He was named in the Bulldogs’ Nines roster on Wednesday on the back of an impressive pre-season training camp. 

Elliott, who was promoted to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ top training squad last year is getting some attention from selectors and the coach alike.

“I finished off the season on the right track and it’s good to be injury free,” Elliott said before flying out to New Zealand. 

Last year he made the Nines, but had only just returned from hamstring concerns, while in 2014 he spent eight weeks in a sling. 

The club has also split early sessions between the forwards and backs and Elliott said he was benefitting from some isolated specific training. 

“I play on the outside back so it was good to split up and get some of that targeted training,” he said. 

He also got some high praise from team-mates before his selection. 

“There are a number of guys who have been training well, but I think Adam Elliott has been the standout,” Aiden Tolman said. 

“He had a few injuries last year, his off-season was disrupted, but this year he has come back much fitter and stronger and having a real good crack.”

The sentiment was backed up by Brett Morris, who was impressed with Elliott’s strength and determination. 

“Blokes like Adam Elliott. In the gym he is throwing around some heavy weights,” Morris said. 

The comments have humbled the young back-rower as he hopes to burst onto the NRL stage. 

“The support and respect from your peers is the biggest thing you want coming into the squad,” Elliott said. 

“Last year I felt like I was just keeping up and learning how the guys operated, but this year it’s winning as much as I can and training as hard as I can.

“Combining that with my freshness off the pre-season is a big boost.”

Elliott said he would have loved to make the NRL line-up last year, but is pleased to have an extra season of skills and training under his belt. 

It’s a combination of his injury worries, but also preparedness to take on the country’s best. 

“You don’t want to be known as the young fella and get played on top of.

“And when you first start training, you’re a bit star struck, but now I would be more calm and prepared.”

Elliott said he was delighted to be named in the Nines again, but was grateful for the support from back home. 

“Dale [Finucane] as well, we both like the support from back home, we played for different sides, but I think the whole valley gets right behind us and I’m grateful for that.”

Texts and Facebook messages of support have already been flowing in as Elliott gears up to take on the Nines.