Nick Meaney puts expectations aside to shine for Bulldogs

Canterbury rookie Nick Meaney felt the weight of expectation when he was called into a Bulldogs side who were struggling.

Nick Meaney has been strong since his call up to the NRL. (AAP Image/Hamish Blair)

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Canterbury rookie Nick Meaney felt the weight of expectation when he was called into a Bulldogs side who were struggling.

Meaney was overlooked for selection in the opening two games despite joining the Bulldogs from Newcastle with an eye on being Canterbury’s long-term fullback. He was called to make his Canterbury debut against the Tigers two weeks ago when the club was almost at rock bottom.

They had been well beaten by the Warriors and Parramatta in their opening two games which led to wholesale changes at the club.

Nick Meaney has been strong since his call up to the NRL. (AAP Image/Hamish Blair)

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Meaney was among the likes of Jayden Okunbor and Rhyse Martin to be called into the side.

“You feel a bit pressure,” Meaney said. “The team was under scrutiny after the first two rounds. For you to be brought into that situation is a bit of pressure. You have to take a moment and sit back and realise it’s a game of footy and do what you know how to do.

“It was tough. I was nervous, honestly I was really nervous. I was way more nervous playing the Tigers than I was against the Storm. Once I knew I had the footy in my hand I was comfortable.

Meaney spoke of his nerves before the call up. (AAP Image/Hamish Blair)

“I felt some energy coming into the squad after the first two rounds. Everyone really picked up and it showed on the footy field. We were excited.”

The Bulldogs beat the Tigers in Meaney’s first appearance and almost shocked the unbeaten Storm on Sunday. He has been sound in his first two games, running for more than 100 metres in each clash and will again line-up at the back against St George Illawarra on Sunday.

Meaney was challenged by coach Dean Pay to go to the Canterbury Cup and produce good enough football to warrant a Bulldogs top grade debut.

“I came here to play NRL,” Meaney said. “You move on and you take it as a challenge to play good footy. Hopefully sooner rather than later you get a call up and I was lucky enough to.

“(Pay) said he was going to go with Hop (Will Hopoate) and I understood that. Hop is a great footy player. I took that into my own mind and said that I needed to play good footy.

“I wanted to earn my spot and not get it through injury or luck.

“I’m still getting used to NRL. It was only my seventh game (against the Storm). To get a win against the Tigers was amazing. I’m excited and hoping we can get a few more wins.”

Originally published as Nick Meaney puts expectations aside to shine for Bulldogs