Sharks rookie Daniel Atkinson admitted he thought he might have to become a prop to earn more opportunities in the NRL after seeing just 19 minutes in the top grade since his 2021 debut.
Steering the ladder leaders to a dominant 40-0 win over the Raiders alongside Nicho Hynes on Sunday, an 80-minute performance at five-eighth felt like a ‘real debut’ for the 23-year-old after previously being injected into the forward pack or activated at 18th man.
And with Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon confirming Atkinson will hang onto the No. 6 jersey for Saturday’s local derby with the Dragons, the Brisbane battler is ready for what he said feels like his first chance to prove himself in the NRL.
“This was actually the first game playing in my position so I was starting to question what my position was a bit there, whether I was a prop or a halfback,” Atkinson chuckled following Cronulla’s win on Sunday.
“My Dad and my brother and his wife actually came down from Queensland, so it did feel a bit like a debut.
“I grew up playing six in Brisbane so it felt good to get a solid hit-out in the five-eighth spot.
“Nicho actually cleared my role up earlier in the week and said, 'I’ll steer the ship around' and he just let me play to my strengths and I think we did that well.
“When I first came to the Sharks, he was the first bloke I sort of knew from the Storm days, so we have a good connection.”
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After his development contract came to an end at Melbourne in 2021, Atkinson returned to the Sunshine Coast Falcons where he all but accepted his future playing Queensland Cup and finishing his building apprenticeship.
But in 2023, the Italian international was handed a career lifeline by Cronulla and is determined to make the most of his long-awaited opportunity to prove himself in his preferred trade.
“I was playing for the Falcons working as a chippy and got a call from Fitzy and Darren Mooney and haven’t looked back to be honest,” he said.
“When I was going to work at 6.30 in the morning, knocking off and then going to training I was thinking 'geez this is getting tough', but boys do it their whole life so I can’t complain.
“You never know how footy is going to work or anything. You see all these young kids coming through carving up and everything, but when you get your chance, it's your chance.
"I’m just keen for more game time, I'll go into lock, fullback, wherever the team needs me but I'm pretty keen to keep building in the halves.”
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Cronulla’s fourth-straight came after a big week for the club with Braydon Trindall stood down and veteran prop Dale Finucane announcing his immediate medical retirement.
In a twist of irony, back in 2021 it was the former Storm skipper who handed Atkinson his debut jersey and the former Falcon said he was determined to play with the grit and toughness of the departed mentor.
“With Dale retiring, we just wanted to play with the attributes he devoted his whole career to. It was a big step for this game,” he said.
“I actually debuted for the Storm against the Sharks and Dale was the captain, so when he announced his retirement, it was really sad to hear that especially because he couldn’t go out on his own terms.
“His whole career, he just played like a warrior and that’s what we tried to go out and do today.”
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