'Good, but I'll get better' says Quins new-boy Orr
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Your support makes all the difference.The rebuilding of Danny Orr's career continues at The Twickenham Stoop this evening when he makes his home debut for Harlequins. The half-back, surplus to requirements at Wigan last season, was hailed as outstanding in Quins' shock win at St Helens last week.
"It's always nice when people say those things about you, but I think I can play a lot better," said Orr, whose partnership with the Australian stand-off Scott Hill will be pivotal to the London club's season. "We're forming a nice little partnership together on and off the field," said Orr of Hill, who almost joined today's opponents, Salford, before opting for life in the capital.
Orr insists he has no regrets about the three years he spent at Wigan after leaving his hometown club, Castleford, despite only winning supporters over in the second half of his final season at the JJB Stadium.
"Nobody said anything to me, but I knew from midway through the season that I would be getting called into the office at some stage," he said. "It was still my decision. I could have stayed, but I thought I would be better off taking the offer from Harlequins."
Orr has shown his commitment to the latest phase of his career by signing a three-year contract and plans to move with his wife and two young children to Teddington next month.
If Quins win they could be at the top of Super League tonight, despite predictions that they would struggle this year because of lack of depth.
Orr believes that the rich potential of young Londoners like Michael Worrincy and Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook will cover the gaps in the squad. The club has also confirmed the signing of the Kangaroo prop Richard Villasanti from Cronulla on a two-year contract. He is expected to arrive next week.
Today's game also means a quick return to the capital for the half-back Luke Dorn, who played in London for two years before moving to Salford this winter.
"I'm expecting more of the same from Salford after the good season they had last year," said Orr. "They are very well coached and they have got good players like Luke Robinson and David Hodgson, both of whom I've played with at Wigan."
Salford are without Karl Fitzpatrick, who has a snapped Achilles' tendon, so Hodgson is at full-back.
New Zealand, who are to tour Britain this autumn in celebration of their first visit 100 years ago, have invited the Australian scrum-half, Andrew Johns, to become an honorary Kiwi for the trip. The original All Golds included one Australian legend, Dally Messenger, and New Zealand hope Johns will be his modern-day equivalent.
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