Knights v Panthers Match Thread

[Pika]

Appeared to play a bit straighter today with no Taia and Simmo back on the right edge. Matt Hilder is no threat from dummy 1/2 so I would put Gidley to 9, McDonnell to 1 and bring back keith to play left wing against Hazem.

Simmo was my MOTM today.

Nadira might come in for DeGois if he is out.

I thought Hilder was fine from dummy half. Scored a try form dummy half so is a bit of a threast. Though Puletua is just about the worst line defender in the comp.

 

[Joker's Wild]

I thought Wicks was great today. He ran the ball straight,hard and actually with some pretty good leg drive. Much improved on his last few limp wristed performances

 

[Karmawave]

Nadira might come in for DeGois if he is out.

I thought Hilder was fine from dummy half. Scored a try form dummy half so is a bit of a threast. Though Puletua is just about the worst line defender in the comp.

I hope Ndaira comes in next week if De Gois is out. I'm a big fan of Hilder, and love his workload, but his distribution from dummy half is poor, and more so, it is incredibly slow.

Ndaira has to come into the 9 to keep the balance of the team perfect.

 

[NS_Sherlock]

Appeared to play a bit straighter today with no Taia and Simmo back on the right edge. Matt Hilder is no threat from dummy 1/2 so I would put Gidley to 9, McDonnell to 1 and bring back keith to play left wing against Hazem.

That's the way I would pick it without deGois. Before I thought of Ndaira anyway.
I thought all the forwards took a share of the load tonight which made a difference. Unlike some other weeks, the forwards were there to take the hit-up from the backs after receiving close to their own line after about 2 tackles. in some previous games the backs had been asked to take up to 4 tackles and were met with a solid defence and drifted sideways.
Much better execution tonight!

 

[Radioactive Man]

On a side note,
How mazing was the crowd/atmosphere today ? Easily the best its been in many the year. Kudos to the Panthers group who travelled down, 'Hey Jude' made me smile for whatever reason.

 

[Alex28]

Hollow win? The Panthers only played as well as we let them. We were great in defence, in particular against Jennings. We were pretty decent in attack, however we must be the only team in the comp where we can score 35 points and the only input our halfback has is a field goal. Was he involved in setting up a try at all? If he did I didn't notice it...he didn't do too much wrong, however he just didn't do much.

We all basically wrote off Simmo as past it a few weeks ago. I for one stand corrected. Was outstanding just when we needed him.

 

[Knightmare]

I remember standing up the back corner of the old Goninan Hill 8 years ago in the last match of the regular season and watching the Knights pump Penrith (wooden spooners) 60-18. Even though it was a thrashing, it was an entertaining game to watch, back when the likes of Joey, BK, Bedsy, Robbie 'O and Tahu were all in the side.

By comparison, I thought today was a rather clinical disposal of a Panthers team who melted. There were a few stupid errors in the first half, but I thought they tightened their act in the second half and in the last 15 minutes did no more than what needed to be done to finish the game with better f/a. I get the impression the boys could have lifted another notch, but figured out soon enough today it wouldn't be needed. I would be surprised if they don't play more up-tempo against Canterbury.

On a side note, we sounded awesome! Watched a tape of the game when I got home and you can hear Mac booming the drum and us yelling many times.

 

[Yosh]

Yeah how good was Simmo? Did he play 80 minutes? Hope he brings this good form into the finals because he played as good as any 2nd rower I've seen in a while.

Dureau was great. Terrible pass on the left flank halfway through the game but apart from that was good effort from the lad, I think he got the best out of Mullen and Kidley today.

Kidley was awesome to, I think he trusted Dureau so he didnt feel the need to jump in every set to try make something, did his thing at fullback well and beautiful back up work from the man. Mullen looked awesome running a little wider and almost broke the line with every run.

MacDougall what a try, Jennings should have scored a try like that against him funny to see it was the other way round, Mad Dogs face 10m from the try line was gold man, I thought he was gonna pass out!

Well hope thats the last we see of Rogers, did some good things, thanks for the memories best of luck mate. Dureau is the future.

 

[TooheysNew]

LOL. Oh Yoshie...

 

[CycloneSteve]

The beauty is...if we beat the Dogs on Saturday night we can expect a home Semi Final in Week 2 of the finals....and if results go the way I think they will...that will be against the Titans....I dont wanna get to ahead of myself but...Grand Final qualifier anyone?? :crazy:

 

[antonius]

Someone else said it "clinical win" Agree with Alex, Simmo definately turned back the clock, best game from him for Ages. Nobody has mentioned him much, but I thought Vuna had a good game, he was slow off the mark on one occasion and should have scored but apart from that he had a strong game. I honestly think the side looks more structured with Dureau in it, I know he didn't have a lot do, but he he did what he had to, and Mullen looked a lot more comfortable. Doogs....what can you say, the bloke can still play, ran rings round Jennings.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Wow was roaring drunk yesterday so dont remember much but Simmo, Gidley and Mullen were all top shelf!

 

[antonius]

Bloody Sau is greedy with the ball, I wish he'd learn to pass, he would be a top center if that was in his game, ATM he is almost a dead end in our attack.

 

[Kazaf]

Bloody Sau is greedy with the ball, I wish he'd learn to pass, he would be a top center if that was in his game, ATM he is almost a dead end in our attack.

Agree, on a couple of occasions I could see Vuna roaring away for a try from a Sau.

 

[Pika]

On which occasions?

I have seen the game a few times and cannot recall a time when the ball should have been given with Vuna in the clear.

 

[Nuffy]

I think that Sau suffers from comparisons with other centres as he doesn't have a "pass" that can put his winger away, a la Mids.

He is a strong runner, with good defence and for someone young in age and experience, he holds his own.

 

[antonius]

On which occasions?

I have seen the game a few times and cannot recall a time when the ball should have been given with Vuna in the clear.

Can't speak for Kasaf Pika, but I was wasn't refering to Sundays game in particular, it's more a general observation of him.

There have been plenty of times this season when a pass from him promised a better result than him trying to bullock his way through the defense. Sure that has worked for him on a few occasions, but I think he has it in his head that it'll work every time.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

On a side note,
How mazing was the crowd/atmosphere today ? Easily the best its been in many the year. Kudos to the Panthers group who travelled down, 'Hey Jude' made me smile for whatever reason.

I thought the crowd atmosphere at the cowboys game was much more vocal

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Can't speak for Kasaf Pika, but I was wasn't refering to Sundays game in particular, it's more a general observation of him.

There have been plenty of times this season when a pass from him promised a better result than him trying to bullock his way through the defense. Sure that has worked for him on a few occasions, but I think he has it in his head that it'll work every time.

I'm with you Antonius, he REALLY needs to pass the ball a lot more. The defence have worked him out so they are able to put a good tackle on him, rather than standing back wondering if he will do a draw and pass. I thought there were a couple of times during yesterdays game where he should have passed it to his winger.

 

[K-Man]

I thought Wicks was great today. He ran the ball straight,hard and actually with some pretty good leg drive. Much improved on his last few limp wristed performances

I agree with that.

It was very pleasing to see actually.