Veteran playmaker Blake Green believes he is ready for the added responsibility of captaining the Knights if it comes his way but says ex-skipper Mitchell Pearce will still have a major leadership voice at the club.
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Green is part of a new-look five-player-strong leadership group, that includes Jayden Brailey, Daniel Saifiti, Mitch Barnett and Kalyn Ponga, who will be in charge of guiding the side's fortunes on and off the field this season.
Given his experience and the fact he has captained an NRL team before, Green is considered the logical choice as club captain but it's unlikely to be an all-encompassing role with coach Adam O'Brien keen to share the load around the group.
"Over the course of my career, I've been in a few senior leadership groups, particularly over the past six or seven years so I sort of know what it takes to be a leader of a footy club," Green told the Newcastle Herald.
"It's obviously an honour that no-one would take lightly. As it stands at the moment, we have five really strong leaders that are going to help this team move in the right direction. It will be about sticking to our standards and making sure we are on the right track from day to day.
"As far as having an actual captain goes, I don't know how important that's going to be in terms of getting results. Whether we share the role, I'm not too sure but it's a good opportunity for everyone to bring there own spin on things.
"They can express themselves and speak about what they see as important. I know I've got a few things that are non-negotiable to me and I'll be riding pretty hard on them with the whole group."
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As for Pearce and what sort of input he will have with the team after relinquishing the captaincy, Green believes nothing too much will change.
"Given we are both in the halves, he's absolutely going to be someone I'll be leaning on and vice versa I'd say," Green said.
"That's just natural for halves anyway.
"He's gone through a hell of a lot Junior [Pearce] and it's a tough situation for him but I think he has done a really good job the way he has handled it [the drama].
"He's shown a lot of heart and a lot of ticker by fronting up the way he has both publicly and with the group.
"He's trained really good and he's been positive among the boys like he always is. He always gives his best like he's done ever since he's been up here. And when he plays, it's always with his heart on his sleeve and he rips right in and I've got no doubt he'll be certainly leading the team around like he always has done."
Still in rehab following his knee reconstruction last August, Green says he now has a far greater appreciation of what some players have gone through injury-wise.
"I probably underestimated how much hard work is required to come back from one of these injuries," he said. "But I'm going good. I've been working really hard from week three of the operation and I haven't had a heap of down time to be honest."
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