Saints' new boy Adam Quinlan on his unlikely dream debut
Tuesday 14 July 2015 17:48, UK
St Helens' new signing Adam Quinlan admits that his match-winning performance against Huddersfield came despite not knowing who his teammates were.
After flying into England at the start of last week, the 22-year-old Australian was thrown straight into the Saints side for Friday’s match against Huddersfield.
He repaid the faith of Head Coach Keiron Cunningham, scoring the first hat-trick of his professional career as St Helens beat the Giants 35-34.
In fact Quinlan scored three tries in his first-half for his new club, and he admits that he didn’t know which of his teammates was which.
"The names on the back of the shirts helped a bit," he said.
"The ball just bounced my way that night, it was credit to the rest of the guys. They created the opportunities and it was my job to be there to finish them.”
Quinlan was finding life tough in his native Australia as he was unable to break into the Parramatta Eels first team. When the opportunity move to the other side of the world came he says he had no hesitation in making it happen.
“I was excited for the opportunity. St Helens are a great club and I was just looking forward to something different,” he said.
Currently on a deal until the end of the campaign, Quinlan is Saints’ seventh full-back of an injury-hit season. But he’s not thinking about the injury curse – instead he wants to earn an extended stay by inspiring his new club to Super League success.
Next up for St Helens is Thursday’s live on Sky trip to possible Super 8 rivals Warrington.
“I’m looking forward to another game," Quinlan said.
"It’s going to be tough, especially at their home ground, but we’ve been doing our homework and we’re pretty confident going into it.”
