A trusted figure among the playing group, Tom Lynch is already impressing team mates with his noticeable leadership skills, turning in an eye-catching opening day at the Gold Coast SUNS’ 2XU High Performance Camp.

 “Lynchy is a very good leader, and sets the example around the Club, both on the field by the way he plays the game and also with his training habits,” Jesse Lonergan told SUNS TV.

“He expects everyone to train as hard as he does, and definitely leads from the front.”

Part of the club’s emerging leadership program, the 199cm key forward was voted in by his fellow Gold Coasters to be one of the six group “captains” for the altitude camp, leading Team Respect against rival skippers Danny Stanley, Dion Prestia, Seb Tape, Rory Thompson and David Swallow.

Admired for his strong work ethic and inability to contemplate or accept failure, Lynch was the player’s obvious choice.

And knowing full well the significant financial investment the Club’s executive and corporate support poured in to ensure the team returned to Arizona for a third straight year, the 21-year-old told SUNS TV the boys couldn’t afford to leave no stone unturned this summer.

“We can’t leave anything in the tank, because we know how much the Club has paid to help us come over here so we don’t want to waste a minute,” he said.

Unlike the rest of his skipper counterparts, Lynch has the added luxury of being under the tutelage of senior coach Guy McKenna, who will oversee Team Respect playing roster including Brandon Matera, Matt Shaw, Zac Smith, Josh Hall, Nathan Bock and Jackson Allen.

Lonergan revealed “Bluey” told his team honesty would be the pillar this year’s high performance camp.

“He talked about being honest in your effort, whenever you are out on the track, and just to give 100% honesty in everything you do.”