NRL: Sailor embracing gruelling first preseason

They’re inevitable when your father is, not just a dual international, but one of the game’s genuine larger than life characters.

These days though, Wendell Sailor is increasingly going by the moniker “Tristan’s dad” around the Dragons, and the 19-year-old says that’s all his father’s ever tried to be throughout his young career.

“He’s pretty much let me do it on my own and learn from the guys here,” Sailor said.

“He obviously checks how I’m going every now and then and gives me the odd piece of advice but he’s pretty hands off in that regard.

“There probably will be bit more external pressure because of it but I think it just makes me work harder to get to that level and carve my own niche.

“Probably as I move through the preseason and into the season I’ll seek out his advice a bit more because it will get tough, but it’s good he’s always tried to just be my dad rather than a coach.”

The 19-year-old is in the midst of his first full preseason with the Dragons top squad alongside fellow NYC standouts Zac Lomax and Steve Marsters.

It’s meant a big step up in intensity, but Sailor has looked impressive in the fitness stakes. 

“Being one of the smaller guys it’s good to have that fitness but the step up from 20s is the big change,” he said.

“You can definitely see the step up in professionalism, it’s a fulltime job. With the 20s you had work or uni during the day but this is full days and it’s a lot more intense.

“We’ve got such a tight-knit group of younger guys coming through. We’ve all played together through the junior ranks so it’s creating a really good young culture.

“We’ve still got that excitement with being around some of the heroes we’ve watched for ages. To have those role models is really good to help us through this period.”

Sailor scored 15 tries in 26 games for the Dragons NYC side last season shifting between the halves, fullback and wing. He’s happy to continue in the utility role in 2018.

“All positions come with their pros and cons so I’m happy to play anywhere,” he said.

“Probably fullback or five-eighth is my preference, just being a bit more hands-on in terms of running the ball and ball-playing but I’ll play wherever I’m needed.

“I think the main focus is to build that size to deal with the physicality of [senior] level but I really just want to learn as much as I can. 

“With Gareth [Widdop] and Ben Hunt coming back there’s two world class halves to learn from so I’m definitely looking to do that.”