Maitland juniors are stepping into the breach as the Newcastle Knights continues to battle a growing injury list.
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Brock Lamb, who is still eligible to play in the NYC under-20 competition, has been named for the third week in a row as the starting five-eighth for the Newcastle Knights first grade team.
His Knights NYC teammates Matt Soper-Lawer and Joe Morris have also risen to the call slotting in at wing and hooker respectively in the Knight NSW Cup team for round 11.
Cessnock junior Josh King will start in the front-row in the NSW Cup team.
Pickers junior Jayden Butterfield has been selected at lock in the NYC team and will be joined by Cessnock junior Brodie Jones who has been named on the bench.
The Coalfields flavour continues with former Kurri Kurri Bulldog Nathan Ross likely to return from injury and play on the wing in the Knights NRL team.
Knights coach Nathan Brown described Ross’ hamstring complaint as minor with the outside back expected to pass a fitness test this week.
With injury concerns with both the team’s experienced halves, Brown is content with the cover Lamb and halfback Jack Cogger can provide in the interim.
“I thought they did really well and both showed they have a great long-term future in the game,” he said about the pair.
“They have a good natural skillset and know how to play in their positions.
“They are very direct in the way they play their footy in attack and both like to compete.
“I think as far as halves go, the long-term future of the club is in a good position.”
Meanwhile halfback Trent Hodkinson is pushing for fitness ahead of Saturday’s match after carrying a knee injury.
“Trent did a rehab run yesterday and as they expected it was a lot better,” Brown said.
“I would have thought with what he did yesterday things would work out favourably and that he would play.
“He will train tomorrow with the team to see how that goes but things are looking positive."
Brown also fielded questions regarding speculation the club was interested in the possibility of Jarryd Hayne making a return to the NRL.
“I think there’s a lot of clubs who would want to talk to Jarryd Hayne’s management,” he said.
“As it stands at the minute I think Gids (CEO Matt Gidley) would probably say we probably wouldn’t have the finances or budget to go down that path, but things change in rugby league.
“I think as a club that’s looking to progress as a club, it’s someone you should always look at.”
