Hat-trick hero Matthew Wright just happy to get a start at North Queensland Cowboys
HE scored one of the fastest hat-tricks in NRL history, but North Queensland winger Matthew Wright insists he’s just happy to get a start.
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HE scored one of the fastest hat-tricks in the NRL’s history, but North Queensland Cowboys winger Matthew Wright insists he’s just happy to get a start.
Wright bagged three tries in the first 15 minutes, capping his haul with an athletic leap from a Johnathan Thurston cross field kick, the fastest hat-trick since David Vaealiki scored three in the first 11 minutes against Penrith in 2002.
All of Wright’s tries came down the Tigers’ left side, which featured his uncle Tim Simona, who was playing in the centres for the joint venture.
Wright looked odds on to equal the Cowboys’ record of four set by Ray Mercy in 1998, but his teammates ran riot on the scoresheet in the 64-6 drubbing.
But there’s no yahooing or boasting from the quietly spoken 23-year-old, who was let go by Cronulla at the end of last season and didn’t even have a lower grade club in February.
He was training by himself before the Cowboys signed him as a replacement for axed winger Wayne Ulugia, and now he’s played 16 games for a return of nine tries.
Asked what he was thinking when he scored the hat-trick, the former Junior Kangaroo said his mind was firmly on the job despite his joy.
“I was just hoping to complete our sets pretty much,” Wright said.
“I didn’t expect three tries to come that quick but I’m happy and grateful for it.
“It’s my first hat-trick ever so I’m pretty happy with it.”
Wright said he wasn’t taking anything for granted in the fight for spots in a competitive roster.
“I’m just pretty grateful for how it came about (signing with the Cowboys),” Wright said.
“I wasn’t expecting to be playing pretty much the whole year when I got picked.
“I’m just grateful and making the most of it.”
Originally published as Hat-trick hero Matthew Wright just happy to get a start at North Queensland Cowboys
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