Just two years ago, the winger played his first rugby league match after making the switch from soccer in June 2008.

After a season playing for the Junee Diesels reserves and another with the Raiders under 20s, he said he felt this year would be the year he makes it into the top grade.

“I’m pretty confident I will make it,”?Ward said. “I’ve just got to put the training into the games.”

At the end of last year, while playing for the Raiders under 20s, he sustained a minor ankle injury which he now says is no hindrance and won’t affect his game when the team’s has its first trial for the season against the Western Suburb Magpies at Canberra on?Saturday.

Ward said he had had plenty of tips from older Raiders players since pre-season training began in November.

The Raiders finished up their tour of the Riverina for the NRL Community Carnival yesterday, but not before the young gun had the chance to meet with students from his former schools – Junee North Public and Junee High.

He said returning to the community and giving something back was something he wished past players had done when he was growing up.

“We didn’t have anything like this when I was at school,”?Ward said. “It would have been good to have a team come and talk to us about eating properly and playing more sports.”