First XV star to NRL
A high school rugby star who was billed as a Crusader in waiting two and half a years ago will make his NRL debut this weekend.
Former Burnside High School wing/centre and Crusaders agegroup representative Mikaele Ravalawa, 21, has been named to start on the wing for the St George Illawarra Dragons against the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday night.
Back in 2016, Ravalawa was a star of the Crusaders region schools competition and was one of the leading try scorers.
Ravalawa, who captained the Fiji under-18 sevens team, was brought to New Zealand from Fiji on a scholarship as part of Burnside’s international rugby programme.
One of his former coaches at Burnside, Murray Henderson, believes Ravalawa could have made it as a professional rugby player but isn’t shocked to see him in the NRL given the high level of interest the speedy outside back attracted.
Back in 2016, Henderson told Stuff he hoped the Crusaders’ academy talent spotters had their eyes on Ravalawa but many talent scouts from two codes were watching him set the First XV scene alight.
Henderson suspects league scouts already had their eyes on Ravalawa when he arrived in Christchurch and it wasn’t just his ability with ball in hand or stinging defence that caught the eye.
‘‘He’s an intelligent young man as well,’’ Henderson told Stuff. ‘‘Adapting from union to league wouldn’t be difficult for him.’’
Even as a teenager at Burnside, Ravalawa could adjust to different conditions and situations as a match developed, Henderson said.
‘‘That’s quite special. That’s something you don’t see a lot.’’
‘‘He did make the (Crusaders) Knights. He was involved in the Crusaders structure or system under the eye of their development schemes. One that might have got away but there’s more coming through,’’ Henderson said. Following his time at Burnside, Ravalawa was signed by the Canberra Raiders despite having no league background.
He went on to be named Canberra’s under 20s player of the year in 2017 and was a regular starter in the club’s Intrust Super Premiership NSW feeder team Mounties last year. Stuck behind Kiwis winger Jordan Rapana and Canberra junior Nick Cotric in 2019, Ravalawa switched to St George in the off-season.
He was a standout during the Dragons two trial matches this year and scored two tries against the Newcastle Knights.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor has described Ravalawa as a true ‘‘athlete’’.
‘‘Six foot two, 93 kilos, he can run, changes the ball in each hand, fend with either arm, explosive,’’ McGregor told the Illawarra Mercury.
‘‘We’ve just got to keep working with him, he’s only new to our systems. He’s a big boy and something we’re looking for as outside backs, that speed and size.’’
The Crusaders Schools’ Championship has been a breeding ground for the Crusaders and All Blacks with Richie Mo’unga, Owen Franks and Ryan Crotty amongst its graduates.