Santo relishes his shot at fresh start
TOWNSVILLE Blackhawks recruit Zac Santo says the chance to make the fullback position his own was the driving force behind his move back home to North Queensland.
The Charters Towers junior has rejoined the club where he was a foundation player in 2015 and looks set to make his on- field return against the Hunters in PNG tomorrow afternoon.
Santo left Townsville in 2016 to pursue an NRL deal with the Canberra Raiders, where he played two firstgrade games, before linking up with the New Zealand Warriors as a mid- season recruit last year.
The 25- year- old said he enjoyed his time in New Zealand, but he had become frustrated by a lack of game time, restricted to just the three appearances in the NSW Cup this season.
Santo still harbours an ambition to return to firstgrade and he has played some of the best football of his career in Blackhawks colours – holding the record for most tries in a single season with 31 from 24 games in 2015.
Santo has stayed in contact with Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf, who offered the talented utility back a lifeline following a seasonending hand injury to Carlin Anderson, and Santo was said he was more than happy to take it.
“I wasn’t getting an opportunity over in New Zealand and I didn’t have a club for next year … it was really frustrating and it probably took a toll on me mentally,” he said.
“Woolfy gives me a call every now and then, just for old times’ sake, but I wasn’t playing any games and I asked him if there were any spots available back here.
“He said our fullback’s just gone down so there’s an opportunity here for you to try and make fullback your own.
“I thought if I’m not playing in New Zealand then I might as well come home.”
Much has changed since Santo left Townsville – with speedster Jonathon Reuben the only remaining foundation player – but he said it felt good to be back in the familiar surrounds of Jack Manski Oval.
Santo not only played plenty of rugby league there but also worked at Brothers Leagues Club in hospitality during his time as a Cowboys under- 20s player.
“A lot of the plays are the same, we’re still a tough team, and we like our conditions here,” Santo said.
“Just getting used to everyone’s game style – that’s probably the hardest thing that I’ll come across, because it’s a completely different team.
“We were a pretty structured team whereas this team likes to chuck the ball around a little bit more. I’ll just get used to that.”
Santo said he’s itching to get back on the field having not played for three weeks and he could get his chance in against the Hunters in Port Moresby after being named on an extended bench.
It would be a baptism of fire in the rugby league- mad nation, but Santo was confident he could help the Blackhawks add to their six- game winning streak.
“PNG aren’t as good as they have been the last few years, but it’s a tough game to come back. Hopefully we can keep our roll going,” he said.
“We just want to play consistent footy.
“That’s what I’m going to try and bring when I come into the team.”
Santo went through the Cowboys’ under- 20s system in a group featuring current NRL stars Jason Taumalolo, Michael Morgan, Kyle Feldt and Felise Kaufusi.