How a 6am bus ride changed Hugo Savala’s career path
Scott Bailey |
It’s the 80 minutes of football on four hours of sleep that turned Hugo Savala from a bench utility into the Sydney Roosters’ in-form starting half.
Fresh off a 15-minute spell against Gold Coast in March that netted two touches for one error, Savala was told a bus was leaving for Canberra at 6am the next morning.
On it, there was a spot for him if he wanted it. And a chance to play a second game in the space of 18 hours for the Roosters while playing halfback in reserve grade.
“I reckon I had about four hours sleep,” Savala told AAP.
“That did play in the back of my mind, but that hunger inside me just wanted to play another game.
“At that time I had only played a handful of NRL games on 10-15 minute spells
“And there is nothing worse than waiting a whole week when you come off a bad game. It was really good, it tested me a little bit.”
Savala passed with flying colours.
The 23-year-old took the chance, set up two tries in a Roosters win and was called up to replace Chad Townsend at halfback in the NRL a fortnight later.
“From that moment I went (to Canberra), I put my foot down and really concentrated on my football and being a halfback,” Savala said.
“Because I know I am a halfback, I’ve been a halfback all through my juniors and growing up.
“No.7 for the Roosters has been my dream.
“So it really boosted my confidence when the next week I was starting halfback in the NRL. And it’s been good since.”
With Savala starting the Roosters have won six from nine, going from near the bottom of the ladder to in the top eight ahead of Sunday’s clash with Wests Tigers.
His kicking has given them much-needed control, while a new-look free-flowing next generation of Roosters have averaged 31.8 points per match since Anzac Day.
“There has always been a Roosters type of football, the way they have played for the past 10 years,” Savala said.
“We’ve got a young group coming through, we do play our style of football. It’s still the Roosters brand, we’re just trying to mould it into the way we play.
“We’re certainly starting to find our rhythm. It’s not even expansive football, it’s just moving and playing for each other.”
Coach Trent Robinson showed his hand last month by naming Savala to partner Sam Walker on the latter’s aborted return from injury, ahead of Sandon Smith.
The obvious sideshow remains the expected signing of veteran half Daly Cherry-Evans for next year, something Savala insists he has not let cloud his mind.
“There is obviously all that talk in the media, but I really am just focusing on my football this year,” he said.
“Play my best football with the team and win as many games as we can going into the finals. That’s all I can do.”
AAP
