Newcastle Knights recruit Craig Gower not named to play Melbourne Storm this weekend Craig Gower in action at Knights training in Newcastle. CRAIG Gower has not been named to play for the Newcastle Knights but says he's ready to play if called on against Melbourne on Sunday after completing his first training session with his new club this morning. The 35-year-old former Penrith captain hasn't played in the NRL for five years but was expected to be in the Knights squad for the clash with the Storm when coach Wayne Bennett named his team today. Bennett, however, opted to leave Gower out of his 18-man squad. The Knights coach refused to be drawn on whether he intended to use Gower at halfback or hooker in the future but the veteran playmaker left no one in any doubt about what his preference is. My hooker days are over. I'd rather play halfback but we'll wait and see," Gower said. Bennett could not have been more impressed with his new signing. "He was the Craig Gower of old," he said. He was talking good and very competitive. NEWCASTLE: Darius Boyd, James McManus, Dane Gagai, Joseph Leilua, Kevin Naiqama, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Travis Waddell, Willie Mason, Robbie Rochow, Chris Houston, Jeremy Smith.