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Former Origin great Paul Vautin tips fellow redhead Dylan Napa to be Origin success
Former Origin great Paul Vautin has tipped fellow redhead Dylan Napa to develop into one of the NRL's most feared hitmen.
After just seven NRL matches, the 21-year-old Roosters prop has already demonstrated enough potential to be included in the Queensland Emerging Origin squad that spent the weekend at a training camp in Brisbane.
While still a raw prospect, Napa is in line to become the first redhead to wear Maroon since Brett Dallas scorched the representative flanks in 1997.
"He could become Queensland's second-best redhead ever," joked Vautin, the ginger-haired larrikin who captained and coached the Maroons during a celebrated career.
Beneath all the ranga gags is a weapon with the potential to rattle NSW.
The 194cm, 109kg forward hit the spotlight last year when he manhandled Bulldogs front-rower James Graham.
For his next trick, he did what most of his state could only dream of doing, flattening Blues and Sharks skipper Paul Gallen in an earth-shuddering collision that went viral on social media.
"Seriously, he's got all the ingredients," Vautin said.
"He's big, hits hard and runs the ball well.
"One of the most important things for a hitter is timing and he does that well."
The 2014 NRL season is a little under two months away and already a number of coaches are in the spotlight, with a dramatic reversal in their teams fortunes necessary to ensure their survival.
Perhaps ironically, Vautin has encouraged Napa to focus less on the throwback hits that thrust him into the spotlight.
"It's great that he hits hard but it's not something you want to overuse," he said. "If you don't get that right, you come off looking pretty silly."
Playfully nicknamed the "Bell-ranga" after the Gallen hit, Napa is shy off the field and was honoured to be thought of even as a potential Maroon.
His first assignment will be winning a spot in the Roosters pack for their round one clash against South Sydney on March 6.
LINK: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/for...-1226806143028
Former Origin great Paul Vautin has tipped fellow redhead Dylan Napa to develop into one of the NRL's most feared hitmen.
After just seven NRL matches, the 21-year-old Roosters prop has already demonstrated enough potential to be included in the Queensland Emerging Origin squad that spent the weekend at a training camp in Brisbane.
While still a raw prospect, Napa is in line to become the first redhead to wear Maroon since Brett Dallas scorched the representative flanks in 1997.
"He could become Queensland's second-best redhead ever," joked Vautin, the ginger-haired larrikin who captained and coached the Maroons during a celebrated career.
Beneath all the ranga gags is a weapon with the potential to rattle NSW.
The 194cm, 109kg forward hit the spotlight last year when he manhandled Bulldogs front-rower James Graham.
For his next trick, he did what most of his state could only dream of doing, flattening Blues and Sharks skipper Paul Gallen in an earth-shuddering collision that went viral on social media.
"Seriously, he's got all the ingredients," Vautin said.
"He's big, hits hard and runs the ball well.
"One of the most important things for a hitter is timing and he does that well."
The 2014 NRL season is a little under two months away and already a number of coaches are in the spotlight, with a dramatic reversal in their teams fortunes necessary to ensure their survival.
Perhaps ironically, Vautin has encouraged Napa to focus less on the throwback hits that thrust him into the spotlight.
"It's great that he hits hard but it's not something you want to overuse," he said. "If you don't get that right, you come off looking pretty silly."
Playfully nicknamed the "Bell-ranga" after the Gallen hit, Napa is shy off the field and was honoured to be thought of even as a potential Maroon.
His first assignment will be winning a spot in the Roosters pack for their round one clash against South Sydney on March 6.
LINK: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/for...-1226806143028
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