Shillington is Maroons’ new leading man
Roar Guru
By Alan Nicolea, 29 Apr 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- David Shillington, NRL, Rugby League, State Of Origin
Although Steve Price and Petero Civoncieva will once again provide the impetus up front for Queensland this year, Canberra Raiders prop David Shillington has shown enough to suggest he’ll be able to back up the efforts of two of the NRL’s best forwards.
After slowly developing his game at the Sydney Roosters before moving to Canberra, Shillington has now transformed himself into one of the premier front rowers in the NRL.
While he always showed promise at the Roosters, Shillington’s time at Bondi Junction was marred with off field incidents, injuries and inconsistent form.
This no doubt hindered a career which is only now starting to make significant progress.
The move to the Raiders this season has seen the 26 year-old forward produce his best football on a consistent basis, much to the delight of new coach David Furner.
He, along with fellow recruit Bronson Harrison, have been the shinning lights in a Raiders forward pack that at one stage could only count on the supreme efforts of captain Alan Tongue.
Since Shillington’s inclusion, however, the Raiders have been able to consolidate their attacking potency, which has seen key player Terry Campese arguably produce his finest start to a season to date.
Shillington’s effort has now been rewarded with selection in the Maroons’ 25 man Origin squad for the first game at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.
The Brothers Juniors product is in career best form, leading by example in a Raiders side that is enjoying the service he provides courtesy of his strong charges.
Shillington has so far carried the football 106 times this season, placing him second overall in the NRL for most carries by any player.
This effort has propelled Shillington’s status as one of the top three metre gaining forwards in the competition, having already made 820 metres.
Rabbitohs prop Roy Asotasi and Penrith captain Petero Civoncieva are the only other props that have made more yards than Shillington this season.
There is no reason why Shillington cannot replace Price or Civoncieva on a permanent basis, when either one of the two Maroons legends decide to hang up their representative boots.
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PuntPal said | April 29th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
I totally agree Alan. Shillington is close to the form prop in the game and he will be in the final 17 for QLD.
Although, I note you have said Asotasi and Petero have made the most metres of all the props. This is true, but per game Steve Price is still the man. He would have made the most metres of any player if he didnt miss those few games with a busted throat.
The question for the Blues is who can match that kind of yardage? Weyman, Poore, Bailey, Perry Laffranchi… I dont think so.
If NSW can’t match the blues in the engine room, then they will lose their 4th straight series.
LeftArmSpinner said | April 29th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Yep, and let go by the Roosters!!!!!!!!!!!
Choppy said | April 29th 2009 @ 10:40am | Report comment
PuntPal said If NSW can’t match the blues in the engine room, then they will lose their 4th straight series.
Couldn’t agree more, there’s only 3 areas where NSW are lacking on paper leading up to the State of Origin this year…
Backs, Halves and Forwards
Shillo will be right up there, I think he’s really enjoyed the extra responsibility of being a starter away from the Roosters where he wasn’t rated as high as he should’ve been. The Roosters could have kept him for probably half what they are paying Mason or O’Meley or Myles….Nice work Roosters….
Mr Sports said | April 29th 2009 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
As a Raiders fan (see my Through Lime Green Glasses columns on this webiste) i agree that Shillington has been an excellent acquisition for the Lime Green this year. Also i think we can all enjoy yet another player discarded by the Roosters going on to better things (think Joel Monaghan, Jamie Soward, Ashley Harrison). On behalf of fans of every other club i’d liek to thank the Roosters for continually retaining the wrong players
Alan Nicolea said | April 29th 2009 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
Puntpal
Aren’t NSW called the Blues? If you are referring to something else, disregard this comment. Indeed Steve Price is still right up there as the most effective metre gaining forward in the NRL. At 34 years of age, it is amazing to see him continously display the form that ranks him as probably the best prop in the NRL.