Newcastle skipper Kurt Gidley says he is keen to make the Knights’ No.1 jersey his own again this NRL season.
After Darius Boyd’s return to Brisbane, Newcastle’s fullback spot was up for grabs under new coach Rick Stone.
Knights veteran Gidley has been named in the custodian role in a star-studded Knights backline for the team’s final trial match against Canberra at Seiffert Oval on Saturday.
And the former NSW utility plans to stay there throughout the year.
Sione Mata’utia, Jake Mamo, Dane Gagai and James McManus are among other options for Stone at the back.
“Over my career I have played my best footy and most of my footy at fullback and it has been enjoyable to train there for the pre-season,” Gidley told reporters on Friday.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to play the full season there at fullback, but things might change during the year, and I’ll probably play a little bit in the halves tomorrow night as well.”
The emergence of Kangaroos rookie Mata’utia has given significant depth to an already strong Knights backline.
McManus (ankle) and Akuila Uate (knee) return from injuries to the wing for their first hit outs of the year against Ricky Stuart’s Raiders.
Gagai and Mata’utia are in the centres, with Joey Leilua pushed to the bench.
Jarrod Mullen and the ever improving Tyrone Roberts slot into the halves.
“Sione’s had plenty of big tests before this with the games he played last year in centre and wing, and obviously the Four Nations at the end of last year was a huge test for him,” said Gidley, 32, who is off contract at season’s end.
“Between him, Dane and Joey they’ll all get some time at centre, and it’s just great to have some depth.
“It’s two weeks out from the start of the season and it’s time to start getting serious and putting things into place we’ve been practising over the last couple of months.”
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