Outside back Ken Sio has been at the nib Newcastle Knights for two and a half months now, and says he is feeling good ahead of the Club’s 2017 pre-season trials.
While he didn’t finish his 2016 season in the English Super League until early October, Sio was restricted from ball work sessions with the Knights until just before Christmas as he recovered from a shoulder injury.
Now he comes into 2017 with a fresh body and is hopeful of making a good impression before the season begins.
“The boys have welcomed me in and I’m loving it here,” he told Knights TV.
“I’m pretty much at full contact now, so it’s awesome to get out there with the boys and get some skills work under my belt.”
While there was speculation about where Sio would be playing when he signed, the 26-year-old has revealed that he has done the majority of his training out on the wing.
“I’ve been training on the wing, so I think that’s where he (coach Nathan Brown) wants me to play and I’ve taken that on board,” he said.
“Right wing is my preferred position, and there is competition for spots there.”
Nathan Ross, Chanel Mata’utia, Brendan Elliot and Jacob Gagan are all capable of playing on the wing, so there will certainly be plenty of competition for the two spots as the season draws closer.
The Auckland Nines could prove a good testing ground for the Club’s numerous outside backs, and Sio has previous experience in the tournament.
He played a part in the Parramatta Eels’ squad in the inaugural competition in 2014, but was overseas playing for Hull KR in the 2015 and 2016 editions.
Now he’s hopeful of making his second appearance at Eden Park, pending Brown’s squad selection.
“I’ll have to see what the coach has in mind but it would be awesome to be there,” he said.
“I played the first year of the Nines with Parramatta and we went pretty well.
“It would be good to play again… it has a great atmosphere.”