Palu keen on Melbourne-Sydney rivalry
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Rampaging NSW Waratahs back rower Wycliff Palu can't wait for the start of the Melbourne-Sydney rugby rivalry next year.
Wallabies star Palu is back training with the Waratahs this week following a break after Australia's Spring tour campaign in Japan and the United Kingdom.
With Melbourne Rebels confirmed as Australia's fifth Super franchise from 2011, rugby will finally catch up to all the other major sporting codes in terms of a Sydney-Melbourne rivalry.
With Victoria considered a rugby backwater in the past, Melbourne's admission to the Super competition will mark the first meaningful rugby combat between the two great interstate rivals.
"I think it will be awesome, I can't wait to go against them (Melbourne) and line up against," Palu told AAP before Waratahs training on Tuesday.
"I think it's only going to be better for Aussie rugby.
"Down there, they always get great support, so that will be good."
Although Palu was attached to the St George Illawarra NRL club in 2005, he never got an opportunity to play against Melbourne Storm in first grade.
Palu firmly re-established himself in the Wallabies run on side, by starting all five of the Spring tour Tests.
The powerful No.8 experienced a mixed 12 months prior to breaking back into the side.
He won the NSW player's player award for each of the last two seasons, but also spent a significant amount of time on the injury list.
He came home early from the 2008 Spring tour due to a shoulder problem and missed all of Australia's in-bound internationals before the Tri-Nations after breaking two bones in a hand during the Super season.
Palu returned to the starting line up for Australia's first two Tri-Nations games before re-establishing himself on the Spring tour.
"There were some bad memories (of 2009) there, a couple of injuries, but also some good ones, hopefully I will stay injury free," Palu said.
He was optimistic about the Wallabies future after they completed a mediocre campaign with a rousing win over Wales.
"On that tour, I think a lot of young guys like Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale got a good chance and they took it," Palu said.
"I think our squad is getting stronger and the depth is getting better."
Asked about their 2010 prospects Palu said: "I think definitely making the semis, playing finals football again, we've got the squad to do it on paper," Palu said.
Now one of the Waratahs senior forwards, Palu said he would definitely try to lead from the front on the field and had become a smarter player.
"It's only the last couple of years I've started to know what to do," Palu said
"Earlier on in my career I use to do just the big run or the big hits and I'd go missing, but I know what to do and I know how to make an impact away from the football."
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...0112-m43u.html
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