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Simpson handed Knights captaincy duties
Monday, September 4, 2006 - 11:45 AM
Andrew Johns says Test backrower Steve Simpson will handle some of Newcastle's captaincy duties in Friday's NRL qualifying final with Manly at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Johns, who has skippered the Knights all season when on the field, will be playing his first game in three weeks after receiving a two-match ban for verbally abusing a touch judge during Newcastle's narrow lost to Manly in round 23.
At the launch of the NRL finals series at Aussie Stadium, Johns revealed he approached coach Michael Hagan about taking some of the leadership burden off his shoulders and he said Simpson would be the player who would speak to the referee during the game.
"We're going to share the captaincy around this week, and Steve Simpson's going to do most of the on-field captaincy," said Johns.
"It's just about spreading the leadership and getting the pressure off me.
"So if any questions are going to be asked to the referee, I think Steve Simpson is going to be going up.
"My record with the toss isn't too good this year so Steve will do the toss as well.
"I went to the coach and put it to him, I just think it spreads the pressure out a little bit more.
"I suppose a lot pressure would have been on me coming back this week and how I approach things.
"We've got a lot of leaders in the team. We've got Danny Buderus who's captained his state and Matt Gidley is also a leader in his own right, so it just spreads it out and helps everyone out."
Source: AAP
Simpson handed Knights captaincy duties
Monday, September 4, 2006 - 11:45 AM
Andrew Johns says Test backrower Steve Simpson will handle some of Newcastle's captaincy duties in Friday's NRL qualifying final with Manly at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Johns, who has skippered the Knights all season when on the field, will be playing his first game in three weeks after receiving a two-match ban for verbally abusing a touch judge during Newcastle's narrow lost to Manly in round 23.
At the launch of the NRL finals series at Aussie Stadium, Johns revealed he approached coach Michael Hagan about taking some of the leadership burden off his shoulders and he said Simpson would be the player who would speak to the referee during the game.
"We're going to share the captaincy around this week, and Steve Simpson's going to do most of the on-field captaincy," said Johns.
"It's just about spreading the leadership and getting the pressure off me.
"So if any questions are going to be asked to the referee, I think Steve Simpson is going to be going up.
"My record with the toss isn't too good this year so Steve will do the toss as well.
"I went to the coach and put it to him, I just think it spreads the pressure out a little bit more.
"I suppose a lot pressure would have been on me coming back this week and how I approach things.
"We've got a lot of leaders in the team. We've got Danny Buderus who's captained his state and Matt Gidley is also a leader in his own right, so it just spreads it out and helps everyone out."
Source: AAP
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