It’s the hottest halves market in years, with Chad Townsend and Tom Dearden having kicked off what looks set to be a merry-go-round of sixes and sevens making moves.
Souths premiership-winner Adam Reynolds is the best available prospect, although others able to field offers for 2022 include Mitch Moses, Shaun Johnson, Matt Moylan, Scott Drinkwater, Ash Taylor, Corey Norman, Benji Marshall, Anthony Milford, Kodi Nikorima, Kieran Foran, Tyrone May and Sam Walker.
Easily forgotten given the galaxy of stars – be they established, on the wane or yet to prove how brightly they can shine – listed above is Kurt Mann.
It’s not really all that crazy that Mann is overlooked when people rattle off all the halves on the market, with the Newcastle No.6 having been recruited to the Knights as an option at hooker, although he came from St George Illawarra where he had generally played at centre.
However, Nathan Brown’s play to make Mann a 9 was turfed ahead of the 2020 season, with new coach Adam O’Brien giving the Queenslander first crack at being Newcastle’s long-term five-eighth.
He was making a decent fist of it too until injuries forced him to move to dummy-half, where he played the back-end of the season. It was a selfless move and one that likely cost him the club’s best and fairest award for the year, such had been the quality of his play in the halves.
This year, however, Mann is back in the halves, and has again been among the club’s most consistent players, notably setting up his side’s sole try in Thursday’s loss to Penrith.
As for where he’ll play next year, well that’s sort of tricky.
Because the Knights appear to have decided that the future of the team in the halves is Jake Clifford and – certainly for 2022 at least – Mitchell Pearce, with both having been locked down for next year a number of months ago.
Also in the red and blue top 30 for this year are up-and-coming halves Simi Sasagi and Phoenix Crossland, as well as Tex Hoy, who it is believed could make the move to the halves since he’s unlikely to nail down his preferred position of fullback as long as Kalyn Ponga is in town.
Although on that front, the ‘Ponga to six’ discussion is always bubbling away, with more than a few people suggesting the Knights would be better suited seeing KP get his hands on the ball more often.
Plus, apparently Bailey Hodgson is going to be the next big English import to take the NRL by storm and his preferred spot is at the back.
That means Newcastle have got Pearce, Clifford, Mann, Sasagi, Crossland, Hoy and possibly Ponga fighting for two halves spots. And, given the size of their paycheques, you would think Pearce and Clifford are guaranteed first crack.
Where does that leave Mann?
He could revert to the role of 14, for which he is well suited, given he can play just about every position on the field. However, although he wears the 13 jersey week-in, week-out, Connor Watson has been starting off the bench more often than not and has absolutely flourished under the new rules.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
‘Ball-playing lock’ is the way he’s being described, although that’s because it’s what we’ve always called a small man in the middle of the field, when in reality Watson might give the odd show-and-go but surely I’m not the only person who’s worked out by now that he’s under strict instruction not to pass the ball.
Really neither here nor there I guess, but if you’ve got Watson in the middle, you’re not likely to also carry Mann at 14.
Mann could go back to the original plan of playing at hooker but Jayden Brailey has been another of Newcastle’s best this season, getting through a mountain of defensive work – he’s leading the comp with 385 tackles at 96 per cent efficiency so far – as well as developing into a dangerous attacking option. Plus the 25-year-old is one of the club captains.
The only way Mann gets another crack at 9 is through injury.
So he’s in a seven-way battle to play in the halves, is unlikely to be the club’s preferred 14 and would only be considered an injury cover at hooker.
It’s not exactly an enviable position, particularly for a player who has been among his club’s best for the past two seasons.
Any other year, you would think another club would have come knocking by now, having seen Mann’s commitment and skill on a consistent basis.
But as evidenced by the long, long list of available halves off contract, this is not a good year to be a middle-tier six without a deal for next season.
Ultimately, you would think this means Newcastle remain in the box seat to retain his services – and they’d be mad not to, if for no other reason than the Knights ain’t the Knights if there isn’t a guy named Kurt in the team.
But whether Mann wants to go back to being considered a squad-depth player when he has done such an admirable job of becoming a full-time five-eighth remains to be seen.
elvis
Roar Rookie
Kevvie fixed his speed bump issues after the semi where Brad Izzard ran over him a few times to score.
Easy target
Roar Rookie
I would like to see Mann ar broncos actually. IMO Brisbane are a team of plan A footballers - every player coming through their juniors only had to rely on plan A to win because they were bigger, stronger and more talented, now that their opposition are just as big, strong, quick,etc, they have nothing to fall back on. Mann though has had to change his game constantly and resort to plans d,e,f,g to stay in first grade - no fullback spot available I'll play centre, can't play 5/8 turn my hand to hooker utility role. This is what Brisbane need - players to show the rest of the team how to struggle through and persist. They don't need more rocks or diamonds blokes or another talented junior touted as the next big thing, this won't the culture - hard workers will
The Barry
Roar Guru
That 3-8 record against the Dogs is interesting. I had no idea, maybe that is part of it I don’t actually have a poor opinion of Mann. He’s a good player - of course you have to be to get to that level. He’s just not anything more than that His game last week was a good example. Worked hard, lots of energy, lots of effort. Didn’t really get the team anywhere
KenW
Roar Rookie
They probably would have more won more comps - he won 3 (including a CC medal) at fullback and only 1 as a 5\8th. That stat is tongue in cheek of course, but I do actually think Lockyer was a better and more influential player at fullback than he was in the halves.
