Hunger drives Daejarn
COWBOYS rising star Daejarn Asi has not established what his best position is but that does not faze him.
As he seeks to find his feet as a first-grade footballer, he is simply searching for a spot in the starting 17, wherever that may be.
Last time Asi began a preseason he was on a train and trial deal, feeling the heat as he was put through the most intense sessions he had experienced.
While he may be locked into the North Queensland squad this time around, his
approach has not changed – he is still hungry, still eager to impress and still feels as though he has something to prove.
The young gun utility was given a taste of NRL football in the 2020 season, at times showing the energy and rugby league instincts that have made him such an exciting prospect.
However injury curtailed his promising introduction to the top level, limiting him to five appearances, and now the 20-year-old is back to square one in the new Cowboys era under coach Todd Payten.
After being put through a
gruelling session under the scorching Townsville sun, Asi said he was eager to prove he belonged in the side in some capacity, regardless of what number was on his back.
He said the youthful North Queensland contingent that had trained throughout the first week of pre-season was already buying in to what Payten and the club’s assistant coaches were preaching as the way rugby league is played continues to evolve.
“It’s still the same answer as last year, I’m happy to play anywhere, wherever the team needs me,” Asi said.
“Whether it’s in the halves or out at centre I just love to be out on the field and playing wherever.
“I’m feeling pretty good, I think we’ve got a whole new environment here and the boys are buying into what Toddy and the rest of the coaching staff have brought to us.
“Most clubs play the same shapes but I think the way we’ve been taught is changing. The way the game is changing everything is faster and on the front foot, so we’ve been practising playing fast and playing at speed and up tempo.
“I don’t really mind (how
we play), but playing up on the front foot is what I like to do and get over the (advantage) line as fast as I can.”
While at this stage training has been limited to defensive drills with ball work fundamentals thrown in, Asi’s goals have remained simple for the time being.
“At the moment I’m just trying to get through this preseason but it’s always a goal to play as many first-grade games as possible. I’d like to get a few more than last year, but we’ll see when that time comes,” Asi said.
“Everyone’s got to be fitter, faster, obviously.”