Brown backs Egan to go the distance for Warriors
Warriors coach Nathan Brown believes Wayde Egan can be an 80-minute hooker next season.
The 23-year-old Egan spent the second of last season coming off the interchange bench to replace Karl Lawton.
However, he did play for the full 80 minutes earlier in the season, against the Dragons, Rabbitohs, Broncos and Titans.
With Lawton out indefinitely after having an Achilles tendon operation last week, the pressure will be on Egan to go the distance in every game next season, as there is no obvious back up in the squad.
‘‘I’ve got no doubt that Wayde can be an 80-minute hooker,’’ Brown told Stuff.
‘‘The more he plays, the more he trains, the more experience he gets, he can be an 80-minute hooker for sure.’’
Although Lawton regularly wore the No 9 jersey last season, Egan was expected to be the starting hooker in 2021, with Lawton having more of a utility role and it could be that Jazz Tevaga takes on that job now.
The Warriors spent the first part of preseason in two camps, some players in Kiama, south of Wollongong and the others in Auckland.
They will all get together in Tamworth on January 3, before heading to the Central Coast.
During their time together they’ll have to adapt to rule changes for the 2021 season, which should speed up the game even more.
Among other changes there will be six-again calls for 10-metre infringements and when the ball goes into touch, play will restart with a play-the-ball, rather than a scrum.
If the game is faster, it should help teams with more nimble forwards. As the Warriors have gone big with their recruitment for 2021, that could put them at a disadvantage, but Brown doesn’t see it that way.
‘‘The changes that were made last year had a great impact on the game and sometimes it’s about players adapting.
‘‘For us, we’ve got a side that’s had a bit more size added to it this year and people may say that’s an advantage or disadvantage.
‘‘But if we’re working hard and doing things well, we think the new rules will be good.
‘‘But it’s not only about your team, it’s about the game.
‘‘In my opinion, for too long rugby league has been about people making decisions in the best interests of themselves. Now, we’ve finally got some people making decisions that are actually more interested in the game.’’