If anyone knows what Raiders hooker Tom Starling can bring to a team, it's NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler.
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In 2016 Fittler led the the Blues' under-18s to victory with Starling among a group of future NRL poster boys, including Ryan Papenhuyzen, Payne Haas and Cameron Murray.
After the devastating season-ending ACL injury in round one to veteran Raider Josh Hodgson, Starling now has every opportunity to build up his NRL resume and make a name for himself like his former young Blues teammates have done.
Fittler believed Starling had still yet to reach his full potential and put him to task on improving some weak points.
"There's things that he can that no one else can do," Fittler said of Starling.
"I've known Tom for a long time, coached him as a kid. There's no one quicker than him out of dummy-half. He just has to work on getting his timing right and getting the other parts of his game up to the standard of the representative players."
Fittler was on a regional trip this week as part of the Blues' Youth Leadership Program, utilising a similar approach he's used in NSW Origin camp, with speakers preaching "resilience" - and not just in sport.
The hurdles Starling has faced on and off the field have presented plenty of challenges, and the 23-year-old's resilience will surely be put to the test being thrust into a starting role for the rest of the season.
But Fittler said the dummy-half had the ability to gain some momentum and take the reins at the Raiders long-term, with Hodgson departing for Parramatta next year.
"Absolutely. Every time he goes on, he looks dangerous," Fittler said.
"I think that Canberra could do with that - someone dangerous around the ruck. The Raiders could definitely benefit from it."
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Legendary Raiders No.9 Steve Walters agreed Starling would be extra motivated to deliver for his club, and especially assist in stabilising a spine heavily impacted by injury and COVID-19.
"All the teams these days talk about the spine and their influence on the game. You're not going to be a top team without a good quality hooker," said Walters, a three-time premiership winner with Canberra.
"He'll be wanting to make that position his own now."
Walters had been most impressed by the many "threats" Starling offered in the fast-paced nature of the modern game.
The Raiders will need him to utilise every one of them to help get their season back on track, starting against the Titans on Saturday.
"He's just really busy, he's strong, fast and threatens the line well," Walters said of Starling.
"He seems to be able to take advantage of any half-opportunities or little breaks or offloads around the ruck there. That's his threats."
Coach Ricky Stuart said taking Hodgson's place was not something Starling was unfamiliar with, after the Englishman went down with an ACL injury two season ago.
"It's back to where he was in 2020. He started a lot of games, played a lot more minutes than what he was used to, but fortunately for us he's got the ability to do that," Stuart said.
"Tom's a tough, conscientious style of player who is still developing and improving. It's certainly the way he trains, too. He doesn't lack any attention to detail with his training. He works very hard and he's committed.
"Losing Josh for the season gives us a headache and it puts pressure on our other players who have to fill in those positions."
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