'He's a fullback': Wendell's verdict on young Sailor

Halfback, fullback, wing. Tristan Sailor has played them all but maybe father knows best.

Dad Wendell Sailor believes his son is best suited to the No.1 jersey, which may not be in focus just yet with Zac Lomax being promised that spot with the Dragons for Round 1 of the 2020 season.

"For me, Tristan is a player who can handle a few positions all over the park but for me, I think he is a fullback," Sailor told NRL.com at the Triple M radio season launch.

"I know he's a light fullback but he's molded a lot of his football on Billy Slater.

"These kids like Tristan have had the opportunity to Google, [and] watch endless videos on YouTube on players like Billy and Darius Boyd, who [Slater] changed fullback forever."

Fortunate then that Slater is not only a good mate of Wendell's but also a willing tutor to young fullbacks.

"Billy has been really good. When Tristan debuted last year [round 23 v Roosters] Billy texted me and said 'Tell Tristan well done and if he ever needs anything, give me a call'," Sailor said.

"They've had some contact already and he's been lucky also with guys like 'Joey' [Andrew Johns], JT [Johnathan Thurston] and even Locky [Darren Lockyer] being there for him to talk to.

"So my job is really just to be his dad. He doesn't need me to tell him how to play. He's a different style of player to me anyway."

Sailor realises the comparison and expectation some fans will put on his son's shoulders. His father thinks his shoulders are broad enough for the 21-year-old to be able to handle that.

"I've learned to sit back and enjoy watching him play because he doesn't ask me anyway too much about footy," Wendell said.

"He's been in dressing rooms like grand finals, Origins, Wallabies Tests. So he's lived football all his life. He's been around good players who have talked to him, kicked with him.

"So he feels part of the rugby league DNA already without any help from me."

Still, with 17 tries from 16 Test for the Kangaroos – or his 17 tries from 33 games with St George Illawarra when he returned from rugby union – Sailor snr does set an impressive benchmark.

"He's already gone past me," Sailor said.

"He's studying a Bachelor of Commerce at uni – has only one semester to go – so he's nothing like I was at his age. And I give [wife] Tara that credit along with the NRL in encouraging and pushing that further education and traineeships.

"Obviously I want what's best for him but I'm giving him the space to do it all himself because he's already on his way."

Sailor played a brief cameo fullback role – even took a shot at goal - in the Dragons' healthy 38-12 trial game win over the Knights last weekend in Maitland.

It remains to be seen if he can break into the Dragons 17 again for this week's Charity Shield game against the Rabbitohs in Mudgee.