Dragons livewire Jai Field force-fed himself to gain weight but has lost none of his speed

After force-feeding himself all summer to try and bulk up, Dragons livewire Jai Field is back in first grade and has lost none of his speed.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 11: Jai Field of the Dragons makes a break on his way to score a try during the round nine NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Suncorp Stadium on May 11, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

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Before he could ever contend for the tag of 'Fastest Man in Rugby League', Jai Field had to force feed himself.

As recently as this summer, too.

When just before bed, and despite having already eaten dinner, the St George Illawarra livewire would then push through another pasta meal, then wash it down with a protein shake.

"Which isn't easy when your not hungry," says Field, who started pre-season at 79kg. "There were times when I basically had to force feed myself.

"I wasn't hungry but because you're burning off so much energy over summer, running four, maybe five times a week, you then have to consume roughly twice the calories you're burning off.

“So it’s tough.

"But at least this year my body felt ready to put on the weight. While it's definitely a battle, this is also the easiest I've done it."

Still only 21, Field is making just his eighth NRL appearance against Newcastle in Mudgee, Sunday.

Only his second as a starter, too.

Yet wearing the Dragons No. 6 jersey, the Wollongong flyer is not only looking to stand up in the absence of Corey Norman, or end a run of three straight losses for the Red V, but potentially prove himself a challenger for that 'Fastest Man' gong.

Able to cover 40m in 4.6 seconds, Field is the quickest player at St George Illawarra.

A truth proved by his ability to burn no less than Warriors megastar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck last start in Magic Round, a feat which earned his first ever NRL try.

Field scored his first NRL try last weekend. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

"Although we joke that (fullback) Matty Dufty, he doesn't want to give the title up just yet," Field laughs. "But yeah, I've got him."

Which is no small thing.

But what about Melbourne winger Josh Addo-Carr?

For the Fox, he would undeniably start bookies’ favourite in a footrace involving the likes of James Tedesco, Bronson Xerri, Ryan Papenhuyzen, even James Roberts when not in reggies.

"I reckon Addo-Carr is the quickest for sure," the Dragons playmaker agrees. "He's lightening."

And as for a race between the pair of you?

"Ah, not sure," Field shrugs. "Josh is definitely quick … I reckon it would be a good race."

Despite making his first grade debut in 2017, Field has played just seven games of top grade football since, with all but one off the interchange bench.

Field was a star of junior football. Picture by Darren England.

Apart from sitting behind a host of star halves, think Norman, Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop, the Shellharbour Sharks product admits, until this year, he simply wasn't big enough for the weekly grind of NRL.

"I wasn't physically up to playing consistently," he admits. "Everyone knew that.

"So the goal for me has been getting my body heavier while also playing some good, consistent football (in reserves).

"Each pre-season I've come back heavier and got used to running with more size.

"I've also worked with dietitians, nutritionists, developed an eating plan and, during the pre-season, lifted weights five days a week.

“And it’s all paying off.

"So now with this opportunity, I feel that I'm ready."

Originally published as Dragons livewire Jai Field force-fed himself to gain weight but has lost none of his speed