Knights coach keeping Melbourne Storm guessing on Mann…

Knights coach keeping Melbourne Storm guessing on Mann recovery

Knights coach Adam O'Brien has pinpointed Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster as one of the biggest threats to his side's unbeaten record but is keeping the Test star guessing about who will be opposing him when the sides clash at Gosford today.

Regular Knights five-eighth Kurt Mann has been in doubt all week with an ankle injury and O'Brien has youngsters Tex Hoy and Phoenix Crossland on standby should Mann be forced to withdraw.

He ran lightly on Wednesday and again during yesterday's captain's run but whether he has done enough to convince his coach he is ready to take on Munster and co remains to be seen.

"We'll wait and see about that one tomorrow," O'Brien told the Newcastle Herald following his side's final training session.

One certain omission is backrower Lachlan Firzgibbon, who was hoping to return after missing the club's past two matches again Penrith and Canberra with a hamstring injury.

The Knights are erring on the side of caution with him and given him another week to ensure he is 100 percent fit.

"He'll be ready to go next week," O'Brien said.

If Mann fails to recover in time, O'Brien has the option of playing either Hoy or Crossland at five-eighth with the other coming off the bench. The prospect of taking on Munster will be a huge test for either rookie.

Hoy has been in the squad for the past two weeks but Crossland has played little footy since the back end of last season due to injury.

O'Brien is confident he will step up if called on.

"Phoenix has trained really well. He's been very sharp," he said. "I gave him a wrap for his contact last week publicly because it's been very strong but he's looked really good with the ball. He's in the frame and if we have to call on him, just like Brody [Jones] and Tex and Randy [Chris Randall], he'll understand the role that he needs to do and get it done."

The Knights go into the game with a poor record against the Storm, having lost their past seven matches and 15 or their last 18. But Storm coach Craig Bellamy is wary of the challenge his side faces to make it eight straight wins.

"They are the best completing team in the comp," he said. "They've got the most three-man tackles in the comp which goes to show what their mentality is defensively."

O'Brien admitted Munster will have to be contained if the Knights are to remain unbeaten and complete the club's best start to a season since 2002.

"We need to focus on him definitely," he said.

"In all the games that they have played, Cameron Munster has played really well.

"He's dragged them out of a couple of holes and he's so dangerous with the footy in his hands. We need to make sure we are doing a good job defensively.

"But they have got some strike right across the park so we can't afford to have any micro-sleeps or they'll hurt us these guys.

"What I'd say is we have prepared really well and understand what's coming and the calibre of the team we are playing against."

Bellamy says he is not surprised by the Knights' progress this season under his former assistant O'Brien.

"I always knew he'd make a real success of the job and that's proven to be," Bellamy said.

"He's got a great work ethic and knowledge of the game and the thing I love is that he doesn't take short-cuts."

Bellamy confirmed Ryley Jacks will play halfback following Jahrome Hughes' injury with the Storm coach opting not to give Cooper Johns, Matty Johns' son, his NRL debut against his father's former club.

"Playing Newcastle does come into it - there would have been a lot of pressure on Cooper if we had have picked him and I'm not quite sure that's fair to a young guy," Bellamy said.

"It was in the back of my mind but I've selected who I think is the best decision for the team and that's the way we've gone."

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