(Subs. For Weds AM release)
He’s a premiership-winning No.9 but Sam Verrills has no expectation to retain his starting spot in the Sydney Roosters line-up in 2020.
Verrills capped a stellar debut NRL campaign with the grand final win over Canberra, admirably filling the breach left by Jake Friend’s struggles with injury throughout the season.
Friend’s return off the bench in the grand final means the veteran is expected to be back to full fitness when the Roosters kick off their season against Penrith on March 14.
And Verrills has no qualms with Friend being ushered straight back into the team at his expense.
“There’s no problems at all. That’s his spot really,” Verrills told AAP.
“I was just filling in while he was injured.
“I expect him to go straight back into that No.9 role and I’m just going to learn off him again for another year.
“He’s been in the game for 10 years, he’s a beast of a No.9 and he’s a great player.”
The 20-year-old Verrills is under contract at the Roosters until the end of 2021 and says he’s happy to bide his time learning his craft from 29-year-old Friend.
“I played 14 games in the end and to cap it off with a grand final victory was something I never imagined doing in my career, let alone my first year,” he said.
“Just hoping to have a big pre-season coming up and whatever happens, if I’m in the 17 I’m in the 17, but if not just go back to the (North Sydney) Bears and work hard. That’s what I see it as.”
Verrills is also hopeful superstar centre Latrell Mitchell will remain at Bondi despite the Roosters’ decision to rescind their $800,000 contract offer.
Mitchell has been heavily linked with a move to Wests Tigers but Verrills says the 22-year-old will be welcomed as a teammate until that situation changes.
“I hope he doesn’t leave, he’s a valuable player in our team,” Verrills said.
“I expect him to be there come training time. He’s doing what’s best for him, he’s a good man.”