Excitement Level for 2017?

[Caped Crusader]

Im not so sure we need more props for next year, more an 80min leader of our pack. The Saifitis, Mataora, Sims, Paea, King and Pauli can do a job with a full preseason together (maybe not for king). A world class prop wouldnt go astray but im not sure its a necessity.

Fullback, centre and the halves are a different story. If we dont recruit there it will be a tough year again

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Fullback has to be our priority right now, Mamo is an error prone winger who can't pass and is playing out of position. It's been proven that Dane isn't a fullback either and I don't think we can take Pete Mat out of the centres because our depth Is shaky there as well.

Let's also assume that there aren't any decent fullbacks on the market over the off season (or if there are they'll get paid better to go somewhere else) so we won't be signing any of them.

Which leaves us with Nathan Ross as our only real option for fullback in 2017, he used to play there in the lower grades right? He's also got plenty of X-factor which we are seriously lacking in all of our key positions right now, he seems to be able to make things happen from nothing. So it makes perfect sense to get him into a position where he can get his hands on the ball a bit more and we can get him sniffing around the ruck for an offload and causing havoc amongst tired forwards.

He may not be our long term option because of his age but surely he's worth looking at.

Then if Brown decides to hold on to Mamo then either he or Denniss would get that vacant wing spot.

 

[Still Nutty]

Im not so sure we need more props for next year, more an 80min leader of our pack. The Saifitis, Mataora, Sims, Paea, King and Pauli can do a job with a full preseason together (maybe not for king). A world class prop wouldnt go astray but im not sure its a necessity.

Fullback, centre and the halves are a different story. If we dont recruit there it will be a tough year again

We do need somebody who will be the inspiration for the others to follow and I actually think he is already there...if Sione builds on what he brought to the role for the limited time he had this year, I think he is a genuine forward leader who will be on the paddock for more minutes than most of the others mentioned above

I appreciate that this is normally the role of a dominant hard head prop a la JWH but I was super impressed by how quickly he adapted and committed to the role and his fearlessness for a kid his age.

He might need to be the protégé of another 'leader' for a season or so but his time in the second row was the best I have seen him play in any position for us and if he can add a voice to lead others, he will be a cornerstone of the forwards next year.

 

[Knight Vision]

Im not so sure we need more props for next year, more an 80min leader of our pack. The Saifitis, Mataora, Sims, Paea, King and Pauli can do a job with a full preseason together (maybe not for king). A world class prop wouldnt go astray but im not sure its a necessity.

Fullback, centre and the halves are a different story. If we dont recruit there it will be a tough year again

I think the stats would suggest we need some serious mongrel up front to compete. Safaiti twins will be great one day but they arent just now. We need some serious alpha male up front to show the kids the way. we could have the best backline in the comp but we arent going anywhere without an engine room

 

[Knight Vision]

Im not so sure we need more props for next year, more an 80min leader of our pack. The Saifitis, Mataora, Sims, Paea, King and Pauli can do a job with a full preseason together (maybe not for king). A world class prop wouldnt go astray but im not sure its a necessity.

Fullback, centre and the halves are a different story. If we dont recruit there it will be a tough year again

I think the stats would suggest we need some serious mongrel up front to compete. Safaiti twins will be great one day but they arent just now. We need some serious alpha male up front to show the kids the way. we could have the best backline in the comp but we arent going anywhere without an engine room

 

[Knight Vision]

Im not so sure we need more props for next year, more an 80min leader of our pack. The Saifitis, Mataora, Sims, Paea, King and Pauli can do a job with a full preseason together (maybe not for king). A world class prop wouldnt go astray but im not sure its a necessity.

Fullback, centre and the halves are a different story. If we dont recruit there it will be a tough year again

I think the stats would suggest we need some serious mongrel up front to compete. Safaiti twins will be great one day but they arent just now. We need some serious alpha male up front to show the kids the way. we could have the best backline in the comp but we arent going anywhere without an engine room

 

[Alex28]

I am getting excited about how pissy Manly fans are getting at Buhrer and getting Aku in return.

It really is a tremendous troll.

 

[mozza91]

If by some miracle we could sign a good fullback I'd be pretty excited about next year. C'mon down Lolohea!

 

[Haffa]

I am getting excited about how pissy Manly fans are getting at Buhrer and getting Aku in return.

It really is a tremendous troll.

It's been great. First time I've been able to laugh ta them in years.

