The Knights lastly landed the halfback they’ve been desperately looking for after the departure of Mitchell Pearce — and it may unlock marquee man Kalyn Ponga.
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien has made his need to shift Ponga to five-eighth no secret and after signing Jackson Hastings on Wednesday, that transfer may lastly occur.
Hastings and Ponga look set to be the Knights’ halves pairing in 2023 and the previous Tiger is a key signing based on NRL legend Andrew Johns.
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“I think it’s a great buy, a really good buy. I worked with Jackson years ago when I was at the Roosters, and he had so much talent,” Johns informed WWOS.
“He went to England and sharpened up his trade. I watched from afar what he did at Salford, the way he played there, and obviously getting the Man of Steel.
“I’m pumped for him to come to Newcastle. It helps our club, it helps our team. He’s an on-ball player, he’s an out-and-out organising No.7.”
In 2019 then coach Nathan Brown began Ponga within the halves however rapidly moved the gifted ballrunner again to fullback.
The 24-year-old is clearly at his most harmful with the ball in his fingers, and Johns believes Hastings’ organisational enjoying type will praise his companion’s free-flowing attacking sport.
“(Hastings) is an on-ball old-fashioned halfback who just follows the ball and gets his hands on the ball as much as possible,” Johns mentioned.
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“Which then frees up Kalyn to go anywhere and play, look for opportunities and communicate to Jackson to get the ball off him.
“I know Kalyn will be one of the best attacking five-eighths in the world. I’ve done bits and pieces with him. Last Friday I was up there… he’s just all class.”
While the Knights’ halves pairing seems all-but secured, Ponga’s huge shift will trigger one other headache for the staff from the Hunter — who performs fullback?
Tex Hoy’s departure to the Super League has left O’Brien’s fullback shares operating skinny and numerous gamers have emerged as potential signings.
According to Fox League’s James Hooper, the Knights have been in scorching pursuit of Broncos fullback Tesi Niu.
The 21-year-old has fallen down the pecking order on the Broncos following the arrival of younger gun Reece Walsh and reportedly has expressed his need to go away.
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“Tesi Niu has expressed an interest to leave (the Broncos),” Channel 9’s Ben Dobbin mentioned.
“He’s currently contracted to the Brisbane Broncos for this season coming, but he has expressed an interest to leave.”
Meanwhile, Lachie Miller has additionally firmed as an choice to fill the void based on Zero Tackle.
Miller joined Cronulla in 2022 following a stint enjoying Rugby Sevens for Australia the place he competed within the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The 28-year-old performed seven video games in his first season, making his debut in Round 11 towards the Gold Coast Titans.
Despite making quite a few appearances for the Sharks, Miller is a 3rd string possibility at fullback for the membership, sitting behind Will Kennedy and Kade Dykes.