Cowboys centre Tom Opacic sheds kilos in bid to become permanent NRL player
It’s been a long time between drinks for slimmed down Cowboys centre Tom Opacic but he’s fit and ready to go ahead of his debut for his new club in Townsville.
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A leaner, quicker Tom Opacic is set to make his debut for the Cowboys Saturday night as he sets his eyes on becoming North Queensland’s permanent left centre.
The former Brisbane Bronco will break his 279-day NRL drought after being named at left centre for his new club’s season opener at 1300Smiles Stadium.
The 24-year-old will wear No.4 jersey, vacated by the departure of Kane Linnett, and has made it his mission to hold on to it for the rest of the season.
Opacic has played just 19 NRL games since his debut in 2016 due to a horror run with injuries, including two shoulder reconstructions and groin surgery.
His last game was during Brisbane’s 32-16 loss to Melbourne in June last year.
He said a rigorous preseason helped get him back into shape and was now eyeing off a permanent left centre spot.
“I’m a bit fitter this year,” he said.
“I’ve dropped a few kilos and really looking forward to getting into it. I weigh 97kg now. I was playing about 101kg last year, so I have a bit more speed and I’m a bit fitter.
“I wouldn’t say there are any guarantees in any of the 13 spots in the team so it will all depend on performance but as long as I go out there and have a good game, I’m hoping I’ll be out there again next week.
“Now that I’ve been given the opportunity to start round one, I definitely want to stay there the whole year. Playing 26 games would be nice and then finals.”
Opacic was released from Brisbane in August last year to sign a two-year deal with North Queensland in a bid to fast track his career.
He said coach Paul Green had spoken to him when he first signed about what needs to be done to become the Cowboys’ left centre.
“I did speak to Greeny back in November about what he expects from me,” he said.
“He just wants good talk, strong defence, do my job really.
“For myself, I don’t think it really matters who the opposition is, as long as I’m defending well and running my lines and doing my job.”
Opacic will partner Javid Bowen on the left edge after their usual No.5, Kyle Feldt, went down with a groin injury during training late last week.
He will also be reunited with fellow former Broncos Josh McGuire and Jordan Kahu, who have also been named to debut for the Cowboys tonight.
“It was good to have a couple of familiar faces in the team (Kahu and McGuire) even though they came a bit later than when I started,” he said.
“The boys here are a real good bunch of blokes.”
Cowboys team list
1. Jordan Kahu
2. Nene Macdonald
3. Justin O’Neill
4. Tom Opacic
5. Javid Bowen
6. Te Maire Martin
7. Michael Morgan
8. Matt Scott
9. Jake Granville
10. Jordan McLean
11. Gavin Cooper
12. Coen Hess
13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
14. John Asiata
15. Josh McGuire
16. Mitch Dunn
17. Francis Molo
Dragons team list
1. Gareth Widdop
2. Jordan Pereira
3. Euan Aitken
4. Tim Lafai
5. Mikaele Ravalawa
6. Corey Norman
7. Ben Hunt
8. James Graham
9. Cameron McInnes
10. Paul Vaughan
11. Jacob Host
12. Tariq Sims
13. Tyson Frizell
Interchange:
14. Jeremy Latimore
15 Matt Dufty
16. Blake Lawrie
17. Luciano Leilua
Originally published as Cowboys centre Tom Opacic sheds kilos in bid to become permanent NRL player
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