 

[Caped Crusader]

Haha imagine if that swap had happened in 2010-2011. Things might not have been quite so funny

 

[Still Nutty]

Fullback has to be our priority right now, Mamo is an error prone winger who can't pass and is playing out of position. It's been proven that Dane isn't a fullback either and I don't think we can take Pete Mat out of the centres because our depth Is shaky there as well.

Let's also assume that there aren't any decent fullbacks on the market over the off season (or if there are they'll get paid better to go somewhere else) so we won't be signing any of them.

Which leaves us with Nathan Ross as our only real option for fullback in 2017, he used to play there in the lower grades right? He's also got plenty of X-factor which we are seriously lacking in all of our key positions right now, he seems to be able to make things happen from nothing. So it makes perfect sense to get him into a position where he can get his hands on the ball a bit more and we can get him sniffing around the ruck for an offload and causing havoc amongst tired forwards.

He may not be our long term option because of his age but surely he's worth looking at.

Then if Brown decides to hold on to Mamo then either he or Denniss would get that vacant wing spot.

I know he spent some time playing there but was Ross the main NSW cup full back when we picked up the Cup the year before last?

As much as he played well in the centres for us this year, I'd prefer to see Ross given a decent stint at fullback and say a Peter Mat/Gaigai centre combo next year with Mamo going to a wing (if he doesn't end up in the UK) as a stronger backline structure with the available players currently on our roster

 

[perverse]

1. Ponga
2. Sio
3. Gagai
4. Wardle/Ross
5. Ross/Gagan
6. Lamb
7. Hodkinson (because you know it's true)
8. D. Saifiti
9. Mullen
10. J. Saifiti
11. Sione
12. Barnett
13. Buhrer (how long before it's ok for us to call him Ferris?)

14. Levi
15. Korbs
16. Mataora
17. Pauli Pauli

At least there's a bit of potential and unknown creeping in. The backs look heaps better. Forward pack is very young, could use an older head or two in there somewhere. I really hope the Ponga thing works out, I could begin to get excited then.

 

[perverse]

1. Ponga
2. Sio
3. Gagai
4. Wardle/Ross
5. Ross/Gagan
6. Lamb
7. Hodkinson (because you know it's true)
8. D. Saifiti
9. Mullen
10. J. Saifiti
11. Sione
12. Barnett
13. Buhrer (how long before it's ok for us to call him Ferris?)

14. Levi
15. Korbs
16. Mataora
17. Pauli Pauli

At least there's a bit of potential and unknown creeping in. The backs look heaps better. Forward pack is very young, could use an older head or two in there somewhere. I really hope the Ponga thing works out, I could begin to get excited then.

Also I left out Kostjasyn, who presumably gets in on the bench ahead of Levi.

 

[Burwood]

Don't forget Kostjasyn- he'll be hooker with Mullen back in the halves.

Edit: beat me too it.

 

[perverse]

Kostjasyn- he'll be hooker with Mullen back in the halves..

Yeah, that may well be the case.

 

[Burwood]

Yeah, that may well be the case.

But I would prefer Levi to be the one that misses out. Mullen could be a revelation at hooker if he is somehow able to stay on the field.

I know Levi was injured this year, but all I'm seeing so far is a future Seu Seu- will be happy to be proven wrong over the next 12-18 months, however.

 

[perverse]

But I would prefer Levi to be the one that misses out. Mullen could be a revelation at hooker if he is somehow able to stay on the field.

I know Levi was injured this year, but all I'm seeing so far is a future Seu Seu- will be happy to be proven wrong over the next 12-18 months, however.

Others have said it, but it's make or break for Levi next year I think. He needs a big one.

 

[rabble1]

Gotta be the biggest recruitment since the Knights inception. Bennett's was a furphy with only Boyd and Smith being reputable first graders. Still need props and halves concern me, can the provide what's needed to get the side firing.

 

[Caped Crusader]

Gotta be the biggest recruitment since the Knights inception. Bennett's was a furphy with only Boyd and Smith being reputable first graders. Still need props and halves concern me, can the provide what's needed to get the side firing.

Beau Scott too

 

[Allstar Knights]

And all 3 probably didn't give us value for money, especially Scott and Boyd.

We got 1 good year out of Beau Scott. First year he was hindered with an ankle injured to be fair and the last year he completely phoned it in for us.

Boyd was only good when the team got on a bit of a run at the back end of 2013.