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Blake Ayshford has no intention of moving into the Wests Tigers forward pack despite packing on an extra three kilos in the NRL off-season.
Ayshford has made the left-centre spot his own under Tim Sheens since debuting in 2009 - but has long been earmarked for a move to the backrow because of his tall frame.
And now, under the tutelage of new trainer John Skandalis, the 190cm 23-year-old has cracked 100kg for the first time in his career.
But he insists it won't result in a move from the centres, even as Sheens attempts to squeeze Tim Moltzen, Mitch Brown and new signing Joel Reddy into an already bulging backline.
"No, I'm not moving yet … I prefer playing as a bigger centre," Ayshford told AAP.
"There's a lot more smaller people out there on the edges, so I won't get hammered.
"If I was to go (into the second-row) I'd have to put on a couple more kilos and be more like (106kg Tiger) Gareth Ellis."
Ayshford said he felt comfortable with the additional weight, believing it would give him the upper hand against his lighter rivals in 2012.
"It's just all mental," he continued.
"People say it's hard to adjust to playing with extra weight, but I feel stronger and fitter when I'm weighing more.
"If I can lose some fat around a couple of areas while still keeping the (muscle) weight on then I'll hopefully be a better player than last year.
"It just gives me a bit of confidence to know that I'm playing over 100 kilos."
If Ayshford is to ever join the pack, he knows he has the perfect man to learn from in Ellis.
"I rate him as the best back rower in the world," Ayshford raved.
"I'd take his lead. If Sheensy does say you've got to go into the second row that's who I'll be modelling my game on."
Meanwhile, Ayshford said he hopes whoever fills the Tigers No.7 jersey this year is able to settle into the role as quickly as possible.
Moltzen, Jacob Miller, Tom Humble and Curtis Sironen are all contenders to replace Robert Lui, who has joined North Queensland.
But having seen how long it took to find a stable option following Scott Prince's departure for the Gold Coast at the end of 2006, Ayshford hopes the process of finding the next partner for star five-eighth Benji Marshall isn't as troublesome.
"It took us a while after Scotty Prince left to get a good halfback, then we finally got one and now we've got to rebuild again," Ayshford said.
From Nrl.com.au
Ayshford has made the left-centre spot his own under Tim Sheens since debuting in 2009 - but has long been earmarked for a move to the backrow because of his tall frame.
And now, under the tutelage of new trainer John Skandalis, the 190cm 23-year-old has cracked 100kg for the first time in his career.
But he insists it won't result in a move from the centres, even as Sheens attempts to squeeze Tim Moltzen, Mitch Brown and new signing Joel Reddy into an already bulging backline.
"No, I'm not moving yet … I prefer playing as a bigger centre," Ayshford told AAP.
"There's a lot more smaller people out there on the edges, so I won't get hammered.
"If I was to go (into the second-row) I'd have to put on a couple more kilos and be more like (106kg Tiger) Gareth Ellis."
Ayshford said he felt comfortable with the additional weight, believing it would give him the upper hand against his lighter rivals in 2012.
"It's just all mental," he continued.
"People say it's hard to adjust to playing with extra weight, but I feel stronger and fitter when I'm weighing more.
"If I can lose some fat around a couple of areas while still keeping the (muscle) weight on then I'll hopefully be a better player than last year.
"It just gives me a bit of confidence to know that I'm playing over 100 kilos."
If Ayshford is to ever join the pack, he knows he has the perfect man to learn from in Ellis.
"I rate him as the best back rower in the world," Ayshford raved.
"I'd take his lead. If Sheensy does say you've got to go into the second row that's who I'll be modelling my game on."
Meanwhile, Ayshford said he hopes whoever fills the Tigers No.7 jersey this year is able to settle into the role as quickly as possible.
Moltzen, Jacob Miller, Tom Humble and Curtis Sironen are all contenders to replace Robert Lui, who has joined North Queensland.
But having seen how long it took to find a stable option following Scott Prince's departure for the Gold Coast at the end of 2006, Ayshford hopes the process of finding the next partner for star five-eighth Benji Marshall isn't as troublesome.
"It took us a while after Scotty Prince left to get a good halfback, then we finally got one and now we've got to rebuild again," Ayshford said.
From Nrl.com.au
