K2G
20-03-15, 11:15 PM
Gold Coast playmaker Daniel Mortimer is hoping to secure a future at the Titans alongside Daly Cherry-Evans
PETER BADEL THE COURIER-MAIL (http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/gold-coast-playmaker-daniel-mortimer-is-hoping-to-secure-a-future-at-the-titans-alongside-daly-cherry-evans/story-fniabrr8-1227271968155) MARCH 20, 2015 11:00PM
http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2015/03/20/1227271/967960-f7bb4a12-cee0-11e4-9cb0-ca25d560d473.jpg
DANIEL Mortimer was once mentored by halfback legend Andrew Johns. Now he hopes the lessons he learnt can sink Johns’ Newcastle side and help him secure a future at the Titans alongside big-name recruit Daly Cherry-Evans.
Mortimer will run out in the Titans’ No. 7 jumper tomorrow at Cbus Super Stadium, but the son of Bulldogs great Peter knows it is only a matter of time before Cherry-Evans takes the halfback throne.
Mortimer accepts he is no Cherry-Evans, but the 25-year-old will use the coming months to prove to coach Neil Henry he can be DCE’s sidekick at the Titans scrumbase.
Mortimer spent time during his early years at Parramatta working with Johns about game management, knowing when to step back and when to step up to control the flow of a contest.
Left-footed pivot Aidan Sezer is widely tipped to partner Cherry-Evans next season, but Mortimer has eyes on the No. 6 jumper, starting tomorrow against the Knights club Johns led to the 2001 premiership.
“I loved watching Stacey Jones at the Warriors, he was my hero as a kid, but the thing I learnt from Joey was the influence the halves can have on a game,’’ Mortimer said.
“His basic message was you don’t need to get your hands on the ball every play to have that influence.
“He talked about sitting back and getting a feel for the game and to chime in when you need to.
“Joey was great at picking his moments and hopefully I can develop that understanding as I get older.
“There’s no doubt Daly will walk into the No. 7 jumper next year.
“He’s a massive signing for the Titans and that puts pressure on us other halves to see who will fill the five-eighth position.
“I always saw this year as my most important year in football and with Daly signing for us, it has got even more important.”
Mortimer played in two grand finals and won a premiership with the Roosters in 2013 but there have also been gut-wrenching lows, embodied by the moment Eels coach Steve Kearney axed him barely 12 months after playing pivot in the 2009 decider.
Mortimer is adamant he is NRL quality and believes he could be best suited to the No. 6 jumper in which he launched his top-grade *career.
“My preference would be playing in the halves with Daly,” he said.
“I’ve played my best football at five-eighth.
“I am signed here for next year so I would like to force my way into the six if I can.”
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Bench 9, or pack ya bags morts. Elgey will wear the 6 :thumbsup:
PETER BADEL THE COURIER-MAIL (http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/gold-coast-playmaker-daniel-mortimer-is-hoping-to-secure-a-future-at-the-titans-alongside-daly-cherry-evans/story-fniabrr8-1227271968155) MARCH 20, 2015 11:00PM
http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2015/03/20/1227271/967960-f7bb4a12-cee0-11e4-9cb0-ca25d560d473.jpg
DANIEL Mortimer was once mentored by halfback legend Andrew Johns. Now he hopes the lessons he learnt can sink Johns’ Newcastle side and help him secure a future at the Titans alongside big-name recruit Daly Cherry-Evans.
Mortimer will run out in the Titans’ No. 7 jumper tomorrow at Cbus Super Stadium, but the son of Bulldogs great Peter knows it is only a matter of time before Cherry-Evans takes the halfback throne.
Mortimer accepts he is no Cherry-Evans, but the 25-year-old will use the coming months to prove to coach Neil Henry he can be DCE’s sidekick at the Titans scrumbase.
Mortimer spent time during his early years at Parramatta working with Johns about game management, knowing when to step back and when to step up to control the flow of a contest.
Left-footed pivot Aidan Sezer is widely tipped to partner Cherry-Evans next season, but Mortimer has eyes on the No. 6 jumper, starting tomorrow against the Knights club Johns led to the 2001 premiership.
“I loved watching Stacey Jones at the Warriors, he was my hero as a kid, but the thing I learnt from Joey was the influence the halves can have on a game,’’ Mortimer said.
“His basic message was you don’t need to get your hands on the ball every play to have that influence.
“He talked about sitting back and getting a feel for the game and to chime in when you need to.
“Joey was great at picking his moments and hopefully I can develop that understanding as I get older.
“There’s no doubt Daly will walk into the No. 7 jumper next year.
“He’s a massive signing for the Titans and that puts pressure on us other halves to see who will fill the five-eighth position.
“I always saw this year as my most important year in football and with Daly signing for us, it has got even more important.”
Mortimer played in two grand finals and won a premiership with the Roosters in 2013 but there have also been gut-wrenching lows, embodied by the moment Eels coach Steve Kearney axed him barely 12 months after playing pivot in the 2009 decider.
Mortimer is adamant he is NRL quality and believes he could be best suited to the No. 6 jumper in which he launched his top-grade *career.
“My preference would be playing in the halves with Daly,” he said.
“I’ve played my best football at five-eighth.
“I am signed here for next year so I would like to force my way into the six if I can.”
- - - Updated - - -
Bench 9, or pack ya bags morts. Elgey will wear the 6 :thumbsup: