Knights vs Roosters

[Mr_Knightside]

If Mamo can fix up his errors then he'd be a useful first grade winger, he doesn't have the skills to be FB at this point but if he can just learn to hold onto the ball and maybe position himself better then I think we will see more of an upside than a downside. Right now he's definitely behind Ross but you would think that if he's fit then he's the next cab off the rank if we lose another one of our backline.

 

[Caped Crusader]

Ross needs to stay on the wing imo. We have no one who can leap like him out wide and its a valuable weapon in both attack and defence

Despite his less than stellar form and involvement, Gagai is still our best FB option. He was by far our best in the Tigers match

 

[slotmachine]

Another loss and more injuries incoming.

 

[Still Nutty]

If Mamo can fix up his errors then he'd be a useful first grade winger, he doesn't have the skills to be FB at this point but if he can just learn to hold onto the ball and maybe position himself better then I think we will see more of an upside than a downside. Right now he's definitely behind Ross but you would think that if he's fit then he's the next cab off the rank if we lose another one of our backline.

My main problem with Mamo is the same as I have with Gaigai - both don't have the physical bulk for first grade at the moment....whenever either hit up or run one out, they are consistently rag dolled and driven back behind the advantage line by opposition defences. It is a key deficiency that well drilled sides exploit regularly against the Knights which either creates errors or just generally stifles momentum.

Ross and Uate are much more like Mansour in defensive ruck outs or kick returns from inside our 20 and tend to bend the line a bit or at least hold station once momentum has been stopped.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

My main problem with Mamo is the same as I have with Gaigai - both don't have the physical bulk for first grade at the moment....whenever either hit up or run one out, they are consistently rag dolled and driven back behind the advantage line by opposition defences. It is a key deficiency that well drilled sides exploit regularly against the Knights which either creates errors or just generally stifles momentum.

Ross and Uate are much more like Mansour in defensive ruck outs or kick returns from inside our 20 and tend to bend the line a bit or at least hold station once momentum has been stopped.

The thing that shits me is that a small change in technique would fix it immediately....

The thing the SMART little guys need to do once they get caught is get there ass to the ground. Slater does it in every tackle and he never gets rag dolled.

I reckon these guys just got used to being fast enough to get away with it in the lower grades. Now they are up against 120kg behemoths they have no idea what to do....

 

[Liam]

The thing that shits me is that a small change in technique would fix it immediately....

The thing the SMART little guys need to do once they get caught is get there ass to the ground. Slater does it in every tackle and he never gets rag dolled.

This is some Jimmy used to be a master at as well, god knows we could use some of his quick play the balls this year.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Interesting that Brown mentions Lamb as a fullback too.

Meanwhile youngster Brock Lamb remains in the mix as a possible replacement in the halves and has been named on an extended bench.

“Lamb is in around the money there too so we will make a decision later in the week,’ Brown said.

“Lamb can play fullback as well. We have a few things to look at there.”

He won't get the nod - Pearsall will.
Just interesting from the fact that the fullback position is being mentioned so Gagai might not be solidified in it as some think. Maybe we are looking at the possibility of Lamb longer term as fullback.

Pearsall might be groomed as a utility over Randell. I reckon Randell will be on other club's radar.

Since arriving at the Club during the pre-season, Pearsall has evolved his skills to take on a utility role within the team.

“Being able to play nine and six gives us scope to move the team,” Brown said.

“He’s definitely tough and competitive and (we spoke to Will about it that) maybe it was a quicker way to get to first grade.

“He’s a good defensive player, is tough and is a good competitor and has a really good kicking game.

“We are trying to, like probably all Clubs, try to manufacture some players who can cover a number of spots which helps during the salary cap and during times of injuries.”

http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2016/04/27/brown_previews_round.html

 

[The Showstopper]

Maybe Gagai is under pressure to stay in the side if he is mentioning Lamb as a fullback. I would pick Randell and Pearsall every week for the simple reason having two utilities is a huge plus. One has to start. The other on the bench. Not sure where Lamb fits but his time will arrive.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Speaking of Randell, he's been handy this year with his versatility and I don't feel that he's letting anyone down. Definitely not a very talented player but he's filling an important role for us at the moment.

