A SHORT stint off the bench for the Wests Tigers in Cairns has Sam McIntyre confident he has what it takes to make it in the National Rugby League.
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An electrical storm ensured his first memory in his new colours would be a lasting one, before a loose ball provided another.
Kick-off was delayed by almost an hour after the ground was enveloped in darkness before McIntyre’s first run at the top level was straight at Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston.
He had only been on the field for less than five minutes in the Tigers 30-16 win.
“I wasn’t supposed to come on until a bit later than I did, but some of the boys were just gassed because it was super hot,” he said.
“As I came on, one of the balls spilled out the back and it just sort of came straight to me.
“When I picked it up I saw that there was no one pushing up with me so I picked someone out and it just happened to be JT.”
When asked what happened in the tackle, McIntyre said it was all by the book.
I wasn’t supposed to come on until a bit later than I did, but some of the boys were just gassed because it was super hot.
- Sam McIntyre
“(There was) nothing dirty in the tackle,” he said.
Alongside Thurston on the other side of halfway was Queensland Origin prop Matt Scott.
The former Port Macquarie Shark has signed a development contract with the Tigers which prevents him from playing in the National Rugby League this season.
“I’ve been dying for an opportunity and it was good to get a taste of what I could early in the year and then build on that,” he said.
If his first stint at the top level is any indication, it’s a matter of when, not if he will make his first grade debut.
“It took me a while to get myself into the game but it was good because I know I’m good enough and I took a lot of confidence out of it,” he said.
“The speed, the contact and the physicality was something else.
“Everyone on the field is a quality player and had a lot of NRL experience so it was good to be a part of that environment.”
Everyone on the field is a quality player and had a lot of NRL experience so it was good to be a part of that environment.
- Sam McIntyre
The 19-year-old who turns 20 on March 20 felt he held his own and did the job required of him by coach Ivan Cleary.
“There are always things to improve on, especially getting some confidence and getting ready to start the year,” he said.
“It’s all working with building blocks, trying to make myself better every day and trying to improve and when my time comes my time comes.”