Queenslander
28-05-06, 09:40 AM
Daley push for Gasnier at No. 6
DAVID RICCIO
28may06
The Sunday Mail
TEST great Laurie Daley believes Mark Gasnier (pictured) is capable of replacing Darren Lockyer at five-eighth for Australia.
Gasnier this week signed a $4 million five-year deal with the Dragons ? which included replacing Trent Barrett at five-eighth.
Gasnier, now rated the world's best centre, said the positional switch was one of the main reasons behind his decision to turn his back on the Australian Rugby Union.
"There's not a great deal of depth in the five-eighth position," Daley said.
"Trent Barrett is no longer available and Darren Lockyer . . . well, how long has he got?
"Locky is probably nearing the upper end of his career and Gaz is the type of player that could fill that role."
A day after ending months of speculation about his playing future, Gasnier starred as St George Illawarra downed Newcastle 38-12 at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night.
He scored the opening try ? one of the more bizarre four-pointers of the season.
It came after three cross-field bombs and culminated when Gasnier touched down with the ball wedged between his wrist and thigh.
Little looked to be on in the 33rd minute when Gasnier fielded a wobbly Andrew Johns drop-out 25m out near the touchline in slippery conditions.
Seconds later, Corey Payne was streaking down the touchline to score after Gasnier beat his centre counterpart George Carmont with some fine quick-stepping and then drew two more Newcastle defenders before slipping away a pin-point flick pass in the tackle. "I think it's Gaz's best game he's played for us in at least four or five weeks," Dragons coach Nathan Brown said.
Daley himself made a successful switch from the centres at Canberra before guiding the Raiders to a premiership in 1994 at five-eighth.
"Obviously it's (positional switch) a challenge for him," Daley said.
"And when I spoke to him that was one of the main reasons why he wanted to stay.
"He doesn't want the easy option of playing as a centre. He wants to develop his game and wants to develop his skills."
Brown has already experimented with Gasnier at five-eighth this season. But Test selector Bob McCarthy questioned Gasnier's career move to five-eighth.
McCarthy said Gasnier's Test credentials remained at centre. "I've always been of the belief that if it ain't broke, don't fix it," he said.
DAVID RICCIO
28may06
The Sunday Mail
TEST great Laurie Daley believes Mark Gasnier (pictured) is capable of replacing Darren Lockyer at five-eighth for Australia.
Gasnier this week signed a $4 million five-year deal with the Dragons ? which included replacing Trent Barrett at five-eighth.
Gasnier, now rated the world's best centre, said the positional switch was one of the main reasons behind his decision to turn his back on the Australian Rugby Union.
"There's not a great deal of depth in the five-eighth position," Daley said.
"Trent Barrett is no longer available and Darren Lockyer . . . well, how long has he got?
"Locky is probably nearing the upper end of his career and Gaz is the type of player that could fill that role."
A day after ending months of speculation about his playing future, Gasnier starred as St George Illawarra downed Newcastle 38-12 at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night.
He scored the opening try ? one of the more bizarre four-pointers of the season.
It came after three cross-field bombs and culminated when Gasnier touched down with the ball wedged between his wrist and thigh.
Little looked to be on in the 33rd minute when Gasnier fielded a wobbly Andrew Johns drop-out 25m out near the touchline in slippery conditions.
Seconds later, Corey Payne was streaking down the touchline to score after Gasnier beat his centre counterpart George Carmont with some fine quick-stepping and then drew two more Newcastle defenders before slipping away a pin-point flick pass in the tackle. "I think it's Gaz's best game he's played for us in at least four or five weeks," Dragons coach Nathan Brown said.
Daley himself made a successful switch from the centres at Canberra before guiding the Raiders to a premiership in 1994 at five-eighth.
"Obviously it's (positional switch) a challenge for him," Daley said.
"And when I spoke to him that was one of the main reasons why he wanted to stay.
"He doesn't want the easy option of playing as a centre. He wants to develop his game and wants to develop his skills."
Brown has already experimented with Gasnier at five-eighth this season. But Test selector Bob McCarthy questioned Gasnier's career move to five-eighth.
McCarthy said Gasnier's Test credentials remained at centre. "I've always been of the belief that if it ain't broke, don't fix it," he said.