Ottio gives coach Ricky Stuart good impression
 |
| PNG Hunters forward, Kato Ottio is with train and trial stint with the Canberra Raiders. Photo credit: Canberra Raiders |
Stuart told the Sydney Morning Herald Ottio had the physical attributes but is prepared to give him time to settle into the Raiders first grade training regime.
“Peter Mulholland (Raiders recruitment manager) brought him in for some training and he’s got some skills in him,” Stuart said.
“He’s a little bit of project and it’s a good opportunity for him.
“All his physical statistics show he’s a great athlete.”
Stuart said Ottio had a “really good opportunity” to secure a second-tier contract with the club, but they wouldn’t be putting any pressure on him.
“We’re not getting any real great goals for him as yet, we’ll let him find his feet,” Stuart said.
“The physical side of it is quite a shock to him, but he’s handling it very well.
“If we can turn him into a footballer, more the better.”
Ottio joined the Raiders this month and has been training with the first grade squad along side the likes of Sisa Waqa, Josh Papalii, Blake Austin and Edrick Lee.
Following in the footsteps of fellow Hunters Wartovo Puara Jr and Thompson Teteh, who spent six weeks with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, at the beginning of the year, Ottio is expected to learn a lot from his time in a fully professional set up with the potential to stay on if the Raiders staff are satisfied the 192cm, 106kg backrower can make the transition from Queensland Cup to the NRL.
The Central and Bougainville man proved to be a hit on the left edge for the Hunters in the 2015 Intrust Super Cup season and being at the Raiders will be great opportunity to develop as a professional footballer.
Ottio, 21, has a host of experienced forwards to learn from in Papalii, Iosia Soliola, Frank Paul Nuuasala and Shaun Fensom.
The lanky Hunters forward is not new to nines which has earned him a place in the PNG side for the Pacific Games.
He played for Maopa Paio in the Southern Nines tournament in Port Moresby after he was introduced by former kumul Josiah Abavu to his mentor Wari Varage and from there Ottio, a former volleyball representative never looked back making the Southern Confederate side and then the Confederate All Stars before making the PNG Prime Minister’s XIII in 2014 and the Hunters and Kumuls this year.
PNG Rugby League operations manager Shane Morris said Ottio had improved in leaps and bounds since he was spotted at the end of last year.
“We saw him play volleyball and in a game of rugby union sevens, so asked him to come into our camp,” Morris said.
“From there, he impressed with the ability to play wing, centre or second row.
“We’ve worked on his his ball skills and running technique. Hopefully he grabs this opportunity with both hands and it leads to bigger and better things. Read more Hunters news on > PNG Hunters Supporters Club: The National/PNG Today
Post a Comment