Esan Marsters kept his goal kicking ability a secret before stunning teammates and the club's coaching staff with his talents at training recently. Photo / Getty Images.
Esan Marsters kept his goal kicking ability a secret before stunning teammates and the club's coaching staff with his talents at training recently. Photo / Getty Images.
Wests Tigers centre Esan Marsters kept his goal kicking talents a secret from the club but is now a shock contender to become the joint-venture NRL club's No1 sharp-shooter.
The 21-year-old has never kicked in his 13 matches in first grade and the Tigers were unaware of his ability withthe boot until he surprised his teammates and coaching staff at training recently.
After revealing his knack for slotting balls between the uprights, the former Junior Kiwis star and Cook Islands international is now pushing to be handed the kicking tee for the upcoming NRL season after winning weekly kicking challenges at training.
"I kept the secret to myself. No one knew," Marsters told Fox Sports' Private Ryan.
"I put my hand up this year. Hodgo (assistant coach Brett Hodgson) asked me at one of the training sessions if I kicked and that was my opportunity to start kicking.
"When the boys see me kick they were pretty surprised. It's going well."
Marsters in action for the Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos in a 2016 match in Sydney. Photo / Photosport.
Tigers coach Ivan Cleary last year tried using Mitchell Moses and former Warriors utility Tui Lolohea in the role before Marsters came from nowhere to stake a claim over the preseason.
The 105kg powerhouse expects Lolohea will again be entrusted as the side's first-choice kicker but is prepared to have a crack himself if called upon.
"Me, Tui and Taane (Milne) have been kicking," he said.
"We all kick against each other and see who can get the most in.
"Tui kicked last year so he'll have the first-string kicking but hopefully I'll get a few kicks if he doesn't want to kick or doesn't go too good. At the moment, I'd think he'll start but we'll see how he feels and how Ivan feels."
The Tigers begin their campaign with a round one clash against the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on March 10.
They had mixed results in their two trial matches, losing 24-12 to Cronulla at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night after beating the North Queensland Cowboys 30-16 in Cairns last week.
