Brothers hooker Matthew Faessler will start the delayed season eight kilograms heavier than when the first games of 2020 were played.

Packing on the extra muscle in his home gym these past months, the 21-year-old is planning to make a bigger mark on the field for Brothers this season.

“I went into Covid at 104 kilos, and I came out of Covid at 112,” Faessler said.

“All the feedback I’ve been getting is that if I want to be a good hooker at the level I want to be playing, I need to be putting on a bit more size.