BY DAN

On his return to football late in the season, Xavier Savage scored three tries seen by only the people at Raiders Belconnen, or the degenerates (hi!) watching NSW Cup via a Facebook stream. These tries were mostly scored how you would expect Savage to score tries. He was faster than everyone else, and playing wing on the end of good attacking movements.

I presume it was a pleasing return for Savage. It had been a rough year for him, mixing a presumptive prime role in the first grade side with a broken jaw, a torn hamstring, purgatory in Cup, and being shifted out of fullback for the emerging star Chevy Stewart. To be out running the clear, doing the things you do well, must have been both reassuring and relaxing for the young man. A bit of proof that the talent that has had many fans salivating was not just a dream that passed in 2022.

After that he spent the rest of the Cup season busy doing Savage things. In space he looked electric. 12 games, 12 tries, 13 line breaks, 38 tackle breaks and even 3 try assists (the last of which is pretty impressive). Occasionally he did that thing where he grubbers when he shouldn’t. Sometimes it came off, sometimes it didn’t. I’ve always seen that as something you want to embrace. The point of difference (in addition to his pace) is that his ambition hasn’t been curtailed by the rigors and structure of a life in football.

But despite some interesting line-ups chosen by Coach Stuart at the back end of the season Savage wasn’t so much rejected as failed to enter discussions at all. The reasons for this are many. His injuries were a major cause – you can’t play footy with a broken jaw, and it takes a while for your body to return to its previous strength after eating mush for 12 weeks. The rise of Chevy Stewart also seems to have been important – it quickened a shift to the wing that may have taken place anyway, putting Savage behind the improving but still limited Bert Hopoate and James Schiller in the first grade depth chart (not to mention incumbents Nic Cotric and Jordan Rapana).

But it was hard not to see Stuart’s hand in this. For a long time it felt like the coach was trying to give Savage more time to develop. To learn the ins-and-outs of rugby league he never got as an elite sprinter. The injuries provided the opportunity for him to give Savage a face-saving demotion and change the things Stuart believed he needed to work on. Defence, both contact and position, physical development, decision making, a perhaps a bit of work ethic if you believe the hot mic. All these things take time and football experience (except the work ethic…maybe?), and perhaps Stuart saw the opportunity to give that gift to Savage, away from the limelight. A sunny-side up view would see this as a long-term focus from Stuart – a desire to not waste Savage in a combustible environment with a highly flawed team. He may have added something to the first grade unit this year, but perhaps Stuart has looked beyond the horizon and laid a marker there instead.

This is probably naivete. Ricky has long been of the view that if you’re ready then you play. Nic Cotric was ready. Ethan Strange recently was ready (until he wasn’t? I’m not sure where we’re up to there). So while the Coach may think there’s more for Savage to work on, it was more because he doesn’t yet think his production or benefit would outshine the others in the depth chart. We can all have our views on this (‘Savage is too small’ v ‘we need his pace’ choose your fighter) but the fact remains that the man that makes these decisions thinks there is work to do.

I’m holding out hope its a good thing for Savage in the long term if not his immediate interest. This season was a weird one for the Raiders. Cobbled together wins didn’t feel like progression, instead about maximising the outputs of a limited playing style and roster. Fringe players like Albert Hopoate, Ata Mariota, Trey Mooney or James Schiller didn’t seem to take the giant leaps one might have hoped, reflecting a malaise that took hold of this side over the back third of the year. It’s probably not a bad thing that Savage had a bit of clear air to just play footy outside the vengeful eye of the rugby league commentariat and the constricting hand of the first grade side’s performance. Provided that Savage and Stuart are on the same page about this – admittedly something only the more ardent Sticky fan would proclaim assurety of – this could be a boon for Savage. Time space to work out his game and to not be brought up, tested, and thrown away as so often happens with young players.

It may also have benefits in the long term. It seems likely his long-term career will be on the wing next to Chevy Stewart. Anyone that saw the emerging fullback put Savage into space on a few occasions would feel a bit excited about that. He’s also getting time with Ethan Strange, Adrian Trevilyan and Hohepa Puru. The next generation is coming through together, and Savage is hopefully part of that, getting his reps.

But it does provide a question in the more immediate. I’d be really surprised if Chevy Stewart is ready for full-time first grade next year. If you’re worried about Savage being small, then the same can be put to the ‘other’ emerging star. He’s only 18 after all. Does that mean Savage will be in the mix for first grade fullback next year? Or is the club going to persist with Jordan Rapana or Seb Kris there? Perhaps this is where the rumours around Kaeo Weekes sit, providing a two-way bet to fill either six or one. However it is, if Savage is going to be play fullback next year, then he’s done nothing to work on the positioning and organisation skills every fullback needs to develop.

That is unquestionably a risk for the club, and for the Raiders and Xavier should they change course and suddenly decide he’s a fullback again to fill a gap. The only option here is to hope there’s some greater plan that we’re not privy to, or at least the club is eyes up about what the plan is for next season.

Do me a favour and like the page on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or share this on social media because love is true and heaven is a Raiders victory. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.