Relief at scoring first try

EX-PAT PRO: G’DAY again! It has been a tough month for the Wests Tigers on the field.

Three defeats in a row have been really disappointing considering the start we had made to the season.

On a brighter note, I scored my first try for the club in our loss to Penrith Panthers — a 30-metre dash around an Aussie Test player wasn’t a bad way to open the account for the year.

At least it means I have avoided the end-of-season ‘nude run’ — and I am also glad it was a prop forward chasing me down or I might still be on that list!

I am writing this column en route to the Gold Coast at the moment, taking advantage of a week’s bye.

A weekend in the sun has come at the perfect time after a tough introduction to the NRL.

We have got South Sydney Rabbitohs next, which is another one of our big local derby games.

A bumper crowd is expected as Gareth Ellis and I take on our fellow Pom ‘Slammin’ Sam Burgess (as he had become known over here) at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

I believe the NRL is back on British screens once again, so make sure you all tune in on Sunday morning.

MARK