Penrith Brothers front-rower Brandon Nasio believes his side can go one step further in the 2023 Sydney Shield after falling just short of a fairy-tale finish last year – with a familiar True Blue inspiring his lead-from-the-front mentality as he assumes the captaincy for another season.
“He may not be captain (on the team sheet), but just his work ethic and the way he carries himself, probably Jake Trbojevic,” Nasio said on which current player he models his leadership from.
“He’s a very honest person.
“If there’s someone in the middle, who I could relate to and want to pick his brain, it’d be Jake Trbojevic.”
Nasio certainly held the fort in the middle of the park, when Penrith needed it most in the previous campaign, with the team winning the last two regular-season games to earn a finals berth, before three more sudden-death victories on the way to a Grand Final appearance against St Mary’s.
But the Brothers’ captain is confident that experience will be a great lesson for the team to take into the year ahead.
“There’s something on their minds (after last season), there’s a chip on the shoulder,” he said.
“They will always be pushing to better themselves not just in Sydney Shield, but also in Ron Massey.
“We’re working to try and get back to the Grand Final and get our redemption.”
In terms of improving on his own game, however, honesty is the best policy for Nasio.
“I’ve just got to be on the ball as captain,” he explained.
“I need to keep the boys honest.
“I can’t keep the guys honest if I’m not honest with myself, so I’ve got to keep showing up for them, showing up for the team (and) making myself accountable."
Penrith Brothers’ Sydney Shield season kicks off against Cabramatta at 1pm this Sunday (19 March) from New Era Stadium.
