Rookie lock star commits to Tahs
Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:31
The Waratahs’ second row stocks have been boosted by the re-signing of rookie lock Kane Douglas, who has signed a new deal keeping him in Sydney until the end of the 2012 season.
Douglas was brought into the Academy program in 2008 and promoted to the Junior Waratahs professional squad for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
But after impressive performances during this year’s trials, Douglas earned himself a Super 14 debut off the bench in Round One against the Reds, and has gone on to start the last four matches for the Waratahs.
Douglas said his decision to stay with the Waratahs for the next two seasons was based largely on the desire to continue to improve his game under the framework which has brought him to where he is today.
"I’ve got a lot to thank the Waratahs for and hopefully I can pay them back not only this year but over the next couple of seasons as well," said Douglas, a former New South Wales U17 representative. "They took a chance on me by inviting me into the programme a couple of years ago, and under people like Joe Barakat, Michael Foley and Chris Hickey I’ve been able to make it to the Super 14.
"I still think I’ve got a lot of learning to do. I know I can still improve a lot further and I know I’ll be able to do that if I stay here."
The brother of Cronulla Sharks forward Luke Douglas, Kane represented Australia at the U20 World Championships in Japan last year and is the latest player to graduate to Super 14 through the Junior Waratahs programme.
In 2008 Rob Horne and Dan Palmer were both selected for the Waratahs out of the Junior Waratahs framework, as was Damien Fitzpatrick last season. This year Douglas followed the same path along with Locky McCaffrey who was not only part of the recent 26-man squad to South Africa but was named in the team to play the Bulls.
"I said at the start of the season that I’d be stoked if I could play five Super 14 matches this year and I’ve done that already," said Douglas. "I think now it’s about trying to maintain my place in the squad week in, week out and make a solid contribution to the team.
"There’s a lot more depth in the second row position than there has been here in the past, so I know if I’m off the pace I’ll find myself out of the team. That’s a good motivation."
The lock play of the 2.01m, 116kg Douglas has impressed all this year, and at 20 years old he is regarded as a particularly bright prospect for the future.
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