Knox key as Ignatius Park shifts game plan

IGNATIUS Park will unleash its secret weapon on an unsuspecting St Patrick’s Mackay on Wednesday.

The reigning Confraternity Shield champion was impressive in a rebound victory against Mackay High last week and is keen to keep the momentum rolling in the Aaron Payne Cup.

Coach Steve Lansley believes Ignatius Park is working out that its strength lies in the engine room, which is one of the strongest in the Cup.

Lansley said the game plans had evolved over the early rounds to take more advantage of the hard-nosed ball runners.

At the heart of those plans is five-eighth Braithen Knox.

Knox started the competition in the second row using his size and speed to his advantage but Lansley moved him closer to the middle of the park to unlock more of his running game.

Lansley believes Knox has the ability to play a role akin to John Sutton’s with the Rabbitohs through the early 2010s, leaving halfback Thomas Duffy to guide the side around.

“He is a strong ball runner and I just want him to take it to the line and ask questions of the defence,” Lansley said. “We have a big forward pack and we want to play hard and direct football. That style suits us because we have such a fit side.

“We are going to keep trucking it up the middle to tire out their forwards. That is when our dummy-half Maverick (Pegoraro) can jump out and take advantage of poor marker work.

“It is simple football but it is something that has taken us a few games to work out as our strength.”

Ignatius Park is coming off a strong second-half performance in its win against Mackay High last week, and Lansley is confident that if his side can string two good halves together, it will match it with the best in the Aaron Payne Cup.

While a top-shelf showdown against rival Kirwan High awaits next week, Lansley said his players could not take their eyes off the ball.

“We can’t get complacent, we still have to worry about this game,” he said. “(St Pat’s) have a really good side.”