Tyran Wishart moved to Melbourne midway through the 2021 season determined to do whatever it takes to break into the NRL.
The playmaker's progress at the Dragons had stalled after moving through the Illawarra pathway as a promising halfback.
So when Wishart said he was willing to do whatever it took, he meant it. Even if it meant lining up on the wing or as an undersized middle forward.
Fast forward three years and the 24-year-old is a key figure in the Storm's premiership quest, a Mr Fix It who coach Craig Bellamy can turn to plug gaps when needed.
Wishart is preparing for his 50th NRL match in Saturday's clash with the Dolphins, where he will line up on the wing. It's just the latest example of his versatility and desire to do whatever it takes to help his team.
Wishart gets his first try
"That's been my role for the last couple of years," he told NRL.com. "At training I'm throwing myself into different positions and just getting back to that utility role.
"It's what I came down here to come and do. The fact I have been in the team each week has been pretty pleasing. As a team our goal is set on getting to finals and doing the best we can to lift that trophy."
The utility label has attracted negative connotations in the past but it has quickly developed into one of the most important roles in an NRL team in the past few years.
Match: Storm v Dolphins
Round 25 -
home Team
Storm
1st Position
away Team
Dolphins
9th Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
The introduction of Head Injury Assessments and the increased pace of the modern game thanks to set restarts have seen many clubs carry a versatile player on the bench that can cover multiple positions and break games open in the second half.
It's a common theme among the competition heavyweights. At Penrith emerging playmaker Jack Cole is the bench utility, it's Sean O'Sullivan at the Dolphins, the Sharks have Sifa Talakai while Gordon Chan Kum Tong can cover multiple positions for the Sea Eagles.
Roosters utility Connor Watson has seen his value soar in recent years, leading to a NSW Origin debut during this year's series victory.
The 28-year-old has spent much of his career moving between the centres, the halves, hooker and lock as a stop-gap solution when needed during stints at the Roosters and Knights.
Watson conceded he used to find it frustrating being asked to switch positions on a regular basis but now views it as a sign of the important contribution he can make to his team.
Connor Watson Try
"Early in my career it was something I didn't like," he said. "I didn't like the fact I would move around because I wanted to just play in one spot. As I've got older I've started to see it as a positive and I actually enjoy playing in different spots at different times.
"With head knocks and injuries it's become more important to have guys who can cover all of those spots."
Wishart's contribution to the Storm hasn't solely centred around his impact off the bench, with the emerging talent starting at five-eighth in eight games this year while Cameron Munster recovered from a groin injury.
Replacing the Queensland and Australian representative can be a daunting task, but Wishart didn't skip a beat and received high praise from Bellamy and halfback Jahrome Hughes.
The Storm won seven from eight games with Wishart in the No.6 jumper and they currently sit on top of the NRL ladder, four points clear of the Panthers with three games remaining.
Wishart at home at six
The playmaker said his focus throughout that time was to play his natural game rather than attempting to recreate Munster's playing style.
Watson has learnt a similar lesson throughout his career and found it much easier to settle into different positions at short notice once he adopted that mindset.
"The biggest thing for me personally, I can't speak for what other people think when they do it, is just playing the role how I want to play," Watson said.
"I'm not trying to change my game to suit to play in the centres or in the halves, I'm just knowing what my strengths are, doing them to the best of my ability and just playing football.
"It's what we've been doing since we were little. We've played in all different positions since we were little and we were just playing football."
The nature of rugby league has changed significantly since set restarts were introduced when the competition returned from a COVID hiatus in 2020.
The rule was then expanded in 2021 before being refined in 2022 and the pace of the game has increased significantly in the past four years.
Hulking middle forwards have found life increasingly difficult while space has opened up for smaller livewires in the final 10 minutes of each half.
Wishart has been among the biggest exponents of the new style of play, making 12 line breaks this season and creating opportunities for those around him.
The utility scored a decisive try in last week's two-point win over the Panthers, throwing a dummy and slicing through a tired defensive line to level the scores despite Melbourne having a man in the sin bin.
Tyran Wishart Try
It's the type of play Bellamy expects to see from Wishart on a regular basis but the playmaker has learnt searching for such a moment can come with unintended consequences.
"When you come on with 10 or 20 minutes to go and try too hard, that's when things go wrong," Wishart said. "You've just got to keep a lookout from the bench and see how the game's going.
"I try and identify different areas where I can make an impact, then I just try to slip in and do my job."
It's a job Wishart has completed to a high standard throughout 2024 and one that could prove extremely important for the Storm throughout the next seven weeks.
