2023 Team

[perverse]

Hastings isn't that good, paring him with a reserve grader like gamble would be asking for pain. Totally understand why they want to get at least one elite player into the halves.

Agree, but he's not bad either. We almost did a hell of a lot worse. You can pair a Gamble with a Cooper Cronk or a Jonathon Thurston. It's a bit much to ask of Hastings... who for all intents and purposes is a Pearce-lite. I've personally got no problem with Pearce-lite, I never thought the real deal was our biggest problem either.

As it has been for the past few years, our teams fortune hinges on Ponga. He's coming of age now, the punt we've taken on him either pays off or sets us back for another 4-5 years.

 

[slotmachine]

Agree, but he's not bad either. We almost did a hell of a lot worse

Definitely better to have like the 12th best halfback in the comp than clearly the worst.

 

[Jono078]

If Ponga is to move to 6 then unless we get a real f/b then Gagai looks best option with what we have.
Now we need a right centre, fix one problem create another

I think we’d be showing our faith in Mapapalangi here and probably deservedly so based on what he showed this year.

 

[perverse]

Definitely better to have like the 12th best halfback in the comp than clearly the worst.

Yeah I mean sure, but the difference is between a bloke who belongs there and can do a job - or even contribute positively on the field - verses an incompetent fraud that is embarrassing themselves and us weekly.

It doesn't have to be as arbitrary as ranking them. I think he can get in there and do a job for us.

 

[PhilGould]

Talk about making the most of an opportunity.

Newcastle have added power and punch to their forward pack by signing Toni Tupouniua, just four weeks after the second rower arrived at the club on a pre-season training contract.

The younger brother of Sydney Roosters power forward Sitili Tupouniua has had such a devastating impact on the Knights that he has quickly been rewarded with a two-year deal.

At Penrith last season, playing for their NSW Cup side, Tupouniua made the decision to leave the premiers in search of his NRL dream.

The Knights offered the 23-year old a training contract last month, which he has quickly transformed into a 2023 contract that will see him enter the club’s top-30 roster.

Big, powerful and athletic like his brother, Tupouniua — who has also developed his game playing for Wynnum Manly in Queensland — will provide Newcastle with strong depth in their back row.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/market-watch-how-an-immortal-delivered-english-star-will-pryce-to-newcastle/news-story/f7ddee686dcfb4f13cf329ca5d207afe?amp

 

[PhilGould]

Or maybe not

 

[Apey]

Training the house down!

 

[Frederick]

Training the house down!

Best preseason ever!

 

[PhilGould]

 

[ryan.a87]

Fitz potentially in tooheys starting 13 makes me a saaaad panda

maybe he has been “training the house down” this off season

 

[Loose Cannon]

Fitz potentially in tooheys starting 13 makes me a saaaad panda

Yep.

At least he realises Kurt’s calling. If only the coach believed.

 

[PhilGould]

Just an indication of how pathetic our back-row stocks are. Fitz has needed a change of scenery for a few years now and even still I’d prefer him over Jones or Johns. The best form of his career was running lines off Ponga in 2018 so maybe they think that can be rekindled with Ponga at 6.

I’d be more excited if they went with Thompson out wide, I think there’s more upside to his game than just being a battering ram middle forward. Croker filled in at second-row a few times last season as well, and he’s not the explosive athlete you’d like on an edge but has some late footwork and knows how and when to pass the ball. Probably the one I’d feel safest about defending next to Ponga as well.

They’ve given no real indication of where Hetherington will play but I’m guessing middle, possibly even starting if they want to keep a Saifiti on the field at all times.

 

[Burwood]

Broncos’ No.9 dilemma; Eels’ huge void: Verdict on hottest positional battles at every NRL club

Broncos’ No.9 dilemma; Eels’ void: Verdict on biggest positional fight at every NRL club

www.foxsports.com.au

Knights
Positional battle: second row

Makes for very sad reading…

 

[PhilGould]

Still eligible for Jersey Flegg and was meant to be a development player for the Sharks in 2023 so not sure what type of deal he's on but he's training with the NRL squad.

Jersey Flegg Cup 2022 Highlights | Ryan Rivett

Catch up on all the best plays from Cronulla Sharks halfback Ryan Rivett in the Jersey Flegg Cup.

www.nswrl.com.au

 

[mozza91]

Broncos’ No.9 dilemma; Eels’ huge void: Verdict on hottest positional battles at every NRL club

Broncos’ No.9 dilemma; Eels’ void: Verdict on biggest positional fight at every NRL club

www.foxsports.com.au

Knights
Positional battle: second row

Makes for very sad reading…

At least it’s not a key position like some other clubs.
Fitzgibbon isn’t very good but he’s shown more than Jones imo.
11-Friz
12-Fitz
13-Elliot
Isn’t great but that bad.

 

[slotmachine]

At least it’s not a key position like some other clubs.

We just have no one to play fullback, so there isn't a competition.

 

[mozza91]

We just have no one to play fullback, so there isn't a competition.

Another coaching masterstroke from Obi.

 

[Old dog]

It’s beginning to look a lot like Gagai,
Merry Christmas, Ho! Ho! Ho!

 

[mozza91]

I’d feel safer with Gagai at the back than with someone unproven and injury prone like Hodgson. Any word on Miller? Or has that gone cold?

 

[ryan.a87]

I’d feel safer with Gagai at the back than with someone unproven and injury prone like Hodgson. Any word on Miller? Or has that gone cold?

Toohey seems pretty convinced it’s going to happen….telling everyone who asks him to just be patient