Second rower selected for QLD Country
- Jan 27, 2016
- 2 min read
Gladstone Observer | Photo and Article by Nick Kossatch
GLADSTONE Rugby Union Football Club second rower Atama Tahana has been selected to represent Queensland Country in the Southern States Under 20 Championships in Adelaide in late February.
The imposing 118kg 19 year old, along with former Gladstone and now Sunshine-based player Josh Boyd, have impressed Country Coach Terry Shiells at a two day training camp in Townsville.
"We found out on Sunday after the second day of training by the coach and team management," Tahana said.
The man mountain, who stands at 6ft 5, said he learned a lot from a rigorous camp.
"The two-day camp was about skill, work structure, line-outs and scrums as well as a lot of fitness," Tahana said.
He will be heading off to Brisbane in two weeks to commence his degree in exercise and sports science.
It is a move that will only benefit Tahana should his dream to represent Australia in coming years fail to materialise.
It is all systems go and despite a captain already announced, Tahanawill not by shying away from a leadership role in his first cap in a QLD jersey.
"I hope to show physicality up front I guess and I hope to lead by example and even though the captain has already been chosen, I can still be one of the leaders," Tahana said.
When asked who has been one of biggest influences, Tahana said it is someone very close to family.
"My dad Martin Jahnke is a big influence pretty much all my life and he taught me different techniques and expanding any rugby IQ to a high level," he said.
Jahnke still plays for the Goats' reserve grade competition.
Tahana believes it was his efforts on the training track that caught the eye on the back of a terrific season on a personal level in 2015.
"I just wanted it more and had desire and try to catch the eye of the coaches to try and be a standout," Tahana said.
With this mindset, it is good luck to the opposition who get in the way in the City of Churches.
ABOUT THE BIG MAN
BORN: Brisbane
MUM: Liz Tahana, born in Miti Miti, New Zealand
DAD: Matin Jahnke, still plays union competitively
LOVES: Basketball
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