Newcastle five-eighth Mason Lino has rejected overtures by the Knights encouraging him to seek out a new club for next season, instead vowing to stick around and fight for a position in the halves alongside Mitchell Pearce in 2020.
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Lino is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery that will prevent him from starting pre-season training with the main squad early next month. But initial fears he could miss the start of the premiership next year have been allayed with the operation not as extensive as first thought.
Speculation has been rife over the past month that the Knights have been attempting to off-load the goal-kicking Kiwi playmaker. What hasn't been revealed until now is his New Zealand-based manager Stan Martin was contacted as early as mid-last season, prior to June 30, and given permission to negotiate elsewhere.
"I got a message to that effect as early as then,"Martin said. "So they have been telling me the same thing for quite some time. Even when he was going really well towards the middle to back end of the season, I was getting told we had permission to look elsewhere."
Martin said he made inquiries with some English Super League clubs at the time with grandfinalists Salford interested at one stage.
"There were opportunities in England and I could potentially have moved Mason there but he said no, he was keen to stay in the NRL as long as he can," Martin said.
"He really likes it in Newcastle, he's settled and he believes he has something to offer and wants the opportunity to play under Adam O'Brien. That's where it is at right now."
Martin, who is currently holidaying in Thailand, said he will be contacting the new Knights coach to find out his views on Lino.
"I'll try and find out where things are at with Mason by talking to Adam O'Brien and once I do that, I'll have another chat with Mason about his future and go from there.
"But as it stands, Mason is not keen to go anywhere. He wants to stay and prove himself to the new coach."
Lino, who joined the Knights on a two year deal from the Warriors at the start of last season, played 12 top grade games in 2019 including a man-of-the-match performance in a 26-12 win over the Brisbane Broncos in June.
He also kicked 33 goals from 39 attempts at almost 85 percent but his defensive frailties in several games was his biggest issue in attempting to hold down a regular spot in the halves.
In his favour is the Knights don't have an established number six with ex-coach Nathan Brown trying five different players alongside Pearce at various stages during the season.
Provided he stays, Lino will be vying with the likes of Connor Watson, Kurt Mann and youngsters Phoenix Crossland and Simi Sasagi for the role with O'Brien already declaring he is not in the market for a five-eighth.
It's understood Lino's shoulder surgery will not see him miss the start of the 2020 season as was first thought.
"Mason doesn't see the operation keeping him out for too long," Martin said. "He might miss the early part of the pre-season but it all hinges on the recovery and how quick it is.
"My understanding is he will be training well and truly after Christmas and the last time I spoke to him, he said he will definitely be ready to start next season.
"He's very determined and I've got no doubt he will be quite fit when it matters."
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