Despite not captaining his club side through the weekly grind of the NRL, Beau Scott is naturally excited for the opportunity to lead the NRL All Stars out of the tunnel this Friday night.
Lining up in the All Stars fixture alongside Raiders captain Jarrod Croker, Sharks and New South Wales captain Paul Gallen and former Broncos skipper Corey Parker as well as club-captain hopefuls James Graham and Mitchell Pearce, Scott was given the nod by coach Wayne Bennett.
After leading the Country Origin team last year – his first appearance as captain since his Jersey Flegg days with the Illawarra Steelers – Scott was effectively simple when defining what being a captain means to him.
"I see a captain as one who leads by example and puts themselves after the team," Scott told NRL.com.
"Obviously there was a bit more responsibility [when I captained Country] and I just tried to lead by example and I'm hoping to play a similar role here. There isn't too much you have to say to this bunch of people. I'm all excited to play with them.
"I'm pretty excited to see the 'c' next to my name though and see the high calibre of players in this team get out there and combine. A lot of them are captains of their own clubs to start with so to be able to captain this team, I'm very privileged."
Get your tickets to the game at ticketek.com.au/allstars
Heading up to the Gold Coast along with Newcastle teammate Jeremy Smith, Scott said the most exciting aspect of the weekend apart from game day was the chance to meet other players.
With 11 Test players, along with Origin representatives Pearce and Trent Merrin, Scott said the All Stars match was a great opportunity to bond with his fellow top line players – an opportunity rarely given on the rugby league calendar.
"I've never met Manu [Vatuvei] before. I've obviously played against him a fair few times but it's been great to meet people who I've never had time to sit down and have a coffee with I suppose James Graham and the likes," Scott said.
"I'm just excited to be able to spend a week with them and get to know them off the field. I've never really had much to do with Jared [Waerea-Hargreaves] either, but I get along with him quite well. It's players like that where you don't really get much of an opportunity to spend time with them off the field. This is a good chance to do that."
Now with the experience of two representative captain berths to his name, the benefits are set to extend to the Knights.
Pre-season in Newcastle has seen Under 20s captain Danny Levi and recent NYC graduates Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Pat Mata'utia, Tuiala Togiatasi, Jaelen Feeney, James Elias, Michael Steele and James Taylor throw themselves into training with the first grade squad.
As well as first grade rookies Jake Mamo, Joe Tapine, Tyler Randell, Sione and Chanel Mata'utia and Paterika Vaivai, the Knights' squad has been boasted by a sea of rookies.
Such is the Knights' enormous rookie influx, Scott's leadership skills will extend to greater lengths this season – something the enforcer is more than prepared for – as Newcastle look to improve on their 12th placed finish last year.
"I like to steer a few fellas in the right direction on and off the field and on the training paddock. Any young kid that comes through the club, where you get to know the fella over a prolonged period of time, it's always good to see him make his mark in first grade.
"Obviously we have had a few of these fellas come through like the Mata'utia brothers and even young Dane Gagai who is playing in the Indigenous Team – he has a big career in front of him. It's good to see everything come together for them on the field after all the hard work they have done off it."
Get your tickets to the game at ticketek.com.au/allstars
