Tall & Tough: Anthony Pettett, Newlands College

Newlands College in Wellington's northern suburbs is a co-education school with only three rugby teams. All three teams made finals this year and two won championships.

The First XV made a disastrous start to 2014. In grading games Newlands was comprehensively outclassed by Premier One aspirants Rongotai College and Hutt Valley High School. This wasn't entirely surprising for the Premier Two regular.

Newlands' final grading game against Kapiti College was a horror show! Lock Anthony Pettett explains what happened. "We lost and they scored three intercept tries. We went down to division three."

Less than six months later Pettett has been named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools' training squad. The unassuming Pettett has been surprised by his meteoric rise to prominence which started in Term Two when he was tipped off by a family friend that he was in the Hurricanes Under-18 camp even before the squad was announced.

"I was told by Sharn Robertson's dad that I was in the camp. I didn't even know there was a camp."

Robertson, a second-five from Wellington College, also attended the camp where Pettett really flourished.

Wellington Rugby development co-ordinator Dave King speaking in the?Dominion Post?on Wednesday said:

"He showed real improvement at the Hurricanes camp this year. He's extremely good in the air and not afraid of the contact areas. He's also very tall, which is a good quality to have and not one you can coach."

Pettett stands six foot seven. He is the tallest boy at Newlands. He says the biggest thing he learned at camp was about the structure of the game.

"Having Earl Va'a teach us the Wellington game plan was really interesting. I learned a lot about structures in the game which I didn't know."

Wayne Firmin is Newlands coach. A stalwart of the Johnsonville Rugby Club, the ex front rower has won two grades while coaching at the college. Firmin says he is not surprised by Pettett's ascent.

"I was his first coach when he was nine years old. Anthony is a great kid. He is unassuming and a real sponge. He retains information like few kids I know."

Firmin says that Pettett has the ability to cover blindside. His game has become "tighter" and Firmin is convinced that Pettett will provide the selectors with plenty of options.

"Anthony is a very intelligent player. His hang time is very good. He can jump at four and two in the lineouts.? When the selectors asked me for more footage of Anthony I deliberately gave them footage of Anthony playing blindside. The selectors knew that he was a good lock, but I wanted them to see what else he could do."

Newlands turned their season around. They went through Premier 3 undefeated, but unfortunately stumbled in the final to the St. Pats Town 2^nd?XV.

Despite a great camp and better fortunes for his First XV Pettett was still stunned to be named in the New Zealand Schools' training squad.

"I got a text at home from an unknown number. I thought it was my friends joking. I wasn't sure until the Wellington High Performance manager texted his congratulations."

Pettett started his sporting career as a soccer player. He switched to rugby because he wanted to "tackle people." He tried basketball, but "wasn't very good." In Year nine he was a member of an Under-55kg championship team. In Year 10 he broke his arm and missed the entire season First XV season. Pettett estimates that he has played about 50 matches for Newlands, but admits "no one really counts."

Pettett says his favourite player is Sam Whitelock and he enjoys X Box, movies (especially Fight Club) and playing with his mates.

Pettett has been offered opportunities to leave Newlands, but stayed which delighted coach Firmin.

"It's nice to know that the selectors are looking at the lower grades, because other schools are. Why has Scots become so strong in recent years? Anthony's success proves that you can make it from anywhere."

Note:?Newlands College hasn't produced an All Black or many first class players for that matter. However centre Terrence Hepetema played for the Waratahs and is currently contracted with Leinster. Prominent sports people from the college include: Jodie Brown (Silver Ferns), Jake Glesson (All Whites), Phil Burrows and Kyle Pontifex (Black Sticks) and Luke Woodcock (Black Cap). Anthony's brother Josh Pettett is currently a Black Sox

Schools and Barbarian Schools Fixtures:

Tuesday 30 September

Porirua Park

NZ Barbarians v Australia 1:10 pm

NZ Schools v Fiji 2:50 pm
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Saturday 4 October

Porirua Park

NZ Barbarians v Fiji 1:10 pm

NZ Schools v Australia 2:50 pm