Tyler Dupree will not rest easy as his Salford coach tips England call
TYLER Dupree could be forgiven for thinking he has made it after establishing himself as one of Super League’s best young stars – not a chance.
After life ‘at the bottom’ he insists he will never stop learning, with a role model in St Helens’ Alex Walmsley.
The Salford prop's performances already have that air of seniority, at the age of 23.
But Dupree knows all too well, after labouring on a building site following his release from Leeds and coming all the way up from Oldham, there can be no resting on any laurels.
He said: “I’ve been at the bottom and I know what it’s like. Now it’s a case of keeping on top of things. I feel like I’m learning all the time.
“As a team, it would be better winning every game but I feel it’s been one of my best seasons so far.
“I’ve made an effort to put myself in the right areas and try to not be immature in a game sense. I’m also looking to the older players for guidance and seeing how they do it.
“It’s more players from outside the club, like Alex Walmsley. You can’t get much better examples when it comes to application.
“And I’m feeling more confident in myself now. I took it upon myself to get up to speed with Super League when I came to Salford and through the off-season, I gave myself a bit of a head start."
Dupree’s latest stop sees him face Castleford tonight but boss Paul Rowley believes he is on the way to the very top, England.
The national side faces France on Saturday week and he said: “Hopefully Tyler gets the rewards he deserves, an England cap absolutely.
“The experience would be good for him. He’s progressed monumentally in the last 12 months – a taste of the international culture and set up would be good for him, I’m sure.
“He’s on a good journey and is in a good place. The scary thing is he can get even better.”