League: Out of the fryer for the Gat-man

George Gatis (with ball) broke an arm and suffered a knee injury in 2003. Jonathon Wood / Getty Images

New Warriors hooker George Gatis might still be wrapping fish and chips in Townsville if it were not for a recommendation from a former lock, then assistant coach Kevin Campion.

Gatis suffered a horror year in 2003, breaking an arm pre-season and, after working his way back into first grade, suffering a bad knee injury early in his return match.

He was sidelined for the rest of 2003 and not resigned for the 2004 campaign.

"Campo recommended me and that's a pretty good endorsement," Gatis said this week after being named for his second start at hooker for his new club.

He didn't want to speak to the media before his first game against Wests Tiger - not wanting to blow his own trumpet, talk about things he hadn't done yet, or to put any pressure on himself.

But after a fine game in which he got the Warriors on a roll that the Tigers could not stop, Gatis was more comfortable this week.

"I'm thankful to Campo for helping me get another chance," he said. "I guess Campo respected the fact that I didn't give up, I never turned my tail up, I trained hard.

"I always thought I was an NRL footballer. When I was off all that time I used to watch and think I wouldn't be out of place - but there's no use talking about it, it just sounds like hot air."

Just turned 27, Gatis admitted he was nervous prior to the kick-off last weekend.

"I had plenty of belief in myself and once it started I was fine."

He did not have a walk-in to the Warriors, suffering a stress fracture that kept him out of the pre-season games and then being left out in favour of Lance Hohaia.

But after two games Hohaia, a converted halfback, was dropped to Bartercard Cup because coach Ivan Cleary wanted a specialist hooker.

It is a position in which New Zealand has never been well-served, with some great individuals but never any depth. There was Duane Mann and Syd Eru in the early days, then long service from two smart Australians in Jason Death and Robbie Mears.

P.J. Marsh should have been next, had he not been injured and then cut from the squad.

The door is wide open for Gatis to be next. He agreed he had to work hard to develop his game at hooker.

"I didn't get the height gene," he said, and so had to specialise in the position, working to develop the passing game left and right and the defence required.

He can kick, mostly right-foot, but said, "I think less is more with kicking from dummy-half."

He likes the way Storm hooker Cameron Smith uses the kick, sparingly and with effect. The improvement in the Warriors' game came because they had been taking a back-to-basics approach, Gatis believed.

"It was attention to detail on defence, making quality passes, taking pressure of the runners (with decoys).

"The more we do that, the less mistakes we make, the more we add pressure, then the more we start to believe in ourselves. We have to build our way in instead of fabricating something from nothing."

He's enjoying the Warriors.

"It's a modest team, no big egos and a good family atmosphere. You want to play for your teammates more so than at other clubs."

On Sunday Gatis faces the man many rate as the game's best hooker in Kangaroos incumbent Danny Buderus.

And behind the Knights pack is the man most rate as the world's best player, Andrew Johns.

"He gets frustrated like everyone else. So far they've had a lot of possession.

"They won't enjoy doing a lot of defence," Gatis said.

He was banking on the Warriors being quicker and more agile in the middle.

GEORGE GATIS

Born: March 25, 1978; Townsville.


Stats: 174cm, 86kg.


Position: Hooker.


Career: NRL debut for North Queensland, Round 19, 2001; 24 games for the Cowboys, four tries.


Warriors: Debut v Wests Tigers, Round 3, 2006.