The Newcastle Knights are weighing up handing the starting dummy half role to Thomas Cant for the NRL grand final on Sunday evening.
A strong second-rower and centre with excellent utility value, Cant has been on the fringe of the Newcastle squad for much of the year, but hasn't put a foot wrong during his NRL opportunities not just this year, but in previous years.
The Knights, when they confirmed their squad for the grand final on Tuesday afternoon, revealed all of Cant, Harrison Graham and Diesel Hagan in the squad, with Phoenix Crossland at hooker but never likely to beat being referred to the NRL judiciary for a hip drop on Nathan Cleary during last Sunday's preliminary final.
It had been widely expected that Graham, who has had some excellent performances off the bench this year for the Knights, would be elevated to the starting team.
News Corp however are reporting it will be Cant entrusted with starting the game, before Graham is able to play his usual role off the bench.
The concern around Graham is that he may not be cut out to play 80 minutes in the grand final, although he has had some games with big minutes this year.
In Round 23, with Crossland missing, he played 53 minutes, while in Round 26, again with Crossland missing, he played 65 minutes although that was the same game Jacob Saifiti was sent off for a high shot during the first half.
Cant starting would also mean Hagan won't be thrown into the action of a grand final.
If he was to do so, he would become the first player in the history of the game to make his NRL debut during the deciding match of the season.
Teams will be trimmed to 20 players on Saturday evening, with final sides to be determined at 6pm (AEDT) on Sunday evening, 90 minutes ahead of kick-off.
