Nathan Friend’s back flip through-the-legs mid air pass against the Storm has taken the Vodafone Warriors global. Friendy’s pass sent social media into overdrive on Sunday night and even caught the attention of several high-profile US media outlets including Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report.
What many have already touted as the try of the season was started with a Chad Townsend last tackle kick which was incredibly flicked back between the legs by an airborne Friend in the process of doing a back flip over the Storm's defensive line. The pass was backed up with some spectacular ball skills from Sam Tomkins and Shaun Johnson and finished in dazzling fashion by Tuimoala Lolohea.
Check out the tweets:
VIDEO: Rugby player dishes incredible between-the-legs pass while flipping backwards http://t.co/1IkwRVApxP pic.twitter.com/QeVpmBRs6H
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 12, 2015Watch: This rugby player’s between-the-legs, mid-air backflip pass led to a score http://t.co/94PI5EP3BY pic.twitter.com/9KjUdqpmqB
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 12, 2015As a child I thought one day I could be centerfold of @sportsillustrated, maybe Mr February\ud83d\ude1c #DreamsAreFree pic.twitter.com/GWRem4lnvV
— Nathan Friend (@09friendy) July 13, 2015That @NZWarriors try thou!!!! @09friendy is superman
— Jerome Kaino (@jeromekaino) July 12, 2015Who would have thought. The @NZWarriors @09friendy is the face that takes @NRL to the world!!!
— Andrew Voss (@AndrewVossy) July 12, 2015@JackMcGinness @09friendy I watched it about 37 times. I'm starting practice in the morning. I plan to try and do it next week.
— george rose (@gorgeousgrose) July 12, 2015@NZWarriors Best try ever! @09friendy body on the line play. And @Shaun_Johnson90 skuxxy ball !!! #LaterBol
— Aaron Smith (@A_Smith09) July 12, 2015The upside down black-flip pass from @09friendy is going straight to @espn's plays of the week and the pool room. #WARvSTO
— James McOnie (@JamesMcOnie) July 12, 2015Great to get that win tonight. Here's the bro @09friendy with the summersault try assist 10/10 \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02 pic.twitter.com/wIFLY6X0XW
— Chad Townsend (@chadtownsend10) July 12, 2015@NZWarriors @09friendy what an AMAZING backflip pass yesterday \ud83d\ude0d #legend #signHim2016 #GetTheChequeBookOut
— Rhiannon Dennison (@RhiDennison19) July 12, 2015LOVE IT @09friendy! #NRL #Rio2016 #NRLWarriorsStorm #Freak https://t.co/F1cptbBwQW
— NRL (@NRL) July 12, 2015Thank you @NZWarriors & @09friendy my light-hearted takes on your acrobatics #BackFlipOfThisGuy #BreakDanceFRIEND pic.twitter.com/Vl3txnnvxP
— Lesane Crooks (@YaMarnis) July 12, 2015Proving not even the NWO Wolfpack and @RealKevinNash can stop the @09friendy & @NZWarriors #cheehoo #nzwarriors4life pic.twitter.com/7qZ3YXaAGr
— Food Dragon (@lastfooddragon) July 12, 2015Winning line outs for the @Wallabies @09friendy #rugbyunion pic.twitter.com/HRcpRbgWQc
— Bodie Friend (@BodieFriend) July 12, 2015@09friendy oldie but a goodie \ud83d\ude09 #NRL #HANGER #SPECKY https://t.co/aBBdnjKGeK
— Ra Pomare (@RaPomare) July 13, 2015
Nathan Friend passes the ball while doing a back flip to set up an amazing try. Try of the year contender! http://t.co/97iQYtHjGE
— TheSPORTbible (@TSBible) July 13, 2015
