Danny Levi opens up on Newcastle Knights exit ahead of Manly arrival
Ex-Kiwis hooker Danny Levi is adamant he is still one of the best hookers in the game and is hoping a fresh start at Manly can put his Newcastle turmoil behind him.
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Danny Levi is adamant he is one of the best hookers in the game as he looks to salvage his career with a fresh start at the Sea Eagles.
Levi will report to Manly training on Wednesday putting behind him 18 months of turmoil and uncertainty after the ex-Kiwis hooker spectacularly fell out of favour at Newcastle. The Knights released him from the final year of his deal to link with the Sea Eagles for 2020 in a massive boost to Manly’s depleted hooking stocks.
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“Not to be cocky but I’ve always thought I was better than a lot of the hookers in the NRL but I thought I was never given a fair chance to show it,” Levi said. “This fresh start will give me a chance.
“I’m playing for a contract. Whether it’s at Manly or somewhere else. I want to do the best for the team. They’ve got a really good team and are premiership contenders. For me to try and get into that team will be awesome.”
Levi will also meet coach Des Hasler for the first time on Wednesday. He will be walk-up start for the Sea Eagles who were struggling at hooker. First-choice rake Manase Fainu has been stood down by the NRL pending his court case and he is also battling to be fit to play this year because of a serious shoulder injury.
The Sea Eagles were considering stopgaps Lachlan Croker or Cade Cust before reaching out to Levi earlier this month. Levi, 24, played four Tests for the Kiwis in 2017 before falling foul with former Knights coach Nathan Brown.
“It was hard at times,” Levi said. “I always thought I did enough to deserve to be in first grade. I can’t control certain things. It does take its toll but it’s part of rugby league.
“There were some really challenging times when I thought I was doing enough to play first grade and then all of a sudden I was dropped.
“My partner and my mates were always there around and told me to keep my head up. I always believed I was good enough. That was the main thing. I’m just happy to get a whole fresh start and get to prove any doubters wrong.
“It’s been a rollercoaster year. I thought I was able to handle it pretty well. I’m just excited for a fresh start and to play under one of the best coaches in Des Hasler.”
Levi had come close to signing elsewhere throughout last year but the deals fell short at the last minute. He had battled on at the Knights during the pre-season but knew his future lay elsewhere after the arrival of Jayden Brailey from Cronulla.
“I knew my time was done,” Levi said. “It was kind of hard, you show up to training and you’re trying to do your best but it’s like there is no hope. I had to stay fit.
“I hold no grudges towards (Knights coach) Adam (O’Brien). He is a very good coach. He had to focus on the players that were going to be there for him. You’re training out of position and put wherever you’re needed. When you’re on the outer and they know it you get put in as a fill-in. That’s not their fault. They have to focus on their team. I was playing everywhere – centre, halves, wing.
“The good thing now I’ve got a team to go and they want me to play hooker. It’s a fresh start and I’m looking forward to getting back to where I was.”
Originally published as Danny Levi opens up on Newcastle Knights exit ahead of Manly arrival