Knights hooker Danny Levi delays back surgery to focus on Cronulla and clash with Michael Ennis

KNIGHTS hooker Danny Levi was booked to have season-ending surgery 19 days ago. Instead, he is now preparing himself for one of the biggest challenges of his career..

Danny Levi is ready to take on Sharks star Michael Ennis.

IF things had gone to plan a few weeks ago, Danny Levi would be sitting back right now with his feet up recovering from back surgery and thinking about next season.

Instead, the young Newcastle Knights hooker is preparing himself for one of the biggest challenges of his career – taking on Mick Ennis and the Cronulla Sharks on their own patch of turf as the NRL frontrunners chase a 15th straight win.

Levi, 20, was booked in to have the season-ending surgery 19 days ago after being troubled by a disc problem in his back for much of the year.

Knights coach Nathan Brown had plucked local Chris Adams out of the Newcastle domestic competition and signed him prior to June 30 as a back-up with Levi out of play.

But as fate would have it, the club’s other hooker Tyler Randell damaged ribs against the Canberra Raiders just days before Levi was due in hospital and was ruled out for a month, forcing the change of plans.

“The thought was we get Danny in for the surgery early to ensure he was ready to start training for next season in November,” Brown said.

“That was the plan. But the Randell injury has meant that we’ve now had to put it back a bit. Danny is managing it and is coping quite well with it at the minute.

Danny Levi is ready to take on Sharks star Michael Ennis.

“He played a big portion of the game against Melbourne last weekend and did quite well and we are hoping it doesn’t flair up again.”

It was Levi’s back problems that saw him miss the Knights only win of the season, an 18-16 victory over Wests Tigers in round six.

It has meant that he has not tasted any success at NRL level for just over 12 months with his only win in 21 games in the top grade coming in round 19 against the Titans in July last year.

Breaking that drought against the Sharks has been made all the more difficult with the loss of Robbie Rochow, Sione Mata’utia, Daniel Saifiti and Jake Mamo through injury and suspension.

The good news for the Knights is the return of Queensland Origin star Dane Gagai.

Gagai missed the side’s 20-16 loss to Melbourne last Sunday with a quad injury but has trained strongly over the past few days.

Originally published as Knights hooker Danny Levi delays back surgery to focus on Cronulla and clash with Michael Ennis