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2020 team

Spot On

Coach
Messages
13,902
So is Coby right or Spot On right?

After their repeated efforts in defence, continually showing up and able to go again, it's obvious that they are far from unfit Yosh.

You are on the money mate.

Body shape on Saf and Sione has changed big time.

Definitely fit. Real fit.
 
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Bartwah

Juniors
Messages
461
I thought I read somewhere that they were trying to get J Saf into a backrower role this year. Definitely looks leaner.

Also, Lino made the team of the 9s tournament, not a bad way to put your hand up for the 6 jersey, especially as he was injured for a majority of the pre season
 

Knight Vision

First Grade
Messages
5,066
I'd say O'brien is looking for a more slimmed down mobile and dynamic pack. You can only have so many Klemmer/DSaf type lumbering forwards in the side. O'brien's first phone call to a player was to Herman, he's gone after Frizell and moved Momoisea to the edge.

Hope we have some more second faze play this year to take advantage of Ponga and Watson's skill set.
 

Mr_Knightside

Juniors
Messages
2,204
I'd say O'brien is looking for a more slimmed down mobile and dynamic pack. You can only have so many Klemmer/DSaf type lumbering forwards in the side. O'brien's first phone call to a player was to Herman, he's gone after Frizell and moved Momoisea to the edge.

Hope we have some more second faze play this year to take advantage of Ponga and Watson's skill set.

Good post. One of the most frustrating things to watch is when we get behind in a game and we just stick to this really limited game plan of one out hit-ups when we should be able to throw a few offloads to create opportunities for our attacking weapons. We didn’t play well from behind last year so hopefully that changes in 2020.
 

Spot On

Coach
Messages
13,902
Surely the new coach will have our attack asking a few more questions than last year's game plan of one out running.
 

Zoidberg

First Grade
Messages
6,193
Also, Lino made the team of the 9s tournament, not a bad way to put your hand up for the 6 jersey, especially as he was injured for a majority of the pre season
Saw some morons criticising his 9’s performance on Knights Facebook page, wonder what they’re on sometimes.

Good post. One of the most frustrating things to watch is when we get behind in a game and we just stick to this really limited game plan
I remember a few games last year where we were within a converted try with 5mins or less to go and we just played through our sets hoping for an opportunity to be handed to us.
 

Knight Vision

First Grade
Messages
5,066
Good post. One of the most frustrating things to watch is when we get behind in a game and we just stick to this really limited game plan of one out hit-ups when we should be able to throw a few offloads to create opportunities for our attacking weapons. We didn’t play well from behind last year so hopefully that changes in 2020.
It also looked like the game plan included Ponga passing to a winger after retrieving a kick on the last instead of running the ball when he is at his most dangerous and allusive. Out of the top 5 fullbacks last season Ponga had the least metres gained.....mind blowing.
 

PhilGould

Bench
Messages
3,327
34-man squad for the first trial

Tex Hoy, Hymel Hunt, Enari Tuala, Tyronne Roberts-Davis, Gehamat Shibasaki, Edrick Lee, Matt Soper-Lawler, Starford Toa, Mason Lino, Kurt Mann, Mitchell Pearce, Simi Sasagi, Bayden Searle, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Aidan Guerra, Brodie Jones, Sione Mata’utia, Jirah Momoisea, Jayden Brailey, Luke Huth, Chris Randall, Mitch Barnett, Jack Cameron, Mathew Croker, Tim Glasby, Zac Hosking, David Klemmer, Brandon Russell, Daniel Saifiti, Jacob Saifiti, Josh King, Matt Cooper, Dylan Lucas, Mitch Black
 

Old dog

Juniors
Messages
2,485
Best seems to be injured a bit, those weeks he is out will put him back a bit, had a poor start last season with injuries.
 

Knight Vision

First Grade
Messages
5,066
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...d/news-story/f76e081e913d3073295e549f9f38acb0

Predicted back five: 1 Kalyn Ponga 2 Edrick Lee 3 Bradman Best 4 Tautau Moga 5 Hymel Hunt

Experience: 297 NRL games

Rating: C-

Strength: Kalyn Ponga. He is not the Knights only strength in the back five, but he is by far their most important. The Maroons fullback is the focal point of Newcastle’s attack and so much of their penetration comes from his silky passing skills and footwork on the edge. If the Knights are going to end their finals drought then Ponga needs to be fit and firing all season.

Weakness: Combinations will take time to jell in this new Knights backline. Bradman Best is a star in the making, but has just three games of first grade experience. Tautau Moga at his best is a formidable talent, but his injury struggles have hampered his ability to make a consistent impact at the Knights. Hymel Hunt is more of a centre than a winger and despite making strides in the position last season, he still needs time to become a consistent finisher.
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,329
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...d/news-story/f76e081e913d3073295e549f9f38acb0

Predicted back five: 1 Kalyn Ponga 2 Edrick Lee 3 Bradman Best 4 Tautau Moga 5 Hymel Hunt

Experience: 297 NRL games

Rating: C-

Strength: Kalyn Ponga. He is not the Knights only strength in the back five, but he is by far their most important. The Maroons fullback is the focal point of Newcastle’s attack and so much of their penetration comes from his silky passing skills and footwork on the edge. If the Knights are going to end their finals drought then Ponga needs to be fit and firing all season.

Weakness: Combinations will take time to jell in this new Knights backline. Bradman Best is a star in the making, but has just three games of first grade experience. Tautau Moga at his best is a formidable talent, but his injury struggles have hampered his ability to make a consistent impact at the Knights. Hymel Hunt is more of a centre than a winger and despite making strides in the position last season, he still needs time to become a consistent finisher.


Will Moga play? Best is out for a while so we definitely won't see that backline... Maybe Hunt to centre and play inside Edrick to start the season?
 

Knight Vision

First Grade
Messages
5,066
Will Moga play? Best is out for a while so we definitely won't see that backline... Maybe Hunt to centre and play inside Edrick to start the season?
Even with all hands on deck the article highlights how soft we are out wide compared to the top clubs. With the exception of Ponga none of our back five would be in the NRL top 10 in their position or lucky to even make the top 20.

Moga = knees of glass - you can stick a fork in him he's done
Best = potential and is only a kid
Edrick = average
Hunt = average
 
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