Future is now as Field stakes Dragons claim

And the NSW under 20 representative intends to stride through it and grab a firm hold on the No.1 jersey when it’s left behind by Josh Dugan.

Barely halfway into this campaign, St George Illawarra’s squad for next year has already taken shape, with the early signing of Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt and retention of captain Gareth Widdop.

It means Field, who will play at five-eighth for the junior Blues at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, could only be a back-up halves option.

But his versatility could result in Field to becoming a first choice fullback to replace Dugan, who will move to Cronulla next year.

“Of course, I’d like to aim at that,” Field said. “It’s a position I want to take and next year hopefully I can have a good crack.”

A Shellharbour junior, Field has spent the NSW junior State of Origin camp up the road at Kiama, before flying to Brisbane with the squad on Monday. The junior Blues are coached by the former NSW hooker Danny Buderus, who played 22 Origin games, winning the series  2003-5. As the tension builds towards the Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium, Field will be plotting Queensland’s demise in the curtain-raiser in front of a building and inevitably hostile crowd.

“It’s been a great experience to be part of, it’s the first time I’ve gone into a camp like this,” he said. 

“Danny’s been really good to have as a coach, he know what it takes to win at Origin level, we’ve just been keeping it pretty simple.

“I’m sure the Queenslanders will all be against us, but it’s pretty exciting to be part of the atmosphere and Suncorp is just a great stadium to play at.”

While Field is viewed as a star of the future, Dragons coach Paul McGregor has turned to Kiwi international Jason Nightingale while Dugan was out with a cheekbone fracture. Off-contract at the end of the season, 30-year-old Nightingale is determined to show his value.

“I think there’s potential for plenty of people to play No.1,” Nightingale said.

“I think Jai, long-term, is a five-eighth or a halfback, but he’s definitely fast enough and got enough running game to play fullback. But that’s for people other than me to decider.”

Nightingale said Field’s exposure to an Origin-type environment will make the 19-year-old a better player.

“Representative honours like the one he’s got will only make him grow as a player,” he said. “And (the Dragons) are going to be the ones benefiting from that.”