Dry as an NQ creek bed in winter and as unassuming as the farming town he proudly calls home, Ben Spina has two things in mind every time he pulls on the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys jumper he holds so dear: Do your job. Get the win.
The rest, according the Ingham born-and-bred forward, is just noise.
Spina is in his fourth year at the Cowboys, playing 12 National Rugby League games across that period after making his debut in 2014.
And while regular top-flight appearances have been sporadic, the 29-year-old middle forward is enjoying a nice little run in Paul Green’s 17.
He will take the field against the Sharks on Thursday in his fifth straight game, coming off the interchange bench.
So, with such a high value placed on each first-grade outing, you know he means it when he says nothing else matters than those two things.
“You never take your position for granted,” Spina said of being in the side. “Every week, you just try and do your best, try and do your job and hopefully your feet will keep pointing in the right direction.
“Every minute that you spend out there, you get more confidence and getting a run of more than one or two games is something I’ve been looking forward to for a number of years now.”
Spina said he would continue to put his hand up for the club when called upon, but any thoughts beyond the next job at hand are quickly dismissed.
“I don’t think about that sort of thing (securing a new contract) … I just want to get on the field, concentrate hard and do my job,” Spina said.
“Contract stuff isn’t something that’s really in my focus at the moment. You don’t play for that normally so why would you play for that weekly? You’re playing for the win, simple as that.”
Spina is part of a four-man interchange bench that also includes Ben Hampton, Coen Hess and Shaun Fensom.
Thursday’s game against the Sharks at Southern Cross Group Stadium kicks off at 7.50pm.
