Palu owes it all to McKenzie

 

And he is desperate to reward the man who convinced him to cross codes back then – Ewen McKenzie.

 

Palu says he will forever be grateful to McKenzie, who signed him from St George Illawarra and put him straight into the Waratahs back row as they charged to the 2005 Super Rugby final.

 

Only a year later the bulldozing No.8 debuted for the Wallabies.

 

Palu reckons life would be a lot different now as he prepares to play his first game under McKenzie since the coach left the Waratahs in 2008.

 

"If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be sitting here," he told the Australian Associated Press. 

 

"He gave me that opportunity and rugby is all about opportunity.

 

"I was playing rugby league and he gave me one. 

 

"I just want to repay the favour by playing well."

 

"When I went to rugby league I weighed 126 kilograms, and there's not too many 126-kilogram rugby league players running around."

 

But it has not all been smooth sailing for the big man on his journey to a half-century of caps.

 

While he brings up the 50 at 31, nine seasons after debuting, prop James Slipper will notch his milestone against France a day after his 25th birthday and four years since his debut.

 

A series of major injuries have taken their toll, but Palu is still a highly valued Wallaby when fit.

 

"I just can't believe how fast it's gone; they told me back then I looked 31, and I'm 31 now," he said. "And I think I'm a bit fitter."

 

Palu also has another reason to repay McKenzie.

 

Although in strong form for red-hot Waratahs, he admitted the No.8 jersey could easily have gone to Ben McCalman or Scott Higginbotham, who are "absolutely killing it" in Super Rugby.

 

McKenzie has revealed it was Palu's physicality and maturity that earned him the nod, while Palu said he would not be playing any different to how he always has for his initial rugby mentor.

 

"Ever since he's coached me it's always been to bring what I've got," he said.

 

"He's never told me, 'You can't play this certain style, you can't do this, you can't do that.'

 

"He's just let me express myself. I will forever be grateful to him."