In a team featuring Kalyn Ponga, Mitchell Pearce and David Klemmer, it may sound silly to label Kurt Mann as Newcastle’s most important player. But with the Knight’s now sitting in the top four, a lot of that success can be attributed to the man wearing the No. 6 jersey.
Leading into this season a lot of conjecture surrounded who would partner Mitchell Pearce in the halves. Nowadays having a solid spine who can play a lot of football together is integral to long-term success. Ponga and Pearce were locks for Nos. 1 and 7, and the recruitment of Jayden Brailey from Cronulla seemed to consolidate the dummy half position. However, the No. 6 jersey was still vacant.
Connor Watson had performed admirably there in the past, but it seems his utility value outweighed his natural playmaking skills. Mason Lino was also partnered with Pearce but failed to deliver on the high promise he had shown coming through the junior ranks with the Warriors. Even young gun Phoenix Crossland has been training with Pearce in the preseason and looked to add to his one-game tally from last year.
The forgotten man, however, was Kurt Mann. After signing with Newcastle for the 2019 season it looked like Mann’s story would repeat itself again. A talented player who could cover many positions, he would be used for that sole purpose. Someone who showed promise but couldn’t lock down a starting role. Those types of players are so important yet so recyclable. In five years Mann had already played with three different NRL sides. He was yet to fulfil on his promised potential.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
However, this year has been a different story. In his 19 appearances for the Knights last year only five were in the five-eighth role. However, new head coach Adam O’Brien entrusted Mann to fulfil a simplified gameplay himself, and hasn’t it worked wonders!
After ten rounds of this year’s competition Mann has scored five tries, five try assists and three line breaks and averages over 110 running metres per game. He also sits third in the competition for five-eighths in tackle breaks with 28. The renaissance of Kurt Mann has been a surprise to many but not to coach O’Brien.
The wonder of O’Brien’s coaching is not that he has devised a whole new attack for Mann to follow with a whole book of plays and calls; it’s that he knows the strengths of each of his players to entrust them in their role.
“I coached Kurt in Melbourne. I knew he was a good runner of the football and hard to tackle when he runs the ball,” O’Brien said after Newcastle’s 27-6 Round 6 win over the Brisbane Broncos.
“Looking at our team … even before the rules changed we didn’t need someone to be the greatest ballplayer that ever lived, we just needed someone to complement Kalyn and Junior.”
With Newcastle now sitting in fourth place with just ten rounds to go, the importance of Mann will be highlighted more than ever. Games will become closer, moments will become bigger but Mann will again just do his role.
And if the first half of this year has shown, if Kurt Mann just continues to do his role, then Newcastle will go a long way in contesting for this year’s premiership.
Tony
Roar Guru
Mann has always been a quality player who gives 100% every time he takes the field. He's yet another player who McGregor couldn't get the best out of. As far as origin goes, QLD could do worse that Mann in the number 14. He can pretty much play anywhere in the back line as well as cover 9 and 13 if required.
Bill
Roar Rookie
Woy Woy boy. Old man is Roger who played for the club
Growler
Roar Rookie
Nice article and I am a big fan of Kurt. I do worry however that his game can be a bit one dimensional at times and that towards the pointy of the end of the season teams may be able to nullify him and those stats from the 1st 10 rounds may seem like a distant memory. I hope this is proven unfounded and like we saw with Ponga last week, a change in tact to avert the opponents recent repression of him.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Full credit to Kurt Mann. He's surprised me with his play and hopefully he can keep going. I'll reserve my judgement as to his real value when the big games come around and they need him to stand up. Just about every one sees a player like Blake Green as the answer to under performing teams but he's one of many players who don't have another gear in the big games and the Storm, Manly and now the Warriors didn't try to keep him. You have to factor in the end of season games when assessing a player.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The Maroons are covered in Mann’s best positions of 6 and 9. Maybe the 14 They’d give their left ones for some centres
The Barry
Roar Guru
Seems to be the season for me changing my opinions on a few players During his Dragons career, I always thought Mann was a utility only because he wasn’t good enough to make any position his own. He’s been really good this year and playing his role well I’m not sure I’d quite rate him as the missing puzzle piece, rather a good player doing a good job Does Mann’s turnaround raise another question around McGregor’s coaching ability? Not that any more are really needed...
westernred
Great story. Mate and I had been hoping he would get the 5/8 position this year and he is one of thier best every week. Congratulations on being rewarded finally for your hard work Kurt.
Rob
Guest
Hey Joe, They have all got a bit of the North in them. Ponga, Mann, Tuala, Shibasaki, Lee has TI and I think Bradman Best may have NQ pedigree. There was a Best playing RL in Collinsville years ago? Love to know if it's his dad. They're my second team. Storm have been demoted to 3rd since Billy hung up the boots.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Been watching Kurt Mann progress since his days at the Storm. Glad to see he reunited with O'Brien who would knew his strengths from their Melbourne days and more importantly how to fit him into the team. Not surprised with his stats, he has always had great feet and very elusive. Now seems to have some power in his runs as well as a kicking game. Coach of the year has to go to O'Brien for what he's done to bring out his supporting cast around his star players. Just look at the names in that backline and apart from 1 and 7 you pretty much have discards and rookies.
Rob
Guest
Always a good investment getting a NQ boy into the team. The Knights have a significant amount of NQ boys to do well. Look at the difference Harry has been for the Tigers or Davey (what an off load to set up RCG) for the Eels.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
The Knights could stop playing tomorrow while the Tigers played another 10 games and I don't think Mybe would catch him. Mann is having a good season, and you tip your cap to him. That said, the Knights attack is hardly blowing peoples mind. He remains a very good stop gap 5/8 come fullback - Which is probably good enough for QLD Origin...
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Yeah, they'd kill for a decent centre or 2. On the face of it, their firsts is still very competitive, just nothing after a mediocre bench if they have injuries. Half, 5/8 and FB locked in, a plethora of wings to call on, but outside of Morgan the centre cupboard is quite bare. Gagai's a winger at Origin level, not sure if MBye is run-on quality and O'Neill is well past best days.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
He has been unappreciated for a while, even at Dragon days. I share your joy. cometh the Mann sweet..
kk
Roar Pro
Actually I have admired Kurt Mann's attitude and ability for many seasons. I am really happy for him now that the rewards are coming.
Thomas Costigan
Roar Pro
Just as you mentioned, given the Maroons are short on troops this year (especially the outside backs), I wouldn't be surprised if Mann gets a call up. If Newcastle make a deep run into the finals, he could overtake Moses Mbye for that utility role
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Will he enter the discussion for SOO?? Maroons are very short on cattle this year.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Sweet KK, how long been hanging out to use that one??
kk
Roar Pro
Enter O'Brien...cometh the Mann.
Paul
Roar Guru
Nice story, Thomas. There's no doubt Mann has done a very useful job for the Knights. In one sense he's no different from other players. He needs to settle into one position, have a coach that understands and can utilise his skillset and also have a coach that has confidence in his abilities. O'Brien is the obvious key to his success, because he trusts Mann to do a job and to date, both the coach & Knights fans would be pretty happy with his results.