Fisher ready to fill Manoa’s sizeable shoes at Saints

Jon Fisher was about to trot out a tired cliché when he stopped himself.
Jon Fisher is eager to be Saints' first-choice No.8 this season (picture: Sharon Lucey)Jon Fisher is eager to be Saints' first-choice No.8 this season (picture: Sharon Lucey)
Jon Fisher is eager to be Saints' first-choice No.8 this season (picture: Sharon Lucey)

The broad-chested No.8 was asked about how he intends to fill the sizeable boots of Samu Manoa at Saints this season.

And he was just ready to discuss the differences between himself and the now Toulon enforcer, when he stopped to reconsider.

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“I’d say we’re different players but that’s pretty cliché and we’re not,” said Fisher, who started at No.8 in Saints’ crushing 36-17 pre-season win at Saracens on Saturday.

“We’re pretty similar so I just need to do that shirt justice when I get the opportunity to.

“Samu was a class act and everyone here knows that.

“I just want to bring what I brought in games last year.”

Fisher came in on trial last summer, needing to give everything he had to win a contract.

He did, signing a full-time deal in September and earning an extension in February.

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But the well-spoken former London Irish player is keen to stress that he will not be taking it easy this time round.

“It’s been nice to have the contract for a longer term and not just come in on an initial three-week trial, but it’s all the same,” Fisher said.

“You train and prepare in the same way, whether you’re on a three-week gig or a five-year gig.”