NRL: Flying fish eyes a return to the big time

FAST WORK: Glen Fisiiahi has packed on 3kg of muscle to cope with the game's physical demands.

Glen Fisiiahi is readying himself to run out on to Mt Smart Stadium. When he does so, it won't be to the roar of a Warriors game-day crowd. The only roaring comes from the rain lashing down on to the empty grandstands on a sodden Wednesday evening. No, Fisiiahi won't be applauded. He won't, in fact, even be among the Warriors as they trot out of the tunnel.

Instead he will line up with his Vulcans teammatesas cannon fodder as the Warriors team for tomorrow's match against the Titans go through their paces in an opposed session. Such is the fate of players who exist outside of the club's top 17 who have outgrown the U20s Toyota Cup squad.

The Vulcans operate mainly out of sight. After an astonishing six-try effort against Western Suburbs at Campbelltown last Saturday, however, Fisiiahi is far from out of mind.

"That was a phenomenal effort," coach Brian McClennan said. "Fish is a talent."

The sort of talent, McClennan didn't add, that would be playing first grade at the majority of NRL clubs. Still the club's most exciting prospect, the 21-year-old's NRL career stands at four games. The first of those was an error-prone debut on the wing against the Eels at Eden Park in last year's season-opener; the next a match-winning effort at fullback against the Sharks in Taupo; the third a thrilling cameo against the Roosters that ended prematurely when the flying Fisiiahi was caught in a brutal gang tackle on a kick return.

The resulting knee injury put him out for 10 weeks and opened the door for Kevin Locke to claim the fullback's jersey. Fisiiahi's attempts to break back into the top team have been limited to a second unsuccessful outing on the wing against the Cowboys in Townsville in round 15 last year.

Incredibly fast but also a touch fragile, Fisiiahi simply isn't cut out for the rough and tumble that comes with playing wing. He doesn't like the position and McClennan doesn't really see him playing there. His most likely path to first grade, then, is through Locke who isn't about to simply stand aside.

"I've just got to keep performing consistently and hopefully my time will come and hopefully I will be ready for it," Fisiiahi shrugs.

Having signed a four-year deal last year he is one of the club's longest-contracted players. He would be highly sought after, but he insists he has no plans to try to exit the Auckland club.

"Not really. I enjoy it here.

"It was frustrating at the time when I was getting dropped. I had to play the whole year with the Vulcans and that didn't sit well with me. But hopefully I'll get back up there this year."

To help cope with the game's physical demands he has gained an extra 3kg of muscle. A side effect of that extra muscle mass, he says, is that he is now "much quicker" than last season.