LIST | 5 Reasons Ratu Naulago will take the Premiership by storm
Rugby NewsTuesday, 19 May 2020 at 11:55
BY OLIVER ROBY
Hull FC have confirmed star winger Ratu Naulago will leave the club at the end of the current Super League season to take up a deal with Bristol Bears.
Despite only gracing the 13-a-side code for a year - he was spotted playing for The Army's Rugby Union side before FC snapped him up - he's already left his mark.
Here's why we think he'll take the Premiership by storm.
1. Pace
Now aged 28, Naulago is at the very peak of his powers - and he can run! The Fiji-born winger has bagged an admirable 15 tries in 23 league games for Hull with almost every one seeing him rip on the outside of his opposite number, or travel the length of the pitch to score.
A remarkable try he bagged in the Challenge Cup last year:
Here he is going 'coast to coast' in just 12 seconds in France:
And a truly unstoppable run against Salford:
2. Agility
Not only can he hit a serious top speed with his straight line running, but his evasive skills are to be admired as well.
One of his best tries of the season has clocked up over 21 million views on Facebook to date, a remarkable effort at Wakefield Trinity.
Before he launches into a trademark charge for the tryline, he shows astute awareness to buy some time and spot a gap in the defence.
Then he spins out of a challenge and he's on his way. A physical nightmare to try and defend against:
3. Vision
Naulago is not just a tryscorer either, the flying wide man has racked up a fair share of assists during his time in Super League.
In most cases, he's flying down a dead end having burned the opposition defence, but he shows admirable awareness to bide his time and find the right pass for his team to score.
Here he is setting up teammate Albert Kelly at Castleford:
Against Leeds in the opening round of the current season, he bamboozles the defence with his pace and trickery, before sending his centre over with ease
Another example sees him receive the ball in full flight, using his awareness to be in the right place in the right time, before unleashing a teammate into space against Catalans:
4. Defence
Outside backs, beware!
Naulago is more than just a fine attacker, the 28-year-old is capable of bringing the hits, too.
While his positional sense left a little to be desired in the view of some, when he connects with a tackle, the opposition certainly feel it.
Here are just some examples of his power in defence:
5. He's a rugby union player!
In most cases of league players making the Premiership jump, they haven't played rugby union before, but that couldn't be further from the truth in Naulago's case.
The Fiji-born star is a Private in the Yorkshire Regiment and served in Cyprus for two years before being based in Warminster, Wiltshire, and playing rugby union as a 'guest player' for Bath and Saracens Sevens team, who he helped to the Premiership title.
He was also scouted to play for Hull FC while playing rugby union for The Army. That means he won't need the usual adjustment period and can hit the ground running for his new club upon the eventual completion of the 2020 Super League season.
What a full strength Bristol Bears XV might look like next season
Although many more of the 40 plus squad could make an argument for inclusion, here’s a potential Bristol Bears XV ahead of the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership season.
Player whose names are in
italics are players Bristol are rumoured to be interested in, but are yet to be signed.
A POTENTIAL BRISTOL BEARS XV
1. John Afoa
A World Cup-winning All Black international of 36 caps, the experienced prop joined the club in 2018.
The tight-head was named in the Gallagher Premiership team of the season in 2018/19 after another remarkable campaign in the top flight.
2. Harry Thacker
A skillful dynamo of a hooker, Thacker was added to Pat Lam’s squad for the 2018/19 season.
In an impressive debut season that included a hat-trick versus Wasps and a scintillating brace versus Tigers, Thacker was listed in the Guardian team of the year.
3. Kyle Sinckler
The 26-year-old British & Irish Lions forward will switch Premiership clubs in the summer of 2020.
Sinckler, who made his professional debut for Quins in September 2011, was a key part of England's 2019 World Cup side but only played three minutes of the final against South Africa after being knocked unconscious in a collision with team-mate Maro Itoje.
4. Chris Vui
The 24 year-old – who can play second row or back row – earned his first cap for Samoa during the 2016 November internationals.
Vui became the youngest captain in World Rugby when he skippered Samoa in 2017, before earning a spot in the Championship team of the season.
In 2019, Vui made his debut for the Barbarians following an impressive campaign for the Bears in the Gallagher Premiership.
5. George Kruis
A decade after his debut for Saracens, the 29-year-old Lion from Guildford is understood to be considering a career move to the Far East, having been there last autumn for the World Cup.
However, if the Bears could convince Kruis to remain in the Gallagher Premiership and come to Ashton Gate, he would make their line-out imperious.
6. Steve Luatua
The All Black international - who has fifteen caps for his country - linked up with Pat Lam once again, having worked together at the Blues in 2017.
A formidable presence for club and country, Luatua can play across the back row and in the second row.
The Bristol captain was nominated for Premiership player of the season and scooped Player's Player of the Season in an imperious first campaign in the top flight last season.
7. Ben Earl
The back-rower made his England debut against Scotland in this season's Six Nations and, despite joining the Bears on loan, has also signed a new "long term" contract with Saracens.
8. Nathan Hughes
One of the most dominant forwards in the Gallagher Premiership, standing at 6’5” and weighing over 126kg, Hughes arrived from fellow top flight outfit Wasps in 2019.
A product of the Auckland academy, Hughes made his England debut in 2016.
9. Harry Randall
England U20s representative Harry Randall put pen to paper on a two-year deal which saw the scrum half arrive from West Country neighbours, Gloucester in 2018.
Randall represented Hartpury during the 2017/18 campaign, as a string of livewire displays cemented his reputation as one of the Championship’s standout half-backs.
A graduate of Hartpury college, Randall represented England through the age-groups, before playing for his country in the U20s Junior World Championships.
Randall enjoyed a stunning breakthrough season in the Premiership, scoring solo efforts against Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers.
10. Max Malins
Malins – who is equally adept at fly half and full back – also joins on a season-long loan from Saracens.
11. Ratu Naulago
12. Josh Matavesi
The flying Fijian has made quite the impression after his mid-season switch from Newcastle Falcons to replace Jamie Roberts but Bath boss Stuart Hooper revealed he only has a contract at The Rec until the end of the season.
Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam is known to be a huge fan of the player.
13. Semi Radradra
It was at the 2019 Rugby World Cup that the 27-year-old truly became a household name in the rugby world, making more than 400 metres in just four pool stage games and lighting up the tournament with his devastating blend of pace, power, agility and sleight of hand.
All of which Bristol Bears supporters can look forward to when the Flying Fijian arrives in the West Country next summer.
14. Luke Morahan
The utility back – who can play wing, full back and centre – has three caps for the Wallabies, as well as starring for Australia Sevens.
In 2018, Morahan led the try-scoring charts in the Greene King IPA Championship, earning a spot in the team of the season.
In his first season in the Premiership, Morahan was named in the Guardian team of the year and scooped the club's 'Try of the Season' award for a stunning solo effort versus Leicester.
15. Charles Piutau
The 16-cap All Black’s arrival is one of the biggest coups in the club’s history, with Pat Lam bringing in the 25-year-old utility back in 2018.
Piutau, who can play full back, wing or centre, was named the Pro12 Player’s Player of the Year in 2017 and joined his brother, Siale, in the West Country.
In his first season in the Premiership, Piutau impressed in a Bears jersey, helping his side to the highest finish for a promoted side since 2007.
of Bristol Bears poses for a portrait during the Bristol Bears squad photo call for the 2018-19 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season at Ashton Gate on August 15, 2018 in Bristol, England.
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