Stolberg Straight into the Fire

Fri, Jul 3, 2020, 4:49 AM
Rebels Media
by Rebels Media
Stolberg is locked in for Saturday's debut.
Stolberg is locked in for Saturday's debut.

Michael Stolberg’s Round One selection caps a remarkable three months which has seen the 28-year-old pack up his belongings and relocate his home four separate times.

After initially moving from his base in Japan with the Sunwolves back to Queensland, Stolberg had barely unpacked his suitcase in Melbourne before being moved on to Canberra for the indefinite future.

While undoubtedly challenging, Stolberg say’s the frequent movement comes with the nature of the international game and that despite the extraordinary circumstances, he remains intensely focused on Saturday’s task at hand.

“If you had told me in January when I was with my wife and little girl, sitting around at New Years and Christmas time, what the next six months would have on offer, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

“When I was selected to play for the Sunwolves this year, it was very much they’ve got one year so I just want to make the most of my one year I’ve got in Super Rugby.”

“When I started there was no idea of ever coming back to play Super Rugby in Australia but I’m very grateful, privileged and looking forward to it.”

Since arriving at the Stockade in June, Stolberg has quickly gone about fitting in with his new teammates – none more so than Wallaby Matt Philip, who Stolberg will be partnering with in the second row. 

“He’s been really, really good.

“Matty has been fantastic taking me through a lot of the lineouts and a lot of the stuff around the field and that sort of thing.

“He’s such a good source of information and really knowledgeable about everything that’s going on and he’s just been great to bounce ideas off.

”With just over twenty-four hours remaining until his Melbourne debut, Stolberg says Rebels fans can expect eighty minutes of passion and intensity – whether on the field in the scrums and line outs, or off the field encouraging the club’s younger players. 

“I’m just trying to go out there and play the best footy I can.“Coming in and doing my job and helping out where I can and helping out the younger players where I can.

“We’ve got some great younger players, so helping them and playing a bit of mentoring role with them and then out on the field just working as hard as I can.”

The Melbourne Rebels have named four debutants for Saturday’s opening Super Rugby AU clash with the Brumbies. Stolberg joins promising flanker Josh Kemeny in the Starting XV, while former Sunwolves teammate Efitusi Ma’afu will look to make an impact with Trevor Hosea off the bench.

After returning back to Australia with the intent on sitting out the Covid-19 shutdown, Stolberg says it’s a dream returning back to Super Rugby action so quickly and that he can’t wait to put on the red and navy for his new club tomorrow at GIO Stadium.  

“I’m very excited to get out there tomorrow night.

“Like a lot of the guys, just being back on the football field seemed a long way away when Super Rugby finished.”

The Rebels tackle the Brumbies at 7:05pm this Saturday

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