Daniel Lane | May 20, 2007
NSW Origin boom boy Jarrod Mullen's days as Newcastle's halfback are numbered.
The Knights are grooming yet another talented 20-year-old - Luke Walsh - to push Mullen back to his preferred position at five-eighth.
He's already received a public endorsement from Newcastle coach Brian Smith, who described Walsh to a group of schoolchildren during the Knights' pre-season tour of the Queensland outback as one of the most talented young players he'd seen.
He said all Walsh needed to do was bulk up. Talent is not an issue. Walsh (at halfback) and Mullen (five-eighth) were the halves combination for the NSW under-19 squad lasy year after coming through Newcastle West junior teams together. It was suggested that Walsh might play first grade when Andrew Johns struggled with the neck problem that led to his retirement.
The Knights were concerned about the way Mullen at halfback and Kurt Gidley at pivot were gelling. However, any chance he may have had to play first grade was dashed by a leg injury that sidelined him for eight weeks.
While Walsh returned in the premier league match against the Dragons at Wollongong on Friday night, Knights development officer Warren Smiles was reluctant to say too much about the club's latest protege. "He's being assessed," he said.
Source: The Sun-Herald
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Looks like the Knights arn't going to let him go any time soon.
NSW Origin boom boy Jarrod Mullen's days as Newcastle's halfback are numbered.
The Knights are grooming yet another talented 20-year-old - Luke Walsh - to push Mullen back to his preferred position at five-eighth.
He's already received a public endorsement from Newcastle coach Brian Smith, who described Walsh to a group of schoolchildren during the Knights' pre-season tour of the Queensland outback as one of the most talented young players he'd seen.
He said all Walsh needed to do was bulk up. Talent is not an issue. Walsh (at halfback) and Mullen (five-eighth) were the halves combination for the NSW under-19 squad lasy year after coming through Newcastle West junior teams together. It was suggested that Walsh might play first grade when Andrew Johns struggled with the neck problem that led to his retirement.
The Knights were concerned about the way Mullen at halfback and Kurt Gidley at pivot were gelling. However, any chance he may have had to play first grade was dashed by a leg injury that sidelined him for eight weeks.
While Walsh returned in the premier league match against the Dragons at Wollongong on Friday night, Knights development officer Warren Smiles was reluctant to say too much about the club's latest protege. "He's being assessed," he said.
Source: The Sun-Herald
SPONSORED LINKS
Looks like the Knights arn't going to let him go any time soon.
MrC can dig up a picture of him from behind thats on LU