Sam Harris ready to step up

The task of being at his best each week is a challenge new Wests Tigers recruit Sam Harris is looking forward to.

The former Manly second-rower started pre-season training last week with the 2005 premiers. Harris is signed to the Wests Tigers until
the end of the 2008 season.

Speaking on Talkin Sport (2SM 1269AM) on Thursday, December 1, Harris said he been made to feel very welcome at the Concord Oval
headquarters.

"All the boys are still really down to earth and there is a really good feeling throughout the club,'' Harris said.

"The players know that they are not world beaters and they still have to work hard next year to be a top side. I'm sure (coach) Tim
Sheens has got some big plans for the team.

"It was a little bit daunting to come to the club after the grand final victory. It is good though because I have never been in this
situation before where I have played for such a successful team.

"It will feel a bit different next year running out onto the field knowing that you have to be at your best each week because the
opposition will be at their best, wanting to beat you.''

Harris said negotiations with the Wests Tigers club began after the side had crushed Manly 49-24 at Leichhardt Oval in round 17.

"I played one of my better games that night and Tim Sheens gave my manager a call a week later to see if I would be interested in coming to the Wests Tigers because there was talk that Manly were looking to release me with a view to getting Matt Orford,'' Harris admitted.

"I wanted to stay at Manly but the more and more I thought about it, it just seemed like a better move.''

Harris said he enjoyed watching his future team-mates achieve their incredible run of success in the finals.

"Everyone kept putting the Wests Tigers down because they were too young and too inexperience,'' Harris said.
"I could tell that they had something special. I'm not saying that I thought they were going to win the grand final but they obviously had a good nucleus of a team that if everything clicked, they were going to be very hard to beat. It showed in the grand final.

"It was good not to kind of jump on the bandwagon but ride the wave of it and watch them succeed.''

Harris said he was already impressed by the professionalism of the club and of the direction being taken by Sheens and assistant coach
Royce Simmons.
"I've only been at the club for a week but Tim already demands plenty of respect,'' Harris said.
"You listen to every word he says because you know he is right on the ball. Royce is the same and they really have a good system
working at the club.
"It just looks like the Wests Tigers are going to be a powerhouse for years to come.''