Canterbury Bulldogs rookie Nick Meaney told to find his voice

Nick Meaney arrived at Belmore this season with the aim of cementing himself in the fullback role. It has taken some time for the young gun to get used to ordering his teammates around.

Newcastle Knights player Nick Meaney during a team training session at Balance Field in Newcastle, Tuesday, July 10, 2018. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman) NO ARCHIVING

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New Canterbury signing Nick Meaney has been urged to find his voice as he inches closer towards earning the No. 1 jersey.
Meaney arrived at Belmore from Newcastle this season with the aim of cementing himself in the fullback role.

The 21-year-old said it has taken some time getting used to ordering his more experienced teammates around.
“It was confronting at the start,” Meaney said.

“You have to learn everyone’s name and you have respect for these guys that you’ve seen on TV the last couple of years. Now I’m telling them where to go and what to do. It’s confronting but as you build relationships and you’re on the field a lot more it’s easier. It’s an important role so I have to take it on.
“It takes time and practice when you get that time to build relationships it makes it easier. My dominancy is the one area I’m really working on. If I can get it right telling the blokes where to go defensively they will be happy I can do the job at the back.”

Nick Meaney joined the Bulldogs from the Knights. Picture: AAP

Meaney started to look out for a new club when his fullback path was seemingly blocked by the emergence of Kalyn Ponga at Newcastle last year. Canterbury coach Dean Pay identified Meaney as the long-term replacement for Moses Mbye.
“When we spoke about coming here he wanted a fullback,” Meaney said of his conversations with Pay. “I’ve been training there but Will Hopoate played there last year and did well. (Pay) has said it’s there for the taking. My name is up there.
“I told myself I wanted to be a fullback. Newcastle had a handy one in Kalyn.
“It was a decision I had to make whether I wanted to change positions and move to wing or centre or stick to what I wanted to do and chase that dream. The Bulldogs was the perfect fit for what I wanted to do.”

Meaney had a taste of first grade featuring in five games for the Knights last year. He has put on five kilograms during the pre-season in a bid to increase his durability.
“Playing a couple of games at that level so I knew what to expect now was a big confidence booster,” Meaney said.

“I didn’t come here not knowing what to do.
“The extra weight has helped me what I need for contact. The training has been tough but we have focused a lot on football-related skills and teamwork.
“You don’t come to training every day expecting to be flogged. You come here expecting to get better as a footy player.”

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Originally published as Canterbury Bulldogs rookie Nick Meaney told to find his voice