Knights - Finals 2023

[Jono078]

With today we're not only guaranteed to play in the finals, we're guaranteed a home game for week 1!

At this stage it's VERY likely we play the winners of the Rabbitohs and Roosters. Or if the Rabbitohs win and Raiders lose it'll be the Raiders.

 

[perverse]

With today we're not only guaranteed to play in the finals, we're guaranteed a home game for week 1!

At this stage it's VERY likely we play the winners of the Rabbitohs and Roosters. Or if the Rabbitohs win and Raiders lose it'll be the Raiders.

We can beat any of them if Ponga is fit. It's that simple. He is reaching Jarryd Hayne 2009 levels on this run. Really sweating on that shoulder now. Roosters and Bunnies will be playing their Grand Final next week I think.

 

[Yosh]

Maybe we rest him against the Dragons? Gagai is an amazing back up fullback and maybe give Lucas another game in the centres? Hopefully Ponga is fit and firing though.

 

[perverse]

Another question is whether you rest players next week or not. Ponga I think you do unless he's at 100%, but I don't think you rest anyone else. Momentum and confidence are everything for us right now and I think we need to keep the ball rolling against the Dragons.

 

[Alex28]

Another question is whether you rest players next week or not. Ponga I think you do unless he's at 100%, but I don't think you rest anyone else. Momentum and confidence are everything for us right now and I think we need to keep the ball rolling against the Dragons.

Agree. We want 5th spot and play 8th. We can’t risk that.

 

[Jono078]

Another question is whether you rest players next week or not. Ponga I think you do unless he's at 100%, but I don't think you rest anyone else. Momentum and confidence are everything for us right now and I think we need to keep the ball rolling against the Dragons.

I was just about to pose this question.

It's a real tough one for AOB.

Do you rest some blokes who have been on a super run for 2 months now and let the recharge their batteries for a 4 week campaign? Or do we try and keep this momentum rolling?

The fear with no break is we gas out by the end of the finals, but there's absolutely no signs of that just yet (Anyone missing Hayden Knowles?).

I think if it's my choice I'm resting a bunch of players who could do with some freshening up (Crossland, Frizell and Gagai come to mind).

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Another question is whether you rest players next week or not. Ponga I think you do unless he's at 100%, but I don't think you rest anyone else. Momentum and confidence are everything for us right now and I think we need to keep the ball rolling against the Dragons.

We'll rest Hastings. Joey confirmed that from a meeting we had with him.

 

[Allstar Knights]

I think we we can afford to rest a few of the guys but not all of them. Guys like Tuala, Lucas, Jones, Nu Brown, Clune can help fill in if need be and get the job done. Wow, we are quite blessed with depth this year.

 

[ryan.a87]

Rest ponga….give Hastings, fitzbibbon limited game time if they are good to go

 

[Woody90]

Regardless of whether we win any games in the finals, unbelievable effort to make it to a home semi.

We’ve copped long-term injuries to 2 of our spine players and co-captains and the spine has completely changed since the start of the year. Really resilient team we have on our hands. Massive change to the blokes last year that would drop their heads the moment they made an error and the scoreline would blow out. Really proud of them.

 

[perverse]

I was just about to pose this question.

It's a real tough one for AOB.

Do you rest some blokes who have been on a super run for 2 months now and let the recharge their batteries for a 4 week campaign? Or do we try and keep this momentum rolling?

The fear with no break is we gas out by the end of the finals, but there's absolutely no signs of that just yet (Anyone missing Hayden Knowles?).

I think if it's my choice I'm resting a bunch of players who could do with some freshening up (Crossland, Frizell and Gagai come to mind).

It's possible we run out of juice, I dunno. I've been expecting it for a while and they just keep turning up with the energy.

At the end of the day I guess you just want to do enough to win next week. I just see our momentum, and the energy and belief we're getting from it, as a cornerstone of our chances in the finals. When you scream into the pointy end of the season in this sort of form, you don't want to lose that magic feeling.

I don't want us to disrespect the Dragons too much either. It's a bit of a spit in the face if you rest a lot of blokes and it could fire them up.

 

[Apey]

I'd rest Ponga and Hastings and that's pretty much it.

While we do look great I feel like a lot of it is momentum too. Need to keep it going. A loss won't help us.

 

[Old dog]

Doesn’t matter which way we go we will find some poor obscure reason to blame someone for making the decisions.
Basically it is up to the players, the Coach and medical advice.
Ponga is obviously the likely rest from Dragons game, Hastings may be ready for a run after a break, not sure about Fitz and Mann health wise, if in doubt rest them. Most likely other for a rest is Crossland, I would play Brown at 9 with either Mann or Crossland at 14 with limited game time. Can think of many more but that is enough for now.
The main thing is to have our best 17 playing in first semi at home

 

[Zoidberg]

I’d play Hastings just to get game time in his legs and work a bit on timing with plays.
Ponga definitely rest.

 

[Zoidberg]

Little stat- we will finish 5th or 6th after the final round next week, that is our highest ladder ranking at the end of a season since 2006, Joey’s last full year playing.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

So proud of these boys to get as far as they have. 9 weeks ago we were fighting to avoid the spoon.. A massive turn around

 

[Jono078]

I wanted to share the following image with you all. This is the NRL ladder from round 18 to now. We are 1st in position and in attack and defensive rank. Really beautiful to look at!

 

[Yosh]

I wanted to share the following image with you all. This is the NRL ladder from round 18 to now. We are 1st in position and in attack and defensive rank. Really beautiful to look at!

View attachment 78602

Is that real? Surely not!! Never thought I'd see something like that in my lifetime. Wow and great work everyone at the club.

 

[Jono078]

Is that real? Surely not!! Never thought I'd see something like that in my lifetime. Wow and great work everyone at the club.

It's very real mate! Like I said, a thing of beauty! Was too good not to share.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

We are third in Sportsbet odds at $18. Big change.