He’s been a shining light for Sydney Roosters during their push through to September but Sam Verrills is expecting to be squeezed out for next week’s NRL grand final qualifier.
Verrills has been one of the finds of the season, deputising for luckless dummy-half Jake Friend, but concedes he will make way for the Roosters co-captain upon his return.
The Roosters’ season appeared to have hit a major hurdle in July when Friend went down with a broken forearm in what was just his second game back from a torn bicep.
Having been pegged as premiership favourites, the Tri-Colours were forced to head into the final third of the regular season without a key member of their spine.
Enter Verrills who didn’t miss a beat and in his last eight matches as a starting No.9, the Roosters dropped just one game.
But with Friend expected to be back for next week’s preliminary final at the SCG, against the winner of this week’s Melbourne v Parramatta semi-final, Verrills said he was expecting to be left out of Trent Robinson’s 17.
“He slots straight back in,” Verrills said.
“He’s club captain for a reason. He’s played 10 years. I look to him and now I’ve played with him. He’ll come back and he’ll ready to go.”
Verrills could come off the bench with Friend’s match fitness under a cloud having played just five games this season.
“To be honest, I’m not Robbo so I don’t know what his plans are but if I do get the opportunity, I’d love it,” Verrills said.
“But also there’s such quality and talent in the side and it doesn’t bother me what I do. Footy is footy. I’d love to be in the 17 but if not I’m totally fine with it.”
Verrills has grown in stature since making his debut against Melbourne in round six and hasn’t looked out of place in the Roosters’ superstar spine alongside Cooper Cronk, Luke Keary and James Tedesco.
He said he was no longer afraid to over-call his more senior playmakers and take opportunities if he believed they were there.
“You saw in the Rabbitohs’ game (in round 25) I went to (Cronk) a little bit too much,” Verrills said.
“But it’s just the confidence, you have players around you that want the ball, I can tell when he wants it but if I see something, I’m not afraid to do it.
“When you first start out you don’t want to stuff up so. But every game I’m learning.”
