Originally Posted by
mdrew
Dion Samuela. The electric young fullback was outstanding for TSS in the GPS School Boy Rugby First XV competition in 2018 and in a great sign that we can keep him in rugby league, Dion Samuela was named in the Burleigh 2019 MM Cup squad however did not play in any matches.
Dion Samuela started the 2019 schoolboy rugby season off as part of the TSS First XV side that played Toowoomba Grammar School in a trial as a curtain raiser to a Classic Wallabies match at Moree in Northern New South Wales in late March.
In late April when Dion Samuela started at fullback for the TSS First XV that drew 29 all against touring New Zealand School New Plymouth Boys High.
After starting at fullback in all of TSS’s First XV trials Dion Samuela was named there for their GPS Round One match against Nudgee College and was his usual elusive self in their last grasp one point victory.
Dion Samuela had some outstanding individual pieces of play in the match none more so than his first half try assist. Dion Samuela split the Nudgee right side defence and just as he got through the line and was confronted with the Nudgee cover defence put in an outstanding grubber kick from forty metres out which sat up perfectly in the in goal area for TSS left winger Hamish Roberts to score.
Dion Samuela was also outstanding at fullback in Round Two against Churchie producing some outstanding pieces of individual brilliance, including scoring two tries and numerous breaks in relation to returning kicks as well as in general play.
For his first try Dion Samuela flew down the right touch line chasing a kick to outpace the Churchie cover defence in the first half. His second try came in the second half when from a maul fifteen metres out from the Churchie line, Dion Samuela received the ball on the right side of the field and stepped his way through the defence to score under the posts in what was one of the best individual tries that I have ever seen, regardless of code.
In addition to scoring Dion Samuela also had a try assist in the second half when he got his head through the line before passing to replacement right winger Alex Walker to score in the corner and on the stroke of fulltime, he made yet another break and got the ball once again to Alex Walker who was taken into touch just short of the right corner flag.
In the Round two match Dion Samuela’s tactical kicking was also outstanding regularly gaining ground with incredible distance and accuracy and it was also interesting to see that on occasion Dion Samuela would come up into the line and spend time at No. 10. For his performance, Dion Samuela was awarded three points in the 2019 TSS First XV Rounds Two points award by the First XV coach.
Dion Samuela was also at fullback in Round Three against Brisbane State High School and well was superb scoring TSS’s first try when he dived over from close range and seemingly broke tackles at will. From a kicking perspective Dion Samuela continued to get great distance on his kicks constantly turning BSHS around.
Round Four once again saw Dion Samuela line up at fullback as TSS travelled to Toowoomba to take on Toowoomba Grammar School and to suggest that he was outstanding would be an understatement.
Dion Samuela added another two tries to his tally and multiple line breaks. Dion Samuela’s first try came in the first half, running with the ball on the right side of the field Dion Samuela made the initial line break by dummying to his right and splitting the line, approaching the fullback, Dion Sameula saw him cheating towards his support on the right and therefore he dummied that way again to beat the fullback to score untouched.
Yes I know that I am a broken record but a key part of the try was that on each occasion that Dion Samuela approached the defensive line he ran with the ball in two hands, thus keeping his intentions masked from the defence.
Dion Samuela scored his second try in the second half and after picking up an errant pass raced to his left to beat the cover defence to the left corner.
Round Five against Brisbane Grammar School also saw Dion Samuela in the No. 15 jersey for the TSS First XV and producing a superb run with his first touch almost manufacturing a try out of nothing in the opening minutes.
Dion Samuela had limited room and opportunities for the remainder of the match but producing some outstanding tactical kicks to get TSS out of their own territory late in the match as TSS held on to win 23 – 20.
Dion Samuela added two further tries in Round Seven against Gregory Terrace, one in each half as TSS won 54 – 24 to close in on the GPS First XV title. On both occasions Dion Samuela moved into the first receiver position and took the ball to the line with speed and holding the ball in two hands. As the defence back peddled, Dion Samuela accelerated between defender to score.
Dion Samuela started the critical Round Eight match against Ipswich Grammar School once again at fullback and scoring as TSS won the GPS First XV Premiership on the back of a 29 all draw.
Dion Samuela’s try was critical as it tied the scores at 29 all with only a few minutes to go with Dion Samuela scoring the try in the left corner after he backed up a break by one of the TSS front rowers.
Dion Samuela had a try assist earlier in the match when he dummied twice to get half way through the line before sending a long flick pass to the TSS right winger to score.
Post the GPS season Dion Samuela was named in the U18 Reds Academy maroon side for a double header at Ballymore later in the year.
