By Mary Maidiotis
St George Illawarra Dragons hooker Heath L’Estrange says he is happy to do what’s best for the team ahead of the fixture against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Monday.
The Hills Bulls junior credited repetition and continuous effort for the dazzling start to the year in both attack and defence.
L’Estrange, 30, admits that while he would like a couple of additional minutes each game, as long as the team is playing well, he is content simply enjoying playing.
“We’ve had a great start to the year bar two little hiccups early on, and we played well against the Rabbitohs,” said L’Estrange.
“All the boys are really solid at the moment and everyone’s injury free which is really great.
“It was great to get a good win at Kogarah; 18,000 people in attendance which was unbelievable and the majority stayed around afterwards to watch us walk around.
“I think our form is down to repetition, we haven’t changed anything apart from a move or two and with our effort in defence, our attack is consequently improving.
“I’ll do whatever is necessary for the team to win, it doesn’t bother me, I do enjoy playing my footy and I love being on the field with the boys.
“Sitting on the sidelines is very stressful but when the team’s playing well and Mitch Rein is playing well, there’s no need to change anything.
“Our game plan revolves around two hookers but I think the last two weeks, the time that I was supposed to go on, Mitch has all of a sudden scored a try so that’s the way it is.
“I’m happy doing what I’m doing but a couple of extra minutes wouldn’t hurt so that I don’t have to do extra fitness during the week.
“Mitch is definitely a chance for a State of Origin jersey, there’s been a bit of talk that he can’t last 80 minutes which I think is rubbish, he’s probably the fittest bloke I’ve ever played with and if he had the opportunity he wouldn’t let anyone down, I know that.”
