Menzies in prime Reds form

RYAN Menzies has found some high-ranking support for his rugby career to go to the next level in the form of Bond University executive director of sport Garry Nucifora.

Menzies, 23, continued his outstanding form this Queensland Premier Rugby season by scoring a hat-trick in the Bull Sharks’ 31-15 victory against Norths on Saturday.

It wasn’t quite enough to keep the club’s elusive finals dream alive but it was another timely reminder of the winger or centre’s talents.

“He has week in, week out been an outstanding contributor to that team,” Nucifora said. “He is a big, strong, robust bloke who really knows the game and is a line breaker.

“People will say – because I have been in both arenas – ‘that’s all very well Garry, it’s premier rugby’ but the reality is he has got a skill set where he wouldn’t be out of his depth further up. Probably somewhere along the lines I need to sit down with (Reds attack coach) Jim McKay and say ‘mate, you really need to have a look at this young fella’.”

Menzies has made his mark this season despite not starting the year in the 15-a-side code, having initially channelled his focus on rugby sevens.

“I was just going to have a year focusing on sevens but then I sort of got itchy feet I suppose and came in about Round 4 or Round 5 and have really enjoyed it,” Menzies explained.

“It’s good to come to training and it’s an enjoyable brand of footy we play, especially coming from a sevens standpoint. We play an expansive brand of footy so for people in the outside backs it is really exciting.

“It’s good to be involved in a team that plays that way.”

Bond will round out their campaign on Saturday by hosting Sunnybank.