Sandon Smith is hopeful he and Fletcher Sharpe could both feature in the same starting Newcastle NRL team as Justin Holbrook rules out playing Sharpe from the newly-extended bench.
The first-year Knights coach has not decided which man will partner star recruit Dylan Brown in the starting halves this year after both started the 28-18 pre-season loss to St George Illawarra on Saturday.
A final call will be made after Brown plays next Saturday's trial against Canterbury, the last hit-out before the reigning wooden spooners face North Queensland for their season opener in Las Vegas.
Each option brings a different skill-set; new recruit Smith is a more conventional halfback with game-managing attributes who would possibly complement ball-runner Brown better.
But the Knights slumped to last on the ladder with the league's worst attack after zippy and skilful Sharpe was sidelined with kidney and spleen injuries last June.
Sharpe has emerged as a genuine game-breaker across 26 first-grade games and both he and Smith impressed their coach on Saturday.
"I thought they both complemented each other well," he said.
"Dylan Brown will play next week so I'll only have one of them start there. I'll work that out in the next couple of days. I'm happy with whichever way we go."
Smith followed former Sydney Roosters assistant Holbrook up from the Tricolours over the off-season after becoming stuck behind Sam Walker, Hugo Savala and now Daly Cherry-Evans for starting opportunities.
He's comfortable having swapped that selection battle for another challenge to make the NRL side each week at the Knights.
"In the NRL, there's 30 players in each club, there's always going to be a battle," he said.
"If you're not up to it, then you're not going to be there."
Smith was hopeful there was room for both he and Sharpe in the starting side, with Sharpe capable of playing in the outside backs or at fullback should Kalyn Ponga go down.
Alternatively, Smith spent some time at hooker in Saturday's trial and could share that role with Phoenix Crossland now that Jayden Brailey has joined Canberra.
"We want all three, four of us on the field at the same time however we can," said Smith, with Tyson Gamble an additional halves option.
"There's definitely a world where we can work it out.
"We'll find out over the next few months and we'll make it work. It'll put us in a very good spot to play some good footy."
Holbrook is open to Brown, Sharpe and Smith all sharing the field in 2026.
"Possibly, with how fast the game's getting, those guys are really important to your team. It's just about getting the balance right," he said.
Holbrook wants Sharpe to be starting if he lands on Smith as halfback, even if a new rule change now permits six players on the bench rather than four.
"He's such a good footy player. That (a bench role) would be unlikely," Holbrook said.
