Match Discussion: Round 12 vs Manly @ McDonald Jones Stadium

[The Axe of Druss]

I'm starting to feel like Old Boys day is our target for resetting our season - get a lot of troops back and some new editions... Beat the Eels and it could be a confidence boost for the place to make a real run, if it's not too late.

Shit man that's some omega level optimism you've got going there

I hope you're right but I just do see it

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Everyone start putting $$$ on Manly now, free money!

 

[Knight Tales]

There is no real answer to stopping Turbo. All you can do is hope we win the middle and limit the effectiveness of those around him.

 

[Yosh]

They have Tommy Turbo and we have Hexed Hoy... Literally the best player in the NRL atm vs the worst player to play NRL this weekend. Depressing...

Will Ponga play Origin? Is he rushing to get fit for Origin? I hope he isn't because don't want him to play for Queensland and come back half broken and miss a ton of games for us again...

 

[Jono078]

Will Ponga play Origin? Is he rushing to get fit for Origin? I hope he isn't because don't want him to play for Queensland and come back half broken and miss a ton of games for us again...

I’m not so sure he’s an automatic selection for them. Brimson did a great job for Qld last year. I’m really curious to see what they do with Ponga.

 

[macavity]

Young backrower Daniel Abraham has gone to another level and is talked about as a potential rep backrower.. Breaks his leg against the Warriors? Never returns the same player, not even close.

Abes broke his leg playing City/Country

 

[macavity]

I’m not so sure he’s an automatic selection for them. Brimson did a great job for Qld last year. I’m really curious to see what they do with Ponga.

Munster possibly out, they will play him at 6, he will make 30 tackles and do a shoulder.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Munster is playing, I'd put my house on it

 

[Knight76]

Any remote expectation that we might put on a bit of a show has now gone.

Of course they will, it will just be a shit show.

To be fair, even with Ponga playing, still a fair chance we see the usual programming from them.

 

[Knight Tales]

If Bailey Hodgson carves it up in NSW Cup, then there are no excuses picking far lesser talents ahead of him when KP is absent.

 

[Yosh]

If Bailey Hodgson carves it up in NSW Cup, then there are no excuses picking far lesser talents ahead of him when KP is absent.

But his dad isn't best friends with Joey...

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

I'm not happy with Hoy at FB. I'd put Watson there and bring King on.
Hoy will hopefully prove my doubts wrong.

 

[Joel-22]

Why not try Starford To'a at fullback while Ponga is out? Starford played for Aus schoolboys at fullback didn't he?

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Why not try Starford To'a at fullback while Ponga is out? Starford played for Aus schoolboys at fullback didn't he?

Has fullback in his profile but listed as centre here
https://18thman.com/2018/11/27/schoolboys-post-record-win-in-first-tour-game/
Must have had other games at FB.

 

[PhilGould]

Best game I've seen To'a play was as fullback for the junior Kiwis, ran for 200m+ and had 2 great tries

 

[Walk On Home Boy]

Really tired of the disappointment and negativity regarding the Knights but I have to be honest, seeing Tex Hoy in the side is depressing and gives me zero hope. He is literally one of the worst players I've ever seen in first grade. He's just not up to this level in any way. His selection confirms that the debilitating boys club is alive and well at Newcastle.

 

[mozza91]

Really tired of the disappointment and negativity regarding the Knights but I have to be honest, seeing Tex Hoy in the side is depressing and gives me zero hope. He is literally one of the worst players I've ever seen in first grade. He's just not up to this level in any way. His selection confirms that the debilitating boys club is alive and well at Newcastle.

Hoy is trash but who else are you gonna put there?

 

[Seage]

Really tired of the disappointment and negativity regarding the Knights but I have to be honest, seeing Tex Hoy in the side is depressing and gives me zero hope. He is literally one of the worst players I've ever seen in first grade. He's just not up to this level in any way. His selection confirms that the debilitating boys club is alive and well at Newcastle.

We also had Matt Minto at fullback once upon a time. Under Wayne Bennett. Work that out.

 

[Jono078]

Really tired of the disappointment and negativity regarding the Knights but I have to be honest, seeing Tex Hoy in the side is depressing and gives me zero hope. He is literally one of the worst players I've ever seen in first grade. He's just not up to this level in any way. His selection confirms that the debilitating boys club is alive and well at Newcastle.

This is not AOB's view. He said it a couple of weeks ago, the only way these young guys get better is to give them game time and really he isn't wrong. Guess you just have to ask when enough is enough.

 

[Loose Cannon]

What happened to developing Hoy as a 6. He is clearly not capable of being a fullback.

I know there are few options with Ponga missing 75% of games, but I feel the best selection for development purposes in a season that is all but gone would be;

1 To’a
2 Musgrove (R)
3 Sasagi (R)
4 Best (L)
5 Tuala (L)
6 Mann
7 Crossland

Cup:
1 Hodgson
6 Hoy

Then in time with all available, except Lee, because nobody knows.

1 Ponga, 2 To’a, 3 Sasagi/Young, 4 Best, 5 Hunt, 6 Clifford, 7 Pearce.

Cup: 1 Hodgson, 3 Sasagi/Young, 6 Hoy, 7 Crossland, 9 Randall, 14 Mann.