Shillington is Maroons’ new leading man
April 30th 2009 01:44
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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