One of the season’s best performers for the Dolphins, Herbie Farnworth is hoping he can continue his good form and take part in this year’s Ashes series when England host Australia.
Despite losing their first four games of the season, the star centre and England international has impressed in each outing to be in the top 10 for run metres, post contact metres and tackle breaks after six rounds.
After beating the Panthers to post back-to-back wins to get their campaign back on track, Farnworth again was one of the key performers for the Dolphins and was looking forward to building with a tough match again Storm looming on Good Friday.
All Tries – Dolphins v Panthers
“Obviously the Storm are the premiership favourites for a reason, they have a great side this year,” Farnworth said.
“They had a great side last year and they've only added to it with some quality signings, so we know they're going to come out firing and it's going to be a real test for us.
“But we're a very young hard-working side, got some great and talented players on our side and we're only going to get better.
“So that's our aim each week, just to get better.”
Applying that to his own form, Farnworth said he had been working on taking his game another level and adding new skills to his repertoire.
“I feel like I'm getting marked up with a little bit this year, so I'm having to add little changes to my game and try and place the players around me a lot more as well,” Farnworth told NRL.com.
“I've been working on my defence which I'm hoping it's showing this year as well, but when you've got great players inside you like Issy (Katoa) and Neff (Kodi Nikorima) playing the way they are and obviously 'Hammer' who was unbelievable (against the Panthers), it makes it easy for me.”
While his focus now is on the week-to-week grind of the NRL, Farnworth admitted to feeling the excitement of the three-game Ashes series in England in October and November.
The home fans have been snapping up tickets, with the potential decider at Headingly already a sell-out.
“I can't wait … I grew up watching unbelievable Great Britain sides and English sides play the Aussies in the tours, so to be a part of that hopefully, will be unbelievable,” Farnworth said.
“I'm sure they'll put out a very strong side and want to get over them in our home turf over there.
“England's a hard side to beat over there, so I can't wait for that.
“All the family and friends back home are absolutely hyped for it, so they've all been buying tickets, but my family missed out on the last one, it's already sold out, so I'll have to do what I can to be getting some tickets.”
