Gillett’s ready to help fill the void
MATT Gillett knows the time has come for him to step up as a leader of the Maroons pack, following the losses of Matt Scott and Corey Parker.
With Scott out for the series with a knee injury, and Parker now retired, the pecking order is changing within the Queensland side.
At least one debutant in Dylan Napa is expected to join the forward pack this year, while Jarrod Wallace, Coen Hess and Felise Kaufusi are also looming as options.
Gillett, who made his Origin debut in 2012, says he has never viewed himself as a leader for Queensland.
But with Scott and Parker gone, he knows that will have to change, not just for himself but for a number of other forwards this year.
“It won’t come down to one individual player,” Gillett said.
“Whoever is picked in that forward pack will have to step up.
“It’s about wearing that jersey with pride and not letting your mates around you down.
“With Matty Scott out, there are big shoes to fill. For a whole forward pack, we have to do that little bit extra.
“I just want to be doing my best and not let my mates around me down.”
With the absence of Scott and Parker, Gillett will be one of the most experienced for- wards in the team alongside Nate Myles and Sam Thaiday.
Gillett’s aim to provide more leadership for the Queensland team also comes at a good time in his career.
The 28-year-old is in some of his best form at the moment, something which he said comes down to the fact he has finally found consistency in his game.
After seven years in the NRL, Gillett said he knows now how to best prepare his body for the long season and is reaping the benefits of that experience.
“Being consistent is the biggest thing I’ve always tried to do,” Gillett said.
“I think I’m slowly getting that right. I’m happy with the way things are going.
“Hopefully I can keep doing that. If I can keep that level of footy going, I’ll be happy.” CHEAPIES are back in a big way for shrewd SuperCoaches looking to save cash in time a bye period spending spree.
As predicted last week in this very column, hardworking Titans bench forward Morgan Boyle was the buy of the week, jumping $40k on his bargain basement starting price.
But he’s not the only one worth jumping on. Cheapies don’t often pop up mid-season but surprisingly we are spoiled for choice.
Everyone who’s anyone has Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, now a centre at the Tigers, in their team this week.
The brother of Panthers winger Dallin has yet to score a try but has some impressive stats, including 20 tackles last week in a well beaten side. Get in there now.
The other prime target is Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, but only if you dare.
The Warriors winger is in fact a half in SuperCoach, which is actually a bit of a pain. He’s a week-to-week proposition though and is even tipped to be a late out in Round 11.
You’re probably better off with Bulldogs half Matt Frawley, who should command a starting spot for the next month after Josh Reynolds’ injury a couple of weeks ago.
I was hugely impressed with Tyrell Fuimaono’s debut for the Rabbitohs and he’s on my radar next week.
Not that I’ll need it. I’ve already got just under $400k to play with and plenty of improvement. This week I dismissed Manu Ma’u for MWZ and traded JT for Shaun Johnson, who’s cheap as chips.