For the TSS First XV side in 2018 season Dion Samuela started at fullback in all eight of their matches scoring three tries including a Round Three double against Toowoomba Grammar School and also a try in Round Nine against Nudgee College.
Dion Samuela last played rugby league on the Gold Coast at the U15 Division One level in 2016 for Runaway Bay, a year he also represented South Coast at the QSSRL U15 Championships.
In 2016 for Runaway Bay Dion Samuela played in eight matches in the U15 Division One competition scoring 44 points from four tries and fourteen goals. All of Dion Samuela’s tries came in a two week early season span when he scored doubles in consecutive weeks against the Southport Tigers and the Currumbin Eagles.
Post the 2016 Gold Coast Junior Rugby League season, Dion Samuela transferred to TSS where this GPS season was a standout for the Gold Coast based school in the U16A competition in 2017.
Even though he did starting any First XV games for TSS in 2017 Dion Samuela came off the bench on two occasions being against Ipswich Grammar School and Brisbane Grammar School. Against Ipswich Grammar School he made an outstanding break through the centre of the field after retrieving a kick and was unlucky not to score.
In the Brisbane Grammar School First XV match in 2017 Dion Samuela was on the end of a great TSS back line movement to score in the left corner. Dion Samuela was also part of the Queensland U16 side that won the Australian U16 Championships and was selected at fullback in the 2017 Australian U16 merit side as a result.
In 2015 Dion Samuela was part of the U14 Titans development squad that defeated Samoa at Burleigh. Whilst he played the majority of his club football at five eight, Dion Samuela played at half for the Titans development squad, Dion Samuela has also represented the Gold Coast in Vikings and Kookaburra’ squads over the last number of years across multiple age groups starting at U13’s.
Dion Samuela is in some respects a throwback to the 1970’s or 1980’s when fullbacks used to chime into the back line either between the two centres or even between the centre or winger especially in relation to looking to exploit a shorter blind side. When Dion Samuela chimes into a back line he does not look to run into his direct opponent but he runs into the gaps and anticipates where his inside play makers are going to pass the ball.
From a running perspective, Dion Samuela just seems to glide across the field and it appears effortless, no matter who is chasing him, they will not catch Dion Samuela, I am talking James Roberts type of pace but he has a much more effortless running style to that of the current Brisbane Bronco.
Dion Samuela does not necessarily have a side step per say, it is more of a swerve and he has a number of variations, with the scary part being that there is absolutely no loss of speed at all, making him incredibly difficult to stop when he is in open space. It is no surprise at all that he was in and around the Australian Men’s Rugby Sevens squad.
Dion Samuela’s passing skills are also of the highest quality., he can pass equally well from either side of his body and can throw every type of pass imaginable, he can chime into a back line at full pace and then decelerate quickly to maintain his balance a pop a superb short ball to his supports, he can throw a great spiral pass to his backline or he can quickly anticipate the numbers a throw a great cut out pass to exploit over laps.
Defensively Dion Samuela also stands out, with his closing speed and recovery speed to make an impact on that side of the ball as well. With his speed, Dion Samuela has the luxury of being able to stand a touch deeper than some fullbacks yet still be able to close quickly to negate breaks by reducing the decision making time of the attacking player.
Dion Samuela’s defence is normally over shadowed by his running game but make no mistake, Dion Samuela is an outstanding defender both in terms of cover defence and front on defence when a forward makes a break through the centre of the field.
Dion Sameula is also an outstanding tactical kicker blessed with range and accuracy which has kept TSS on the front foot or gotten them out of their own half regularly this season, especially against BBC when they were on the back foot on a number of occasions late in the match, but Dion Sameula regularly turned BBC around with long raking kicks from deep in his own half.
Dion Samuela completes his senior year in 2019 at TSS and come 2020 it will be interesting to see if Dion Samuela stays with rugby or tries his luck in the Hastings Deering’s Colts competition, staying with rugby is probably the more likely scenario if I am being honest.
Dion Samuela is an outstanding ball runner with speed and elusiveness which was displayed on numerous occasions for the TSS First XV side this season and thus a future at fullback in rugby league (or for that matter rugby) seems the most logical outcome.
For me the perfect player comparison for Dion Samuela is recently retired Melbourne Storm, Queensland State of Origin and Australian test fullback Billy Slater. Like Slater Dion Samuela can either slice through the opposition backline when he receives the ball early, beat forwards in the centre of the ruck with an outstanding side step and acceleration and is a nightmare for opposing defences when he chases short attacking kicks.
Also like Slater Dion Samuela is an outstanding defender in the fullback position.