Knights coach Adam O’Brien has revealed Kalyn Ponga will make a everlasting change to the halves this season whereas hinting at a three-way battle for his vacant fullback spot.
Speaking on SEN 1170 Breakfast on Tuesday, O’Brien mentioned the choice to maneuver Ponga to five-eighth was made after he was dominated out within the latter levels of final season following a number of concussions.
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“If we were ever going to move Kalyn to six, now is the time,” O’Brien mentioned.
“Essentially, we’ve had five months. He had a very brief break in October and then started training before everyone else. We changed his training program and he’s obviously put some size on in the gym.
“He’s been training at six all summer and he has been doing a really good job at it.”
While there isn’t any assure will probably be successful, Knights followers can a minimum of take consolation within the reality O’Brien is open to making an attempt one thing completely different after a disappointing 2022 marketing campaign.
Newcastle managed simply the six wins final season, ending in 14th place and no clearer to understanding what its long-term backbone regarded like.
Mitchell Pearce’s departure left a big management void, one which the Knights will likely be hoping new recruit Jackson Hastings may also help fill.
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Hastings will accomplice Ponga within the halves, with O’Brien assured that he’ll make his new teammate’s transition to the halves “so much easier”.
“He’s definitely a footy head,” O’Brien mentioned.
“He knows the game well and he’s a general. He will steer the team around, he’s very vocal and he’s very clear about what he wants those to do around him.
“That allows Kalyn to be himself and doesn’t bog him down with a lot of responsibility of being a director.
“At the end of the day you want Jackson to steer the team around and get Kalyn the ball in the space that we need to get him in. They’re working really well together at the moment.”
The huge query that wants answering now although is who will line up at fullback in Ponga’s place, with English addition Bailey Hodgson the main contender.
O’Brien although mentioned Dane Gagai and Tyson Gamble had additionally “spent some time” coaching at fullback together with Hodgson, who has been there “most of the summer”.
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“Strengthening that fullback spot remains a priority for us,” added O’Brien.
There will likely be loads of stress on O’Brien after final yr’s let-down however the Knights coach mentioned each he as a person and the membership as an entire can take loads of classes out of 2022.
“Whilst it wasn’t enjoyable for anyone — the players, staff, supporters — upon reflection over the summer looking back over that season I learnt a lot,” he mentioned.
“Hopefully one day you’re looking back at it and saying we made better or smarter decisions having gone through that type of season.
“I don’t want to do that again… but at the same time you start to analyse things a little bit differently and make better decisions in and around recruitment, how you prepare each week and how you handle adversity.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