 

[Knights_2016]

I haven't seen much of reserve grade this year but for anyone who has what's the view on Pearsall is he the way forward or would Lamb or Cogger be better options in terms of looking longer term. Also are there any other stronger performers which may be bolters for first grade especially in terms of outside backs.

 

[PhilGould]

Lamb and Cogger have shown more than Pearsall from what I've personally seen, but Pearsall did have big wraps on him when he was in u/20's too. In my opinion Lamb has the most potential out of the 3 but Cogger and Pearsall both look like they could be future first graders at least.

Our reserve grade outside backs are nothing special but in u/20's we've got Ken Tofilau (wing/fullback) & Henry Penn (centre) who have both been great. I wouldn't be surprised to see either of them get a call up if we get a few more injuries. There's also Cory Denniss who looked solid in his first grade game on the wing.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Speaking of Randell, he's been handy this year with his versatility and I don't feel that he's letting anyone down. Definitely not a very talented player but he's filling an important role for us at the moment.

This is what i love about Randell. He will never carry the team to a win (well he might once or twice a decade), but he will show up every week and do everything he can for the team...

He is basically Kidley before his ego exploded and he decided he was the Messiah of the Hunter.

He might not be the most talented bloke, but we have 17 spots to fill every week and we're not exactly overflowing with talent...

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

I haven't seen much of reserve grade this year but for anyone who has what's the view on Pearsall is he the way forward or would Lamb or Cogger be better options in terms of looking longer term. Also are there any other stronger performers which may be bolters for first grade especially in terms of outside backs.

Yeh, everyone keeps metioning Lamb, but i always used to hear that Cogger was our Next Big Thing (who we will no doubt ruin). #NextJoey

 

[The Showstopper]

When I hear the next Joey as a player description I just think epic face palm. As Kobe Bryant said , and I am paraphrasing, "I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan. i want to be the first Kobe Bryant." It worked.

 

[slotmachine]

Lamb only played fullback in 20s when they wanted to hide him in defence last year

 

[YNWA Tigers]

Moley reporting on twitter that he is getting strong rumours about Lamb being a definite starter.
He is usually pretty spot on with stuff he puts up on twitter.

 

[K-Man]

Moley reporting on twitter that he is getting strong rumours about Lamb being a definite starter.
He is usually pretty spot on with stuff he puts up on twitter.

Based on that and the hints from Brown, I'd therefore assume:

1. Lamb
2. Ross
3. Sione
4. Gagai
5. Uate
6. Pearsall
7. Hodkinson

I reckon it's the best way Brown sees to a) give both Lamb and Pearsall a crack since everyone else is getting a crack, and b) not play Pat in first grade ever again if possible. I think we're likely to see Pat left out whenever humanly possible, given how quickly he was dropped for his brother despite playing every game of the season until last week.

 

[Alex28]

Maybe Gagai is under pressure to stay in the side if he is mentioning Lamb as a fullback. I would pick Randell and Pearsall every week for the simple reason having two utilities is a huge plus. One has to start. The other on the bench. Not sure where Lamb fits but his time will arrive.

If he's mentioning Lamb as a fullback surely he's be thinking Gagai to Centre...

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Based on that and the hints from Brown, I'd therefore assume:

1. Lamb
2. Ross
3. Sione
4. Gagai
5. Uate
6. Pearsall
7. Hodkinson

I reckon it's the best way Brown sees to a) give both Lamb and Pearsall a crack since everyone else is getting a crack, and b) not play Pat in first grade ever again if possible. I think we're likely to see Pat left out whenever humanly possible, given how quickly he was dropped for his brother despite playing every game of the season until last week.

This could also be Lamb at 6 and Gagai at fullback.
That way if we lose a back Randell can slot into 6 with Lamb at fullback and shuffle the backs.
It would give us cover for the backs. Plus Lamb can play some time in around the ruck.

 

[YNWA Tigers]

Moley now saying its between Lamb and Pearsall with latter possibly getting a nod...which is quite a surprise and a massive change from this morning saying lamb is almost a definite starter.