Lewis Leaumoana has enjoyed a magnificent debut Pillar Cup season for Eastern Suburbs and is hoping to lead his side to the premiership. Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Marc McGowan
HAMPTON Park may be home to Victoria’s most promising rugby union prospect.
Lewis Leaumoana, 19, has taken the state’s new elite level competition, the Pillar Cup, by storm this year as a member of representative side the Eastern Suburbs.
The rising star has scored six tries in as many outings in 2007, with all coming during a four-game stretch between rounds two and five to have his coaches heaping praise on him.
But the quietly spoken youngster prefers to share the spotlight with his team-mates.
“(Scoring is) mainly the backs’ job, but the team has just gelled together and anyone can score in this team,” Leaumoana said after his team’s 29-25 triumph over the Kingston Redbacks on Friday night.
“It was my night off – it was the backs’ turn!
“When I score we usually lose and when the others score we mainly win, so I’d rather take the win than the try,” he said.
Leaumoana also plays for Endeavour Hills when he is available – splitting his time between its Colts and Premier One teams – and is making a habit of having an impact at every standard in which he competes.
Leaumoana was awarded the Victorian under-19 player of the year in 2006 after his quality output at last year’s national championships in Brisbane.
“That was a shock for me because there are heaps of good players out there. I didn’t expect it,” he said.
The open-side flanker loves nothing more than getting onto the rugby field, and the former New Zealander believes he is becoming a much more rounded performer.
“It’s just like Aussies grow up in Australia and love their footy – back in New Zealand it’s all we do,” Leaumoana said.
“I’ve grown more as a player this year.
“I’ve become more mature because before I was just going for big hits, but now I go more for the ball than the man.”
Despite representing the state at under 16, under 18, under 19, under 20, under 21 and open level, Leaumoana lists playing for Eastern as the highlight of his career so far.
“It’s just the brotherhood of the team,” he said.
“We got together in only two weeks and we beat these guys (the Kingston Redbacks) and we have beaten them again (on Friday night),” he said.
“Before we sort of had nothing to pick the state team from, but now this competition lets the state selectors see more of the club players who never got the chance to go to the trials.
“(Playing in the Pillar Cup) means something for what we play for.
“Premier One is just sort of for fun, but this is a notch up.”
Even though Leaumoana is flying high with Eastern, he still has plenty of sympathy for the plight Endeavour Hills has found itself in over the past few months.
The Premier One team has struggled on and off the field, with unpaid fees and other commitments leading to a lack of player numbers.
“It’s unlucky that it’s happened because this is our first year back in Premier One,” Leaumoana said.
“We’re going to finish the year – all of the boys have said that – and hopefully we can still play in Premier One next year.
“I want to take out the Pillar Cup with Easts and then, hopefully, if we do miss out I can play Colts for Endeavour Hills and take out that grand final.”
