nib Newcastle Knights outside back Tom Hughes has been a handy pick up for the Club this year with the 22-year-old, by his own admission, having one of the best seasons of his career.
In just 19 games for the Club, Hughes has shot to the top of the ISP try scoring list with 18 tries to his name, four clear of the competition’s next best.
“I am on the end of a pretty good backline so just makes my job pretty easy just got to put it down,” a humble Hughes smiled.
Not only is he a try scoring machine, Hughes has proven to be a difficult man to catch on the field after he also recorded the top line breaks this season with an impressive 18.
“My form has been pretty good and it’s probably been my best year of footy so far so I’ve just got to keep building on that in the finals,” said the 22-year-old.
This Sunday, the Knights Reserve Grade gear up for their Elimination Final against the North Sydney Bears in Kogarah.
Despite being beaten on both encounters against the Bears this season, Hughes is confident the Knights have what it takes to go deeper into the finals against his former side.
“We have just got to keep doing what we’re doing because we have found a winning method and that’s working for us,” Hughes commented.
“If we just stick to our game plan and we do that, we’ll be right.
“They beat us by two points on the bell last time so if we just stick with them throughout the contest, hopefully we can get over them in the back end of the game.”
With a few injuries in first grade, the Reserve Grade side will be missing some of their key forwards going into Sunday’s match.
“We have lost a couple of big fellas but us outside backs have been stepping up and getting our sets rolling and if we keep doing that, it will give the forwards the break they need,” he added.
Hughes also has plenty of faith in the likes of NYC regulars Pasami Saulo and Brodie Jones to get the job done.
“These guys have come up and gelled with the team well,” Hughes stated.
“They have done their job and they’ve really helped out so they’ve just got to keep doing what they’re doing and we’ll be fine.”
Reserve Grade play their Elimination Final at Kogarah’s UOW Jubilee Oval against the North Sydney Bears on Sunday, kick-off is 12pm.
