While the NRL fixes its gaze on Latrell Mitchell's fullback experiment, Andrew Johns says it's emerging forward Liam Knight who the South Sydney Rabbitohs' title hopes hinge upon.
Having lost a collective 667 games of experience in the retirements of John Sutton, Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis, the Bunnies were plunged into an off-season leadership crisis.
Halfback Adam Reynolds was picked by Wayne Bennett as the man to lead Souths through what is arguably one of the biggest transitional years in the club's recent history.
Surrounding him, though, is a star-studded line-up stacked with try-scoring potential.
Playmakers Damien Cook and Cody Walker have the likes of James Roberts, Dane Gagai and superstar recruit Mitchell at their disposal. It's understandable that rivals won't take the Bunnies lightly.
But Johns believes that in a team which has lost two of their biggest go-forward assets in Burgess and Sutton, it's Souths' frontline that will make or break their season – and Knight must be the man to lift.
"The biggest thing for South Sydney is, last year John Sutton retired, Sam Burgess retired and Greg Inglis," Johns told Wide World of Sports.
"Two of those guys were forwards. A lot of leadership there, so a lot of pressure on Adam Reynolds at halfback, the new captain.
"They need someone to stand up in the forwards and I believe that man has to be Liam Knight. I know they've extended him on his contract. But he really needs to stand up and be the leader this year for South Sydney to go well.
"He's very close (to rep footy). He's a player who had so much potential, he had a few dramas off the field but he's got his head on, which is going well.
"There's something Gorden Tallis told me years ago, it was, 'Forwards decide who wins the game, backs decide by how much'. So if the forwards aim up for South Sydney, then look out."
Mitchell made a solid impression in his first outing for the Rabbitohs when he played 40 minutes in Saturday's trial win over St George Illawarra.
The off-season's biggest signing needed just 55 seconds to set up the game's first try and looked dangerous with every touch in his new position at fullback.
While reluctant to change his tune on Mitchell's switch to fullback, Johns conceded he was ready to be proven wrong by the "brilliance" of the NRL prodigy, but felt that overall his talents were wasted under the workload of the position.
"For me, Latrell is a short, sharp powerful player," Johns said. "Bring him into the game now and then when things need to be done.
"I worry that the extra load for Latrell at fullback will dull his effectiveness.
"At fullback, he is going to have moments of absolute brilliance, but I just think he's best served in the centres. I'm sure in moments he will prove me wrong but we'll soon see."
Johns also foresaw a resurgence for NRL speedster Roberts, who endured a difficult year amid off-season drama and a move away from Anthony Seibold's Broncos.
With Roberts having dropped weight and come back under the wing of mentor Wayne Bennett, Johns predicted a massive year ahead for the centre and a recall to Origin football.
"We saw the other night in the Indigenous game, a couple of times he got the ball with absolutely nothing doing and literally you blinked and he was five metres away," Johns said.
"He's lost 8kg from last year, he looked like a bodybuilder last year. He's really sharp. He's game is based on speed and agility. I think he's in for an absolutely huge year.
"Him and Latrell get on well, so hopefully they can get together and push each other at training. I think James Roberts will be back in Origin this year, I think he's in for a massive year."
The Bunnies kick off their season against Cronulla on Saturday 14th March at ANZ Stadium.
from WWOS http://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/south-sydney-rabbitohs-season-preview-liam-knight-latrell-mitchell-to-lift/d90d2985-f78d-4ea2-a1ba-caa11bc8a152
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