Luke Brooks has conceded he no longer has the keys to the Wests Tigers' attack and claims a move to the No.6 jersey will help free up his running game.
Brooks was spared the axe after the Tigers' 30-6 flogging from Cronulla, with fellow co-captains Tyrone Peachey and Ken Maumalo both cut.
But the playmaker was shifted to five-eighth with Jackson Hastings returning from suspension at halfback.
Brooks admitted on Wednesday the jersey swap was more than just a symbolic gesture, with Hastings to take charge of the team's attack.
The 27-year-old also revealed the change had come a fortnight ago with Jock Madden playing.
But he ran the ball just twice in Sunday's loss to the Sharks for five metres, before being handed the No.6 jersey to take on Parramatta on Monday.
"The past couple of weeks I've played at second receiver," Brooks said.
"(Jackson) is going to be first receiver and the prominent half. I'm going to play off the back of him.
"Madge and I spoke about what works for me and gets me to play my best footy. That's running the ball."
Brooks has long been the controlling half at the Tigers, with Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah both stressing the importance of that in their 2018 return to the club.
The club's long-time playmaker has only played five-eighth four times before, but said he'd always had equal control when in the No.6 alongside Marshall.
The Tigers' have scored just 42 points in their winless opening five rounds, making for their worst start to a year in the club's history.
But Brooks said he had tried to avoid most criticism of the club, his game and under-pressure coach Michael Maguire, after long being a whipping boy for critics.
"I'm off all socials. It's hard this day and age to fully stay away. I just do my best to not listen to any of it," Brooks said.
"A lot of the people writing stuff (in papers) have never played the game.
"They are having their two cents. Why would I listen to what they say?
"The opinions which matter to me are the people at this club."
Brooks' position at five-eighth will put him at risk of being dropped when Adam Doueihi returns in around six weeks after off-season knee surgery.
But Brooks said he was not concerned, and shot down suggestions he had asked for a release last summer by stating he wants to re-sign beyond next year.
"I have this year and next year to go. I'm committed," he said.
"Anyone who knows me, knows if I'm here I'm going to be fully committed.
"Being a one club player is rare but it would be great for me to do that. It's a business and it doesn't happen often."
