BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 04: Jake Clifford of the Knights passes the ball during the round 25 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Newcastle Knights at Suncorp Stadium, on September 04, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien has stated the NRL hasn’t seen the last of departed half Jake Clifford following his switch to the Super League.
Clifford joined young fullback Tex Hoy in venturing to Hull FC this off-season, with the former ending his tenure with the Knights prior to the final year of his contract.
The 24-year-old joined Newcastle in a much-anticipated move from North Queensland, with Clifford seen as the answer to the Knights’ playmaking woes.
After just 25 games for the Hunter club, Clifford has departed the club, again leaving them to move magnets among their halves options.
But while O’Brien has been left with the selection headache, he remains confident Clifford’s switch to the northern hemisphere will only aid the Cairns product, who would walk a similar path to former Storm and Broncos playmaker Brodie Croft.
“It’ll be great for him,” O’Brien said, via The Canberra Times.
“You’ve seen over the last few years, halves going over to England. You look at a guy like Brodie Croft going over there and getting Man Of Steel.
“We wish him all the best. This is not the end of Jake Clifford’s NRL career. This will help him no end.”
The Knights are said to be looking toward Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks as a potential target to bolster their playmaking stocks, while fullback Kalyn Ponga could make be move into the halves.
NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 23: Kalyn Ponga of the Newcastle Knights runs the ball during the round 15 NRL match between the Newcastle Knights and the North Queensland Cowboys at McDonald Jones Stadium on August 23, 2020 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
O’Brien confirmed Ponga has begun training as a five-eighth, however concrete conversations in regards to a permanent switch are yet to be held.
“We haven’t sat down and had complete discussions,” O’Brien said.
“Is he doing some components of five-eighth in his training? Yeah, he is.
“But we’ll sit down once the list is finalised and see what team we’ve got and how it best fits.”
Source:: ZeroTackle
