Super Rugby Pacific club Queensland Reds re-sign Wallaby Zane Nonggorr and George Blake
The Queensland Reds have locked away two front row pillars who have agreed to two-year contract extensions with the Super Rugby Pacific franchise. Full details here.
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The Queensland Reds have locked away two front row pillars with Wallaby Zane Nonggorr and George Blake recommitting to the Super Rugby club.
Weighing 240kg between them, it’s understood the club is on the cusp of announcing two-year contract extensions for the Gold Coast products who were part of The Southport School’s First XV premiership side in 2019 and currently play club rugby for Bond University.
The re-signings come ahead of the Reds’ last home game of the Super Rugby Pacific season against the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Nonggorr, 23, made four appearances off the bench for the Wallabies last year when his promise as an emerging 130kg tighthead prop was recognised.
He has been a frontline figure, starting or coming off the bench, for the Reds in their first season under new head coach Les Kiss.
Blake, 22, can play both prop and hooker at Super Rugby level.
He came off the bench to score a try at hooker in the Reds’ loss to the Fijian Drua in steamy Suva last weekend.
At 110kg, he has the right frame for the job.
His flowing mullet has a cult following. It became his signature look when looking for things to do during the covid years.
“It’s a good challenge to play both positions. It’s a matter of developing those skills so you can lock it down when called on,” Blake said.
“I’m still learning the tricks of the front-row so it’s great to have the older boys (Sef Fa’agase, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Peni Ravai and Alex Hodgman) to get knowledge from.”
Nonggorr is originally from Papua New Guinea but found a home on the Gold Coast where family and school life blossomed.
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