Stand-in Canterbury halfback Matthew Frawley already plays like a 100-game NRL veteran, according to halves partner Josh Reynolds.
Frawley made his debut in the Bulldogs' vital 10-7 win over Brisbane on Thursday night, showing superb control and giving the team much-needed direction close to the line.
Reynolds also had one of his better matches in recent seasons, playing far more direct and being involved in a number of try-scoring opportunities.
The experienced Bulldogs five-eighth said he had benefited from 22-year-old Frawley's composure throughout the match.
"For his first game it was like he played 100 to be honest," Reynolds said.
"He was talking, I'd call something and he would say 'nah, let's settle it down'.
"But honestly it was perfect, because sometimes I'm in the game."
After the match, Frawley handled the waiting media with similar aplomb.
He attempted to work in plugs for his father's Alexandria shoe business, and even jokingly offered discounts for reporters with the kind of charisma 200-gamers lack.
However, it was the former Raiders under-20s captain's poise in the lead-up to the match that served him best.
With regular half Moses Mbye only suspended for one match, Frawley entered the game in a specialist position knowing it could be a one-off chance.
After Frawley's impressive performance, coach Des Hasler refused to buy into talk about whether he would suddenly have selection headaches next week.
"I'm sure Moses will come back into the team," Frawley said. "I just try not to look at the big picture.
"I surprised myself how calm I was. I thought I would be pretty nervous leading into it.
"I've worked so hard to get here so if I went out there and tried too much or thought about it too much I wouldn't have been able to play well."
Frawley also credited Reynolds' influence in the lead-up to the match. The pair regularly caught up for coffee and the former Blues playmaker offered plenty of advice.
Their relationship will only grow in coming weeks, with the pair set to move in together.
"I'm going to have to try and control him," Frawley joked. "As long as he can cook and clean I'll be happy."
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