Josh McCrone fought all summer for St George Illawarra's halfback role and now he's got it he doesn't plan to give it up easily.
McCrone has been named at No.7 for the Dragons' NRL season opener against Penrith on Saturday afternoon, the first time he'll get to play in round one since arriving at the club in 2015.
However playmaking rival Jai Field was named on the bench, prompting suggestions the 20-year-old could be interchanged into the halfback role while McCrone reverts to hooker.
But McCrone, who has started 123 of his 140 NRL games in the halves, has no such plans.
"I know in my own head that I'm expecting to play 80 minutes at halfback," McCrone said.
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"Obviously with Fieldy on the bench there is a half to come on but I've got to go in there with the mentality that I'm out there for 80 minutes and give everything for that."
McCrone was a regular starter for Canberra between 2010 and 2014, but has played just 11 games in the past two years at the Dragons.
Off-contract at the end of 2017, he was expected to begin the season in reserve grade where he won a title with the Illawarra Cutters last year, before Drew Hutchison suffered a season-ending knee injury in December, prompting a race for the No.7 spot.
"This is where everyone wants to play and it's awesome to be back here," he said.
"I was confident in my own ability. It was always going to be up to Mary (coach Paul McGregor) but I'm just thankful for the opportunity now."
Winning the starting spot though, is only half the battle.
The Dragons have been in the bottom-three ranked attacks for the past two years, and McCrone - alongside five-eighth Gareth Widdop - is one of the men charged with fixing that.
"You want to be there in round 26 as much as round one is important," he said.
"Just to grab the opportunity now to make sure I can be there in round 26.
"We'll have a lot more control in the halves' hands and the hooker and fullback.
"We've got a big powerful forward pack, so let them roll forward in yardage, just play simple footy really, not get too worried about getting to a certain point in the field for a certain play."
