Knights 2021/22 Off-Season

[Knight76]

I mean it's a nice break for them and I always believe in time off over Christmas and New Year.

However I can already predict AOB round 1 post-game conference.. "Look, we missed out on 2 weeks of our off-season which was crucial for team bonding and combinations, so we were a bit rusty, however, I didn't see this 46 point loss coming."

True, but I doubt we will be the only team covid disrupted through pre-season.

 

[Knight Tales]

Club acting appropriately. Great work. Unfortunate yes.

 

[Loose Cannon]

I mean it's a nice break for them and I always believe in time off over Christmas and New Year.

However I can already predict AOB round 1 post-game conference.. "Look, we missed out on 2 weeks of our off-season which was crucial for team bonding and combinations, so we were a bit rusty, however, I didn't see this 46 point loss coming."

“But I thought Kurt went well in the 13.”

Mann: 80 minutes, 22m gained, 8 tackles, 12 missed tackles, 3 dropped balls.

 

[ryan.a87]

“But I thought Kurt went well in the 13.”

Mann: 80 minutes, 22m gained, 8 tackles, 12 missed tackles, 3 dropped balls.

22m gained…….500m ran sideways

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Club Statement: Football Operations closed

The nib Newcastle Knights have today closed all football operations for the remainder of 2021, effective immediately.

www.newcastleknights.com.au

"Our players will be asked to apply good common sense to both their own health and individual training requirements during this period.”

Who's coming back looking like Owen Craigie?

Because if there's one thing footy players have, it's good common sense lol..

 

[Bartwah]

Josh King got the best on ground for the storms preseason camp, pretty impressive. Watch us regret letting him go. I heard myself say that 2-3 years ago, I’d give myself an uppercut. Hope he smashes it down there

 

[Jono078]

Yep he was developing to be a real solid member of the 17 I thought.

In saying that we must have some high hopes in Momisea and Croker to fill the void.

 

[Yosh]

Yep he was developing to be a real solid member of the 17 I thought.

In saying that we must have some high hopes in Momisea and Croker to fill the void.

Didn't he take a lower deal? Wasn't it out of our hands?

 

[The Axe of Druss]

King was ok this season but you got the impression he'd hit his ceiling as a player. He would have been nice to keep but I dont think we are going to miss him all that much. Hes a perfect Storm player where he can do his job and let the more talented players shine. We already have enough middles to fill that role

 

[Joel_]

King was ok this season but you got the impression he'd hit his ceiling as a player. He would have been nice to keep but I dont think we are going to miss him all that much. Hes a perfect Storm player where he can do his job and let the more talented players shine. We already have enough middles to fill that role

Not really, our forward depth is pretty awful at the moment when compared to our backs. We'll miss King, I'd like to think Croker can fill a void but I'd much rather King on a similar contract. Momo is one I rate, but I'd like to see him more on the edge in a shorter minute Friz type role. Other than that it's looking pretty grim, unless you think Mann can adequately cover...

 

[Burwood]

We have 3 quality props in the Saifitis and Klemmer, then the likes of Crocker, momo and saulo. With the growth you’d expect to see from our young props, losing king will be the least of our problems next year.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

King became a pretty handy guy to have as backup but realistically he was playing 20-25 mins per game and I think we can get a similar output from other guys in the squad. Good luck to him though, I hope he does well at the Storm and I’m glad he’s managed to play as many games as he has so far because it proves that with the right work ethic you can make it.

 

[Jono078]

He may have been at his ceiling but still would have been a good top 30 squad member for his asking price.

Anyway is what it is. I don't think he'll be missed exactly.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Not really, our forward depth is pretty awful at the moment when compared to our backs. We'll miss King, I'd like to think Croker can fill a void but I'd much rather King on a similar contract. Momo is one I rate, but I'd like to see him more on the edge in a shorter minute Friz type role. Other than that it's looking pretty grim, unless you think Mann can adequately cover...

Croker is on a NSW cup contract so there is no realistic way we'd have King on that.

We have the Saifitis, Sue, Klemmer, Momoisea, Saulo and young Leo Thompson in the top 30 and some good prospects in NSW Cup. Realistically King is playing NSW cup unless there's injuries anyway so I don't think he's much of a loss. We can easily play Jones or Barnett in the middle too so it's not really dire

Now back row, that's a serious depth issue for us

 

[Knight Tales]

Will be interesting to see King’s numbers this season compared to when he was here. It is going to be a real worry if Bellamy gets him motoring where we could not. That tells you that your internal workings are not where they should be. It is not just all about culture. A word I frankly hate to hear in regards to a club. It is a blanket term. You have to be more forensic than that.

