Odd couple lead attack

VASTLY different paths have crossed to bring together Australia’s likely men’s beach volleyball team to contest the Commonwealth Games .

Chris McHugh, 28, has been Australia’s spearhead for years whereas Damien Schumann is a true late bloomer.

The pair have teamed up since the start of last year and spoke of the importance of having a strong combination on and off the court.

“You have to have that trust and that real strong tight-knit team to be a successful team on the world tour week in, week out because it is such a long grind at times to be on the road with somebody,” McHugh said.

Schumann had to pay his own way to get his career off the ground.

Now 30, he was a full-time schoolteacher from 2010 to 2016 before earning the call-up to combine with McHugh.