Newcastle is weighing up whether to pursue Manly outside back Reuben Garrick as a potential fullback option, according to The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio.
While the Knights already have one of the game’s best number ones in Kalyn Ponga, Riccio says they’re considering a move for Garrick if Ponga is shifted to the five-eighth position in future.
“This is brought about by the fact that the Knights are considering moving Kalyn Ponga to five-eighth,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“By signing Reuben Garrick, he can play fullback, which he won’t get the opportunity to do at Manly because Tom Trbojevic is at fullback.
“It’s a big opportunity for Garrick and the Knights are certainly going down that path to see if they can get him up there.”
While the Knights are keen on acquiring the 25-year-old’s services, Riccio believes they may have to move some pieces in their salary cap to make room for the speedster.
“They don’t have a lot of salary cap space the Newcastle Knights,” Riccio said.
“It’s spent in their forward pack with the Saifiti boys (Daniel and Jacob), (Tyson) Frizell, (David) Klemmer, there’s a lot of money in that group, they’ve signed Jack Hetherington, Adam Elliott.
“The Knights are in a situation where they don’t have a lot of money to spend on their backline but someone like Reuben Garrick who wants an opportunity to play fullback is absolutely a chance to go.”
Rugby league great Greg Alexander believes Garrick would be a great get for the Knights with Ponga then offering something in the halves.
“That would be a good signing,” Alexander said.
“They need something in the halves, they really do.”
Garrick is free to negotiate with rival clubs come November 1 as he comes off-contract at the end of the 2023 season.