Newcastle Knights youngster Jaelen Feeney wants to play in the halves and coach Nathan Brown is giving him every chance.

After struggling at fullback at the start of 2016, Feeney confirmed his preference is in the halves.

“My big focus is on the halves this year,” Feeney said.

“Browny had a word to me keep about keeping me in the halves and giving me a fair crack there.”

Feeney was turned into a makeshift fullback by Brown last year but it simply didn’t work.

“I didn’t do any NRL pre-season in the halves last year and this year I’ve done a full pre-season in the halves, focusing on the stuff I need to work on like my kicking game and getting the boys around the park,” Feeney continued.

“I definitely see myself as a half. I like having the number seven on my back. But six or seven I don’t really mind.”

Feeney is battling for a halves birth next to captain Trent Hodgkinson alongside fellow rookies Brock Lamb, Jack Cogger and veteran Jarrod Mullen who has been struggling with yet another hamstring issue.