COWBOY’S TRY RECORD GIVING BILLY PLENTY TO PONDER
TEENAGE forward sensation Jeremiah Nanai is on pace to become just the sixth forward in 107 years of competition to score 15 tries in a season.
Through 10 matches the 19-yearold Cowboy has already scored seven tries to lead all NRL forwards.
Since the dawn of the NRL in 1998 only two players have scored 15 tries or more in the regular season: Manly’s Steve Menzies in 1998 (20) and Gold Coast’s David Fifita in 2021 (17).
If Nanai maintains his current strike rate of 70 per cent he will become the third.
That is a statistic certain to make New South Wales uncomfortable as coach Billy Slater finalises his Queensland squad.
The selection of tryscorers Fifita and Nanai on opposite edges could be devastating for defences.
Nanai revealed Slater has been keeping in close contact.
“He said just keep playing good footy, keep doing what you’re doing; the small bits from the one percenters and keep competing for the ball and stuff like that.
“I’m taking that all on board and it gives me motivation to hopefully pull on that jersey.”
All seven of Nanai’s tries have come from kicks, a feat he credits to an upbringing playing volleyball and basketball.