Jason Saab could be the fastest player in the NRL and it turns out he can blitz the opposition while sporting a massive grin.
It’s not known if the Manly winger was greeting teammate Marty Taupau or, as rugby league guru Phil Gould suggested, “kids on the sideline”.
But the 20-year-old tearaway captivated viewers as he tore down the field to score during the second half of the Sea Eagles’ 42-6 semi-final smashing of the Roosters.
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Saab’s 69th-minute try was among the highlights of the game as a prolific Manly outfit set up a preliminary final clash with South Sydney.
Nine commentator Ray Warren originally thought Saab was smiling at a cameraman, but replays then showed Taupau going berserk on the sideline.
“It wasn’t a cameraman; it was one of his players off the bench!” Warren said.
“He’s come over to the sideline to cheer him on. He said, ‘Go you good thing!'”
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Gould loved what he saw.
“As Saab comes down the field he’ll smile to the crowd and say, ‘here I go, I’m going to score a try, hello’. Gives a little bit of a wink.
“Jason Saab – what about that lovely little smile to the kids on the sideline as he went down the wing there.”
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