Winger accepts a giant mission
MOTIVATED Reds winger Izaia Perese must tonight conquer a mountainous 32kg size difference to do his part in ending the most dire interstate drought in 55 years.
The buzz- saw energy of the 91kg winger can transform him into a giant- killer and it will take nothing less to cut down the 123kg Goliath that is Taqele Naiyaravoro.
It must happen in head- tohead match- ups across the park at Suncorp Stadium for a young, underdog Queensland side to upset the seasoned NSW Waratahs for the first time since 2013.
Naiyaravoro has dined out on rival defenders all year for 10 tries rather than simply dining out which had been the Fijian’s long- time issue when ballooning to 136kg in the past.
He slaughtered the Reds at the SCG in April with two tries and a massive 236 running metres which is what Perese has to contend with.
Perese, 21, went to the same Wavell State High as Queensland’s new State of Origin skipper Greg Inglis which has only heightened what interstate night means.
“Watching Origin as a kid was where I first got Queensland v NSW but everyone has their own perspective on a rivalry that means as much to us as rugby players,” Perese said.
“A lot like to gee- it up beforehand but I’m just bottling it all up for game time.”
It’s amazing how often an unlikely winner of a mismatch rouses a team, even on the wing away from the pack confrontations that decide momentum.
In 2004, it was unheralded Peter Hynes chopping down NSW star Lote Tuqiri while it worked in reverse a year later when Waratah Peter Hewat upstaged Reds’ Wendell Sailor.
When Thorn took on the job as Reds coach he wanted to mould a team that would scrap for every metre.
“And the main opposition is NSW, right?” Thorn said.
“Izzy has my faith because he’s a physical kid and he knows to get up quick to take the big man’s space.”