https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/cutters-plan-to-stop-nrls-most-feared-winger/3873443/ HE FOUGHT his way into the Papua New Guinea set-up and through the challenges of the inaugural World Cup Nines. Now Dan Russell is braced for his biggest test — the fend of Maika Sivo. The Mackay Cutters’ centre will make his Test Match debut in the Oceania Cup clash with Fiji on Saturday, where he will line up against the leading NRL try scorer of the 2019 season. Sivo crossed the white strip 22 times in his first season for the Parramatta Eels, and established a reputation as one of the most fearsome wingers in the game. Russell knows he will have his work cut out for him. “That will be a bloody good test … he’s a big body and can score some tries, so it will be a hard job to do, but I reckon me and my winger can get the job done,” he said.
“I think once one of us get a hold of him the other has to come in pretty quick. “The key is to go hard and low, all these people go in high these days and get palmed off so the better option is to go low and once you’ve got him wait for that help to come.” Russell’s impending Test debut will round out a remarkable season for the 23-year-old. He established himself as a regular presence in the Cutters’ backline, and featured for PNG — the birthplace of his father — at the World Cup Nines in October. Strong form led to his upgrade into the North Queensland Cowboys’ top 30 squad. But nothing will compare to this moment. “It’s some you want to do as a kid, I can’t wait to get out there,” Russell said. “You watch PNG, whenever they play, no matter what game it is, they wear the jersey with pride. “It’s going to be a physical match, there are some big bodies in that team. It’s going to be a physical battle from both of us … and who can hold that grind the longest will get the job done.” There will be plenty for Russell to play for when he walks onto Christchurch Stadium. A clash with the Great Britain Lions in Port Moresby will take place next Saturday, and the Cutter sees this as an opportunity to showcase his NRL credentials. It may well be the biggest crowd he has played in front of, but Russell is confident he will not be overawed by the emotion and stakes at play. “Believe it or not, when you run out there and the whistle goes you forget about the crowd,” he said. “But back home in PNG when we play the Lions it will be a full house there and that’s the best crowd you’ll ever play in front of. “My goal is to play well for the first game so I can play the second game. If I can play well in these games then hopefully the Cowboys can see I can play in the NRL.” The PNG-Fiji match will kick off at 5.20pm New Zealand time.
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November 2019
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