http://theherald.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/rugby-league/kurt-pearce-in-half-battle/1223299.html
Nooooooo....
KNIGHTS main man Kurt Gidley will get a chance to lay claim to the NSW No.7 jersey when he starts at halfback against one of his rivals, Roosters prodigy Mitchell Pearce, at Bluetongue Stadium on Sunday.
Ankle and hip injuries will almost certainly rule Scott Dureau out of the game against the NRL's hottest team, and Knights coach Brian Smith is likely to shift Gidley from fullback into the role of primary playmaker.
Gidley and 19-year-old Pearce have rocketed to the top of the selectors' short list in the wake of their impressive weekend performances Gidley in the final quarter of Newcastle's 34-22 loss to Brisbane and Pearce in leading the Roosters to a 28-12 disposal of Penrith.
Most pundits believe Pearce needs another year of NRL experience before being thrust into the State of Origin spotlight but Gidley, a bench utility in games one and three last season, is a genuine contender despite being a fixture at fullback for the past 18 months.
Parramatta's Brett Finch, who has played three Origin games, is another hopeful and will appreciate the move from five-eighth to replace halfback Tim Smith against Manly at Parramatta Stadium on Friday.
Smith said Dureau would have an MRI scan tomorrow on suspected torn ankle ligaments and described him as "very unlikely" to play on Sunday.
The Knights had hoped Jarrod Mullen, the NSW halfback in game one last year before calf and shoulder injuries ruled him out of the rest of the series, would return from a torn calf muscle against the Roosters.
Mullen missed the loss to Brisbane and wants to play on Sunday, but Smith was not as confident. The Knights have a bye after the Roosters game, and Smith reckons another fortnight off should ensure a full recovery.
"He thinks he'll be right but the medical staff are telling me they think he'll be another week or two," Smith said.
"If he's fit we'll play him, but his problem is he's had it before so we've got to be careful."
Smith said NSW Cup halfback Luke Walsh had "done some nice things and he's not out of the picture" but Gidley's dominance could not be ignored.
"With what we saw Kurt do at the weekend, we've probably got to use this opportunity to have another look at him," he said.
"Some people are saying, and I'm aware, that when he played there in the past he had some issues but K Gidley is a different player now to what he was two years ago.
"If we can give him an opportunity to play there and see what he can do, whether it's out of necessity or by choice, if we happen to find he can do that job then that would be another bonus for the team."
Adam MacDougall's likely return from a knee injury makes him a ready-made replacement in the centres for Wes Naiqama, who will take Gidley's place at fullback. Naiqama played the last 20 minutes at fullback against Brisbane when Gidley went to halfback.
"We'll probably start the way we finished," Smith said.
"Part of the reason I brought Wes here was I reckon he's a really good back-up player to Kurt at fullback, and I like his versatility as a centre, winger and fullback.
"What he did against the Broncos, with virtually no practice at it, was very encouraging."
Smith is likely to persevere with Keith Lulia and Cooper Vuna on the left edge despite the handling errors they made against Brisbane.
"We feel like we can get a bit more out of everybody," he said.
"I'm not inclined to be blaming anyone for a loss. I'm hoping we can all find a bit of improvement."
Utility Matt Hilder was due to have CAT scans on his head yesterday after he missed the Brisbane game due to a mystery neurological condition. The results of those tests should be known today.
Nooooooo....
