You could forgive Zane Nonggorr a sense of deja vu in the Ballymore heat during another pre-season scrimmage against Peni Ravai.
Just five months earlier, the 22-year-old Nonggorr was packing down against his Reds teammate on the world stage during Australia’s Rugby World Cup clash with Fiji at Saint-Etienne.
Now, he’s out to cement himself ahead of “world-class” Ravai and a host of talented front rowers for the Reds’ 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
“It was kind of in the heat of the moment, so I kind of didn’t realise he was on until there was a break in play and I was like ‘Oh wow, I’m scrumming against Peni – feels a bit like training’,” Nonggorr told media on Tuesday.
“He’s world class loosehead and he also plays tighthead – pretty weird versing him but definitely a tough scrum to be a part of.
“I was pretty proud of what I achieved (in France). Obviously not the result we were looking for but it was a massive experience for me and all the learnings I took out of it. I think it’s really helped me become a better rugby player and hopefully I can translate that into my season this year.”
2023 saw Nonggorr step into the spotlight with incumbent tighthead Taniela Tupou missing Queensland’s entire season to injury – and he didn’t disappoint.
11 starts at tighthead for Queensland led to a Test debut against South Africa and eventual World Cup selection but the five-cap Wallaby says he’s no guarantee of even cracking the Reds’ match-day squad after a host of off-season signings up front.
The addition of All Blacks duo Alex Hodgman and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen along with Junior Wallabies recruit Massimo De Lutiis has seen Ballymore’s prop stocks skyrocket.
Throw Test prop Ravai into the mix alongside the likes of George Blake and Sef Fa’agase and competition for places is intense.
“I’m still pretty new to all this – I’ve played a few games but I’m still learning a lot so whether I’m the starting tighthead or not, i just want to do my job for the team,” Nonggorr said.
“There’s a lot of competition in that area so whoever gets it, I wish them well. If it’s me, great, but if not I’ll do my best to make them better and hopefully get myself in there.
“Obviously we’ve had those boys play for the All Blacks, Peni playing for Fiji. They’ve all played across the world and have different techniques.
“They’ve all been really energetic this pre-season, all driving each other to get better, and they’re running around like 18-19 year olds and ready to rip in this season.”
This energy has fed into Queensland’s live scrimmage under new forwards coach Zane Hilton, who’s already making his mark on the Reds’ front rowers.
“Zane’s been really good for us. He brings in a lot more detail around our scrum and lineout and he’s helped me a lot with a lot of the nuances around scrum,” Nonggorr said.
“He’s helped a lot of us come along – George Blake has been training really well at loosehead – and it’s exciting having him in.
“(Live sessions) have been tough, especially in the Brissy heat but as tough as it’s been, it’s good – we’re all challenging each other and trying to get better. If you get beaten in a scrum here, that’s good. Better here than on the field where it could cost us a game.”
Nonggorr’s first chance to impress will come this Saturday against the Western Force at Ballymore with loosehead Harry Hoopert and centre Hamish Stewart set to feature on familiar soil.
“I haven’t seen Hoops in a while so it’ll be good to see him again. It’ll be my first time playing against him so it’ll be fun interesting – I’m sure he’ll have something special up his sleeve,” Nonggorr said.
“We’ve been training hard all pre-season so hopefully we can get a good crowd come down and watch a good game of footy.”
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