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Match Discussion: Round 23 vs Panthers @ Panthers Stadium

Who will win? Round 23: Panthers v Knights

  • Draw after Golden Point

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Newcastle Knights 1-12

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Newcastle Knights 13+

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    8
  • Poll closed .

Dave_

Juniors
Messages
2,330
But do you give the Knights a chance, are we in it, could this be an upset, come on be honest with me, I can take it.
Yeah bro, we are a huge chance of conceding 100 and yes we are in it...in shit. This will upset us all and I'm being totally honest. Can you really take that?
 
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mozza91

Coach
Messages
14,019
Ponga getting his hands on the ball more can only be a good thing for us. Stoked for Meaney too.
 

Zoidberg

First Grade
Messages
6,506
Saw a post on Knights Facebook page saying Pearce, Ponga, and Watson have spent a total of 186 mins on the field together this year.
 
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Dave_

Juniors
Messages
2,330
Saw a post on Onoghts Facebook page saying Pearce, Ponga, and Watson have spent a total of 186 mins on the field together this year.
Yeah I seen that too... we're honestly cursed with injuries. By rights we should probably be comfortably last
 

Old dog

Bench
Messages
2,657
Are we getting ahead of ourselves, training doesn't mean they will start that way, hope they do will be interesting.
 

Frederick

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
27,633
Injured I believe, not something to rejoice about, reserves not so good without him.
Are we getting ahead of ourselves, training doesn't mean they will start that way, hope they do will be interesting.

NRL | Knights' NSW Cup players including Brock Lamb and Sam Stone stood down after missing curfew in Auckland last weekend.
r0_430_4382_2967_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

Brock Lamb



Five Newcastle Knights NSW Cup players including Brock Lamb and Sam Stone have been stood down for one game by the club for breaching team protocols in Auckland last weekend.

The group, which also includes Brent Naden and part-timers Chris Randall and Matt Allwood, weren’t considered for Saturday’s NSW Cup clash against Penrith at Pepper Stadium.

The Newcastle Herald has been told the players failed to follow “clear instructions” from coach Rory Kostjasyn and missed a team curfew by almost an hour in the early hours of last Sunday morning after their 20-4 win over the Warriors.

The players had been out drinking with the team and players from the Knights’ Jersey Flegg squad before catching an early morning flight back to Newcastle on Sunday morning.

Read more: The horror injury statistic that has cruelled the Knights

Knights Head of Football Darren Mooney confirmed the players had been punished with a one game ban but denied they were involved in any drunken behaviour.

“It was strictly a team protocol issue. They breached team protocol and they have been stood down for one match as punishment,” Mooney said.

“Both teams went out and I want to stress there was no drunken behaviour by any of the players. This is about culture and the disregarding of clear instructions from their coach Rory Kostjasyn.

“We are about creating a culture of respect and discipline at the club and they have clearly disrespected their coach and the protocol that was put in place.

Read more: Ponga is poised to play against the Panthers

“When standards are set, they need to be met and when directions are given, they must be respected.”

Of the players, Stone is the only one under contract to the club next season.

r1555_265_4320_3191_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

Sam Stone [pictured with Nick Meaney]


Meanwhile, Kalyn Ponga will start at five-eighth for the first time in his NRL career against Penrith at Pepper Stadium on Saturday in a major positional change by coach Nathan Brown.

Ponga, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, trained at five-eighth on Wednesday with Nick Meaney at fullback and while Brown said later he was “having a bit of a look at it” without fully committing to the change, that is the way they will line up against the Panthers barring a mishap in Friday’s captain’s run.

Read more: James Maloney ruled out for Penrith clash with the Knights

Jack Cogger, who played five-eighth against the Warriors last weekend, will drop back to NSW Cup.


The decision is purely about protecting Ponga’s ankle with Brown believing he will do less running closer to the action while partnering Pearce in the halves.

