Sailor expecting cool reception
February 21, 2002

High profile Queensland Reds recruit Wendell Sailor is expecting a very cool reception in Canberra on Saturday night when his side take on the Brumbies.

Sailor, who makes his Vodafone Super 12 debut this weekend, was the subject of excessive crowd abuse from the Canberra Raiders fans furing his rugby league daus with the Brisbane Broncos and fears a similar reception from the Brumbies' fans.

"I live to play that sort of game," Sailor told AAP. "They`ve never really liked me anyway because of the (State of) Origin thing. As soon as I cross the border I know I won`t get any support."

Sailor, who has been the media magnet for the team for the last couple of months, said he felt the pressure but was mentally prepared for his biggest test since he switched codes.

"Now I`ve got to make sure I just get on the field and just do what I know best," he said.

Reds coach Mark McBain said Sailor would start on the left wing for the season`s opening match.

"We want to try to make it similar to the way he played in rugby league," McBain said.

"The advice I get from the Broncos - from Wayne Bennett, Gorden Tallis and all those sorts of people - is get the ball in his hands as often as you can and that`s what we intend to do."

Sailor acknowledged he had not yet mastered all the rules but said his team mates were very "forthcoming" when it came to helping him.

"At the end of the day we`re all fighting for the same cause to win the Vodafone Super 12s and they all want to see me succeed as much as I want to succeed."

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