WRIGHT HAS SIGHTS ON GAME TIME
RUGBY LEAGUE: Cowboys forward Shane Wright is aiming high in 2019 as he looks to put a frustrating run of injuries behind him and cement a regular firstgrade spot.
Wright played two NRL games for the Cowboys last season after making his debut in 2017 and the 22-year-old shapes as an exciting prospect in the backrow.
But injury derailed what could have been a breakout year after Wright was catapulted into the starting side for North Queensland’s Round 18 clash with the Canberra Raiders.
Wright made 30 tackles in a busy 62-minute stint but a hamstring injury at training the next week denied him the chance to build on that performance.
Wright said he has only had a brief chat with Cowboys coach Paul Green about his goals for next season but the young backrower was encouraged to keep pushing for more game time at NRL level.
“I just said I want to try and play as much first grade as I can and he (Green) said ‘don’t sell yourself short, aim high’,” Wright said.
“I’ve had a taste over the last few years and I’d like to play a bit more regularly for sure, but I’ve just got to do the hard yards and see what happens and take the opportunity when it comes.”
Wright has endured a couple of frustrating injury setbacks after also twice breaking his jaw while playing for Mackay in the Queensland Cup in 2017, but felt the bad luck is now behind him.
“All the coaching staff are pretty good and they said you’ve just got to get past those injuries and move forward and things will work out for you,” Wright said. “Hopefully I’ve just got them all out when I’m younger and I’ve got a good run from now.”