Manly flyer Tolu Koula says his focus is now on becoming one of the world's best centres, after several brief dalliances with the Sea Eagles' No.1 jersey.
Koula will bring up his 100th NRL game in Manly's must-win clash with the Dolphins on Friday night, having turned into one of the sport's strike outside backs.
Manly teammate Haumole Olakau'atu this week warned it was "scary" how good Koula could be, adamant the 23-year-old can become the game's best centre with so much more to unlock.
Koula also believes he is still just scratching the surface after four years in the NRL, having put on more weight and matured mentally in the past two years in particular.
The Tongan international has played 12 games at No.1 for Manly, and had loomed as a potential fullback option for rival clubs before re-signing at the Sea Eagles until 2031.
But while he has not entirely ruled out wanting a move to the back one day, Koula said he was now settled as a centre in the NRL.
"In my career and where things stand, I'd say I'm kind of striving towards being the best centre in the game," Koula told AAP.
"I'm not closing down the idea that I could play another position, especially being fullback a little while down the track.
"But I'd say my main goal right now is just nailing down as a centre and being one of the elites."
Koula believed the biggest change in his game over the past two years had been the confidence to take it on himself at centre, and knowing when to inject himself.
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The NSW State of Origin strike weapon has scored 17 tries since the start of last year and averaged four tackle busts per game, with many of his four-pointers long-range efforts.
Koula believes the next step in his game is being more willing to roam on both sides of the field, having done so at times when Manly's attack was firing in recent years.
He believes that is something that must now come to the fore over the next month, with Manly fighting to stay alive and likely needing to win their last four home-and-away games.
"It's something that Foz (Kieran Foran) encourages me to do, so I've got to put more of an onus on myself to inject myself," Koula said.
"Especially when we're not getting much ball on the left.
"It's something I think I could have been doing a better job at, having more of an impact in the game and getting more involved in the past month.
"If I can strive to do that and touch the ball more and have more of an impact as a game-breaker, that's the next step.
"You can see the difference Haumole makes in the game."
Australian Associated Press
