Bott strikes telling blow
Monday March 28, 2005
Its not often an 18-year-old can excite Wayne Bennett. But with one burst of lightning speed on Friday night, new Broncos winger Leon Bott did just that.
Botts amazing 50m burst has been the talk of the town in rugby league circles this weekend and for once Bennett is happy to join those in awe of the talented youngster.
With the game in the balance, Bott took a long ball flat-footed, 10m in from touch and with three Roosters defenders bearing down on him.
Without a second thought he took off, leaving renowned speedsters Ryan Cross and Craig Wing grasping at thin air.
"He's quick," Bennett said after the match.
"Those three guys thought they had him covered and they're pretty good players those guys. They had good angles on him and he just kept going away from them.
"It's nice to have a quick winger, we haven't had one since Lote Tuqiri. Leon hasn't played a lot of rugby league, if he's played any at all, until this year but he's football smart. He reacts to situations really good, he positions himself very well ... you just want a winger who can run like he can run.
"If you give him the ball in the right spot you know he's going to get to the tryline for you.
"He's an absolute threat, he's not big and bulky but he's got genuine speed and I know who I'd rather not be marking up against because he's going to get you with that speed."
The 18-year-old Gap High School student had never played rugby league before this year, but was chased hard by several NRL clubs after dazzling displays for the Australian Schoolboys Rugby sides in 2003 and 2004.
Still, Bennett admits he had plenty of reservations about whether Bott who was an Australian 100m and 200m sprint champion was ready for the step up to A Grade football.
"I questioned myself a little bit about it all," Bennett said.
"I thought it might have been a bit unfair to him . . . we've got big Tame Tupou sitting at home there and I made a decision not to play Tame and I went with Leon.
Its just great to have that sort of finishing ability out wide.
Bennett was not alone in his praise for the youngster, with Brent Tate describing him as the fastest player he had ever played with or against.
Broncos skipper Darren Lockyer agreed with Tate, adding Bott could well be the man Brisbane have been looking for to complete their premiership jigsaw.
Over the last few years we have put ourselves in attacking positions a lot but have struggled to finish, Lockyer said.
Having the confidence to throw the ball wide and know a bloke with Leons pace and power is out there is a huge bonus.
