Dragons hooker in the thick of it for new club

The 23-year-old has instead made a career of putting his head where most others wouldn’t put someone else’s feet. He’s got the gap in his gums to show for it while barely a match goes by without the diminutive rake needing stitches or some running repairs.

It may well mean a few more battle scars along the way but, having recently proposed to his fiance at Flagstaff Hill, it’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make.

“I don’t think I had anything to worry about there anyway,” McInnes joked.

“I’ve just sort of thrown the hands up now and said whatever happens, happens. The missus is sticking by me, I’ve made sure of that, so that’s all that matters.”

It’s that unquestioned toughness that has made McInnes integral to the Dragons new power game, with his ability to regularly churn out 80 quality minutes in the middle of the park.

It followed an unheralded arrival in Wollongong after a three seasons with South Sydney, first as an understudy to Kiwi Test hooker Isaac Luke, and then in a tandem role with Damien Cook.

He’s had the Dragons No. 9 jumper all to himself in the opening four rounds and he plans on keeping it that way.

“For myself, not much has changed, I’ve maybe just learned some lessons from the past about what not to do on the field, to relax a bit more and I feel I'm doing that,” McInnes said.

“Mary’s been great, but I’ve had great coaches in the past as well so it’s probably just myself getting a bit older, I’ve been around a few years now and learned off some pretty good players.

“I think just learning to relax a bit more and take the opportunities when they’re there on the field instead of trying to force things. I think that’s something that I’ve learned and I’ve still got a way to go.

“From what I’ve learned in footy, as well, you only have that spot as long as you’re playing well. 

“If the team keeps playing well and I keep doing my job for the team I’m confident I’ll maintain that spot but if I’m not doing my job there’s always someone else who will step in and do it.

“I’m just trying to play my role in the team and when the team’s playing well, good things happen for you.”

McInnes has tasted finals action in two of his previous three seasons at NRL level and is confident he’ll see September football in his first season with his new club if they can continue their hot start to the year.

“I’m confident we’re a finals team and that’s what we’re aiming for,’ McInnes said.

“It’s a bit premature to talk about anything but any team that doesn’t set out for the big [Grand Final] day is kidding themselves. That’s there for us if we want to take it but we’ve got a long way to go before that.

“We set ourselves some goals we wanted to achieve and the way we’ve come out is just off the back of all the hard work we’ve done in preseason. It’s been a nice start but it is only the start so there’s a lot footy left to play.”