‘Are you serious?’ The Zimbabwe wrecking ball all NRL scouts want to see — Vegas Confidential

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MEET THE ZIMBABWEAN WRECKING BALL EVERY NRL SCOUT WANTS TO SEE

They’re calling him the Zimbabwean version of Chris ‘Choppy’ Close – and the shock contender to become MVP of NRL Las Vegas week.

A wonderfully brutal mix of size, power and speed, 20-year-old Alex Nyamunda is the hyped NRL wannabe – and current American college wrecking ball – who is looking to earn himself a rugby league contract via this year’s annual Las Vegas Nines.

So long is his list of accomplishments, this new age ‘Choppy’ has a Youtube hype reel running ELEVEN minutes.

Undeniably though, the highlight comes before even the halfway point, with what appears to be Zimbabwe’s answer to Dan Ginnane screaming as our man rampages away upfield; “Nooo … nooo … you can’t be serious … you have to be kidding me …”

Then, seemingly breathless, our caller then asks if anyone has a BP machine to check his heart rate?

Already considered the best college rugby player anywhere in America, Nyamundra will spend the back half of this week in a Nines side coached by longtime Queensland Origin assistant Neil Henry.

While the annual NRL Combine event is not taking place this year, a group of America’s most promising athletes have banded together under Henry’s guidance to make an All Stars side – convinced they can catch the eye of NRL talent scouts via the tournament.

Working as Henry’s assistant is the man long considered the Godfather of American rugby, Dave Niu – who also played with St George Dragons in the 1990s.

Niu scouted Nyamundra at a national rugby conference earlier this year — and was immediately impressed.

“I watched his first three touches,” the old Winfield Cup player grins, “and Alex scored on every one of them.

“So immediately, it was ‘Ok, your name goes into my book’.”

Niu added that the youngster reminds him of Queensland Origin legend Close.

“Just with the way he moves,” Niu continued. “It really reminds me of Choppy. Even with his size, he remains so mobile, elusive and really good on his feet.

“I’ve got no doubt he could make it in the NRL.”

Already, Henry and Niu have met up with the players several times via Zoom, and will all finally be on the ground in Las Vegas Tuesday morning for training.

Jillaroos assistant Jess Skinner is also in Las Vegas, working with a female All Stars team that will compete in the women’s competition.

Two other players who enter the Nines amid plenty of hype are Telesi Uhatafe, a powerful centre, and winger Vivian Wright, an exciting finisher with a real knack for finding the tryline.

GARLO TOUCHES DOWN IN USA WITH 50,000 PIES

South Sydney Old Boy Sean Garlick is touching down in Las Vegas sometime later today – and with almost 50,000 of his famed pies arriving by both air and sea.

After three years of trying, one of the Rabbitohs favourite sons has finally secured a deal that will see his famed Garlo’s Pies sold not only inside Allegiant Stadium for Sunday’s game, but also at the famed El Cortez Hotel immediately following the Fremont Street experience.

Speaking with this column shortly before jetting out of Sydney, and after having spent the weekend in Mudgee watching the Bunnies final trial game, Garlick confirmed there will be some 5000 of his pies at sausage rolls available at the season opener.

“And they’re being flown in for Monday morning,” Garlick explained.

Incredibly, the retired No.9 also has another 40,000 products currently being transported via sea for Long Beach California, with the NRL season launch also announcing something of a much larger US assault.

And to help with the massive task, Garlick’s two adult sons Jackson and Campbell are already on the ground here in Sin City, and have hired a freezer truck to make deliveries – which stretch right up to Utah.

“We have done some trade shows over here already and got talking with a couple of Australians who run the university catering up there,” Garlick explained.

“They’ve been after meat pies for years and so we now have University of Utah taking them, along with Brigham Young University.”

Garlo revealed his two boys are also whipping up attention for the family business by attending Allegiant Stadium promotions this week in RM Williams boots, Akubra hats, and budgie smugglers.

“And they’ll be dressed the same while handing them out for a basketball game up in Utah,” dad laughed. “Obviously this is a massive undertaking – just getting Australian beef products into the US is a complex process – but we’re really excited with everything that is happening this week.”

CAN KNIGHTS’ $13M MAN HANDLE THE HEAT?

When it comes to players under pressure here in Las Vegas, you have to reckon that top of the pile is Newcastle’s new $10M playmaker Dylan Brown.

However, one man tipping the Knights superstar signing to handle the heat is his rival in Sunday’s Allegiant Stadium blockbuster – North Queensland’s Tom Dearden.

Given Dearden is no stranger to pressure himself, initially as a Brisbane Broncos prodigy, and more recently after replacing Daly Cherry Evans for Queensland – where he went more than OK – we asked the Maroons star for his thoughts on everything coming for Brown.

“Dylan Brown has signed the big contract, and he’s earned that,” Dearden stressed.

“But while you do earn those deals as a player, it does still come with pressure to perform.

“But Dylan will handle it.

“He’s not only played in the big arenas already, but he’s really got his game down pat now.

“He knows what his strengths are and he sticks to them.

“Same in pressure situations, he falls back to his strengths – which is running the ball and taking the line on.

“And with he and Kalyn Ponga working together, they’ll take the pressure off each other.

“And that’s what makes the Knights a dangerous side this year.”

Asked about Brown as a threat, the Cowboy continued: “What makes him so dangerous is how threatening he is at the ball.

“He’s always wanting to take on the line.

“And that’s what makes him hard to defend.

“As soon as there is any ruck speed, or any kind of momentum that Newcastle are going to get, he’s going to be attacking us and really taking on our big middle forwards.

“Then when you look at him combining with KP, they’ve got a lot of attacking weapons there.

“They’re two dangerous players and we’ll have to do as much as we can to take away their time in the game.”

BOXING CHAMP & UFC STAR TO KICK OFF SEASON

Given we’re in the world’s fight capital, it’s no surprise to hear the NRL is in discussions with two likely fellas for a ceremonial ‘kick off’ at Sunday’s games – Aussie cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia and UFC legend Max Holloway.

Opetaia, who grew up playing rugby league on the Central Coast, has been in Las Vegas for the best part of a month as part of preparations for the upcoming defence of his IBF and Ring titles, with a new Zuffa strap also on the line.

Holloway, of course, is also no stranger to the abilities of leaguies – thanks to his unforgettable trilogy with that greatest of Warilla Gorilla props, Alexander Volkanovski. The Hawaiian will be in Las Vegas for the game given he defends his Baddest Mother F***er title the following weekend against Charles Oliveira at UFC 326.