Cronulla half Braydon Trindall wants to turn his increasing NRL apprenticeship into a full-time role with the emerging talent keen to showcase his ability as he fights for a new deal at the Sharks.
The 21-year-old, who won a Jersey Flegg premiership for the Sharks, is serving an apprenticeship under Chad Townsend and Shaun Johnson but at some point he'd love the chance to run out in the No.7 jersey himself.
With Townsend headed to North Queensland next season, Trindall and Johnson are both fighting for new deals under incoming coach Craig Fitzgibbon and nothing impresses more than first-grade performances.
That is where Trindall is beginning to show positive signs, with his speed and elusive running giving Cronulla an obvious injection when he came on against South Sydney on Saturday.
In 46 minutes of action he had seven runs for 54 metres and it was enough to prompt praise from interim head coach Josh Hannay as he begins to put more and more faith in his young talent.
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"Yeah I'm starting to get a bit more game time which is good but I'm just out there doing my best for the team and whatever role that may be I am here to do it," Trindall told NRL.com.
"I see myself and my main position as a halfback so you just want to learn from those experienced guys.
"Those guys [like Johnson and Townsend] have done it all so I'm just soaking it all up and being a sponge really.
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"[Winning a starting spot] is obviously a goal but at the moment I'm just here to do what's best for the team and whatever role that is I am here to do it.
"I'm off contract at the moment so yeah I'm just trying to play my best footy and put my best foot forward at the moment."
Trindall has taken notice of the impressive performances by Sydney Roosters teenage rookie Sam Walker and said he considers himself to be a similar style of player who likes to veer away from structure when the opportunity arises.
"I'm a bit of an eyes-up footy player as well like Sam is, I just like to play off the cuff but I want to control the game as well, it's all about finding that balance," he said.
Hannay was buoyed by the Sharks' second-half charge in the loss to South Sydney and although the club is on a six-game losing streak he believes they can still make an impact this year as they sit just two wins outside the top eight.
The Sharks face derby rivals St George Illawarra at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Friday and the Gold Coast a week later before the bye knowing a couple of strong games can reignite their season.
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"We're good in patches but we just have to work as a team and try and notch up that 80-minute performance," Trindall said.
"We just have to get it right and put in an 80-minute performance and I'm sure if we do we will push up in to the eight easy once we get that done."
