JAYDEN MYERS has no further to look for inspiration than Wakefield Trinity teammate Tom Johnstone.
The 22-year-old Myers is getting ready for a second season in Trinity colours after making eight outings last year and scoring three tries.
Breaking through at Bradford as a promising centre, he is considered a top-class winger of the future by Wakefield’s coaching staff.
So much so, they tied Myers to a five-year contract in August, committing him to the club until 2030.
The youngster, who scored a try in the Boxing Day defeat at Leeds, is now busy learning that role, with England international winger Johnstone the ideal model.
“They saw certain aspects of my game that they liked and they wanted to work on that,” said Myers.
“They said in the long run I am a project and hopefully one day I can get to the standards of Tom Johnstone.
“It was a big confidence-booster to get a five-year deal, and hopefully in the years to come I can be in Tom’s position.
“He has been a massive help to me. I’ve grown up watching Tom and he’s one of the best. In training and in games he’s always helping me.”
Myers knows he still has a long way to go, after surpassing his own expectations in year one at Wakefield.
He added: “I didn’t expect to play as much as I did but I got my debut, got my foot in the door a little bit and played some big games, which was a good experience.
“I want to build on that and do my best this coming year.
“In pre-season I want to get to a better level of fitness, I want to get a bit stronger in the gym and I want to work on a load of aspects of my game.
“Come the season, I just want to play in as many games as I can. I was fortunate (to get a chance) when there were a few injuries and it’ll be the same again this year.
“I played the majority (of my career previously) at centre but they probably see me as a winger.
“I’m not there in terms of skills, defensively and in attack, to play at centre in Super League, so I’m just trying to learn both crafts as best as I can.
“I reckon I’ve settled into playing on the wing now. I just need to get a bit quicker but that’ll all come with more training.
“They’re not too dissimilar really, centre and wing. I’m enjoying it.”