If you noted the comments Brad Arthur made in my post earlier today, Rory Brien has really impressed in pre-season and I wonder if he's a smokie for that centre position.
Brien is an excellent defender and while he won't set the world on fire in attack, I'd feel very confident he could hold up a side. I'm thinking you pair him with Chris Walker and allow Walker to come one-in fairly regularly and it would be a pretty solid option.
I think he'd do the same type of job that Chalky O'Dwyer used to do for us. Nothing overly flashy but he was rarely beaten in defence and played his part in attack.
He played both wing and centre in the junior grades, before making his way back to lock last year and while long-term I think that's his position, he's not yet bulked up like a second rower and is probably better suited as a centre in the top grade this year.
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Good to know we have some good young talent who can fight for a first grade birth with Jacob Loko and a few others.
Also, Israel Folau`s younger brother but I`m not sure if he`s just a winger or if he has played centre too.
Maybe SK and Arthurs are happy enough with the young talent we have (Brien, Loko, Gagan 2012 onwards), hence the recent signing of Hicks and Walker (since they came on board) to act as cover, mentoring, 12mth role models etc
Yeah, I've been watching Brien, particularly last year, and his numbers were phenomenal.
He's definitely a player to consider as a darkhorse for the position, and there's no doubt that he'd do the job required.
Very handy young player to have at the club.
Some of our younger guns whom have the goods will get a decent crack at firsts in 2011
Some will rise, some will fall.
At least they will have a good shot at it.
Let's see whom grasps their opportunity and thrives.
There are a lot of very good young players around again and provided Kearney and Ossie look after them, they won't need to go anywhere and we won't need to look for backs in the future.
I rate Brien believe he has been the most consistent NYC player for the last 18months.
Although he looks like the backrow will be his long term position, he is still quite a handy centre and actually reminded me a fair bit of Jamie Lyon from watching him play this year.
If he was to get a crack he definetely wouldn't let anyone down, I'd actually be more content seeing his name in the centres at the start of the season that Loko, who I think just needs another 6 months of tweaking under SK (I think he is a superstar just don't want to rush him).