Australia U20 centre Zach Fittler is loving his decision to focus on Rugby Union as the son of an NRL great prepares for his next step in the code.
Fittler and the Australia U20s will head to Georgia in the coming days ahead of the Junior World Championship, opening their campaign against Spain on June 28.
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The barn-storming centre comes from Rugby League loyalty, with his father, Brad, named one of the 100 best NRL players ever in 2008.
It came after a career that included multiple Hall of Fame inductions, several World Cup and Origin titles as captain and a pair of premierships for the Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters.
But the pressure has never been there to live up to a last name, with the former Australia U18s star dabbling in both before committing to the 15-a-side game.
“I've always played a bit of both, so I started off with Manly Marlins while also playing Roosters at the same time…I feel more free with union, with how the plays go and you can really change the game in your own way," he explained to Rugby.com.au. “I found my biggest strengths have really just collided with union a lot better.
“There’s been a lot of questions with my friends and family surrounding the whole argument and I love league, no disrespect towards it because I loved growing up and playing it but I also really enjoyed union.
“The last name wasn’t so much a big deal for me. Dad and mum have always been supportive and not forcing me to stay in league, so I just thought I wanted to give union a crack and I’m really enjoying it so far.”
Fittler missed the initial Australia U20 squad that faced Fiji U20 and Japan U23 but quickly worked his way into the team for the U20 Rugby Championship.
It provided him with his biggest challenge so far; taming South African beast Ethan Adams, considered one of the brightest talents in the Springboks system.
Whilst Adams and the Junior Boks came away with victory, Fittler relished the challenge.
“It was quite a shock. I've grown up playing league my whole life and playing against big boys, but coming against someone who is my type of playing style and who's all the way at that national level, it was incredible,” he reflected on the match-up.
“It showed me how I want to play and what I'm trying to strive to be and I hope to come up against him again.
"...I've been very big on my strength, my speed and my agility, and I've come a long way with just those main pointers, but learning with this game, which I love so much about it now, [is that] I need to start opening up to different fields.
“I'm starting to learn a lot more about eyes open footy and learning my kicking game a whole lot better, just becoming a real threat in all areas of the field instead of just being a big carry and looking for work."
The Australia U20 side has been drawn alongside Six Nations champions France, which will likely decide who advances to the semi-finals under the revamped format.
The top side from each pool will advance to the knock-out stages, with the French coming off a Grand Slam tour.
“You hear names thrown up here and there and I'm just really excited and happy that I get to challenge one of the best Under 20s teams and one of the best franchises for this game in the world," Fittler added.
“I'm really excited to test my limits and see what I've learned so far and really put it against the best.”
