Canberra winger Jordan Rapana says picking young gun Xavier Savage at fullback ahead of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for Friday night’s round one clash with Cronulla at GIO Stadium would be a “kick in the face” to the latter.
Nicoll-Klokstad, who starred in the Raiders’ 2019 grand final run, is expected to start the season in the No.1 jersey after missing most of last year with a neck injury.
That helped allow Savage, 19, to debut and play three games where he showed he’s one of the game’s most exciting youngsters, encouraged again by scintillating trial form.
But if there is a decision for Raiders coach Ricky Stuart to make at fullback, Rapana says there is only one choice to make.
“I’m not gonna beat around the bush, Charnze is one of the best fullbacks in the game,” Rapana told AAP.
“Xave is a great up and coming young gun but I believe he’s still got a fair way to go to take that spot off Charnze.
“It would be a kick in the face to Charnze to say that spot is in jeopardy … he’s a world class player, it’s good we’ve got young guns pushing but that spot is Charnze’s.”
But Nicoll-Klokstad, 26, was full of praise for Savage and said he could never match it with the former Queensland Junior Athletics champion for pace.
“He’s got a lot of raw talent … some things I won’t be able to learn, and you can’t teach,” he told AAP.
“I’m looking forward to what the future holds for Xavier, where that is I’m unsure, but I messaged him when he said he was playing and I just said, you know that position is yours to lose, no one owns the jersey and it’s up for grabs every year.”
Nicoll-Klokstad recently told Canberra Daily that Stuart had informed him the fullback spot would be his for the season opener against Cronulla.
“Sticky spoke to me the week of the trial and said I’ll be there come round one, but I’ll definitely be making sure come Tuesday that my name is there,” he smiled. “It’s sort of just a habit for me, I love making sure I’m there.”
One option Canberra have is to play Savage on a wing, particularly while Rapana serves a two-game ban.
Savage said he felt more comfortable at fullback but saw his skillset could make him an asset on the wing.
“It’s a competitive sport and you always fight for positions,” he said.
“Charnze is a top class player, he’s very knowledgeable about the game and he’s been doing this for a while now.
“I’m just starting out my career, at that phase now where I’m just happy wherever working for the team.”
Whether or not it’s in round one, or even this season, Savage looms as an X-factor that could have Canberra fans excited for years to come, and the teenager issued an ominous warning.
“I feel better, faster than last year and really comfortable at the back,” he added.
“It was more a focus on speed under fatigue this pre-season, more short, sharp stuff and I’m feeling a bit quicker.
“I’ve improved a lot over the last 12 months and I’m very proud of myself for where I am now.”
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