Former NSW halfback Brett ''Noddy'' Kimmorley has endorsed a radical plan for the Canberra Raiders to move Kiwi back-rower Bronson Harrison to five-eighth.
Ex-Penrith playmaker Greg Alexander raised the unusual idea in the aftermath of the Raiders' 20-0 loss to the Manly Sea Eagles on Monday night.
Alexander believed a halves combination of Harrison and Josh McCrone would give the Raiders the greatest chance of bringing an end to the club's horror eight-game losing streak.
The switch would be a stop-gap measure until star pivot Terry Campese returns from a knee injury in round 13. Moving Harrison out of the back row would allow Alan Tongue to move to lock, with Glen Buttriss and the out-of-favour Travis Waddell sharing the troublesome dummy-half role.
Raiders coach David Furner has stuck with the McCrone-Matt Orford partnership for tomorrow night's round 10 game with the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park.
''You need someone to take the pressure off in attack, and at the moment Matty [Orford] is probably not offering the side too much in [that area],'' Kimmorley said.
''McCrone took a lot of control of the game on Monday night and got a lot more ball, so maybe it's time David changes it a little bit.
''McCrone is an outstanding player and he is good at steering a side around.
''Bronson Harrison could become a good running five-eighth.''
Canberra's under-20s captain Sam Williams could also come into consideration for the No7 jersey.
Williams made his NRL debut in the team's only win this season.
He has racked up three appearances in total.
Kimmorley has a high opinion of the Junior Kangaroos No7, but is wary of putting him in a side on the cusp of a club-record losing streak.
''If you throw him in now while the team's struggling it might not be so great for his football,'' he said.
''Saying that, it'll give him a tough lesson and teach him how to get through the bad times.''
Orford has slowly improved since his return from a back injury, with the Raiders hoping he can recapture his 2008 Dally M Medal form.
The Raiders board has come under fire this week from supporters for a perceived lack of accountability.
Board member John Mackay turned heads when he remarked Furner who he described as being part of the Raiders family would need to ''lose another 30 games'' before his position would be in jeopardy.
Kimmorley had no doubt Furner was the right man for the job.
''David Furner is a wonderful coach,'' he said. ''He was one of the reasons I nearly agreed to come there last year because I really like how he reads the game, how he coaches the game and how he carries himself.''
The Raiders will fly to Melbourne today, with fullback Josh Dugan expected to travel with the team after sitting out Wednesday's training session with an infected boil.
