PLAYER TO WATCH
ETENE NANAI [ST KENTIGERN COLLEGE]
A mazy runner with the smooth stride of a racehorse and a horizontal step to make fools will cause havoc again this year. Complementing Nanai’s pace and elusiveness is a range of ball skills that saw him pull off a series of highlight reel tries in 2016.
Nanai’s ability to change direction and get into gallop instantly is his main athletic weapon but ominously now in his Year 13, Nanai enters his fourth year in the First XV. Along with his invaluable 1A experience, he comes armed with a full NRL offseason. With time also in the Chiefs development setup, Nanai is a young man with doors opening but his coach knows what is best for now.
“It’s important he does his Year 13 because he can’t get it back,” said Lavea and with all of Nanai’s available options, the St Kent’s coach, who is in his ninth campaign, will be thankful.