Brandon Paenga-Amosa is everyone’s new favourite Wallaby
THE Wallabies’ win over Ireland produced an enduring image that captured the hearts of Aussie stars and rugby fans alike.
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DAVID Pocock had a blinder and Kurtley Beale was at his scheming best, but it was another Wallaby who stole Australian hearts on the weekend.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa went from relative no-name to national icon when he made his international debut during Australia’s 18-9 win over Ireland on Saturday night.
The country’s Super Rugby sides have had precious little to cheer about in 2018 but the national team gave fans Down Under reason to smile by putting an end to Ireland’s 12-Test unbeaten run at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Nerves got the better of hooker Paenga-Amosa at times — particularly at lineout time — but he had already won fans over with his performance during the pre-match national anthem.
He belted the words out with the amount of gusto more commonly reserved for someone singing Khe Sanh at a dingy karaoke joint at 3am — and his teammates loved it.
CHECK OUT HIS ANTHEM PERFORMANCE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE
Paenga-Amosa’s front-row colleague, prop Sekope Kepu, raved about the debutant’s passion and was thrilled when he saw a photo of the youngster singing the national anthem.
“I’ve got my eyes closed so I can’t really (see) what he’s going on but I could hear him next to me and we (were) just both belting it out,” Kepu said.
“As I say to the guys coming through, if you’re lucky you sing it once, if you’re blessed, you get to sing it twice — after the game as well.
“It’s a special moment for him and I was really, really happy and to see the photo of that passion on his face is truly him, the way he is, he’s pretty relaxed and he is an awesome bloke to be playing alongside.
“He was in tune. I think my wife could hear him from across the stands, which is good.
“I was really, really happy for him and so the challenge is to go again and do better than he did last week.”
Paenga-Amosa is my new favourite Wallaby. Amazing passion singing the national anthem #AUSvIRE
— Lee Gaskin (@Lee_Gaskin1) June 9, 2018
Brandon Paenga-Amosa is my new favourite human. What a week for the bloke.
— Iain Payten (@iainpayten) June 9, 2018
Paenga-Amosa is my new favourite player. I hope he's around for a while, his enthusiasm belting out the national anthem was inspiring. Good on ya mate!! #AUSvIRL
— Hans Orph (@HansOrph) June 9, 2018
Paenga-Amosa singing the anthem is everything great about international rugby!! Give it to them mate!! #AUSvIRE
— Sam Dick (@samdick95) June 9, 2018
Could watch Paenga-Amosa sing the anthem all night. Well deserved #AUSvIRE
— Matt Griffiths (@mattagriffiths) June 9, 2018
Paenga-Amosa’s rise to wearing the gold jersey has been incredible. This time last year the former garbage man was playing club rugby for Southern Districts in the Sydney Shute Shield competition.
Twelve months later and he was playing alongside giants of the game like Israel Folau and Michael Hooper.
Paenga-Amosa got his chance at the top level after starring for Queensland in Super Rugby this season. Reds coach Brad Thorn saw something he liked in the 22-year-old and brought him to the sunshine state where he’s excelled since being given the chance to strut his stuff on the big stage.
Originally published as Brandon Paenga-Amosa is everyone’s new favourite Wallaby