![In the frame: Rookie Chris Randall [pictured] and Connor Watson will go head to head for the Newcastle Knights No9 jumper vacated by the injured Jayden Brailey when training finally resumes. Picture: NRL Photos.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/barry.toohey/bf9896cc-b609-4f95-b92f-c5d524dbf16c.jpg/r0_0_3474_2316_w576_h298_fmax.webp "In the frame: Rookie Chris Randall [pictured] and Connor Watson will go head to head for the Newcastle Knights No9 jumper vacated by the injured Jayden Brailey when training finally resumes. Picture: NRL Photos.")
Star Knights utility Connor Watson and rookie hooker Chris Randall will go head-to-head when training resumes in a personal duel to decide who grabs Jayden Brailey's No9 starting jumper.
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Watson has been widely tipped to secure the hooking role in the rebooted competition after the luckless Brailey was ruled out for the season following a knee reconstruction.
But coach Adam O'Brien has revealed to the Newcastle Herald he is yet to decide who will be his starting dummy half and even hinted he may go with a 'like-for-like' hooker in Randall because Watson is such a threat off the bench.
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"I think the four week training period in terms of team connection leading up to our first game back will determine whether we go with Randy or Connor," O'Brien said.
"Both of those guys are going to see some footy at nine, I know that much. But which one starts and which one doesn't, I'm not too sure at this stage."
Watson has the advantage of having done an outstanding job last season whenever he was shifted into the hooking role while Randall is yet to debut in the NRL and the club will need to be granted special dispensation if he is to play before June 30 because he is still only on a development contract.
But Watson's versatility and his tremendous impact off the bench could go against him when the final decision is made.
"Connor was probably one of our better performers in the two games we played to kick the season off," O'Brien said. "He's such a hard guy to coach against when he is playing that role [off the bench] for us.
"In the Tigers game, you've only got to look at the tackle breaks he made and just how dangerous he was and none of it was really scripted, it was just Connor being Connor.
"So I'm mindful of losing two positions by moving Connor. Sometimes you just have to go with like-for-like - put a hooker in for a hooker.
"That's something that we might contemplate but until we get back and have a look at them, ultimately the decision will be about what's best for the team - it won't be about what's best for the individual. That will be the way I go."
O'Brien admitted the loss of Brailey is a real blow to the side but they needed to move on.
"He's a great young player and it's really disappointing for him and it's disappointing for us as a club," he said. "But at the same time there is an opportunity now for Randy and Connor.
"Jayden had such a good pre-season and he is such an integral part of our side and you don't disrespect people by saying it's okay, we simply just move on.
"But at the same time, we have spoken about being a resilient footy team and this is one of the challenges that we are forced to face and we need to get on with it."
The hooking spot won't be the only quandary for O'Brien with the return from injury of powerhouse teenage centre Bradman Best likely to make things interesting for incumbent Enari Tuala on the left edge.
Tuala didn't put a foot wrong in the opening two games of the season, scoring two tries against the Tigers.
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