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Match Discussion: Round 3 vs Penrith @ Carrington Park

Who will win? Round 3: Penrith v Newcastle

  • Penrith Panthers 13+

    Votes: 7 53.8%
  • Penrith Panthers 1-12

    Votes: 3 23.1%
  • Draw after Golden Point

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Newcastle Knights 1-12

    Votes: 3 23.1%
  • Newcastle Knights 13+

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    13
  • Poll closed .

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
I think I’d be surprised if Sasagi was the straight swap. It’ll be Phoenix with Sasagi on the bench, lucky to play 20 minutes, knowing AOB.

Or may even go to Barnett and he may give Jirah the second row spot.
 

Johns Magic

Referee
Messages
21,654
I think I’d be surprised if Sasagi was the straight swap. It’ll be Phoenix with Sasagi on the bench, lucky to play 20 minutes, knowing AOB.

Or may even go to Barnett and he may give Jirah the second row spot.

Both of these seem more obvious on experience and we may well get but I hope not. They would wreck our whole structure and gameplan.

I can’t see Crossland playing 60 minutes at lock like Mann does, and then jumping into hooker for 20 minutes to spell Randall. Not even close. Minutes aside, Crossland doesn’t have the same physicality or running threat in the lock role either.

If Barnett starts at lock we go back to 2021 attack shape, which I would prefer not to as it will nullify Clune and Clifford in a game we don’t have Ponga. I think if AOB surrenders to that he will probably just play Sue at 13 and leave Barnett on the edge, two guys he seems to trust over Jirah.

I would rather just next-man-up which is Sasagi. On Monday in NSW Cup he played 80 minutes at lock, had 54 touches, 37 passes, and made 182 metres. In the highlights he is playing that Mann role to a tee.

The Mann role is what he is being groomed for, so if they don’t pick him it will have to be because they are not confident in his defence just yet. I’d like to think he is ready to step up.

 

knightsarmy

Juniors
Messages
203
I don’t think we change media perception with a win tomorrow. Panthers have all the excuses lined up for them.

It’ll be “wow the knights beat the panthers but it wasn’t the best Panthers team to show up.”.

But I could care less. I’ll take 3 wins to start the season any day.
I think we are way to light Pentrith has much better depth , they are premiers for a reason
All the pressure is on us as Jono has mentioned as if we win its because they are missing "key players "
If they win its an understregth team that has won against another top 4 team :(
 

Knight Tales

Bench
Messages
3,024
I think we are way to light Pentrith has much better depth , they are premiers for a reason
All the pressure is on us as Jono has mentioned as if we win its because they are missing "key players "
If they win its an understregth team that has won against another top 4 team :(

We are missing 5 of our starting 13. I would call that understrength.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
Both of these seem more obvious on experience and we may well get but I hope not. They would wreck our whole structure and gameplan.

I can’t see Crossland playing 60 minutes at lock like Mann does, and then jumping into hooker for 20 minutes to spell Randall. Not even close. Minutes aside, Crossland doesn’t have the same physicality or running threat in the lock role either.

If Barnett starts at lock we go back to 2021 attack shape, which I would prefer not to as it will nullify Clune and Clifford in a game we don’t have Ponga. I think if AOB surrenders to that he will probably just play Sue at 13 and leave Barnett on the edge, two guys he seems to trust over Jirah.

I would rather just next-man-up which is Sasagi. On Monday in NSW Cup he played 80 minutes at lock, had 54 touches, 37 passes, and made 182 metres. In the highlights he is playing that Mann role to a tee.

The Mann role is what he is being groomed for, so if they don’t pick him it will have to be because they are not confident in his defence just yet. I’d like to think he is ready to step up.

Yeah I don’t disagree with you. Would love to see Sasagi get the chance and experience. Just hasn’t been how AOB has operated thus far.

We’ll find out in a few hours!
 

knightsarmy

Juniors
Messages
203
Penrtith are going to be a little bit better than the Tigers they were a shambles last night
 
Last edited:

Johns Magic

Referee
Messages
21,654
Yeah I don’t disagree with you. Would love to see Sasagi get the chance and experience. Just hasn’t been how AOB has operated thus far.

We’ll find out in a few hours!

Hopefully Mann plays but next week vs the Sharks is building up to be a big game.

I reckon one of Croker or Thompson might start today to keep one of the Saifitis on the field at all times.
 

Sir Galahad

Juniors
Messages
719
I am not too worried because we have Leo Thompson and Mat Croker!!
Super impressed with Croker last week, tackled hard and ran hard. I'd thought at one stage he was on the outer and unsigned ? Hard to imagine why based on last week.

Thompson has a very bright future.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
Super impressed with Croker last week, tackled hard and ran hard. I'd thought at one stage he was on the outer and unsigned ? Hard to imagine why based on last week.

Thompson has a very bright future.
Who knows the ins and outs but it may have been the kick up the butt Croker needed. Maybe he was happy/distracted with his outside business ventures with Ponga and Watson..

Based on what he’s showed this year though he looks like a good modern front rower to me. Has nice footwork and a good gas tank that will only get better.

I said last year when King signed with the Storm that I thought one of Jirah, Croker or Saulo would fill his void and we wouldn’t even realize King had left. Being proven right so far.
 

PhilGould

Bench
Messages
3,469
19. Tex Hoy
2. Dom Young
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Enari Tuala
6. Jake Clifford
7. Adam Clune
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Chris Randall
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell (C)
12. Mitch Barnett
13. Kurt Mann

14. Phoenix Crossland
15. Jirah Momoisea
16. Leo Thompson
17. Mat Croker

18. Simi Sasagi
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,943
19. Tex Hoy
2. Dom Young
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Enari Tuala
6. Jake Clifford
7. Adam Clune
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Chris Randall
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell (C)
12. Mitch Barnett
13. Kurt Mann

14. Phoenix Crossland
15. Jirah Momoisea
16. Leo Thompson
17. Mat Croker

18. Simi Sasagi

Looks not too shabby bar no.19.
 

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
I'm confident this team can do something against the Panthers.

I'm a bit surprised because I thought Johns Magic would be on the money with us trying to always have a Saifiti out there.
 

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