Ryley Jacks was determined not to over-complicate things in his return to the Melbourne Storm side for Friday night's clash with the Newcastle Knights.
So he focused on just three things. "Kick well, tackle well and pass well," he said. "There was a lot of talk about the 'seven jersey' and things like that. So I just thought to do those three things well.
"And you've got Cam Smith and Billy Slater and all these guns around you, so why try and overdo it?"
The 25-year-old played five-eighth jersey beside Brodie Croft in round one and then spent four weeks playing in the Intrust Super Cup before taking Croft’s spot against the Knights.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy praised Jacks after his new No.7 included two try-assists in a confident performance.
Jacks was simply delighted to be back in purple and adding to his career tally of 12 games.
"I'm happy with the win," he said. "Holding the ball was the biggest thing tonight. I think that was 80 percent (completion) - really good compared to the last few weeks. It was good to get back into the team for one. It was a good night.
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Communication is still a work in progress as the 25-year-old gets more game time in the top squad.
"That was pretty hard and is something to work on," he said.
"But we trained all week with boys. The last five weeks we've been going up to reserve grade. You don't see them all the time, but you train with them every week and it is pretty easy just to jump in."
The Storm played with more freedom than previous weeks. The halves pairing of Jacks and Cameron Munster controlled the attack in a professional manner and wingers Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr were the beneficiaries with four tries between them.
With Croft set to spend some time in Intrust Super Cup, Jacks is aware he has a chance to get an extended role in the Storm halfback jersey.
And he's determined to do his best to keep it.
"There's obviously a spot there," he said. "Crofty's obviously a gun and will get heaps better, and kill Intrust Super Cup. I know this is a shot for me like last year and hopefully I can make the most of it like I did last year, and continue to get picked."
