Big night out as winger bags five tries
ON a night the Cowboys would rather forget, Sydney Roosters winger Matt Ikuvalu had one to remember.
The 26-year-old was not expecting to take to Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Thursday night, but a late injury to Brett Morris thrust him into action.
Morris went out to warm up with the team, however when he felt his groin go Ikuvalu was called upon – aware he would play at 7.30pm for a 7.55pm kick off.
What transpired was a five try effort – the first for a Rooster since 1955.
It would be a tough ask for coach Trent Robinson to drop him when Morris is fit to return, however those could be the cards he gets dealt.
But what it showed the twotime defending premiership mentor was the importance of a deep squad ready to hit the ground running at the drop of a hat.
That is a characteristic not foreign to Ikuvalu. It is one Robinson says he has embodied every time he takes to the training paddock.
“He came and trained just on occasions, and then … we were kicking across to Daniel Tupou,” he recalled.
“Tupes catches those balls in training and scores on the reserve wingers, but Matty just kept plucking them. He didn’t have a contract with us and we went ‘hang on this guy’s pretty good’.
“We signed him and he’s just developed through as a
Rooster and (it’s) a real credit to him. He’s a real humble, shy kid but also confident in his own ability. He deserves real credit for preparation – that was a night for how you should prepare yourself in the shadows and then get the rewards under the spotlight when the time comes.”
The fringe players of the NRL have few opportunities to force their way into the game day 17.
Lachlan Lam was another Rooster who came into the side having not played for more than three months, while the Cowboys have drafted in the likes of Tom Opacic and Peter Hola in recent weeks to cover for injuries and form.
With Ikuvalu setting the example for how these players should prepare, Robinson said it was those actions that spoke volumes for the efforts of each team and staff member.