Gungahlin Eagles strike gold with Super Rugby duo Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and Pete Samu in John I Dent Cup

Needless to say the Gungahlin Eagles coach is glad to have the 25-year-old livewire in his side as they chase their first John I Dent Cup title in 18 years.

Fines-Leleiwasa and ACT Brumbies forward Pete Samu have helped the Eagles into second following a 29-10 win over the Uni-Norths Owls at Nicholls Enclosed Oval on Thursday night.

Western Force-bound Fines-Leleiwasa has been almost unstoppable in Eagles colours as he prepares for a Super Rugby move.

"Those two guys have just been like one of the boys. They want to be there," Eagles coach Marco Caputo said.

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"The result of that is our boys play better just by having them there. They're just good buggers to have around.

"I know clubs can get into a false sense of security thinking getting Brumbies back is potentially going to save them, but my experience is they've got to want to be there.

"If they don't want to be there, they can be more of a nuisance than actually helping you.

"Finesy in particular, mate, I don't know there is a better heads up, instinctive No. 9 in Australian rugby than Finesy. I'm amazed the Brumbies are letting him go.

"As far as I've seen, he can do things on the footy field that I don't know other nines in the country can do. His strength is his instinct and his willingness to have a go.

"When other nines don't see there is an opportunity, he does. I know opposition defences are pretty nervous when he's around the ruck.

"I can't speak highly enough of Finesy and Pete and the influence they've had on our boys."

While the Eagles moved into second, the Queanbeyan Whites' clash with the Wests Lions at Campese Field was derailed by ground closures for the second time.

Whites officials are keen to play the match at a later date, sitting two competition points behind fourth-placed Wests.

Gungahlin have managed to give themselves some breathing room on the back of a spirited defensive performance.

Caputo says his troops "probably played 80 per cent of the game without the ball" - but when chances came, they made the most of them with hooker Connor Jones helping to lay the platform.

"Jonesy has really taken his game to the next level and he has probably had to do that," Caputo said.

"He's got a little bit of pressure, he's got blokes nipping at his heels for that spot. He's taken his game to the next level, that competition for the No. 2 jersey has taken his game to the next level.

"The result of that is he is playing really good footy and we're getting the benefit out of it. His past three or four weeks have been top shelf."

AT A GLANCE

John I Dent Cup round nine: GUNGAHLIN EAGLES 29 (Sam Hyland 2, Tamati Ioane, Isaac Crowe, Kristian Jensen tries; Tom Haddad 2 conversions) bt UNI-NORTHS OWLS 10 (Issy Vaili 2 tries) at Nicholls Enclosed Oval.

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