Before travelling to Canberra, Waratahs coach Dan McKellar found himself urging media to be patient with excitingย Brumbies playmaker Declan Meredith and temper their expectations of a young player still learning his trade in Super Rugby.
Shortly after celebrating a crucial 30-28 victory that has righted the Waratahsโ listing ship, McKellar was doing it again โ but this time with his own player: 20-year-old fullback Sid Harvey, whose nerveless place kicking kept the Brumbies at bay.
Harvey successfully kicked three penalties in the final 15 minutes, each from distance and seemingly without any fear.
The fullback ended the night in Canberra with six out of six kicks at goal, after booting four from four in the loss to the Blues last Saturday. McKellar knows there is far more to come from Harvey, but is urged media and fans not to expect too much of a player still finding his feet in professional rugby.
โHeโs a tremendous young kid, a good country boy,โ McKellar said. โHe comes from a lovely family. Sidโs 20, but youโd think he was 28. Heโs naturally pretty gifted, heโs just got that little bit of time and class about him, so I think heโs in for a long career.
โI think he can play at the highest level in time, as I said during the week with Deckie [Meredith], weโve just got to let him develop and become a really good Super Rugby player first โ and higher accolades will come off the back of that.โ
Harvey was playing colts rugby for Easts against teenagers last year. Now, he is facing seasoned Test players in Super Rugby โ and thriving.
Harvey is a popular member of the Waratahs squad. Affable and down-to-earth, he was brought up on the family farm in Narrabri, where he was expected to help out while honing his prodigious talents in cricket and rugby.
Initially, Harvey favoured cricket, as a talented all-rounder who gained selection to the NSW Country squad. As an opening fast bowler, Harvey learned the value of a precise routine and accuracy. The line and length have just been transferred to the kicking tee.
On Friday, despite having trailed the Waratahs by 14 points, the Brumbies had recovered to square the match at 21-21 by the 65th minute and had the momentum going into the closing stages of the match. When the Waratahs were awarded a penalty over 40 metres out, captain Matt Phillip had no hesitation in calling for Harvey to step up and kick.
โI looked at him, I said, โAre you confident here?โ and he said, โYepโ, and we went for it. As Dan said, Sidโs got a bit of class about him,โ Phillip said. โIโm so happy for him, the form heโs in, he deserves it and I hope it continues for him.โ
Harvey has only played four games of Super Rugby, but underlined McKellarโs assertion that he acts older than his years when called for an interview with Stan Sport after the game.
Despite the microphone malfunctioning twice, Harvey was still able to articulate his thoughts perfectly.
The young fullbackโs only brief moment of doubt came when his final kick was reviewed on the big screen and he wasnโt able to look due to frustration that the ball hadnโt perfectly bisected the posts.
Harveyโs calmness on and off the field has come at the urging of his parents Denis and Carmel, who regularly drive over six hours from Narrabri to catch his home games in Sydney.
โWhenever I used to play juniors, I was tense and trying to do everything, so Iโd play awfully,โ Harvey said.
โDad would pull me up on it, heโd just say, โMate, just relax, breathe outโ. I find that if Iโm at the back [playing fullback], thatโs just when Iโm comfortable. I can see the game. It probably looks like Iโve got a million thoughts running through my head, but Iโm probably looking a bit more calm.โ
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