St George Illawarra five-eighth Gareth Widdop says successfully stepping out from Cooper Cronk’s shadow in round one of the NRL season was a highlight of his career.
Many players who have made a name for themselves at the Melbourne Storm have struggled to shine when venturing out of their comfort zone at a new club.
For a playmaker who spent four seasons as Cronk’s apprentice and part of a Storm attack that runs like clockwork, the challenge for Widdop was always going to be even tougher.
But the 25-year-old Englishman dominated at No.6 in his debut for the Dragons in last Sunday’s crushing win over Wests Tigers.
Widdop has talked all off-season about his desire to make the move from deputy to sheriff, but to actually prove he has what it takes to control a football team was a satisfying achievement.
But his former master Cronk became the premier halfback in the game based on consistency, and Widdop knows he’ll have to back it up in a tough road trip to Eden Park to face the Warriors on Saturday.
“It was pleasing to get off to a good start. It’s only round one though,” he said.
“I’ve played some real big games in World Cups and grand finals but in terms of individual performance I was very pleased. I’m not sure exactly where it sits on the highlight reel, I just want to be consistent.
“It was time in my career to move away and become a dominant ball player and touch the footy a lot more than I did in Melbourne … Here I’ve got a lot more control.”
Tigers forward Adam Blair is one prime example of a former Storm star who has struggled to fulfill his potential outside Craig Bellamy’s system.
Widdop says he didn’t feel the pressure.
“First week for the Dragons I was a bit nervous but once you take the field you get rid of those nerves and you run on adrenalin,” he said.
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