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NOT many St George Illawarra fans would have heard of the name Wycliff Palu but the Dragons think he has the potential to become a well-known player next season.
The Tongan-born man mountain turned up to pre-season training tipping the scales at 126kg.
Palu, who was signed from the Manly rugby union ranks, has trimmed down over the past six weeks and is shaping up as one of St George Illawarra's secret weapons in their 2004 National Rugby League campaign.
Dragons coach Nathan Brown said he had been very impressed with the 21-year-old giant's aptitude on the training paddock.
"Wycliff is fitting in well. He's really improving a lot," he said.
"This is the first time he has been in a professional set-up, full-time, in the pre-season. It's not easy but he's very determined and he's not a quitter.
"He did three or four weeks with the rehab group because he had a bit of a bung hamstring. At the start of it, he couldn't swim very well but the guys said by the end of it, he was swimming comfortably whereas some guys could've put their hands up and said they're not a good swimmer and be done with it."
Palu played rugby league in the junior ranks with Manly but switched to rugby union last year and played for the NSW Waratahs against Samoa.
Former Steelers hooker Andrew Purcell scouted Palu and recommended him to the Dragons, who jumped at the chance to give their forward pack some extra size.
Palu is naturally soft-spoken but Brown said he was gradually finding his voice as he settled into his new surrounds.
"He's slowly coming out of his shell, he's even sharing a joke and a laugh with the boys now," Brown said.
Palu's Dragons team-mates reckon he is a dead ringer for Brisbane front rower Petero Civoniceva although he could also serve as a double for Warriors linchpin Ali Lauiti'iti.
Brown said he would use Palu as both a prop and a second rower.
"He has got a lot of great attributes - the size and the athleticism," he said.
"I think he probably needs to get a bit fitter. He's already lost seven or eight kilos so he's going well."
The Tongan-born man mountain turned up to pre-season training tipping the scales at 126kg.
Palu, who was signed from the Manly rugby union ranks, has trimmed down over the past six weeks and is shaping up as one of St George Illawarra's secret weapons in their 2004 National Rugby League campaign.
Dragons coach Nathan Brown said he had been very impressed with the 21-year-old giant's aptitude on the training paddock.
"Wycliff is fitting in well. He's really improving a lot," he said.
"This is the first time he has been in a professional set-up, full-time, in the pre-season. It's not easy but he's very determined and he's not a quitter.
"He did three or four weeks with the rehab group because he had a bit of a bung hamstring. At the start of it, he couldn't swim very well but the guys said by the end of it, he was swimming comfortably whereas some guys could've put their hands up and said they're not a good swimmer and be done with it."
Palu played rugby league in the junior ranks with Manly but switched to rugby union last year and played for the NSW Waratahs against Samoa.
Former Steelers hooker Andrew Purcell scouted Palu and recommended him to the Dragons, who jumped at the chance to give their forward pack some extra size.
Palu is naturally soft-spoken but Brown said he was gradually finding his voice as he settled into his new surrounds.
"He's slowly coming out of his shell, he's even sharing a joke and a laugh with the boys now," Brown said.
Palu's Dragons team-mates reckon he is a dead ringer for Brisbane front rower Petero Civoniceva although he could also serve as a double for Warriors linchpin Ali Lauiti'iti.
Brown said he would use Palu as both a prop and a second rower.
"He has got a lot of great attributes - the size and the athleticism," he said.
"I think he probably needs to get a bit fitter. He's already lost seven or eight kilos so he's going well."
