HIS teammates failed to shine but Dragons recruit Siliva Havili has put himself right in the frame for round one selection with an impressive performance from the bench in Saturday’s Charity Shield.
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The former Kiwi Test bolter muscled his way over for a try that put the Dragons up 10-6 early in the second half and asked some questions of the Rabbitohs defence in the middle of park from dummy-half.
But it was a strong cameo as a running forward in the second half that showed his true value to coach Paul McGregor as he weighs up whether to carry two hookers in his 17 come round one.
‘‘I thought he was exciting, he played really well,’’ McGregor said.
‘‘He was one of the players who made an impact when he came on the field.
‘‘He played 13 late in the game and I thought he carted the ball forward pretty well and found the ground for us. He certainly put his hand up and he’ll get a good crack at [New Zealand] this week.’’
Havili shifted from the Warriors to the Dragons in hope of getting more regular NRL action after his junior club signed Rabbitohs star Isaac Luke.
It would take some super impressive performances for him to unseat Dragons incumbent Mitch Rein as the starting No.9 but Saturday’s performance showed Havili is more than capable of juggling both dummy-half and forward roles.
At 104 kgs, his power game through the middle of the field could provide a nice complement to Rein’s speed and skill out of dummy-half.
‘‘With interchange being at eight now the [bench] nine has got be someone who can play 13 as well so he can stay on there a little bit longer,’’ McGregor said.
‘‘If you can have that option as an interchange player who can play a bit of nine and 13 it’s good to have. That’s why he was brought to the club as that player.
‘‘Mitch [Rein] wants to play 80 minutes but I’ve got to see him be able to do that. He hasn’t done a lot of that in the last 12 months.
‘‘With Havili there it gives us that option to have that 13 or nine on the interchange.’’
Havili will get another chance to impress against his former club in Nelson on Saturday and said he’s happy to play either role if it enhances his chances of cementing a regular NRL berth.
‘‘It’s good to have that versatility and I’m happy to play anywhere,’’ Havili said.
‘‘Being new here I just want to earn the respect of my teammates.
‘‘I learn a lot off Mitch, he’s really quick out of dummy-half. It’s early on in my career and you want to be competing against the best.
‘‘If I bring that power game and we put in a different game plan against a more physical team or something like that and Mary puts me out there that’s great. I’ll just play wherever I’m told and do the best I can.’’
