Isaako: RTS blazed trail for me to follow

Broncos winger Jamayne Isaako used to watch Roger Tuivasa-Sheck highlights before he'd run out on the field and now he wants to follow in the Warriors captain's footsteps.

The 22-year-old is young and restless to play fullback. He's also respectful and willing to be patient so long as he is serving an apprenticeship under Brisbane captain and first-choice No.1 Darius Boyd.

Isaako starred at fullback for Souths-Logan in the Intrust Super Cup in 2017 where he convinced former coach Wayne Bennett he was ready to be a regular in the NRL side.

He is backing up from a 2018 season where he was the Telstra Premiership leading point scorer, Dally M rookie of the year and won a Test jersey with New Zealand.

Tuivasa-Sheck played two full seasons for the Roosters (2013-14) on the wing where he learned the fullback craft from Anthony Minichiello, before moving to the custodian’s role himself in 2015.

It is a journey Isaako hopes to travel himself.

"Before I played NRL I'd watch highlight vision of Roger before I'd run out for Souths-Logan in the Q [Intrust Super] Cup. I had the clips saved to my phone so just before I'd go out I'd chuck that on and it would give me a boost to play like that," Isaako told NRL.com.

"For him to be that kind of an inspiration to me is huge. I am really inspired to play like him. I love the way he can step like he does and just the way he plays.

I want to play fullback but at the same time I am happy to learn off Darbs

Jamayne Isaako on working with Darius Boyd

"All good fullbacks learn off other players who have been in that position and I am enjoying being able to learn off Darius ... Roger did an apprenticeship and learned of Anthony Minichiello and I am learning off Darius, so it is the same process."

Boyd had a similar transition from wing to fullback after making his debut for Brisbane in 2006. It wasn't until he went to the Dragons in 2009 that he became a regular fullback.

"Kids are getting bigger, stronger and faster these days but there is a lot more to it at fullback with barking orders and setting up plays," Boyd told NRL.com.

"While Jamayne has all the attributes now I think there are benefits to learning as a two or three-year player in a position like wing where you can hone your skills.

"Then when he gets the opportunity to play a position like fullback that is more taxing, where you need more experience, he will be a lot more ready for the role."

Isaako said the learning curve under Boyd was getting him prepared to take the next step.

"The pre-season helped a lot. I asked Darbs a lot of questions about our attacking shapes and defensively," he said.

"In that fullback spot you are the last set of eyes in the defensive line and you have to be able to organise. A good fullback has to know where to put numbers especially when you have good attacking halves who know how to exploit teams' weaknesses.

"Darbs is an all-round fullback and that is why I am inspired by what he does.

"I want to play fullback but at the same time I am happy to learn off Darbs. For me it is a waiting game while I develop my game on the wing."

Boyd said Isaako had made the most of every opportunity.

"I think it was out of him and Jonus Pearson to see who would start last year. It was a 50/50 split almost but Jamayne probably trialled a bit better and Wayne picked him," Boyd said.

"He took the opportunity with both hands and in round three he won us the game against the Knights [9-7] where he scored every point ... and from there he grew in confidence and felt a part of the team.

"Jamayne deserves all the credit he gets because he works extremely hard ... If he can keep improving he is going to be a 10 to 15 year NRL player, and rep player as well."