Your possible round 1 team.

[hitro]

The Newcastle Knights have an interesting spine now Ponga Brown and Crossland all potential Kiwis and some other young Aussie guys
I am going start watching their games

 

[hitro]

Teams tuesday tomorrow!

 

[Blair]

Teams tuesday tomorrow!

I don't think anyone here wants to see Halasima named in the centres.

 

[Blair]

The Newcastle Knights have an interesting spine now Ponga Brown and Crossland all potential Kiwis and some other young Aussie guys.
I am going start watching their games.

It's my first trip to Newcastle and I can't wait. Plus, you know what? I'm glad the Knights look like they're a good side again, as I'm sick of us going there and expecting an easy win.

They left us extremely flat in '24, and we realised our side had big problems, after the highs of '23. Last year we needed that 'Leka Miracle' to get away with a win over the wooden spooners.

This year I'm hoping for a good win over a good side.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

The Newcastle Knights have an interesting spine now Ponga Brown and Crossland all potential Kiwis and some other young Aussie guys
I am going start watching their games

They were absolutely on fire in the first 20 minutes, then Sharpe got injured and neither Brown nor Ponga was really sighted for long periods of time.

Having said that, it was great watching Brown and his desire to run the ball. Sharpe is an incredibly dangerous ball runner and Ponga obviously has those abilities too, although for some reason he tends to default to ball playing and not backing his immense skills nowadays.

They'll murder teams when they're off this year. I still dunno if they're an 8 team, though.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Righto, here's my prediction. Today is pay day and team naming Tuesday for the round 1 game I'm attending with my youngest on Friday, so it's a massive day in the life.

1. CNK 2. Dallin (will be picked over AKP) 3. Ali (nervous about this) 4. Pompey 5. RTS 6. CHT 7. Boyd 8. JFH 9. Egan 10. Ford (watch it happen) 11. Capewell 12. Laban 13. Clark 14. TT 15. Healey 16. Demetric 17. Niukore 18. Leka 19. TSS

Tossed up Hanson on the bench but really want Healey to relieve Egan. Obviously Hanson goes to 6 if CHT isn't fit. EIT I'd have over Niukore but the coach won't. Didn't see enough in Gannon in trials to suggest he needs to be in our 17

 

[ozenzud]

Righto, here's my prediction. Today is pay day and team naming Tuesday for the round 1 game I'm attending with my youngest on Friday, so it's a massive day in the life.

1. CNK 2. Dallin (will be picked over AKP) 3. Ali (nervous about this) 4. Pompey 5. RTS 6. CHT 7. Boyd 8. JFH 9. Egan 10. Ford (watch it happen) 11. Capewell 12. Laban 13. Clark 14. TT 15. Healey 16. Demetric 17. Niukore 18. Leka 19. TSS

Tossed up Hanson on the bench but really want Healey to relieve Egan. Obviously Hanson goes to 6 if CHT isn't fit. EIT I'd have over Niukore but the coach won't. Didn't see enough in Gannon in trials to suggest he needs to be in our 17

Yep. I think thats the team that will be picked.

 

[hitro]

 

[Big Marn]

Penrose, you pretty much nailed it with niukore out. all the rest are correct bar gannon

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

About as boring a team as we could have picked but that's Webby.

Disappointed in DWZ over AKP. Ford was always going to be in the 19 with no Barnett or Niukore, but still dreading him starting and playing 60+ minutes. Disappointed that Leka and Demetric are still being treated as bench impact when Leka in particular is already borderline elite. Surprised that Gannon is ahead of EIT.

When you look at the 22 named and then add TMM, Metcalf, Barnett, Niukore, it's fair to say our depth looks very strong. It's just depth made up of a lot of players of a similar sort of middling standard.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

The Roosters are an interesting one because Teddy, Tupou and DCE just keep getting older and older but still play at a high level. Teddy and DCE in particular are in key positions. They'll probably bring critical experience to the side, but they could get old overnight and suddenly the Roosters look a lot weaker.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Penrose, you pretty much nailed it with niukore out. all the rest are correct bar gannon

If I'd known he was out, I would have gone EIT so I am one wrong. I don't think I'm unique in thinking we have a diamond in Eddie, but whether he doesn't fit into a rotation I'm not too sure.

I knew Webby is a Ford starting guy and that was solidified in the numbers v the Phins.

I would have started with Demetric over Ford and EIT over Gannon, but otherwise as I'd probably go, too. Maybe if AKP was allowed to play the Phins game, we might have seen something different. Issue is, he'll probably be one of the two who doesn't play (injury pending) and then how do we ever get to decide if he's ready, if he isn't playing NSW Cup?

 

[vvvrulz]

Hard to see much fault with that team honestly, even though I'm very keen to see AKP in there.

Webby has a formula and when it works it works.

 

[hitro]

Niukore was listed on NRL casualty ward as tbc (the worst) the whole time
He is not available and we don't need him
He is a biggish guy with some visual intimation about him but v injury prone and already behind Demetric and Leka and perhaps behind Tanner and Eddie

 

[hitro]

Zelezniak gonna let in a heaps of tries on friday night without even touching anyone or even being close to touching them

 

[wittyfan]

Hopefully Healey gets lots of game time!

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Roosters a solid looking team, we could be in some trouble early if we play boring.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Roosters a solid looking team, we could be in some trouble early if we play boring.

Yeah there's points in that side, I have them in the GF if injuries don't hit too hard

 

[ozenzud]

Webby is very predictable. Frustrating that Week 1, we have half the squad (it seems) and several of our elite players, crocked. Whats it gunna be like by round 10. Reckon they might give me a call and see if I can provide 5/8 cover....

 

[Izz]

Jett has been named as starting half back for NSW Cup, so seems like he's recovered from his niggle, too. Though Jack Thompson at 14, so maybe restricted minutes for Jett.

Super interested to see how Cup goes this year. Vastly different squad to 2025...

Mostly all pathways players, too, which is nice