A first-ever Premiership hat-trick from Adam Radwan not only helped Leicester Tigers to a bonus-point, 40-7, victory over Harlequins at Mattioli Woods Welford Road but also proved enough to see the speedster awarded the Gallagher Player of the Match prize.
After the match, on the result, Radwan said: “We finished that second half really well. The first half, although we were up on the scoreboard, we felt like we had a lot more to give."
"We had a good chat at the break and spoke about needing to address some things and start fast in the second half, which we did and built it up from there."
Asked about what was said at half time, Radwan avoided going into detail but shared the topics of conversation.
“The biggest area chatted about was the ruck," he said.
"They got a lot of joy at our breakdown – they have some brilliant jacklers and got some good rewards at the ruck which killed our momentum."
A modest Radwan refused to take any credit for his hat-trick, saying it was simply about finishing what work was done for him by his fellow Tigers.
“The lads throw me the ball and I just get on the end of it really," said Radwan.
"That last one, Fred did some great work to set me up and put me through the gap. It’s a massive team effort, I’m just on the end of them mostly.”
Settling into Leicester on the pitch, growing with confidence each game, Radwan has also enjoyed the new environment he finds himself in after the mid-season move from Newcastle.
“It was a massive move to be honest, it was kind of out of the blue and I think I have settled in really well but that’s a credit to the club; the staff, players, fans, have all made me feel so welcome."
“From day one I have felt like a part of this great club. The whole club have put in so much effort to help me settle in and feel at home here. I’ve loved it, it hasn’t been difficult at all, everyone else has made it very easy for me.”
One particular relationship that continues to flourish is that of he and his fellow back three, Ollie Hassell-Collins - who added two of his own in the win over Harlequins - and Freddie Steward.
“I actually think as a group, we just work really well together and with that, offer something quite different," he said.
“Hass is a big, physical, quick winger and he’s unbelievable in the air. I’ve got lots to learn off him in terms of his aerial game – it’s world class and then you've got Freddie, who is equally world class and, although he's young, has so much experience.
“Those two, I’ve got to learn off them and hopefully help them as well, help us as a group improve for the team.
“I play a little differently than them but we compliment one another other and push each other in training. It’s a really competitive environment and I think we then get the best out of each other when it comes to the game."
Looking ahead to the final games of The Run In and fight for a place in the playoffs, Radwan refused to be drawn in to any future planning.
“We’re not going to look that far ahead to be honest," he said.
“We’ll enjoy this win, enjoy a day or so off down time but when we’re in next week we’ll address what’s coming, which is Sale Sharks. That's all, the next game, nothing more. We take each game as it comes, one a time and we don’t look too far ahead.”
See what Michael Cheika had to say about Radwan and Hassell-Collins HERE.