“We are probably looking at trying to limit his running and Nick’s playing very well,”Brown said after training.

“We’ll have a look at it today and see where it takes us.”

In a further change, retiring prop Chris Heighington will be rested with Lukes Yates, who was named on the side’s extended bench, to come into the 17 after a strong performance in NSW Cup on the weekend.

Yates has played just four NRL games this season but has won a place on the bench in front of Josh King.

https://www.theherald.com.au/story/...-breaching-team-protocol-in-auckland/?src=rss
 

Old dog

Bench
Messages
2,657
NRL | Knights' NSW Cup players including Brock Lamb and Sam Stone stood down after missing curfew in Auckland last weekend.
r0_430_4382_2967_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

Brock Lamb



Five Newcastle Knights NSW Cup players including Brock Lamb and Sam Stone have been stood down for one game by the club for breaching team protocols in Auckland last weekend.

The group, which also includes Brent Naden and part-timers Chris Randall and Matt Allwood, weren’t considered for Saturday’s NSW Cup clash against Penrith at Pepper Stadium.

The Newcastle Herald has been told the players failed to follow “clear instructions” from coach Rory Kostjasyn and missed a team curfew by almost an hour in the early hours of last Sunday morning after their 20-4 win over the Warriors.

The players had been out drinking with the team and players from the Knights’ Jersey Flegg squad before catching an early morning flight back to Newcastle on Sunday morning.

Read more: The horror injury statistic that has cruelled the Knights

Knights Head of Football Darren Mooney confirmed the players had been punished with a one game ban but denied they were involved in any drunken behaviour.

“It was strictly a team protocol issue. They breached team protocol and they have been stood down for one match as punishment,” Mooney said.

“Both teams went out and I want to stress there was no drunken behaviour by any of the players. This is about culture and the disregarding of clear instructions from their coach Rory Kostjasyn.

“We are about creating a culture of respect and discipline at the club and they have clearly disrespected their coach and the protocol that was put in place.

Read more: Ponga is poised to play against the Panthers

“When standards are set, they need to be met and when directions are given, they must be respected.”

Of the players, Stone is the only one under contract to the club next season.

r1555_265_4320_3191_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

Sam Stone [pictured with Nick Meaney]


Meanwhile, Kalyn Ponga will start at five-eighth for the first time in his NRL career against Penrith at Pepper Stadium on Saturday in a major positional change by coach Nathan Brown.

Ponga, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, trained at five-eighth on Wednesday with Nick Meaney at fullback and while Brown said later he was “having a bit of a look at it” without fully committing to the change, that is the way they will line up against the Panthers barring a mishap in Friday’s captain’s run.

Read more: James Maloney ruled out for Penrith clash with the Knights

Jack Cogger, who played five-eighth against the Warriors last weekend, will drop back to NSW Cup.


The decision is purely about protecting Ponga’s ankle with Brown believing he will do less running closer to the action while partnering Pearce in the halves.

“We are probably looking at trying to limit his running and Nick’s playing very well,”Brown said after training.

“We’ll have a look at it today and see where it takes us.”

In a further change, retiring prop Chris Heighington will be rested with Lukes Yates, who was named on the side’s extended bench, to come into the 17 after a strong performance in NSW Cup on the weekend.

Yates has played just four NRL games this season but has won a place on the bench in front of Josh King.

https://www.theherald.com.au/story/...-breaching-team-protocol-in-auckland/?src=rss
Yeah read that later after my post, naughty boys, not serious but good to see discipline being upheld.
 

Old dog

Bench
Messages
2,657
Bit disappointed that JJ and Jones out of squad and King back in, looking like Meaney in for Cogger and Yates for Heighinton meaning bench is Buhrer and Yates, is would prefer Heighinton, along with Saulo and King, looks a bit fragile
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,916
Hmmmm... What does King offer? What does Yates really offer? Meh... I am excited to see how Ponga does at 5/8th.
 

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