St.George Queensland Reds re-sign Hunter Paisami through 2022
The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) has today announced Hunter Paisami has re-signed with the St.George Queensland Reds for a further two years.
In a positive step for the future of Queensland Rugby, Paisami will remain at Ballymore through 2022 as the QRU’s first post-COVID re-signing.
The destructive centre has made an immediate impact and continues to turn heads with his solid defence and equally hard ball-running skills during his debut Super Rugby season this year.
Hunter Paisami said: “It’s an honour for me to stay here in Queensland.
“I’ve loved my time here at the Reds. I don’t see myself anywhere else. I’ve made some good mates here through Rugby.
“My family has been supportive of me since moving up from Melbourne and I just want to play my best for them.
“The coaches here have helped me a lot. It started with Jim McKay last year at Brisbane City and then coming into the program here with Brad Thorn – he’s helped me a lot too.
“Over these next couple of years, I want to work hard for the boys and do my job for the team and play some good consistent footy,” said Paisami.
Reds head coach Brad Thorn said: “It’s great to have Hunter here with us for another two years.
“He’s my type of guy. He physical and direct. He runs hard and hits even harder.
“I’d known about him for a while having coached against him in the Under 20s, so I was pleased when he came up here last year.
“He’s a humble guy who has fit in really well with our group. He’s had a good year with us so far. We’re looking forward to seeing more of what he can do during his time here at Queensland,” said Thorn.
Paisami moved from Melbourne to Brisbane at the beginning of the 2019 season.
Following strong performances for Wests in Queensland Premier Rugby, Paisami was selected in last year’s Brisbane City squad and went on to play seven games under Reds assistant coach Jim McKay in the National Rugby Championship (NRC).
Alongside fellow Brisbane City players Tuaina Taii Tualima and Dane Zander, Paisami was handed a contract with the Reds during the 2019/20 pre-season.
The 22-year-old went on to make his Super Rugby debut against the Brumbies in Round 1 of the 2020 Super Rugby competition pre-COVID-19 and currently has nine caps for Queensland.
The development of elite talent like Paisami through the Queensland pathway is a clear strategy for the QRU and is why Queensland Rugby continues to place importance on the NRC and also Queensland Premier Rugby.
Hunter Paisami
Position: Centre
Height: 172cm
Weight: 91kg
Born: 10/04/1998
Place of birth: Gataivai, Savaii, Samoa
Senior Club: Wests
Junior Club: Manukau Rovers (Auckland, NZ)
School: Mangere College, Auckland
Representative Honours: Victoria Schoolboys (2016), Australian Schoolboys (2016), Melbourne Rebels (2017-18), Melbourne Rising NRC (2017), Brisbane City NRC (2019-), Queensland (2020-)
Super Rugby debut: 2020 v Brumbies, Canberra (Queensland)
Super Rugby caps: 9*
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