Where will the Newcastle Knights finish in 2018?

[Daza06]

Who better to ask where a certain team will finish than the fans of the team themselves!

With their strongest line up where would you have them finishing?

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
3. Sione Mata'utia
4. Tautau Moga
5. Nathan Ross
6. Connor Watson
7. Brock Lamb
8. Herman Ese'ese
9. Danny Levi
10. Jacob Lillyman
11. Aidan Guerra
12. Jamie Buhrer
13. Mitchell Barnett

Daniel Saifiti
Chris Heighington
Slade Griffin
Lachlan Fitzgibbon

 

[Pedge1971]

Top 12. Jacob Saifiti will be in that 17 somewhere.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

11th or 12th I reckon, unless we get Pearce then maybe 7th or 8th

 

[Hardcore_Fan]

13th. Team will take a season to gel.

 

[Matt23]

10th or 11th

 

[Silent Knight]

In front of Souffs.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I think 10th - 12th

 

[Caped Crusader]

We are a chance of coming 8th - 12th imo.

 

[Yosh]

Heart says 4-8th but brain says 9th to 12th.

 

[Swarzey]

9-12.

There's going to be a LOT of raw skill at the club next year - hit you can't teach a player - and it's those moments that get us more wins. A lot of the clubs that finished ahead of us this year are either in a worse position next year, have barely improved their squad or made really poor signings to replace departures. There were also a good number of games this year that we lost while being the better team overall or just one or two mistakes that likely won't be present next year.

If we sign Pearce however, I fancy our chances at making the 8. even if it's just for the first week. The attitude is there from our new recruits; God only knows what might happen if this side fires from the get go.

 

[Pedge1971]

9-12.

There's going to be a LOT of raw skill at the club next year - hit you can't teach a player - and it's those moments that get us more wins. A lot of the clubs that finished ahead of us this year are either in a worse position next year, have barely improved their squad or made really poor signings to replace departures. There were also a good number of games this year that we lost while being the better team overall or just one or two mistakes that likely won't be present next year.

If we sign Pearce however, I fancy our chances at making the 8. even if it's just for the first week. The attitude is there from our new recruits; God only knows what might happen if this side fires from the get go.

Love your enthusiasm but tempering that somewhat is a lot of new combos and a bloody tough draw.

 

[Swarzey]

Love your enthusiasm but tempering that somewhat is a lot of new combos and a bloody tough draw.

I think talent can surpass the need for combinations. We didn't have a whole lot of combinations this year but even the ones that did pop up (Lamb to Fitz for example), really came out of nowhere. A player like Ponga is going to know where to be for a break without spending hours on end learning the style and skill of the players around him. Certainly the edges are going to take some time to build lethal combinations and get the most out of everyone's ability; it does help that there's going to be familiarity amongst guys like Watson, Guerra and SKD - even better if we sign Pearce.

Do agree that the draw is tough but perhaps we can surprise some teams. Maybe not win too many in the tough periods but keep it somewhat respectable. We were a completely different outfit when Buhrer was in the side; I like to be optimistic over what adding guys like Guerra and Lillyman will do during the tougher times/games.

 

[mozza91]

It’s very hard to predict. If we can start strong and jag a few away wins we’ll be in a decent position to cash in during a big run of home games. It’s also dependent on how quickly the young guys can create combinations. If Lamb/Watson/Ponga click early it’d be ideal. How Moga, D Saifiti and Barnett recover from their surgeries will also have a bearing.

A few more strong signings would be great too. Improvement is a certainty but just how much we can improve is the tricky thing to predict. That’s why it’s hard to hazard a guess on a finishing place or numbers of wins.

That being said I think we’ll go through the season undefeated and lift the trophy in October.

 

[Frederick]

It’s very hard to predict. If we can start strong and jag a few away wins we’ll be in a decent position to cash in during a big run of home games. It’s also dependent on how quickly the young guys can create combinations. If Lamb/Watson/Ponga click early it’d be ideal. How Moga, D Saifiti and Barnett recover from their surgeries will also have a bearing.

A few more strong signings would be great too. Improvement is a certainty but just how much we can improve is the tricky thing to predict. That’s why it’s hard to hazard a guess on a finishing place or numbers of wins.

That being said I think we’ll go through the season undefeated and lift the trophy in October.

Greatest story in the history of sport. 3 straight wooden spoons followed immediately by 3 straight premierships

 

[Pedge1971]

Greatest story in the history of sport. 3 straight wooden spoons followed immediately by 3 straight premierships

And I thought Swarzey was optimistic!!!

 

[Joel-22]

7th.

 

[Dave_]

Honestly...first. Minor and major premiers

 

[Joel-22]

Honestly...first. Minor and major premiers

I like your optimism

 

[Knight Vision]

a great year injury wise and young players improving with the older recruits stepping up = 6 or 7
an average year = 8 or 9
a poor year 10 or 11 just missing out on the 8 by points differential

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

5th