Rob
Guest
Yeah Kevin was a little quicker but he did have the nick name of speed bump for a long time. Poor old Micheal Neil was being talked up as a CC. medal contender before NQ Steve Jackson stole his championship ring. TB. I totally get the lack of brilliance being your opinion of Mann. I was also thinking his 3 win 8 loss record against your Bulldogs might have also affected that opinion of his ability also. Maybe when your watching him he hasn’t had a good day. Best he isn’t in my origin team then. I like him because he’s from Winton home of the dinosaur.
Paul
Roar Guru
Yep, but could he do that role for at least 27 games a year, ie a full season plus SOO? And that's without any finals games. The need to be so involved in attack and defence would knock him around badly, IMO Far better to leave him at fullback
The Barry
Roar Guru
Michael Neil is an ok comparison (zero rep games, zero premierships) but geez you’re selling Kevvie a long way short comparing him to either of those plonkers...
Rob
Guest
I had him in the mix to play centre a couple of times of late but they picked Capewell to play centre. When it comes to wanting something more from your 6 I have this vision of Michael Neil and bloody Kevin Walters (6 premierships).
Muzz
Guest
My dream halves pairing would be Corey Norman and Luke Brooks. Sam Walker will sign a 3 year deal with the Chooks.
Rob
Guest
Decision making and execution under pressure. They just hit the right note when required. It’s a gift. Also they have the ability to play slow and then accelerate to draw 2 and hit the open team mate. I should have said Marshall as the most obvious likeness or Brett Kenny before that. It’s how these guys stand up the defence and then if defence over reads the play they slice through. They mesmerise opponents into ball watching or panicking. It so obvious to me he’s a 6 or even a 7 (probably don’t want him kicking to much)I’ve said this from the start Kaylen’s best assets are his hands and his football IQ IMO. His footwork and ability to beat an opponent one on one is a bonus many can only dream of having. Ponga enjoys putting a team mate over the line more than himself but he will happily step up and look to make something happen when the games on the line unlike Milford.
Nunnsy
Guest
Dont think defence would be a problem in the front line. Remember he played at lock in origin and did a decent job.
Rob
Guest
He’s batting a little like Don Bradman to be honest.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Ponga played in 9 games for the Cows. The $500k rookie debuted in SOO 3 months after joining Knights. Doubt you need reminding of Immortal Joey's opinion of same. OTOH, Tino is getting $2 mill for 3 years after 5 NRL games.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Couldn't disagree more. You want him at 5/8, I don't, on that we will agree.
mushi
Roar Guru
Chris Flannery.. who unfortunately did play a few games for QLD
mushi
Roar Guru
You say that like your current 6 is top 4 at his position.... At fullback, doing 5/8 things means he has no fullback to then capitalise on his play.
mushi
Roar Guru
That's funny because when I've look at fullback stats he always ends up being grouped with the 5/8s that filled in for a game or two (so their season stats get captured) so does Gutho.
mushi
Roar Guru
As to why try: The reason behind it looking at his game visually, and his numbers, he’s playing 13/16th – half way between a 5/8 and a fullback anyway. (Gutherson seems similar) Unless you have a really unique set of players (the knights don’t) you’re already sacrificing some mainstream fullback play of a Tedesco/Pap to periodically insert a half who doesn’t then have a FB to capitalise. Shift him to the halves full time and he can be the running half with the dominant call for the ball, better yet he’ll have a FB there to capitalise on bending the line which should enable him to have the ability to impact the game more frequently, like Munster, Wighton, Widdop and Lockyer did/do.
mushi
Roar Guru
Couldn't disagree more. "but as for Ponga it would be lunacy to transition him to 5/8 because someone thought it would be a good idea" Um why would it be lunacy to do something you thought was a good idea? "An old adage in RL is don’t weaken one position to strengthen another." That's great. It's wrong in the practice of rugby league and every other sport though. That's why different positions are valued more than others. are you saying you wouldn't upgrade halfback at the expense of the wing? "In some cases it works when forced by circumstances" Sound's like Churchill's view of Americans. Only when every other avenue is exhausted do we make the right decision!
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Basically why they had to put Ponga back. Ricky S. lucked out when CNK joined the club and surprised everybody with his ability which allowed him to leave and develop Wighton at 6. Contrarily, Connor Watson was awful there and Kurt was average, they lost a couple narrowly and everyone outside the circle were a hoopin' and a hollerin' which Brown thought was damaging to young Ponga , whose idea it was in the first place, so coach quietened it.