G
Guest
Guest
He's done the miles, now Buchanan's journey has reached the big league
March 15, 2013
Glenn Jackson
Rugby League Writer
\
\
Jack Buchanan appears to have come out of nowhere; St George Illawarra under-20s to the Wests Tigers starting front row, in doing so keeping Aaron Woods on the interchange bench.
Few predicted that. Buchanan certainly didn't.
But to try to suggest to him that he has come from nowhere would be ignoring the long journey that led to his NRL debut on Monday night. For three years, it was a journey of about 180 kilometres, from Culburra Beach to Belmore, to train and play for the Bulldogs' junior teams.
''I was doing 2½-hour one-way trips to the Bulldogs in Harold Matthews and SG Ball,'' Buchanan said. ''Five hours all round, about five days a week. That would have been about three years.''
So, three years of early rises, a 6.30am bus to school, leaving a half-hour early to head to training for 2½ to three hours, before driving home by about 11pm. Before doing it all again the next day.
''It does catch up to you, but it's all worth it,'' Buchanan said.
Buchanan joined the Tigers from the Dragons, having found his way last year in the club's under-20s squad. But with the likes of Michael Weyman, Dan Hunt, Trent Merrin and others holding up front-row spots, he saw more of an opportunity at the Tigers.
''It was an all-or-nothing season, and I was lucky enough to see an opportunity at the Tigers,'' Buchanan said. ''I've never seen myself as being a real big front-rower, so I've always based my game around fitness and just work rate. I try to always work hard for my team. That's what I try and do, work hard for your brothers.''
And he did. Buchanan, 20, was strong in his debut, even though his team was being bulldozed by Newcastle. While he was disappointed with the result, Buchanan could find more positives out of it than most.
''I'd like to say it was good, but I think people are going to remember it for the wrong reasons,'' he said. ''I loved being out there. I just wish the scoreline was different.''
March 15, 2013
Glenn Jackson
Rugby League Writer
\
\
Jack Buchanan appears to have come out of nowhere; St George Illawarra under-20s to the Wests Tigers starting front row, in doing so keeping Aaron Woods on the interchange bench.
Few predicted that. Buchanan certainly didn't.
But to try to suggest to him that he has come from nowhere would be ignoring the long journey that led to his NRL debut on Monday night. For three years, it was a journey of about 180 kilometres, from Culburra Beach to Belmore, to train and play for the Bulldogs' junior teams.
''I was doing 2½-hour one-way trips to the Bulldogs in Harold Matthews and SG Ball,'' Buchanan said. ''Five hours all round, about five days a week. That would have been about three years.''
So, three years of early rises, a 6.30am bus to school, leaving a half-hour early to head to training for 2½ to three hours, before driving home by about 11pm. Before doing it all again the next day.
''It does catch up to you, but it's all worth it,'' Buchanan said.
Buchanan joined the Tigers from the Dragons, having found his way last year in the club's under-20s squad. But with the likes of Michael Weyman, Dan Hunt, Trent Merrin and others holding up front-row spots, he saw more of an opportunity at the Tigers.
''It was an all-or-nothing season, and I was lucky enough to see an opportunity at the Tigers,'' Buchanan said. ''I've never seen myself as being a real big front-rower, so I've always based my game around fitness and just work rate. I try to always work hard for my team. That's what I try and do, work hard for your brothers.''
And he did. Buchanan, 20, was strong in his debut, even though his team was being bulldozed by Newcastle. While he was disappointed with the result, Buchanan could find more positives out of it than most.
''I'd like to say it was good, but I think people are going to remember it for the wrong reasons,'' he said. ''I loved being out there. I just wish the scoreline was different.''
