Wests almost cemented their place in the John I Dent Cup finals on Saturday, but all the talk after their crucial win was about a Gungahlin teenager who evoked memories of Stephen Larkham.
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Mack Hansen was called into the Gungahlin Eagles starting team just minutes before kick-off for his first-grade debut after Jordan Macey injured his calf in the warm up.
What followed was a magic display from a 19-year-old who possesses the same silky, slicing skills that made ACT Brumbies and Wallabies champion Larkham one of Australian rugby's greatest playmakers.
Hansen's debut was the glimmer of light for Gungahlin on a gloomy and cold day at Jamison Oval as Wests went on a first-half rampage against a top-four rival to score a 50-36 triumph.
On the same day the ACT Schoolboys side won its first national title since 1988, Hansen was taking a giant step in his career after training with the Brumbies at the start of the year.
The former Daramalan College student has added almost 10 kilograms to his lanky frame and he didn't look out of place despite being a last-minute inclusion.
He ran with precision and made it look easy as he sliced through the Wests defence like a Larkham clone complete with a trademark headgear
The eye-catching performance in a losing side turned the heads of opposing coaches Dan Atkins and Craig Robberds, who both played with Larkham in the early stages of his career.
Both agreed "there's something special" brewing after Hansen's 60-minute effort.
"Mack Hansen, in my opinion, is one of the Brumbies' next five-eighths," said Eagles coach Atkins.
"I needed someone to fill in this week ... he played a half of second grade and we decided to give him a crack.
"He seems like he's got all the time in the world, he's controlled and he doesn't panic."
Brumbies centre James Dargaville played alongside Hansen and had no doubt about his ability.
"I think a few of the Brumbies boys saw some pretty special because they saw what he did today when he was training with us," Dargaville said.
"I'm sure he'll be a good pressure. But you don't want to put too much pressure on him so early."
Wests edged closer to a finals return when they powered their way to a 31-7 lead at half-time.
Their scrum dominated and the Eagles couldn't get going as Brumbies playmaker Nick Jooste made his comeback to the John I Dent Cup after Australian under-20s duties.
The game turned at half-time and the Eagles scored three tries in the first eight minutes of the second half to close the gap to five, but Wests found a way to keep a buffer and seal the win in darkness.
The win moves third-placed Wests six points clear of Gungahlin and the Queanbeyan Whites will join the battle for the two teams in a battle for the last two finals spots.
"We've got a tough couple of games and so do Gungahlin," Robberds said.
"That win was crucial, it gives us a bit of a jump and hopefully we can keep it going. That's the challenge from here."
AT A GLANCE
John I Dent Cup: WESTS 50 (J Luteru 2, penalty try; N Jooste, T Campbell, TP Luteru, H Lloyd, R Keily tries; N Jooste 4 conversions) bt GUNGAHLIN EAGLES 36 (S Taufuf 2, M Hawke, X Duffy, A Small, J Brugmann tries; J Kotz 3 conversions); ROYALS 31 bt QUEANBEYAN WHITES 24; TUGGERANONG VIKINGS 35 bt UNI-NORTHS OWLS 5.
Women's: Tuggeranong ViQueens 40 bt Uni-Norths Owls 7.
Second grade: Gungahlin Eagles 42 bt Wests 12, Queanbeyan Whites 32 bt Royals 31, Tuggeranong Vikings 37 bt Uni-Norths Owls 36.
Colts: Gungahlin Eagles 20 bt Wests 0, Queanbeyan Whites 70 bt Royals 10, Tuggeranong Vikings 48 bt Uni-Norths Owls 15.
First division
First grade: Queanbeyan Whites 12 drew with Royals 12, Gungahlin Eagles 55 bt Wests 19, Uni-Norths Owls 24 bt Young 22, Tuggeranong Vikings 48 bt Goulburn 0, Cooma 31 bt Hall 29.
Second grade: Queanbeyan Whites 41 bt Royals 7, Gungahlin Eagles 22 bt Wests 15, Uni-Norths Owls 20 bt Young 0, Tuggeranong Vikings 17 bt Goulburn 8, Hall 22 bt Cooma 10.
