The day Canberra Raiders pivot Jack Wighton announces himself as a star five-eighth is just around the corner should he decide to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
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Melbourne Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster would know - he made the shift to the halves two seasons ago. Back-to-back grand finals, four State of Origin caps, and a Test at halfback have followed.
He concedes it took him some time to feel comfortable in the No. 6 jersey despite having the benefit of playing alongside Cooper Cronk in a side boasting Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.
However Munster believes Wighton can fast-track his development with Storm coach Craig Bellamy expecting the 26-year-old Raider to "really blossom" in his move to five-eighth.
"He’s got a really big boot on him, a left foot-kicker, he’s got a good and really strong running game and he has got speed to burn," Munster said.
"If he just backs himself a little bit more I feel, using his strengths, he will be a quality six in the next couple of weeks. He is someone we really focused on, he is playing some really good footy, and he is really pleasing to watch.
"I felt like I needed to command the ball more [when making the switch to five-eighth]. It’s just a matter of picking the right option at times. [On Friday] I was okay, I know I can be a lot better.
"It did take me a couple of weeks, but it was pretty easy having Coops at half, he just organised everything and I was at the back of shape most of the time like a fullback really.
"When he left I had to take on more of a role as a pivot and I feel like I’m really enjoying my footy at the moment. Hopefully I can keep getting better each and every week."
While Wighton finds his feet, the Raiders have been left to sweat on Joe Tapine's fitness with the international back-rower going for scans to determine the extent of a hand injury that could keep him sidelined for weeks.
Tapine was benched and helpless as Melbourne went on a first-half blitz anbd backed it up with a spirited defensive effort in the second stanza as Canberra sought a comeback victory.
"We looked at the stats from last year and it only took Canberra eight tackles in another team’s red zone to score tries," Munster said.
"We know they’ve got strike weapons all over the park and they are really diligent with what they do with their plays and they’re pretty disciplined with that kind of stuff. To keep them to only 10 points in both halves was really pleasing for us."
One of those strike weapons in the outside backs is Nick Cotric, the 20-year-old winger who has not missed a game and barely a training session since making his debut two years ago.
Cotric was matched up against one of the NRL's most electrifying wingers in Suliasi Vunivalu on Frday night - and the Storm flyer showed him a thing or two on his way to a first-half hat-trick.
But Vunivalu says there is plenty to like about Cotric with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart confident he will shore up his defensive errors with experience.
"He’s still young, and he is built like a big forward. It’s really good to see him doing really well for the Raiders," Vunivalu said.
"He loves to skip around, and he is very strong with the left and right fend. It was good to come up against him, he has been playing good footy in the past couple of years since he has been in the NRL."
