Match Discussion: Round 16 vs Warriors @ McDonald Jones Stadium

[Burns]

Updated squad says Buhrer at half back..

Suuuuuuurely not the side that runs out

 

[slotmachine]

Very unlikely which is unfortunate, it looks better than the one Toohey is saying will be picked.

 

[Old dog]

I'd prefer if we ran out with:

1. Mann
6. Lino
7. Crossland
9. Watson
14. Levi

Let Crossland run the team from the first minute. He and Lino have been playing together in NSW cup this season so are familiar with each other's games

Watson and Levi are interchangeable, don't mind who starts and who comes off the bench. Both will provide a spark against a tired ruck

In reserves they played Lino 7 and Crossland 6 I think, if so that might be better

 

[Silent Knight]

Suuuuuuurely not the side that runs out

I reckon Browny enjoys a bit of subterfuge, keep the opposition guessing what we’ll run out with.

 

[Old dog]

Do we really want to know, best 17 available in preferred positions and giving it all will do me, these things happen due to being a strong side.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

 

[Frederick]

Watson
SKD
Ramien
Sione
Hunt
Mann
Lino
Gavet
Levi
King
Fitzy
Buhrer
Herman

Guerra
Jaifiti
Saulo
Crossland


Sheesh

 

[slotmachine]

I would have chucked moga on the wing, kept sione out of the centres and back to the edge, and buhrer to bench pushing crossland out.

Hopefully warriors pull a no-show like they are wont to do, and we beat them 13+

 

[macavity]

Buhrer is such a passenger. But I understand he is there for intangibles.

 

[aqua_duck]

I would have chucked moga on the wing, kept sione out of the centres and back to the edge, and buhrer to bench pushing crossland out.

Hopefully warriors pull a no-show like they are wont to do, and we beat them 13+

Likewise but I'm guessing Browny wants Moga to actually earn his spot back.

 

[Yosh]

Exciting to say the least. I always look forward to youngsters coming through the ranks and making their debuts. Crossland off the bench makes sense but changing an already broken spine midway through the game doesn't sound that reassuring.

Levi is only just back from injury so I doubt he can play 80 minutes. When he gets subbed off does Crossland go into hooker? Or will it be one of those:

Watson to hooker, Mann back to fullback and Crossland slots into the halves situation?

I'm also quite excited to see how Saulo and JSaifiti will do against the Warriors forward pack. As good as King has been for us this year, a JSaitifi playing to his potential means we will have four Origin level players playing middle forward for us.

Exciting weekend ahead. Don't expect us to win but can't see us being beaten badly like the Storm game. Still expect to see us dominate the ruck but perhaps lose because we can't get the points on the board.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

We'll need to shuffle when Crossland comes on I think. I'd doubt he will go to hooker.
Levi off, Watson to hooker, Mann FB, Crossland to 5/8.
It's a big ask for Watson.
Option Buhrer goes to hooker either with Levi off or they spread the load at hooker between Levi and Buhrer. I'd like to see Watson take some runs from Dummy Half.

 

[Old dog]

Levi off, Buhrer to hooker, Guerra on.
Leave everyone else in place.
It won’t surprise me if Moga plays, Sione to bench and Crossland out

 

[Frederick]

Levi off, Buhrer to hooker, Guerra on.
Leave everyone else in place.
It won’t surprise me if Moga plays, Sione to bench and Crossland out

Browns already told Crossland he's playing, so that won't happen

 

[Old dog]

Yes I know, but still wouldn’t surprise me.

 

[Burwood]

Yes I know, but still wouldn’t surprise me.

Crossland also pulled out of the NSW U20s Origin side to make his debut, so it would be a surprise to everybody but you if Brown drops him.

 

[Frederick]

JULY 6 2019 - 6:00AM
TOOHEY'S NEWS | Why centre Tautau Moga can't even make a badly depleted Knights NRL squad

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You know there is something drastically wrong when you have a $380,000-a-year centre stuck in reserve grade all season who can't force his way into the Knights top grade side even when seven starting players are missing.


If ever there was a game that Tautau Moga should have been demanding to play in, it was today's clash with the Warriors. No Mitchell Pearce, David Klemmer, Kalyn Ponga, Tim Glasby, Daniel Saifiti, Mitch Barnett or Edrick Lee, a side decimated by Origin, injury and suspension.

Yet, rather than give Moga his long-awaited chance in the centres or on the wing as the injured Lee's replacement, coach Nathan Brown has again given him the cold shoulder and opted instead to make three positional changes to compensate. Centre Hymel Hunt goes to the wing, backrower Sione Mata'utia to centre with back-up hooker Jamie Buhrer starting in the backrow.

It says plenty about Moga's form and where the coach believes his head is. Brown's message could not be clearer. 'You won't return to the top grade until you have earned it, no matter how much we are paying you'.

Tautau Moga



Presumably, it is not just a message for Moga but for the entire playing group that after jerseys were literally almost given away to players at the club during the rebuild, those days are long gone. Reputations and pay packets don't count for anything at the selection table any longer either.

It must be said that Moga has had his struggles both on and off the field with his recovery from a fourth knee reconstruction and his court dramas but we hear a poor attitude to constantly having to play NSW Cup is not helping his cause.

Star cursed
Young winger Starford To'a has had a cursed run with injury this season with his latest probably costing him an NRL debut tonight.

To'a 18, has missed most of the season with a badly broken hand suffered in a first round NSW Cup match but after one game back, was on coach Nathan Brown's radar after Edrick Lee fractured his arm against Brisbane.

That was until he suffered an ankle injury against Blacktown in Cup just 24 hours later. To'a returned home yesterday following surgery with another Knights' up-and-comer Bradman Best alongside him in the car. Best 17, had surgery at the same time, for the same injury, suffered in the same game.

Crossed off
Phoenix Crossland's NRL debut against the Warriors today and possible selection for the Bulldogs clash next Friday night will see him pull out of Wednesday night's Origin Under 20's clash against Queensland at ANZ Stadium.

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...-sends-strong-message-with-moga-snub/?cs=7580

Satisfied, old man?

 

[Burns]

Today feels like a must win game. Lose, and we are likely only 2 points in the top 8. Win and keep in touch with the Raiders/Manly for 4th position.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Unfortunately I fail to see where our points will come from..

 

[Yosh]

So our two best youngsters in Star and Best are injured? That's no good...

They have awesome names though. The Best and the Star.