Bernard Foley is set to overtake idol Matt Burke as the NSW Waratahs’ highest points scorer
When he was playing for the Eastwood under-6 team, Bernard Foley was presented with an end of year trophy by his idol Matt Burke. Now he is just one kick away from overtaking Burke as the Waratahs’ highest points scorer.
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When he was playing for the Eastwood under-6 team, Bernard Foley was presented with an end of year trophy by idol Matt Burke.
On Saturday night, with one successful kick at goal, Foley will overtake Burke as the NSW Waratahs’ highest points scorer in Super Rugby history.
It will mark another extraordinary achievement for the five-eighth, whose clutch grand final penalty goal delivered the Tahs their only premiership in 2014.
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Foley endured a mixed 2018 year, losing his iron grip on the Wallabies’ No. 10 jersey by the end of the year, but his goals are firmly fixed on delivering NSW a second Super title this year.
“They’re pretty clear; I really want to have a successful season here with the Waratahs, lead us to some unfinished business we haven’t done for a number of years,” Foley said.
“This squad has worked extremely hard and they’re well driven, so for me [it’s to] keep participating, keep contributing to this season and to the great individuals we have, and then hopefully that builds into a really successful Wallabies season.”
Sitting on 958 Super Rugby points, Foley is just one behind Burke’s NSW record of 959 and is set to become the first Waratah to notch 1000 points at some stage this year.
Foley will likely battle Matt Toomua for the Wallabies No. 10 jersey in the race to the World Cup.
The 29-year-old had expressed some concern recently about the uncertainty over the rest and rotation policy to be applied to Wallabies players during the Super season in preparation for the World Cup, but after talking to NSW coach Daryl Gibson, Foley says he is now comfortable with the unpublicised plans.
“I didn’t think it was ever a concern, it was just making sure everyone was across the plan so things aren’t happening last minute, [that] there’s a real structured plan,” Foley said.
“That’s been fine, I’ve sat down with Daryl and that’s been covered across.
“We want to play every week, we’re competitive people and we want to be there helping the team and playing alongside everyone.
“But there is an end goal. And what we want to be doing is playing our best footy each and every week.
“So knowing there is a plan, we can just go about our business.
“What we have at the Waratahs now is the depth through our whole squad, so it gives guys who have been in is the squad, doing training, doing pre-season, an opportunity to put their hand up and take the jersey.”
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Originally published as Bernard Foley is set to overtake idol Matt Burke as the NSW Waratahs’ highest points scorer
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