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International Captain
- Mar 4, 2008
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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html
LUANGA Andriathe, a 16-year-old Sudanese schoolboy, is being tagged as the new Wendell Sailor.
Andria is on target to become the first African to play in the NRL, with Brisbane nurturing the prodigiously talented refugee.
But officials from rugby league and athletics could be in a tug-of-war for the youngster, who will compete in the javelin event at the Youth Olympics in Sydney.
Broncos football manager Peter Nolan said that Andria reminded him of a one-time Brisbane player who is now based with St George-Illawarra.
"He's like a young Wendell Sailor. That's what attracted us to him," Nolan said.
"We went out and watched him play for his school, St James, in Brisbane. We contracted him at 15 and that's good through to grade 12 at school.
"He's really fast but he's also really good at the endurance end. He's coming along nicely.
"I'd like to keep him on. His work ethic and his attitude to training is second to none."
Andria is already on an elite development contract with the club, which will be reviewed later this year with a view to playing him in the Toyota Cup national under-20 competition.
But athletics officials are also keen on Andria pursuing his love of track and field events.
In winning the Pacific School Games javelin gold medal in December, with a record throw of 71.84m, he put himself in medal contention for the next World Youth Championships in Bressanone, Italy, in July.
It seems he inevitably will be forced to choose between his love for athletics and league, but Andria said he wanted to continuing doing both as long as possible.
"It's too hard for me to decide. I'm still too young. I guess I'll take what comes my way," he told The Daily Telegraph.
"I came to Australia eight years ago and now they're telling me I'll be the first Sudanese boy to make the NRL. When I started playing footy I didn't like it, although I like the physical stuff and I know the rules now so it's not confusing for me any more."
Massively framed at 183cm and 100kg, Andria plays wing or centre in the Brisbane club competition and has represented Queensland Schools even though his reading of the game needs maturing.
But Andria's athletics coach Greg Hallam believes his protege can still make a big name for himself away from the rugby league field.
"He won the Queensland primary schools state cross-country race and he can run 100m in under 11sec," Hallam said.
"He's the most extraordinary athlete you've ever seen.
"At the national all-schools in 2006 he won the long jump and the javelin, was third in the 100m and second over 200m. He's capable of being a great decathlete. And he's achieved what he's done in athletics on only two training days a week.
"If he was two or three inches taller he'd be perfect for the javelin, but boy he's got a rocket-propelled arm."
LUANGA Andriathe, a 16-year-old Sudanese schoolboy, is being tagged as the new Wendell Sailor.
Andria is on target to become the first African to play in the NRL, with Brisbane nurturing the prodigiously talented refugee.
But officials from rugby league and athletics could be in a tug-of-war for the youngster, who will compete in the javelin event at the Youth Olympics in Sydney.
Broncos football manager Peter Nolan said that Andria reminded him of a one-time Brisbane player who is now based with St George-Illawarra.
"He's like a young Wendell Sailor. That's what attracted us to him," Nolan said.
"We went out and watched him play for his school, St James, in Brisbane. We contracted him at 15 and that's good through to grade 12 at school.
"He's really fast but he's also really good at the endurance end. He's coming along nicely.
"I'd like to keep him on. His work ethic and his attitude to training is second to none."
Andria is already on an elite development contract with the club, which will be reviewed later this year with a view to playing him in the Toyota Cup national under-20 competition.
But athletics officials are also keen on Andria pursuing his love of track and field events.
In winning the Pacific School Games javelin gold medal in December, with a record throw of 71.84m, he put himself in medal contention for the next World Youth Championships in Bressanone, Italy, in July.
It seems he inevitably will be forced to choose between his love for athletics and league, but Andria said he wanted to continuing doing both as long as possible.
"It's too hard for me to decide. I'm still too young. I guess I'll take what comes my way," he told The Daily Telegraph.
"I came to Australia eight years ago and now they're telling me I'll be the first Sudanese boy to make the NRL. When I started playing footy I didn't like it, although I like the physical stuff and I know the rules now so it's not confusing for me any more."
Massively framed at 183cm and 100kg, Andria plays wing or centre in the Brisbane club competition and has represented Queensland Schools even though his reading of the game needs maturing.
But Andria's athletics coach Greg Hallam believes his protege can still make a big name for himself away from the rugby league field.
"He won the Queensland primary schools state cross-country race and he can run 100m in under 11sec," Hallam said.
"He's the most extraordinary athlete you've ever seen.
"At the national all-schools in 2006 he won the long jump and the javelin, was third in the 100m and second over 200m. He's capable of being a great decathlete. And he's achieved what he's done in athletics on only two training days a week.
"If he was two or three inches taller he'd be perfect for the javelin, but boy he's got a rocket-propelled arm."
