TRISTAN SAILOR is determined to “pass the eye test” and win over any remaining doubters in his second season as a Super League player.
A year ago he was one of the competition’s most notable new recruits, joining St Helens from Brisbane Broncos.
But it was a difficult campaign for the club, who finished fifth in the table, with Paul Wellens replaced as coach by Paul Rowley after a semi-final play-off exit.
Sailor, who was fielded in three different positions as Saints searched for a winning formula, took his share of the flak.
That’s despite finishing the season with 15 tries and 25 assists – a combined tally of try contributions bettered only by Mikey Lewis, Jai Field and Lachlan Lam.
“There have been mixed reviews of how my first season went,” Sailor admitted.
“I don’t know if the try contributions are something people know about, because I do get judged in a certain way.
“Statistically it looked like a good season for me, so I guess my job now is to pass the eye test and pass the stats test at the same time.
“I hit where I want to hit consistently during a ten-game period in the middle of the year, running the ball and being able to create things.
“The main thing I want to do this year is do that against the Hull KRs, the Wigans and the Leighs, because those are the teams we haven’t been able to get one over.”
Sailor believes that will happen under Rowley, who will look to implement his attacking philosophy.
The first major test comes in Friday’s Super League opener at Warrington Wolves, with Sailor set to line up in the spine alongside fullback Jack Welsby and new arrival Jackson Hastings.
He added: “I’m wearing the six, but with Jacko Hastings here it’s really important to free us (Sailor and Jack Welsby) both up.
“Jacko’s job is to kick the ball and guide the team around, creating space for us.
“We’re essentially two fullbacks and we can utilise our running game and our passing game, and hopefully create more of those try contributions that are so important to the team.”