Dylan takes it up to legend
STANDING opposite the greatest fullback to lace the boots for North Queensland, Crushers young gun Dylan Gaggiano was not daunted in the slightest.
The 20-year-old Herbert River flyer is still learning the ropes in the backfield after he was moved there earlier this season by captain-coach Mitch Seri.
But it did not stop him producing a man of the match performance as the Crushers downed a Matt Bowen-led Centrals Tigers 28-18 in Ingham.
“(Gaggiano) has played in the centres the last couple of years, but I was trying to look for a bit of spark at the back there, and I decided to move him back to fullback a few games ago.
“I thought he was our best player (against the Tigers). He came up with a couple of really big tries for us at the right time of the game. I think that is the best trait of a fullback, knowing when to pop up in support at the right time.
“Being new to the role, catching high balls can be a bit of a challenge but he was really safe. I just really want him to back himself, he is a big unit with plenty of pace and skill. He just needs to use it.
“I just don’t think he has realised his full potential just yet.”
Gaggiano was also solid with the boot, kicking four from five to finish with a personal haul of 16 points.
Bowen still proved a handful for the Crushers, setting up at least two tries down his edge and finishing with a perfect rate from the tee.
But it was the Crushers’ ability to win the battle of the middle of the field that proved the ultimate difference between the two sides, setting up an exciting run to the finals for the Herbert River side.
“It was a bloody tough game of footy just in the dewy conditions,” Seri said.
“It was one of those games that was definitely played through the middle, with a lot of tough and gutsy carries.
“But that seems to be our best style of footy, going through the middle. Everyone knows if you can win the middle that is where the game is won.”
The Crushers will head back to the training paddock this week as they reset ahead of a tough clash against fellow regional outfit Charters Towers Miners next week.
That game will be followed by back-to-back clashes against fellow top-four contenders Western Lions.
“We are coming to the business end of the year and we have got a pretty trough run home, but that is the way we want it to be honest,” Seri said.
“The finals aren’t going to be easy games, so we might as well start now.”