A 100 metre try, a pair of conversions and a man of the match performance at flyhalf which helped CSU to a 19-13 win over Narromine - Ethan Cusik made his New Holland Cup debut one to remember.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cusik, a former Randwick colt, was one of a handful of players who pulled on a CSU jumper for the first time on Saturday as the students opened their 2021 season at Cale Oval against the Narromine Gorillas.
He had pressure on his shoulders filling the hole left vacant by 2020 skipper Nick Plunkett, but the new number 10 wasted little time stamping his authority on the contest.
"Our new five-eighth, he played really strong. He scored a 100 metre try with about 20 go, he ran the ball from a loose line-out on our try line when they were hammering us," CSU coach Dave Conyers said.
"It was his first game of senior rugby, he was as nervous as hell before the game. His Mum and Dad came up to watch him play, which was great."
That try, CSU's third of the contest, was to prove critical.
The students started strongly with Jonah Ruzgas, in his first game for CSU since the 2019 grand final win over the Gorillas at the same venue, crossing for the opening try.
It was part of a solid return performance from the second rower and helped CSU to a 7-0 half-time lead.
Centre Caleb Smith added another five-pointer in the second half and when Cusik produced his brilliant solo effort, the visitors looked well in control. But then fatigue set in.
"It was 19-3 with about 10 to go and they scored two late tries in the corner, we had no reserves," Conyers said.
"Second grade was a tough game because they only had 15 and they were totally exhausted, so we only had two people on the bench and most guys had to play the full 80. When they started coming back at us we had nothing left in the tank.
"Yeah I was nervous, I thought 'They're going to do to us what we did to them in the [2019] grand final'.
"We had their measure pretty much the whole game, we just got tired and ran out of gas and players."
But CSU showed the sort of grit and determination Conyers wants to become a trademark of their performances this season as they held on to take the win.
While Cusik and Ruzgas were standouts, Conyers was pleased with the endeavour shown by his entire first grade side.
"It was good to see the new blokes all stand up really well. Caleb Smith scored our second try and our new Maori front rower [Larmarn Maa], he played the full 80 minutes. It was his first game in eight years and played the full 80," the coach said.
"I was really impressed with the enthusiasm and effort, they were all pretty keyed up for the game which was good."
As for Narromine, given they had a youthful line up and new combinations Conyers expects they will build as the season unfolds
"A lot of their good players, the guys we played a couple of years ago, are playing second grade now they've got older," he said.
"They had quite a young first grade side which was quite surprising, so I guess they're rebuilding a little bit."
CSU 19 (Jonah Ruzgas, Caleb Smith, Ethan Cusik tries; Ethan Cusik 2 conversions) defeated NARROMINE GORILLAS 13
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.westernadvocate.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News