Halfback Brett Seymour feels as excited as a five-year-old as
he prepares for another National Rugby League playoff
campaign.
Seymour, 25, will play finals football for a third club
tomorrow night when the New Zealand Warriors take on Gold
Coast at Robina.
He knows what to expect in term of intensity and atmosphere
after having experienced the post-season with both Brisbane
and Cronulla, but it hasn't dimmed his enthusiasm at the
prospect of running out at Skilled Park.
"It's like the first day at school," he said.
"It's such a buzz playing finals footy. It will be a packed
stadium and very parochial fans. It's a tough ask going to
the Titans in round one, but it's just the way we like it."
Seymour is one of three players - along with Sydney Rooster
and new Dally M Medal winner Todd Carney and Titan Greg Bird
- who have resuscitated their careers this year after
off-field problems.
With more than 100 NRL appearances to his name, he has taken
advantage of the lifeline handed to him by the Warriors to
form an increasingly effective halves partnership with the
less experienced James Maloney, a recruit from the Melbourne
Storm.
"It's ticking along just fine," he said. "Neither of us is
too dominant. We both play our part."
What Seymour and Maloney's arrival in Auckland has done is
strengthen the Warriors' kicking game.
Apart from the pair, there are also kicking options in dummy
half Aaron Heremaia, fullback Lance Hohaia and even second
rower Lewis Brown.
When Seymour joined the Warriors, the club were at a low ebb.
They had finished way below expectations last year and were
tipped as favourites for the wooden spoon in 2010.
But Seymour said he never doubted the Warriors' ability to
made the finals.
"Every time I came over in an opposition team, it was always
a tough game and such a hostile environment," he said.
"I thought if we won our fair share of home games we would be
in with a show, and it worked out we were winning away
games."
Seymour said the Warriors had "a good unit going at the
moment", with the younger brigade, such as Brown and fellow
forwards Russell Packer and Ben Matulino, doing their part.
"The young guys are chipping in and playing really well and
we just have to get them in the right head space for the
weekend," he said.
"Hopefully the senior guys do their role as well."
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.