PackedSprite object returning null

 public GameObject pad; //Assigned through the viewer
 
 PackedSprite sprite; //Null
  
  public void create()
  {
  print(pad.name); // Pad is working perfectly
  sprite = pad.GetComponent<PackedSprite>() as PackedSprite; //This is run without an error
         sprite.PlayAnim(0); // Returns an error
  
  }

I am using Sprite Manager 2 and I am having trouble affecting the sprite. I am setting pad through the Inspector but I do not know how to assign the PackedSprite, so I tried doing it via code. Every time I try to use sprite it returns:

 NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object

Any suggestions on how to prevent this?