Though he has only played two games at center, he is considered one of the best young fullbacks in the league.
Coach Todd Payten of the North Queensland Cowboys thinks young gun Tom Chester can develop into the team’s “strike center.”
Chester has played most of his junior rugby league at fullback or in the halves, but has played both of his NRL games this season in the centres.
The first of those games came against the St George Illawarra Dragons in Round 3, before he was called into the side to replace the injured Zac Laybutt against the Parramatta Eels on Saturday evening.
Despite falling short, Chester had a strong performance for the Cowboys replacing Laybutt, who will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
It was tipped Viliami Vailea may have been the player to come into the side for Laybutt, but Chester now has an open run on a spot in first grade for the remainder of the season, and coach Payten said he has been impressed with what he has seen from the centre in both appearances this year.
“It’s his second game at NRL level in the centres, and he is only going to get better. He takes a tough carry and he is a tough kid” Payten said on Chester following Saturday’s clash with the Parramatta Eels.
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