Daniel Atkinson, the halfback for St George Illawarra Dragons, is geared up to spearhead the team's push for a Top 8 finish, something they haven't achieved since 2018.
Though he was signed to serve as the primary playmaker, Atkinson has not yet had the opportunity to start an NRL game as a halfback.
Out of his 36 NRL appearances, most have been in roles such as five-eighth or coming off the bench as a utility player.
Nevertheless, coach Shane Flanagan expressed confidence in Atkinson's capabilities when chatting with Wide World of Sports, indicating that he believes the newcomer can mesh well with the rest of the team to revive their finals aspirations.
"Daniel is a handy utility, and he played half in his junior days and also filled in there at times during games the last couple of years," Flanagan said.
"He will get them going - his strengths are his running game and kicking game and he has fitted in really well."
Last season, the Red V team was riddled with injuries, affecting a significant number of their promising young talents who progressed through their junior systems.
This year, the return of these local juniors in good health will provide a substantial boost, allowing Atkinson to leverage the strong foundation laid by these dedicated players.
Among those who departed the club at the end of the previous season were David Klemmer, Francis Molo, and Jack de Belin, while Ben Murdoch-Masila and Tom Eisenhuth announced their retirements.