Tristan Sailor has been backed to step up at fullback in Reece Walsh’s absence by Brisbane coach Kevin Walters after he took advice from seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady about staying patient and working hard.
Walters confirmed to AAP on Sunday that Sailor would play fullback against North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Regular fullback Reece Walsh suffered a facial fracture in the 34-12 loss to Penrith on Thursday night and will miss four to six weeks of action.
Sailor shone last year for the Broncos in four NRL games while filling in for Walsh, when he had six try assists
Walters also confirmed captain Adam Reynolds would be given until Thursday to prove his fitness for the Cowboys match after missing the Panthers clash.
“Tristan is going to get his opportunity and a good block of footy to show everybody what he can do," Walters told AAP.
"We are lucky to have such good depth with Tristan.
"He is a natural fullback who reads the game well and is in love with the game, which is really important in those key positions. He has good football instinct.
"“We will give Adam until later in the week but if he is not OK I am really comfortable with Jock Madden at halfback, the more football he plays for us the better he is going to be."
In January, Sailor and his Broncos teammates listened to Brady speak about how crucial it was that he stayed at the University of Michigan in college football, and not go elsewhere despite not getting many chances in his first two years.
For his patience and hard work he became captain, an Orange Bowl champion and a football legend.
Sailor, with Walsh ahead of him in the pecking order, had an opportunity to join Leigh Leopards in the off-season in English Super League but the Broncos asked him to stay.
"Tom Brady told a similar story to mine where he could have transferred colleges but he stuck in there and it worked out for him," Sailor said.
"I am staying here. I just have to make sure I do my best."
Walters said he loved Sailor's attitude.
“Tristan has been very patient but with his training he has helped all the players around him get better," he said.
"Even when he isn't influencing game day he does his work against the NRL players at training and makes them better defensively."
Broncos legend Steve Renouf, who played with Tristan's father Wendell Sailor in the club's glory years, said the new fullback had impressed him..
“I spoke to Tristan after training recently and said it would be great if he could get in the 17 somewhere," Renouf told AAP.
"He said to me, ‘I will just keep working hard and doing the right things and I’ll get there’.
"I texted 'Dell what he said. Tristan just has to get out there and be himself, just be Tristan Sailor.
"Of course Dell is very proud of him. Tristan had the option to go overseas but he’s hung in and gets his opportunity. His persistence has been rewarded."
