Keighran is starting to fit in now
They say first impressions last but, luckily for Warriors halves contender Adam Keighran, Stephen Kearney can be won over by hard work.
The coach has liked what he’s seen from Keighran throughout pre-season. Although, the new recruit didn’t exactly start off on the right foot at Mt Smart.
‘‘He’s got a game about him but when he first turned up I don’t know if he thought it was a summer camp,’’ Kearney said. ‘‘He didn’t make a real good impression from a fitness point of view, to be honest.
‘‘I don’t know what he expected. I just don’t think he realised what our expectation is here.’’
Thanks to a few eye-opening sessions under head trainer Alex Corvo, Keighran quickly found out what was required.
Fast-forward four months and the 21-year-old Australian could very well get the first shot at replacing Shaun Johnson when the Warriors open their 2019 campaign against the Bulldogs in two weeks’ time.
‘‘It’s about 16 or 17 weeks now, and the progression has been really good,’’ Keighran said after Saturday’s 26-16 trial win over Wests Tigers in Whangarei. ‘‘The coaching staff is second to none. Definitely the fitness from Corvo has helped me there. He’s a very tough man but it’s been really good.’’
A former Bulldogs junior who played reserve grade for Penrith last year, Keighran has been locked in a battle with fellow rookie playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita since Johnson’s shock departure to the Sharks.
There appears to be little between the two. Both had their moments in the wins over the Storm and Tigers and Kearney gave little away as to his preference on Saturday.
Harris-Tavita has looked the more creative of the two, while team-mates have praised Keighran’s communication. His long kicking game is also a noted strength.
At a glance
Warriors 26 (Ken Maumalo 2, David Fusitu’a 2, Adam Pompey tries; Chanel Harris-Tavita 2, Adam Keighran goals) Wests Tigers 16 (Luke Brooks, Luke Garner, Esan Marsters tries; Marsters 2 goals). HT: 14-6.