PRIZED signing Aaron Byrne could be in line for a shock positional switch in his debut Group Nine season with Young next year.
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Young captain-coach Luke Branighan yesterday revealed he will toy with moving from hooker to the halves to give the Cherrypickers a better crack at the title.
Although adamant Byrne's "best position" is hooker, Branighan said there was a real chance the gun recruit from Cootamundra could play at five-eighth.
"That would take a lot of pressure off myself," Branighan said.
"He's (Byrne) the all round package … tough and smart.
"Playing in the halves wouldn't be a problem."
Freshly returned from his honeymoon in Hawaii, Branighan yesterday made it clear he believes Young has struck the jackpot by snaring ball-playing Byrne.
"He's a fantastic signing," Branighan said.
"In my two years (in Group Nine) he's one of the best players I've played against."
Despite Byrne's powerful claims for the number nine jumper, Branighan said there are other front line contenders.
"Matty Longhurst and Shaun Brown did a good job (at hooker) last year," he said.
"They'll have a bit of time (to stake a claim)."
With Byrne suspended for the opening month of the 2014 season, Longhurst or Brown will get the first shot at the key position - and an opportunity to gain selection points.
Crafty Byrne, however, would not be out of place beside Branighan in the halves.
The ex-Bulldogs star is among the most creative players in the Group Nine competition and will give the Cherrypickers critical strike-power.
For Young, Byrne is not the only major inclusion in a team that made a flashing finish to the premiership this year.
Young failed to win a game in the first half of the season, but rallied in remarkable fashion to wind-up sixth position.
In a bid to continue the revival, the Cherrypickers have complemented the signing of Byrne by landing speedster Tom Bush and possibly English second rower Lee Jewitt.
Significantly, teenager sensation Jack Hetherington has fielded several offers from NRL but will stay at Young in 2014.
Branighan has a huge opinion of Hetherington, declaring the 17-year-old "showed up" players 10 years his senior this year.
The Young coach says Hetherington will remain in the backline next year, rather than slot into the forwards.
The Cherrypickers will open the Group Nine season against Cootamundra at Alfred Oval on April 27, but the suspension allows Byrne to sidestep an early confrontation with his old club.