Swerling in NRC debut
Back-rower off bench for Queensland Country
NUKU Swerling is positioned to make his National Rugby Championship debut on home soil in what will be his first competitive game in more than four months.
The 25-year-old has been named on the bench for Queensland Country’s Round 4 match against the Western Force at Bond University from 3pm this afternoon.
Swerling was a Beaudesert and Helensvale junior and played for the Gold Coast Breakers – Bond’s predecessor in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition – in 2012.
He has since represented Samoa and Australia at under-20 level and spent three years playing professional rugby in France, for Oyonnax and then Grenoble, before returning Down Under this year to chase higher honours.
“I learnt a lot while I was overseas about myself and about the game,” Swerling said.
His return hasn’t quite been smooth sailing, however.
Despite playing his last game for Grenoble on May 12, the expiration date of his contract meant Swerling was not available to be cleared for Bond until the final game of the regular season, before which the back-rower strained his calf.
He was still picked in the wider squad for defending premiers Country and played in their pre-season trial against Brisbane City. Swerling laughed his “lungs were on fire” in that outing due to his lack of match fitness.
With a spot opened up by Liam Wright’s hamstring injury, he has now been promoted into the playing 23 and is likely to fill an impact role off the bench.
Country are the only undefeated outfit after three rounds while the Force are fourth.
“It’s exciting to return to Bond … it’s the one location the team have played every year since the NRC started in 2014. It’s become a real home base for the side,” said Country coach Rod Seib. Harry Hoopert, Effi Ma’afu, James Slipper, Harry Hockings, Angus Blyth, Angus ScottYoung, Tom Kibble, Sunia Finefeuiaki, Tate McDermott, Hamish Stewart, Filipo Daugunu, Duncan Paia’aua, Tony Hunt, Jock Campbell, Jordan Petaia. Reserves: Alex Casey, Richie Asiata, Jake Simeon, Michael Wood, Harry Wilson, Nuku Swerling, James Tuttle, Patrick James.