Canterbury’s Jeremy Marshall-King looking to make starting spot at hooker his own in 2019

COMPETITION for a spot in Canterbury’s spine will be red hot next season with coach Dean Pay making a crucial call on one player’s future.

Jeremy Marshall-King. Picture: Alix Sweeney

COMPETITION for a spot in Canterbury’s spine will be red hot next season with coach Dean Pay making a crucial call on one player’s future.

Jeremy Marshall-King confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that his days as an NRL half are over.

Marshall-King been used as a five-eighth, halfback, hooker and bench utility this year but has been told by Pay that going forward his spot will be in the middle.

“Deano [Pay] has come to me and said ‘your preferred position is probably hooker’, so that’s why I’m coming off the bench at the moment,” he said.

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Jeremy Marshall-King and Brett Morris celebrate with Reimis Smith after a try.

“I reckon my halves days have come to an end. Hooker is the spot for me now. It’s a lot of work in the middle but I enjoy it.”

The All Saints Toongabbie junior is on board with coach’s plans for his playing future saying the move will help him find some consistency in his game, something he struggled with while playing in the halves.

“Absolutely, I agreed with him. I’ve probably gone hot and cold at halfback but when I’m at hooker there’s a lot of opportunities to run from dummy half,” he said.

“I’m going to work on being a hooker for next year and keep working hard on my defence and attack.”

Pay has named Marshall-King on the bench for the last three weeks of the season in preparation for the switch next year.

But he says he will be using the pre-season to push for a starting spot ahead of Micheal Lichaa, who is currently the side’s first choice No.9.

“No matter where you go, you want to be in that starting spot no matter where you are playing,” he said.

Michael Lichaa in action against the Cowboys. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“So yeah, there will be some competitiveness with us two. I’m sure he knows that as well and he’ll be working hard in the preseason.

“My goal is to really work hard next year too.

“I know it’s going to be tough because Lichaa has been going really well the last couple of months.

“But I’ll give it my all in preseason and hopefully I can get that starting spot.”

Originally published as Canterbury’s Jeremy Marshall-King looking to make starting spot at hooker his own in 2019