Schoolboy sensation Billy Pollard snubs Wayne Bennett and NRL to sign with Australian rugby
In a rare win for the 15-man game, Australian rugby has beaten Wayne Bennett and seven NRL clubs to sign dual-code schoolboy sensation to a long-term deal.
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Teenage tackling torpedo Billy Pollard has slipped through the fingers of Wayne Bennett and seven other NRL clubs to sign a four-year deal with the Brumbies.
In a much-needed win for Australian rugby amid the bitter fallout from the Wallabies’ failed World Cup campaign, 17-year-old Pollard has decided to snub the 13-man code he grew up playing to pursue a future in rugby.
Such was the interest in Pollard, Bennett invited him to watch a Souths game two months ago in the Rabbitohs’ inner sanctum, and sources said after speaking to the legendary coach he was sold on signing with the Redfern club.
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However, Pollard was the starting hooker in the Australian rugby Schools & Under-18s team that defeated New Zealand on October 4 in a huge upset, and after that 18-14 victory decided that rugby was his sport of choice.
Pollard had been in the NSW Waratahs academy and despite the Tahs making a big play, the Brumbies’ program under coach Dan McKellar and forwards guru Laurie Fisher convinced him to make the move to Canberra.
Pollard only began playing hooker two years ago at Barker College, previously starting in the backrow, the same position he played in league.
Having grown up in Hornsby, Pollard was part of the Norths league system linked to the Sydney Roosters and many expected him to join the premiers.
However, Souths emerged as the NRL frontrunner via Bennett’s interest, before Pollard made the call to play rugby.
The Tahs’ disjointed contracting process, with the late appointment of new coach Rob Penney, likely cost them his signature, although McKellar and Fisher have a strong record of developing forwards.
It’s understood Pollard will have a wider training squad position next year and is not being eyed for Super Rugby until 2021 at the earliest.
He is in the midst of HSC exams and will relocate to Canberra next month for pre-season training.
Pollard’s agent, Richard Colreavy, refused to confirm the deal, however The Daily Telegraph understands the player has signed his new contract.