Every team has a loveable larrikin, but behind the smile of newly signed Waratah Robbie Abel, there is a hunger to win. With the opportunity to learn and grow in a fresh environment, Abel is brimming with confidence ahead of his side’s first pre-season trial.
Abel acknowledged the sense of energy around the 2020 squad, courtesy of the elevation of exciting young players into the senior ranks and fresh faces with in the management team
But with a narrowed focus on developing how the mind can push the body, the seasoned campaigners are hoping to bring their experience to the table to fast track the upskilling of a young brigade of talent.
And at the heart of that is the self-professed ‘football gypsy’, Robbie Abel.
After brief stints in Canberra, Melbourne and Perth, the 30-year-old is hoping his Super Rugby experience can repay Rob Penny for the opportunity to join the Waratahs.
“I’m hoping to bring what I learnt along the way and give them something that they can take away,” Abel said.
Abel brings a keen passion for set pieces developed in national and international environments. Originally from the Central West, Abel fell in love with the code during his time at St Edmund’s College, Canberra.
Having played three games for the Maori All Blacks and three matches for Australia ‘A’ schoolboys as a junior, Abel has more recently furthered his game with Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup and is primed to unleash in sky blue this season.
“Hopefully you can give a calming voice to some of those young boys who are really good players and going to be the stars of the future,” he said.
But more than a calming voice, Abel feels rejuvenated by the young and exciting crop of forwards at the club.
“It is a young pack but that's the exciting thing about it, being a little bit older those young kids definitely give me a fair bit of energy and I love throwing a little bit of chat around with the young boys here.”
It’s that ‘enthusiasm, positivity and energy’ that excites him for the season ahead. Even despite a shortened preseason, Abel says something is brewing towards round one.
“It’s been hard but good. We have just been trying to get mentally tough and get our minds to push our bodies.”
With a chance this Friday to test themselves against the Highlanders at Leichardt Oval, Abel said the squad is raring to go against some different face for a change.
“We spend a lot of time ripping into each other, it's always good to just start to look at other teams and really test yourself against boys you haven't seen day in, day out.”
