Penrith Panthers star Jamie Soward to battle boos against St George Illawarra in Wollongong return
JAMIE Soward has taken a lesson in how Wally Lewis used to respond to boos in the lead up to Penrith’s visit to Wollongong to play his former side.
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WALLY Lewis was booed when he ventured into enemy territory, so Jamie Soward says he is not bothered when he cops howls of abuse from opposition crowds.
The Penrith playmaker is preparing for a verbal bashing when he returns to his old stomping ground of WIN Stadium against his former NRL club St George Illawarra on Sunday.
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When the Panthers played the Dragons in June it was the first time he had come up against the side since departing Kogarah midway through last year.
But Sunday’s game will be the first time he has run out in a Panthers jumper in front of the Red V faithful.
Soward was a part of the Dragons for seven years, helping the joint venture to its first premiership in 2010, before parting ways last season following a form slump.
The 29-year-old has experienced a revitalisation since moving to the foot of the mountains, helping the Panthers to third on the ladder.
He said his preparation for Sunday’s match had been helped by the fact he had come up against the Dragons earlier in the year.
Soward described himself as an “emotional player’’ but said he would have no nerves when he returned to WIN Stadium.
Asked if he was worried about being booed by the crowd, he said it was no different to any other week, likening it to the way Queensland and Australian great Lewis was jeered everywhere he went.
“I’m sure I’ll get bagged,” he said. “I get it everywhere ... I don’t mind. Wally Lewis used to get bagged everywhere and he turned out to be a pretty good player.”
Soward was forced to play a greater hand in the side’s win against the Bulldogs on Friday night following a season-ending knee injury to halves partner Peter Wallace.
He was shifted from his usual five-eighth position to half in an attempt to accommodate rookie halves partner Will Smith.
Soward has played a handful of games at halfback this season but has not played as a regular No.7 since 2008.
He was critical of his previous performances at halfback this year but said he took a big leap on Friday night.
“I thought I handled it better on Friday,” he said.
“I’m still learning because I haven’t played halfback for a while. We’ve been chopping and changing and Friday night was better.”
Originally published as Penrith Panthers star Jamie Soward to battle boos against St George Illawarra in Wollongong return
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