Nathan Den Hoedt

Earning a break at the Giltinis was exactly the step into professional rugby that Nathan Den Hoedt had been chasing after four years in Australia’s top club competitions with Sunnybank (2017-18) and Randwick (2019-20).

A ball-carting forward with a strong work ethic, he experienced higher level rugby in Australia’s second-tier National Rugby Championship with Brisbane City (2018) and NSW Country (2019).

He had captained Randwick so he brought extra leadership and practised lineout strengths to the lock role.

Nicknamed “Moose”, he is a Los Angeles Lakers fan so he has landed in the right city.

He was an extremely reliable performer at lock in the Giltinis’ first season with his lineout-winning, workrate and physical presence. He was a deserved starter in the Championship final and will step up again in 2022.