The sight of Craig Gower in full flight at Newcastle training on Tuesday impressed Knights coach Wayne Bennett – but not enough to pick him in his initial 18-man squad for Sunday’s NRL clash with Melbourne.
Not that Bennett was short of surprises on Tuesday.
Seeing Gower at his first Knights training session prompted comparisons with Allan Langer and something just as rare from the master coach – a smile.
But it was nothing compared to what happened after the notoriously media-shy mentor was asked how he landed the dual international.
“That’s one of the good things you journalists do – you wrote that he was available,” Bennett said of Gower who was playing in the English Super League barely a week ago.
“I happened to read that article. I very seldom read (newspapers) but I was bored and I was sitting at the airport.
“I rang (Knights CEO) Matt Gidley straight away and said `we need to make a phone call’ and he (Gower) didn’t hesitate.
“It was wonderful so I thank you.”
Bennett said he would make a final decision on Saturday on whether to play Gower and hooker Danny Buderus (back) against Melbourne but omitted the pair from his 18-man squad on Tuesday.
However Bennett hinted that Gower would be able to handle being rushed straight into Sunday’s game, citing Langer’s shock 2001 return from the UK that inspired a Queensland Origin triumph.
“I brought Allan Langer back once for an Origin game and he stood up pretty good so I think this guy will stand up,” Bennett said of Gower, a veteran of 18 rugby league Tests for Australia and 14 for Italy in rugby.
“I am sure he will be nervous, it’s a big decision he has made.
“I remember when Alf came home for that game he was extremely nervous.
“But champions are like that – they like to challenge themselves and they don’t invariably let themselves down.
“I am pretty confident he will deliver for us.”
Gower, 35, claimed he was “ready to go” on Tuesday despite last tasting NRL action in 2007.
“My hooker days are over. I’d rather play halfback but we’ll wait and see,” he told reporters.
