“Which is when Jed goes back up.”
While his surname may be synonymous with the Penrith club he faces in NSW Cup at Dubbo on Sunday, 24-year-old Cartwright is looking to play his way back into the Bunnies top grade come Origin time - then stay there.
After overcoming a back injury at the start of the year, the son of Panthers great John Cartwright has played off coach Wayne Bennett’s bench for the past fortnight against Melbourne and Cronulla before being dropped back to reserves this week.
Yet Antonelli says the young backrower, who still boasts just nine NRL games, could eventually prove key to Bennett’s push to the NRL finals.
“Right now it’s just about getting some quality minutes into Jed,” the coach said.
“Because he’s a great young player.
“Typical Cartwright, too.
“He’s got a hardness about him and real skill with the ball.
“Great offload.
“And you remember Johnny of course, he was the king of that.
“I actually played with him at Penrith where he was always getting through the line, then right arm offload.
“And now with Jed, I can tell you he’s only going getting better and better.
“He’s got good leg speed, runs to break tackles and has an offload. His best footy is definitely yet to come.”
Currently, the Panthers are undefeated in NSW Cup, having won all eight games this season.
However this weekend they come up against a Souths pack boasting several players with NRL experience, including Cartwright, plus props Hame Sele and Patrick Mago.
Indeed, with the Bunnies boasting a host of potential Origin contenders for both NSW and Queensland, Antonelli knows a chunk of this squad could soon be back in the NRL.
“And we’ll be looking for a big game from Jed this weekend,” Antonelli says. “Same with our two middles.
“Because we have great halves but they can only play off the back off our big boys. And both our props are pushing for NRL spots, too.
“I know with Hame, I think today’s game really suits him because he has great leg speed.
“He just needs to get some more match fitness into him.”
Quizzed on the strength of the Panthers side, the coach added: “They’re actually not as strong as when we played them in Round One, when they had Matty Burton, too.
“And we led 26-18 after 58 minutes.
“But Penrith, definitely a good team. Young and play with plenty of energy.
“That’s something we need to nullify on the weekend.”
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