Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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LEGENDARY Maroons captain Gorden Tallis has declared Matt Gillett as “the best forward in the world”.
That is an enormous call from Tallis but on form Gillett is playing better than any other top tier forwards including Sam Burgess, Matt Scott, James Tamou and Jason Taumalolo.
Gillett was man of the match in Game One, inking his status as a star representative forward.
He has been Brisbane’s best forward this season, breaking the most tackles (30), making the most linebreaks (4) and scoring the equal most tries (3). He also hurts in defence.
“Matt Gillett, right now, is the best forward in the world,” Tallis told The Courier-Mail.
“Currently he’s the best. His rawness on the edge, his line speed, his willingness to want to hit someone really hard. What’s not to like about him.
“There’s so much to like. He runs great lines. He has speed, power, he has endurance, he has a great shot in him and he wants to make the play.”
To become a true great, Gillett has to do what Scott, Burgess and Tallis did, perform at his peak for years.
Wednesday night will be Gillett’s 14th appearance for Queensland but just his fourth start. Not bad for a Bribie Island battler who graduated from the Intrust Super Cup to the NRL rather than being a star under-20s player.
Gillett’s Game One performance, in which he made 43 tackles, has cemented his place as Queensland’s starting backrower.
Gillett, who has a one-year-old daughter Harper with wife Skye, told The Courier-Mail simple advice from Wayne Bennett had helped him achieve consistency.
“He knows the right things to say about football and he tells us to make sure that when we leave the paddock to shut off football and that’s what I have taken away, to clear the head from football at the end of each day,” Gillett said.
“I have a little girl who turns two in August. Coming home to her with a win or a loss and she doesn’t know any different and she just wants to play.
“She might not know it but she gives me a lot of support. I am enjoying family time and enjoying being away from footy and then switching on.
“I have had a goal to play consistent footy and I think this year, I have done that and I am getting some rewards in representing Australia and Queensland.”
Gillett will play opposite Greg Bird in Origin II at Suncorp Stadium. Bird replaces the suspended Wade Graham and is certain to try and bait Gillett into a brawl.
No Cookies | The Courier Mail
That is an enormous call from Tallis but on form Gillett is playing better than any other top tier forwards including Sam Burgess, Matt Scott, James Tamou and Jason Taumalolo.
Gillett was man of the match in Game One, inking his status as a star representative forward.
He has been Brisbane’s best forward this season, breaking the most tackles (30), making the most linebreaks (4) and scoring the equal most tries (3). He also hurts in defence.
“Matt Gillett, right now, is the best forward in the world,” Tallis told The Courier-Mail.
“Currently he’s the best. His rawness on the edge, his line speed, his willingness to want to hit someone really hard. What’s not to like about him.
“There’s so much to like. He runs great lines. He has speed, power, he has endurance, he has a great shot in him and he wants to make the play.”
To become a true great, Gillett has to do what Scott, Burgess and Tallis did, perform at his peak for years.
Wednesday night will be Gillett’s 14th appearance for Queensland but just his fourth start. Not bad for a Bribie Island battler who graduated from the Intrust Super Cup to the NRL rather than being a star under-20s player.
Gillett’s Game One performance, in which he made 43 tackles, has cemented his place as Queensland’s starting backrower.
Gillett, who has a one-year-old daughter Harper with wife Skye, told The Courier-Mail simple advice from Wayne Bennett had helped him achieve consistency.
“He knows the right things to say about football and he tells us to make sure that when we leave the paddock to shut off football and that’s what I have taken away, to clear the head from football at the end of each day,” Gillett said.
“I have a little girl who turns two in August. Coming home to her with a win or a loss and she doesn’t know any different and she just wants to play.
“She might not know it but she gives me a lot of support. I am enjoying family time and enjoying being away from footy and then switching on.
“I have had a goal to play consistent footy and I think this year, I have done that and I am getting some rewards in representing Australia and Queensland.”
Gillett will play opposite Greg Bird in Origin II at Suncorp Stadium. Bird replaces the suspended Wade Graham and is certain to try and bait Gillett into a brawl.
No Cookies | The Courier Mail
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