 

[Johns Magic]

Will be interesting to see King’s numbers this season compared to when he was here. It is going to be a real worry if Bellamy gets him motoring where we could not. That tells you that your internal workings are not where they should be. It is not just all about culture. A word I frankly hate to hear in regards to a club. It is a blanket term. You have to be more forensic than that.

I think King did get motoring in 2021. You only have to look at the numbers he was already producing. I felt like this was a coming of age season for him.

The games in which he played more than 30 minutes, which were generally because of injuries and so he actually got the chance to show what he could do, were

R4 Dragons: 36 mins, 97 metres
R13 Eels: 36 mins, 110 metres
R18 Storm: 45 mins, 103 metres (best of our props, we got flogged)
R25 Broncos: 52 mins, 195 metres

I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t do well at the Storm. I reckon Bellamy will be lining him up to plug the NAS/Kamikamica/Finucane gap.

People here talk up Sue, and yes he’s handy, but Sue or King? I’m not sure. I think Sue may have a touch more skill, but King is more likely to churn out metres on a weekly basis. I like them both and having both was a bit of a luxury for us last year that we’ve now lost.

 

[Loose Cannon]

People here talk up Sue, and yes he’s handy, but Sue or King? I’m not sure. I think Sue may have a touch more skill, but King is more likely to churn out metres on a weekly basis. I like them both and having both was a bit of a luxury for us last year that we’ve now lost.

Agree with this, but I feel a big contributing factor has been the lack of the quality left edge runner, and thus the insistence of AOB to play Barnett there instead of 13. We just don’t have the middle depth currently to play a Kurt Mann in the mould of a Radley/Murray.

What I think we are likely looking at having once everyone fit:
8. Dan
10. Jacob
11. Friz
12. Barny
13. Mann

14. Simi/ Crossland
15. Klemmer
16. Sue
17. Fitz



Now, I rag on a deserving Mann as often as anybody here, and whilst I am optimistic and hopeful about Simi making the transition into that role, I would prefer:
8. Dan
10. Jacob
11. Friz
12. Fitz
13. Barny

14. Simi/ Mann
15. Klemmer
16. Sue
17. Jones/ Saulo/ Croker/ Momo etc.

Leaves Barny in the middle where he belongs, and not too keen on starting Fitzgibbon, but without depth, still better in my mind.



Then, if we were too snag that dynamic back rower we need (Luki ?), things change again:
8. Dan
10. Jacob
11. Friz
12. Luki
13. Barny

14. Simi (please let this roving lock deal be a success)
15. Klemmer
16. Sue
17. Edge: Fitz/ Jones/ Johns; Middles: Saulo/ Croker/ Momo; Others: Mann, Crossland.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Double

 

[aqua_duck]

I think King did get motoring in 2021. You only have to look at the numbers he was already producing. I felt like this was a coming of age season for him.

The games in which he played more than 30 minutes, which were generally because of injuries and so he actually got the chance to show what he could do, were

R4 Dragons: 36 mins, 97 metres
R13 Eels: 36 mins, 110 metres
R18 Storm: 45 mins, 103 metres (best of our props, we got flogged)
R25 Broncos: 52 mins, 195 metres

I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t do well at the Storm. I reckon Bellamy will be lining him up to plug the NAS/Kamikamica/Finucane gap.

People here talk up Sue, and yes he’s handy, but Sue or King? I’m not sure. I think Sue may have a touch more skill, but King is more likely to churn out metres on a weekly basis. I like them both and having both was a bit of a luxury for us last year that we’ve now lost.

I think the main difference between King and Sue defensively in terms of aggression and mobility. Sue started alot of games because AOB recognised that he provided some defensive starch in the opening stages of a game. King is a solid NRL prop but would any of this debate be surfacing if he had signed for any team beside the storm? Bellamy has a history of balancing his team and salary cap with toilers like King, Tom Eisenhuth, Chris Lewis, Bryan Norrie, Max King, Jaiman Lowe, etc

 

[Burwood]

When you have Klemmer and Saifiti x2 in the team, who cares if king can make metres? That’s the simple reason why he won’t be missed.