By his own admission, 2020 was not a good year for Sharks utility Billy Magoulias.
After scoring a try off the bench in a 12-10 loss to the Storm in round 2, Magoulias again came off the bench in round 3 - and then wasn’t sighted in the NRL until round 20.
“It was tough, I obviously want to play,” Magoulias told Sporting News. “It was a disappointing year for me, there’s no other way to say it, but I’ve played five NRL games now and I just want to look forward and try to play every game this year.”
Most predicted teams have Cronulla coach John Morris naming Andrew Fifita, new recruit Aiden Tolman and Jack Williams as the bench rotation middles for Aaron Woods, Braden Hamlin-Uele and Jack Williams, but it remains to be seen how such a large bench will handle the new rules.
While Magoulias faces stiff competition to play in the middle for the Sharks, his utility value could see him spend significant time coming off the bench in the No. 14 jersey, with Connor Tracey spending a large chunk of the pre-season training at fullback and likely to challenge incumbent Will Kennedy.
“I know I can play 13 and with someone like Blayke Brailey, who’s our only out-and-out hooker in the squad, I can offer some skills there,” Magoulias said.
“Defensively, I defend in the middle anyway, so it’s just the attacking side of it and I can pass the footy. I’ve trained there; I can hold myself in the middle; I play 13 anyway, which is carrying the football and defending in the middle so it’s not much different except the attacking side of it; I’m working on that at the moment.
“I want a spot there on the bench and if it’s 14, then I’ll take that. I just want to get on the field and show what I can do.”
Off-contract and certain to attract interest from rival clubs, 2021 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the Sharks’ utility.
Cam McInnes arrives in 2022 to play lock – and provide back-up hooking duties – making this year an audition that Magoulias needs to nail.
“I’m still young, I’ve still got time, I still know I can play football,” he said. “I’ll just flush that [2020] and try to move forward and contribute to the team.
“If I play to my strengths, I can help this team a lot; I’m looking forward to it.
"I’m not a guy who’s afraid to get outside of his comfort zone.
“Last year was very disappointing but I want to move forward. Not just tick boxes but play well and show everyone that I’m a long-term footy player, here or wherever.”
Until Magoulias gets his chance, he’ll continue to pit himself against the Sharks veterans in opposed sessions – especially Aaron Woods.
“We take ‘em on,” Magoulias laughed. “We need to, though: they think they’re at the top, so you want to be at their level, playing with them.
“There’s no point taking a backwards step; they wouldn’t respect that. You’ve got to give it to ‘em.
“Woodsy and I have had that many altercations where he’s screaming at me or I’m pushing him in the face, knees in the head; it doesn’t bother us.
“We just get on with it and kind of like it.”
Magoulias is ready to prove he’s capable of being an NRL regular – he just needs the chance.
