Sharks captain Andre Esterhuizen is singing praises for his teammate Ethan Hooker, touting him as the key player in the upcoming showdown with the Stormers in Durban. The Sharks are riding high on confidence following a decisive 30-19 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town, marking the latter's first defeat in the United Rugby Championship after eight consecutive wins.
Esterhuizen is bracing for a fierce comeback from the Cape Town squad. "They’re definitely going to be fired up. They’re going to want to come back, prove a point. We definitely expect the best from them," he stated, anticipating a robust challenge in this South African derby.
"I think he’s an unbelievable rugby player with ball in hand and on defence."
Since his debut in 2023, Hooker has mostly been placed on the wing, but now finds himself in the midfield alongside Esterhuizen. The Sharks skipper is excited about their evolving partnership, though he admits it's still in its early stages. "We’re still finding each other in a way," Esterhuizen revealed, highlighting the need to integrate Hooker more effectively into the game plan.
Last week, Hooker showcased his defensive prowess, and Esterhuizen is confident in his teammate's offensive capabilities as well. "I think he’s obviously growing as a player every weekend, and we’re getting accustomed to each other," he noted, optimistic about the potential for their on-field chemistry to flourish.
With both players recently returning to action after a hiatus, Esterhuizen is hopeful for more consistent performances. "We’ll start playing off each other, putting each other in space and running off each other. It will just become easier the more we play," he concluded, looking forward to their next opportunity to sync up in the upcoming game.
The Sharks aim to repeat their dominant performance and deal another blow to the Stormers, solidifying their prowess in the league. As the teams prepare for another intense match-up, all eyes will be on this dynamic duo to see if they can turn their potential into a winning formula on the field.
2,193 posts
Sharks captain Andre Esterhuizen is singing praises for his teammate Ethan Hooker, touting him as the key player in the upcoming showdown with the Stormers in Durban. The Sharks are riding high on confidence following a decisive 30-19 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town, marking the latter's first defeat in the United Rugby Championship after eight consecutive wins.
Esterhuizen is bracing for a fierce comeback from the Cape Town squad. "They’re definitely going to be fired up. They’re going to want to come back, prove a point. We definitely expect the best from them," he stated, anticipating a robust challenge in this South African derby.
"I think he’s an unbelievable rugby player with ball in hand and on defence."
Since his debut in 2023, Hooker has mostly been placed on the wing, but now finds himself in the midfield alongside Esterhuizen. The Sharks skipper is excited about their evolving partnership, though he admits it's still in its early stages. "We’re still finding each other in a way," Esterhuizen revealed, highlighting the need to integrate Hooker more effectively into the game plan.
Last week, Hooker showcased his defensive prowess, and Esterhuizen is confident in his teammate's offensive capabilities as well. "I think he’s obviously growing as a player every weekend, and we’re getting accustomed to each other," he noted, optimistic about the potential for their on-field chemistry to flourish.
With both players recently returning to action after a hiatus, Esterhuizen is hopeful for more consistent performances. "We’ll start playing off each other, putting each other in space and running off each other. It will just become easier the more we play," he concluded, looking forward to their next opportunity to sync up in the upcoming game.
The Sharks aim to repeat their dominant performance and deal another blow to the Stormers, solidifying their prowess in the league. As the teams prepare for another intense match-up, all eyes will be on this dynamic duo to see if they can turn their potential into a winning formula on the field.