St George Illawarra rookie Jai Field is eyeing a future in the Dragons' fullback jersey, but for now he is happy to remain as a bench utility.
Field went close to claiming the Dragons' No.7 jersey over the pre-season, but instead had to settle with 10 minutes at halfback as an interchange player in Saturday's 42-10 win over Penrith.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor has already indicated that Field will hold his bench utility role given the club's forwards playing plenty of minutes, and it is a position the 19-year-old is happy to grow accustomed to.
"It was a little bit different," Field said.
"I'd never really spent a lot of time on the bench.
"You get a lot of time to look around and see what's going on and different tackling techniques you can target."
Field will offer cover for the Dragons at halfback for Josh McCrone - as he did at the close on Saturday - and anywhere in the back line.
However he has never played hooker in his career, and would therefore be unlikely to deputise for Cameron McInnes, unless McCrone shifted into dummy-half.
He was however a fullback as a junior, and after being criticised for being too small coming through the grades, he knows he has to get bigger before a full-time No.1 jersey is in the works.
"I would like to play fullback down the track when I get a little bit more size," Field said.
"My body's not up to playing fullback when I can. I'm a natural runner, fast and good on my feet."
He has already made an impression on his Dragons teammates after starring in the Auckland Nines before impressing again with limited time on the field in the Charity Shield loss to South Sydney.
"He's going to be a future superstar," second-rower Joel Thompson said.
"He's got all the talent in the world. It will be good to just bring him along in bits and pieces along the year and he will only get better for it."
