North Queensland Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt hates wasting opportunities.
Given just three chances in the club's NRL Telstra Premiership side so far this year, the former Junior Kangaroo has now scored five tries, following an impressive hat-trick against the Warriors on Saturday night.
A late call-up in the place of Matthew Wright on the right wing, Feldt produced classy finishes to cross for tries in the 19th, 36th and 65th minutes of the 50-16 romp.
"Definitely stoked and a bit surprised getting called into the team so late," Feldt told NRL.com after the match at Mount Smart Stadium.
"Three tries is always good to get, but our work out of our own end was what gave us good ball to get those three tries. We were getting good service with our plays coming off.
"We were just going through the middle and then playing off the back of what our halves saw, it started working so we just stuck with it."
Unable to break into the high-flying North Queensland side since Round 3, Feldt has had to bide his time in the Intrust Super Cup where his form has been strong, last week scoring a double and leading his Townsville Blackhawks team in metres gained.
While disappointed with the lack of chances in first grade, the 23-year-old could understand why coach Paul Green was reluctant to make changes.
"It has been frustrating, but when the team is winning like they were I don't think they are going to make too many changes, which is understandable," Feldt said.
"At the start it's always hard to stay motivated [when you are dropped to reserve grade], but at the end of the day you are there to do your job and when you get back on the field that's all you have to do.
"I had been working hard when going back to Queensland Cup and making sure that I try and prove to the coaching staff that I deserve another shot, and I was lucky enough to get one.
"My form has always been good and I think that's why I got the start, the form has been good, defence has been good, and I think I brought that into the team this week.
"We have got a lot of good quality outside backs, so you have just got to make sure you perform well every week and hopefully keep your spot; your performance will do it for you."
Meanwhile co-captain Matthew Scott backed the club's depth in the front row to come through, following the loss of James Tamou to a neck injury.
It is unclear at this stage how much time Tamou may miss, after being taken to hospital on Saturday night as a precaution.
"Jimmy is a massive loss, obviously he is a big part of our starting pack," Scott said.
"But I think one of the strengths of our side has been the depth of our bench with guys like Benny Spina, Benny Hannant and two guys who didn't play tonight in Sam Hoare and Scotty Bolton.
"I think we have certainly got the depth to cover him."
