Knights to Lich their number nine role to young Bulldog?

Rumour has it Michael Lichaa was told, on the day Bulldogs Round 24 match against the Manly Sea Eagles, that he would be joining the lap of honour for retiring or departing players, sealing what was long expected.

The 24 year-old would be leaving the kennel at the end of 2017.

With the reported salary cap struggles engulfing the Bulldogs for next year, combined with the signing of Cronulla Sharks utility Nu Brown, Lichaa's spot was always is doubt.

Truth be told, young Lichaa has struggled to match the incredible hype that followed him when he moved from the Sharks in 2015.

Although they undoubtedly won in the end after Dogs legend Michael Ennis replaced the departing Lichaa and ultimately helped lead them to their first Premiership, at the time Sharks fans were filthy.

Lichaa had long been seen as the future of the club. He was the club's under 20's biggest star. He was named in the NYC team of the year in 2012 and was then named in the Junior Kangaroos later that year.

He was a mainstay in the junior rep sides, and was expected to be the long term number nine in the Shire for many, many years to come. As a Cronulla junior, this was the kid Sharks fans had tied their hopes to as their next genuine superstar.

I don't think I can over play how good this kid was in NYC level. He was far superior to all other number nines in the competition in many ways.

Simply put, there was nothing he couldn't do.

14 games for the Sharks followed before an inevitable long-term contract was signed and his road to 300 games and club immortality was confirmed.

Only for the Bulldogs to step in, poach the talented junior, and triumph his signing.

They were so sure that they had signed the next Steve Walter that they allowed Michael Ennis to leave the club, with the champion rake eventually filling the void left by Lichaa in the Shire.

Truth be told, Lichaa has failed to live up to anything near what was expected of him. His performances has been such that he has been in and out of the first grade side all season, and has been replaced by a centre turn halfback turn hooker, and next year will be surpassed by a NSW cup halfback signed to play hooker.

That said, the performance by Lichaa this past Sunday has reminded everyone of just what he can do.

There is no doubt in the world that Des Hasler's game plan doesn't suit Lichaa's natural game in any way, shape or form.

He is an instinctive number nine who can make breaks out of dummy half, with a clever kicking game and the ability to tackle his backside off.

Unfortunately he has been relegated to shifting early ball to big forwards who play like halfbacks. Hardly the game plan in which Lichaa would thrive under.

Now that the Dogs season is over and the Hasler reigns seem to have been loosened, Lichaa looks a completely different player. Against the Titans he made 95 metres and laid on two try assists.

His game average run meteres is around 30 metres, and I honestly can't remember the last time he laid off a try assist, let alone two.

Given the Dogs struggles in the creativity department, they really could have used this Lichaa, not the Lichaa resigned to passing the ball to forwards rather than halves.

So with Lichaa moving on from Belmore next season, enter the Newcastle Knights.

Although they have Daniel Levi signed up for next season and beyond, I see absolutely no risk at all in signing Lichaa to a one-year deal. The upside is mammoth.

Levi is a talented player, but Lichaa's upside is extreme.

With no reported offers on the table for Lichaa, the Knights can swoop in and sign a player who could deliver a huge advantage, on the cheap.

Dogs fans may roll their eyes at reading this, but consider the fact that players such as James Graham, Moses Mbye and even the Morris twins have been severely blunted under Des Hasler's game plan. So may have been Lichaa.

Of course it's guess work, and there's no chance any Sharks fan would make the swap having celebrated their title win, but I believe that if Lichaa had stayed in the Shire, he would be a far better player than he is now.

Under the reigns of Nathan Brown, Lichaa could finally realise his potential.

As for Newcastle, it's practically zero risk.

Lichaa to the Knights, make it happen.