BIG SHOES T O FILL
HE was known as “Mr Consistent” at the CQ Capras, and now Krys Freeman wants to establish the same reputation at the Townsville Blackhawks.
Freeman, the son of exKiwi international Gary, will be part of the Blackhawks’ Queensland Cup squad for next season after signing with the Townsville club a fortnight ago, bringing him another step closer to his NRL dream.
He comes to Townsville with big shoes to fill.
Freeman is in contention to take the starting No. 9 spot left by retiring Blackhawks hooker and foundation player Anthony Mitchell, who with his NRL experience became an indispensable part of the Townsville squad.
But Freeman is determined to be his own man.
“I know how important Anthony Mitchell is to the Blackhawks, a player like him can’t really be replaced,” Freeman said.
“I also know there’s already plenty of good players there and there’ll be lots of competition for spots, including that starting hooker role.
“I just want to bring my own game and have that same consistency I had this year with the Capras.
“Just to keep that going, and working in the professional set- up that the Blackhawks have are the main things I’m looking forward to.”
Freeman has already spent time in an NRL system, having linked with the Newcastle Knights in 2016.
Before that he spent two seasons at Q Cup outfit Norths Devils, where he played alongside current Blackhawks utility Sam Foster.
“He’s a really good mate of mine,” Freeman said.
“I’m looking forward to being in the same team as him again, and there’s also a lot of blokes who I’ve played against, so there’s a lot of familiarity there.
“It was a really easy decision to come up to Townsville.”
Freeman, 25, did not play any NRL games during his 12 months at the Knights, but is giving himself every chance to return to a full- time system.
His form suggests he will enter next season with a solid platform, having won the Capras’ player of the year award, and also finishing third in the Q Cup’s people’s player poll.
“One hundred per cent want NRL,” Freeman said.
“Anyone at Q Cup level is looking to put their best foot forward and go to the next level.”
Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf said Freeman’s signing would help put the Townsville club on track for a successful 2018 season.
“We are losing a lot of experience and we need to replace that experience, so we are going to have some new players,” he said.
“The fact of the matter is we haven’t won the competition this year and we need to find ways to improve.
“At the same time we had a young squad this year and a lot of guys have a lot of improvement in them, and our priority at the moment is how we retain those guys.
“We won’t have as much of a turnover as we had from 2016 going into 2017, but we’ll still add some players who we think are going to help.” I