WHEN Trent Hodkinson was at the helm of Canterbury he was the man to guide the team around the paddock but how will two instinctive players in Moses Mbye and Josh Reynolds handle the responsibility?

It seems the answer is pretty simple: they’ll share, based off of which player starts the game better.

Having the luxury of additional time to work on their combination as a result of a season-ending hand injury to Hodkinson late last year, Reynolds said believes the biggest challenge he and his new halves partner face is ensuring both men can play to their strengths.

“Were both attacking players in the sense that we like to take the line on and play off the cuff,” Reynolds told foxsports.com.au.

Round 19

“At stages, I think we’re just going to roll off each other.

Moses Mbye, Josh Reynolds and Josh Morris during Bulldogs training. Source: News Corp Australia

“If I feel that Moses is taking the line on and going well, maybe I’ll take the role of kicking and making sure we complete our sets and getting back to basics and vice versa — it’s creating that bond.”

While Reynolds has openly discussed the plan to share duties, the five-eighth said when it comes to game day; they’ll base their roles off a feeling rather than have a conversation.

“We won’t say anything. We’ll just know, that’s what any good combination does,” he explained.

“We’re different to a few combos — we’re left and right and look after our own side but when we do link up, hopefully we’ll create some good opportunities for the boys outside us.”

In developing that unspoken understanding, Mbye revealed the duo have been spending extra time together away from the field.

Whether it’s a catch up over coffee or a barbecue at a teammate’s house, the halves have worked on their friendship just as much as their on-field amalgamation.

Moses Mbye of the Bulldogs passes the ball. Source: News Corp Australia

While their time playing alongside each other has been limited, Des Hasler’s men will be expected to produce results quickly.

Mbye, 22, who is about to ink a new $3 million four-year-deal, knows there’ll be plenty of eyeballs on the Bulldogs’ halves this season but the Queensland product is taking it all in his stride, with the pressure part and parcel of playing in the NRL.

“We probably didn’t finish the year the way we would have wanted to and when that happens it probably comes back on the halves which is fair,” Mbye told foxsports.com.au.

“We’re the ones which have to control the game for the boys.

“The pressure is what it is — if you’re going to play halves at NRL level you’re going to have some weight on your shoulders — you just have to deal with it.

“All you can do is train as hard and learn as much as you can.”