First Grade Knights V Panthers

[sneaky_is_here]

who was the last coach to pick a side based on form? I understand players need chances but 10 is to many.

 

[Frederick]

No. You're still a f**king genius.

Speaking of, I noticed our old buddy Karmawave has reappeared in the NRL forum

 

[Matt23]

Speaking of, I noticed our old buddy Karmawave has reappeared in the NRL forum

Which means it's only a matter of time before he shows up in here #-o

 

[~knights~]

where has he been?

 

[Matt23]

where has he been?

Forum "holidays"

 

[Pumba]

Which means it's only a matter of time before he shows up in here #-o

Been nice now Matty :lol:

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Not happy with any of that.

We should have learnt the following already;

Naiqama @ Fulback = No no.
Bailey @ Five- Eighth = No no.
Dureau not @ halfback let alone top 17 = No no.
I'm a fan of Wicks' ability, but he's had his chance, even with lack of props, Wicks in top 17 = No no.
Moving our best player elsewhere = No no.
Ciraldo in = No no. He offers jack sh*t, he is like Wicks but even less impact when he chooses to take a hitup, which isnt often, like Wicks.

I know Smith is known for last minute changes and stuff. But i'll be very annoyed if that's the team that runs out.

I would have went

1 Gidley
2 McManus
3 Sau
4 MacDougall
5 Vuna
6 Mullen
7 Dureau
8 Tolar
9 Young
10 Taufua
11 Simpson
12 Paterson
13 Houston
--
14 Fa'aoso
15 White
16 Bailey
17 Taia

Jono for coach!

 

[Matt23]

Jono for coach!

Seconded

 

[~knights~]

thats a good team jono

 

[sneaky_is_here]

needs a back up hooker.

 

[Jobdog]

Dureau ---> 9

Bailey ---> 6

Mullo ----> 7

Is the way it'd work ;-)

 

[BG]

I don't understand why people have such an issue with the team. Pretty obvious way to go imho.

I'd much rather Gids at hooker and Naiqama at fullback than have to call on Young.

I think Dureau at 18 is more than a 50% chance of being a Smithy feint. However, if he does go with Bailey and Ciraldo ahead of him it will be tactical. Penrith's big forwards are very good at generating roll-ons and second-phase play, and having both Bedsy and Hilder out creates a massive wound in our defense. Smith may consider the only chance of keeping the flood-gates from opening is to have Bailey defend like an extra backrower and have another strong tackling forward (which Ciraldo is) on the bench.

No one could argue that Wicks is still in the team for any other reason than that he is Smith's pet project. But I don't see it as a major drama. I can't imagine Matt White making or breaking the game for us. White himself though is entitled to feel miffed.

Unfortunately, we are too severely undermanned for there to be any genuine solutions.

 

[TooheysNew]

Bailey defend like an extra backrower

Therein lies my issue.

 

[BG]

Therein lies my issue.

Personally I too would start with Dureau for his play-making skills, and as I stated above it won't surprise me if he actually does. But I could also understand Smith being sh*t-scared about our defence. Smith is the best tactician going around (even Newton gave him props for that after he skulked off south) and if the coach thinks our only chance is to try and keep some sort of lid on Penrith's attack I'll bow to that. We won't create nearly as many chances with Bailey at 5/8 and our kicking game will suffer, but we have shown that we still have some points in us with him there. Having a full week to train with Gids at hooker should help the attacking structure as well.

 

[Karmawave]

I highly highly doubt that Bailey will play tonight.

Dureau half, Mullen 5/8.

And if that's the case, Smith is a joke, because they would have known that at the Knights all week - and trained that way too.

If the NRL didn't take handouts from gambling proceeds, it wouldn't be such a problem, but while ever coaches continue to treat their named line-ups with contempt, it makes a mockery of it all and ruins any credibility the game has among fans and punters alike.

 

[Joker's Wild]

I highly highly doubt that Bailey will play tonight.

Dureau half, Mullen 5/8.

And if that's the case, Smith is a joke, because they would have known that at the Knights all week - and trained that way too.

If the NRL didn't take handouts from gambling proceeds, it wouldn't be such a problem, but while ever coaches continue to treat their named line-ups with contempt, it makes a mockery of it all and ruins any credibility the game has among fans and punters alike.

Blowing things out of proportion a little dont you think?

 

[Karmawave]

Blowing things out of proportion a little dont you think?

Not at all. The NRL gladly accept money from gambling, yet week in, week out many coaches name a side they already know won't be the side that takes the field - Smith being one of the worst over the years.

Sure one solution is simply don't bet on games - and I don't for this reason.

But it still makes a mockery of the NRL taking cash for gambling when they don't have any system in place to ensure the integrity of named teams.

You can't turn anywhere when watching the NRL on television without seeing advertising for gambling prices on the games. The NRL loves it, but a system still should be set in place to ensure fairness for all involved.

After all, a horse trainer wouldn't be allowed to get away with naming a jockey on their horse when they knew all week that another jockey would be riding it. Right?

Sure, many times players cover for injured players. That's fair enough. But there are just as many times when players are never going to play but are named anyway.

The Dureau/Mullen/Bailey combo has been Smiths pet mind game selection enigma all year.

 

[Pika]

The actual team is named on Tuesday at training, including the extended bench.

Barring injury, all players that take the field are named on an extended bench. Any combination can be dropped.

Based on this information, you can make a reasonable assumption on which team combinations will take the field. Noone is forcing you to bet, its a gamble you take willingly.... thats why it is called gambling.

I cannot recall an instance this year where a bolter has come from PL directly into the squad without injury.

The largest squad annonced this year is 20, mostly its 18 or 19.

It does not take a genius to work out what possible changes can occur.

 

[MSKnight]

Is Vuna in doubt, I heard Aku is on stand by and chances are Coops wont play.

 

[Karmawave]

Of course its a choice to bet, but if thats the case, and the NRL continue to take money from it, they have to ensure the integrity of it like stewards do with horse racing. Simple as that.

What about Jason King playing for Manly this week ( not even named at all ).

**EDIT** - ( Listening to Kiwis is a mistake )

I mean some players have massive influence on games. Of course its gambling , thats obvious, and its a choice! Of course. The lies that come from coaches constantly is why I don't gamble on the NRL. But others do...

However, those people who are privvy to profits from any gambling have to ensure the integrity of it. The same way stewards do with horse racing.

The NRL do nothing of a sort, yet reap in the profits.