Andrew Mehrtens and I have packed up the Between Two Posts set and shifted to the Wallabies camp on the Gold Coast for Monday night’s Stan Sport show.
I’m typing out this week’s column from the hotel foyer where I just spoke with Andrew Kellaway.
Oh, there goes Nic White holding a diary…
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Reds star’s emotional family reunion
LITIA THE LEGEND
I was late to the Filipo Daugunu jersey preso party last week but by God I was happy I made it.
To recap, ‘Lipo’ hasn’t seen most of his Fijian family in over three years due to COVID-19.
The Queensland Reds flew his aunt Litia into town to surprise him with his 50th Super Rugby jersey.
He cried, then she cried, then the team cried… it was incredible.
Litia was the driving force in pulling the visas together to turn Daugunu from a Fijian junior football goalkeeper to a Wallaby.
The winger didn’t let the family down here or back in the village of Labasa either, scoring the decisive try in his side’s big win over the Brumbies.
If you haven’t yet, watch the preso video above, then get your eyes around his try below… it’s the perfect ending.
READ MORE: Australia set to host 2029 women’s Rugby World Cup
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READ MORE: Hooper scores in comeback as ruthless Tahs topple Drua
Daugunu strikes in 50th match
FIJIANA STILL FLYING
It’s over.
The NSW women copped their first loss in Super W history on Friday at the silky hands of the Fijiana Drua.
What makes the 21 win streak-ending performance even more impressive is the fact a number of the women from Fiji have only been playing rugby a couple of years.
Lifted by last year’s breakout Olympic bronze medal from their women’s sevens side, Fijiana have been playing it fast and loose from game one and are brilliant to watch.
The Tahs will have a chance for redemption if they meet in the final, which will likely be held at Melbourne’s AAMI Park as part of Super Round.
What a delicious match up it’ll be.
Fijiana Drua run rings around NSW
WATCH OUT FOR THE HITMAN
Hunter Paisami is now officially the John Wick of rugby.
When he’s around blokes generally get dropped on the spot.
In his two games against the Brumbies this year, he’s rearranged the ribs of Noah Lolesio and Nic White with both falling victim to his blindside-rush-sniper tackles.
What sets Paisami apart from Wick is his kind nature post-tackle with the centre making an effort to check on White in Brisbane.
Nic politely declined the lift up, opting for some reflection time on the turf instead.
Is there a bigger hitter in world rugby at the moment?
Halfback rocked by Paisami’s brutal shot
SAM ON STAN
You will have head an all-new commentary team across the Drua ‘home’ games in 2022.
Legendary voice Greg Clark has been guiding newbies Lailanie Burnes and Sam Wykes.
Wykes you might remember as the skilful, athletic lock from the Force, Sunwolves and Waratahs.
He’s also a ‘real weird cat’ according to former Force team-mate Cam Shepherd.
I can’t speak to the weirdo element but I can say he’s been wonderful in his first season behind the mic.
His delivery reminds me a lot of good mate Karl Te Nana who’s been doing his thing with World Rugby and Sky NZ for a long while now.
With ‘Clarkie’ lending a veteran hand, the future looks bright in the box for Wykesy.
HOT STUFF WITH HJH
Loose/tighthead prop.
Proper musician.
Uni student AND BBQ pit master.
Wallabies squad member Harry Johnson-Holmes has got it cooking on all fronts at the moment.
I’m told by Tahs staffers that he is the real deal when it comes to smoking meats, marinading, brining… dry rubbing – you get the idea.
It’s worth giving the Newcastle junior a follow on Instagram where he posts stories regularly.
Check out the goodies and grab the hot sauce.
NSW prop shares BBQ talents
WHO DAT?
Which Queensland star is so loved in one corner of Europe, a dedicated photographer is sent to Reds home games to snap shots of him and only him?
WHEN DAT?
Keep a keen eye on the interwebs and emails this week with an ‘on sale’ date imminent for tickets to the Wallabies vs England series.
July is going to be huge.
See you tonight on Between Two Posts with Mehrts and a whole bunch of Wallabies.
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