Boxed in: Lichaa had an underwhelming season last year under the more regimented approach of Des Hasler. Credit:Nathan Hopkins Dropped to reserve grade at one stage last season and then farewelled at the club's presentation night, such was the expectation that he would not be offered a new contract, the 24-year-old is revelling at no longer having to look over his shoulder or worry about his future. "I've heard a lot over the years...people say it's good [having] competition for spots and everyone pushing each other. You might be off contract and 'it's good because you're playing for that [new contract]'," he said. "But to be honest as a footy player I find it really difficult and I think most people do actually. You want to be pushed but you definitely want to know where you stand, have confidence that 'I'm the hooker' or if you're a half 'I'm the half'. Not going in each week [thinking] 'Oh shit, if I have a bad game, I could be gone here'." Lichaa says he would be "lying if I didn't" admit he endured a sapping of self-belief as his career regressed last season, his run-first approach and appetite for the ad hoc at odds with the modus operandi of Hasler.

Pay, who has known Lichaa since the No.9's NSW under-20s days, has restored the vigour of a player who was so highly rated coming through the ranks that Canterbury effectively traded Michael Ennis to get him, a significant change to the club's roster that hindsight wasn't kind to. It is not that Lichaa plans on playing without regard for consequence but he feels free to play what is in front of him again. "To have a coach's blessing to back yourself and take them on ... it's hard to explain but [Pay] says 'just go for it'. He's not going to yell at me if I take the wrong option. I like that," Lichaa said. "He's like 'run when you want, mate' and if it's the wrong option, it's the wrong option, there is nothing you can do about it. It's probably benefiting a few other guys now, too. "They might push the offload, whereas last year they probably didn't, or run to a different spot in the field. It mightn't be the exact spot that you trained at but if you can see a bit of space, just go for it. I really like that about him. It's just 'play footy'."

Lichaa did just that in 40 minutes on the field on the weekend during which Kieran Foran, Canterbury's high-profile recruit, made his first appearance for the club at halfback. Foran combined well on the right side of the field with new captain Josh Jackson but Lichaa said the New Zealand international won't be limited to that channel. Loading "He's calling all the shots out there. He's on the ball," he said. "He's not really just a right-side player. It just happened that he was playing on the ball a lot on the right. He's either side of the ruck this year and it's really good for us because he's a freak. He takes the line on and he's not afraid to get hit."