Aussie hooker Sam Healey reverses NZ Warriors talent drain with breakout season
Photo:
Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
NZ Warriors v St George-Illawarra Dragons
8pm Friday, 15 August
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
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NZ Warriors fans have long lamented the departure of young local talent for Australian clubs, where they often turn into bona fide NRL stars in a rival jersey.
Ausssie hooker Sam Healey has done his best to reverse that trend, turning his back on his cosy existence in the shire of Cronulla to seek his fortune on this side of the Tasman.
The son of Sharks legend Mitch Healey - a five-eighth, who logged 222 games over a 12-year career - could not crack first-grade with his home club, so he decided to try his luck with the Warriors on a three-year contract and has quickly made his presence felt.
Locked in as understudy to veteran Wayde Egan, Healey debuted with a cameo off the bench against North Queensland Cowboys in May, before making his first start - ironically - against the Sharks, when his mentor withdrew late with a hip complaint.
The local lad made Cronulla regret not paying him more attention with an eye-catching performance that eased any concerns over depth at the position, given Egan's huge workload and tendency to wear down as the season progresses.
Healey, 23, has also been a mainstay of the Warriors reserves, who have dominated NSW Cup, with a current unbeaten run of 16 games. Last season, he helped Newtown Jets to the state title.
"The last couple of years, I've only been coming off the bench at Newtown, so I wasn't really given the opportunity to grow," he said. "Coming over here, I've had the opportunity to go back in Cup, play longer minutes, learn things and just play footy.
"I was only playing 30-40 minutes off the bench there, compared to 70 minutes each week. You get a lot more footy over the course of the year and that time on the field has helped me."
Moving out of his comfort zone has also helped Healey's personal growth.
"It was probably the best thing for me," he said. "I was a bit sheltered, living at home, with mum looking after me all the time, cooking and everything for me.
Sam Healey celebrates his NRL debut with family and friends.
Photo:
NRL Photos/Photosport
"I got a bit of a rude shock when I came over and had to do it all myself, balancing footy and sorting myself out off the field. I've had to grow up a bit and I think it's been good for me."
Egan has also proved a willing tutor on the field, where he is among the competition's most dangerous and prolific runners from dummy half, while also serving as the Warriors' top tackler.
"Just his craft around the ruck and his knowledge around the game," Healey said. "He's a lot more of a deep thinker than I realised - he's sort of a halfback as a hooker, if that makes sense.
"He makes it easier for the halfback by getting players to certain points and knowing what plays to run. Sitting near him and seeing what he sees has been really beneficial for my game.
"I've definitely thought about it a lot more since I've come here and spent more time with Waydo. Before, I was just off the cuff and did whatever, but I'm starting to think about it a lot more and understand the game a lot better."
Healey made his second start for the Warriors against the Dolphins, with Egan under concussion protocols, but was
surprisingly replaced by Freddy Lussick before kickoff
against Canterbury Bulldogs last week, when Egan rested a niggly shoulder.
"That was just a tactical thing," coach Andrew Webster said. "At the start of the game, it was obviously going to be wet and we wanted to go after them, but make just one sub around the hooker position, not two.
"It was better if Fred started and Sam came on when the sting was out of the game a little bit. Hopefully, when they were tired, he could take them on around the ruck, which he did quite well, but it was unfortunate the conditions and the scoreboard weren't in his favour at that stage."
Despite his late entry eight minutes after halftime, Healey left his mark on the contest, dribbling a kick from dummy half near the tryline, giving the ball a second prod on his followthrough and diving to score his team's first try.
While the apprentice continues to hone his craft under Egan's nurturing, Webster is obviously keen for him to retain his own feel for the game.
"I just think he's so exciting," Webster said. "I like it when there's one marker, he just takes off and backs himself.
"I think he understands the game. Sam's had such a good pre-season and good season in reserve grade, it seems like he's a real part of our team already, even though he's only played four games.
"Wayde teaches those boys a lot, but Sam has his own little style."
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