Harrison happy to focus solely on his performances after stint as Saints co-captain

Teimana Harrison believes Saints fans will see the benefit of him not being a co-captain at the club this season.
Teimana Harrison (picture: Peter Short)Teimana Harrison (picture: Peter Short)
Teimana Harrison (picture: Peter Short)

The influential No.8 held the role during the previous campaign, sharing the captaincy with Alex Waller

But Harrison decided not to continue this time round and Lewis Ludlam was given the gig alongside Waller.

"I play my best when I'm just focusing on my performance and what I add to the team, whereas talking to the ref takes your focus and you have to divide it," Harrison said.

"Luds talks extremely well to the group, and he backs it up with his performance, so does Waller.

"I'm really happy just sitting back and doing my own thing.

"Hopefully the more the season goes on, people will see I'm better off doing my own thing rather than trying to talk to refs, trying to control the team and trying to decide the outcome of penalties and stuff.

"It's about being focused solely on what I'm doing, how I can add to the team and our performances."

Harrison is certainly happier when he is leading with actions rather than words, and he has been back at the coalface in the past two weeks.

Having returned from hand and groin injuries respectively, the 28-year-old, who has made five appearances so far this season, shone against Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears.

But when it was put to him that it looked like he'd never been away, having previously been out since Boxing Day, he said: "I felt like I'd been away! My lungs were taking a beating.

"But in a squad that we've got now, looking through our back row, we've got Woody, who is performing like a 22-year-old, we've got Shaun Adendorff who has stamped his mark, Luds who is an amazing player, Nick Isiekwe, so when you get the chance to claim your shirt back you have to take it.

"It's nice because it put a bit of pressure on me to perform and I like to think I've made the best of it.

"It's been awesome to be back out there because I've only played about five games this season.

"It's been a real frustrating season for me, dealing with injuries and niggles so I'm excited to be back out there and making the most of it.

"There are nerves when you come back into the team but I'm relatively good at controlling those nerves, especially in a Saints shirt.

"A little bit of experience helps and it's good nervousness because I don't want to lose that shirt.

"I know it could be my only chance to get it done and it's good pressure."

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