Raiders legend Brad Clyde has paid the ultimate compliment to Canberra’s Shaun Fensom, comparing him to the NRL’s form forward Paul Gallen as they prepare to lock horns at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
Fensom is set to return from a torn bicep against the Sharks and Clyde – regarded as Canberra’s greatest lock – said the Raiders had badly missed the back-rower’s insatiable workrate over the past four matches.
Describing Gallen as Cronulla’s ‘‘engine’’, Clyde drew comparisons with 23-year-old Fensom.
Predicting Fensom would develop into a representative player of the future, Clyde said he’d also been impressed by a new attacking ‘‘edge’’ Fensom had added to his game this season.
‘‘I can’t help but admire his workrate and it’s not dissimilar to a younger Paul Gallen,’’ Clyde said.
‘‘When Paul Gallen first came into grade he was a high workrate player and probably didn’t quite have that quality edge about him, but he continued to work at his game and look at the player he’s turned into now.
‘‘I look at Fensom similarly, that real work ethic is a key ingredient you can’t buy.
‘‘The start to his season, immediately I could tell he did some work during the offseason on his attack.
‘‘In the opening rounds [Fensom] proved to me he has got that bit of an edge, he has a bit of footwork before the line and that ability to get through the line and find himself in space. If he continues to develop that area of his game he himself could pull on a rep jersey at one point.’’
While Canberra’s marquee fullback Josh Dugan is unlikely to return against the Sharks, Clyde said Fensom’s return was just as significant.
‘‘They’ve missed a finisher in Dugan, but they’ve especially missed Fensom because he’s always around near the ball and cleaning up for you – dropped balls and last man in defence.
‘‘Because of the fact he wears the No.13 Raiders jersey, I can’t help but follow him and his style of play.’’
Raiders coach David Furner said Fensom’s attacking game was evolving with more confidence in the NRL. Canberra’s player of the year last season, Fensom has still only played 45 NRL matches.
‘‘He doesn’t get the credit for his attack, but he’s added to his support play and ball-playing ability around the ruck, which you need in that position,’’ Furner said.
‘‘He’s got a natural ball-playing ability but I think that comes with experience and confidence.’’
Meanwhile, Clyde said he’d monitored Gallen’s ‘‘evolution’’ into the NRL best lock, crediting his ability to control his aggression.
Gallen has been an unstoppable force for Cronulla this season, averaging more than 217 metres, almost 27 hit-ups and 29 tackles a game.
‘‘I used to get a bit disappointed with the way he carried on with the cheap shots,’’ Clyde said.
‘‘From my angle, if you’re concentrating on applying that sort of misbehaviour on the field it takes away the energy that you should be applying to being the best you can be.
‘‘That’s the key point in terms of Paul Gallen – he’s concentrating more on being the best he can every time he plays as opposed to knocking the opponents’ blocks off.’’
Gallen continues to be pushed to prop in representative football, but Clyde said he would prefer to see him maintain his role at lock.
‘‘I think he’d prefer to play a bit wider and not have to soak up all his energy in defence, but no matter where he plays his quality is always going to be first-class. But I think he has a bit more to offer a team a little wider of the ruck.’’