Maitland Blacks junior Patrick Dellit has impressed NSW Country Eagles coach Darren Coleman both on and off the field during the National Rugby Championships.
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The NSW Country fullback was last night awarded the Golden Eagle at the franchise’s inaugural presentation ahead of Friday’s semi-final showdown with Brisbane City on the Central Coast.
“He [Dellit] is about to win the Golden Eagle for best team man,” Coleman told the Mercury yesterday.
“He’s just had an outstanding season.
“He played almost every minute of the first seven games and has been very consistent.”
Coleman has used 28-year-old Dellit at fullback and it has paid dividends for both the Western Force player and the second-placed Eagles.
“He is equally confident at centre but playing fullback suits us better with the other blokes we have around,” Coleman said.
“He is very physical for a back, he is safe at the back and quite safe under the high ball.
“And all of his kick return options are strong whether it is running, kicking for the corner or putting up the high ball and chasing.”
Coleman said the breakdown would be key for the Eagles if they are to advance to next week’s decider.
“For us it will be getting the breakdown right,” Coleman said.
“Generally, if we do that well we do well because we have good attacking strength, a solid set piece and outside of [minor premiers] Melbourne finished with the strongest defence.
“But everything is in our control now and this is what it’s all about – anyone who plays footy wants to win a competition.”
Friday’s semi-final kicks off at 7.35pm. The other top-four battle has Melbourne Rising up against Perth Spirit at AAMI Park on Saturday (3.35pm).