Coast dual-coder Doryaan Hape Apiata’s controversial solution to save Ormeau Shearers

“Some people are diehards for their club and they don’t want to join other teams. This is their chance to keep their club alive,” the Coast’s only dual-code A grader said.

The Gold Coast sporting ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ who juggles rugby league and rugby union commitments every weekend has hatched a plan he says could save the Ormeau Shearers.

Runaway Bay prop Doryaan Hape Apiata, who moonlights as the Gold Coast Eagles No.8, said linking up with the local rugby union competition could be the answer for Shearers averse to signing with rival clubs.

The chance to experience a new code while maintaining club loyalty to Ormeau would be an attractive proposition for footy-hungry Shearers, who were left without a season when their club withdrew from the 2020 RLGC calendar.

Gold Coast Eagles wrecking ball Doryaan Hape Apiata will be playing this weekend in the Gold Coast District Rugby Union preliminary final. He was once signed by Titans under-20s and spent this season balancing league and union. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Some people are diehards for their club and they don’t want to join other teams. This is their chance to keep their club alive,” the 23-year-old said.

“There are heaps of quality players in their team, and like myself they’d be able to make the switch easy.

“I wasn’t used to all the technical stuff in union but Eagles took my running game and my defence.

“It made me a better package because I got a lot fitter from union, and my running lines and tackling helped with the union side of things.”

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Tugun's Josh Harvey wraps up the ball as Runaway Bay's Doryaan Hape Apiata takes a hit-up. Picture: Kris Matthews

Hape Apiata said there was no difference athletically between the top rugby union and rugby league competitions.

The strong Pacific Islander and Maori community at Ormeau would also have an advantage in their familiarity with the rules of union, the dominant code internationally.

“I reckon they’d have some experience from home for sure,” Hape Apiata said.

“It wouldn’t take them long.

“Runaway Bay were all for it with me because it helped my fitness.”

If a rugby union fling can do the same for the off-duty Shearers, the dual-coder says they’d be mad not to consider it.