Match Discussion: Round 8 vs Sea Eagles @ Lottoland

[Zoidberg]

Was at that game... sooooo good.

 

[Pedge1971]

I miss the chief.

I liked the mentality the knights had when Joey was playing. However I’d back us a lot more against manly with the current team without Pearce then a previous knights team without Johns. That team was destined to lose before even getting off the bus.

This. I prefer it when we might not win but geez we would bash them. Would love to see some of that from these blokes.

 

[Knightmare]

Was that the Kidley field goal?

That's the one. Back when Kidley didn't murder us in tight games...

 

[Mr_Knightside]

That's still one of my favourite Newcastle Knights memories, we fought so hard in that game and was pretty crazy that we got the result considering the troops we were missing.

 

[Spot On]

So Watson and Cogger it is to kick off the post halfback season. Good luck boys. Hope you can help us get a victory over a team that is in complete disarray that might come out swinging but hopefully run out of puff if we turn up for the 80 mins.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5360424/cogger-and-watson-get-the-nod-for-manly-clash/?cs=306

Guerra to captain, Watson and Cogger in the halves.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

I didn't think Cogger was enough of a playmaker for 7. I hope he proves me wrong

 

[perverse]

I didn't think Cogger was enough of a playmaker for 7. I hope he proves me wrong

I'm pretty sure he's spent the entirety of his career so far as a 7, bar maybe some of his first grade appearances... so it's a bit of a worry if he isn't enough of a playmaker (for the Doggies especially). Realistically we don't need someone who is going to lay on tries left and right... a decent game manager would hopefully be enough to get us through the next 10 or so weeks. Let the likes of Ponga and Watson create opportunities.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Squad vs Manly:

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Ken Sio
3. Sione Mata'utia
4. Nathan Ross
5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
6. Connor Watson
7. Jack Cogger
8. Herman Ese'ese
9. Slade Griffin
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
12. Aidan Guerra
13. Mitch Barnett

14. Jamie Buhrer
15. Chris Heighington
16. Luke Yates
17. Jacob Saifiti

18. Cory Denniss
19. Josh King
20. Brock Lamb
21. Jacob Lillyman

 

[Noname36]

Interesting. I thought Brown would have brought Lamb back in as he’s the most natural first receiver of them all but I suppose he wants him to learn that you’ve got to earn your spot and really Cogger didn’t deserve to get dropped after last week.

I don’t really rate Lamb much but I do think by a few weeks he’ll be back in the side. Nothing against Cogger but Lamb has more experience organising a side. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a last minute inclusion this week tbh.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I'm glad Watson is back regardless. Hope he's feeling at least close to 100%

 

[Spot On]

Interesting. I thought Brown would have brought Lamb back in as he’s the most natural first receiver of them all but I suppose he wants him to learn that you’ve got to earn your spot and really Cogger didn’t deserve to get dropped after last week.

I don’t really rate Lamb much but I do think by a few weeks he’ll be back in the side. Nothing against Cogger but Lamb has more experience organising a side. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a last minute inclusion this week tbh.

I think Brown sees Cogger as much more reliable at the moment and will give him a decent go. If he's not horrendous then Brock will need to be playing out of his skin in reggies to get a call up. I thought Cogger was pretty good for us in limited game time in firsts last season.

 

[Spot On]

I didn't think Cogger was enough of a playmaker for 7. I hope he proves me wrong

Thing is, he doesn't have to do to much in attack rather defend well, get his kicking game in order and pass to Ponga.

Slade can help out with some kicking and surely Browny will be using that option. Not sure if Watson can kick??? Any reason why Ponga can't kick in general play?? There really are plenty of options available. I don't know why we don't develop them.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Im pretty sure that Brown told Lamb that he has some things that he needs to work on in reserve grade. It would have been mixed messages giving him some things to improve but only giving him one week to improve them.

I remember last year Brown made the comment that he would run faster than our 2 halves did over a couple of games before dropping Lamb. Lamb really needs to work on his running game and not catching the ball standing still.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Cogger has been told to 'own' the team.
https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5361440/cogger-told-to-own-team-with-pearce-out/?cs=306

 

[Frederick]

When did cogger sign his contract with the dogs? Wonder if, should he perform well in Pearce's absence, we could convince him to back out of the deal and sign with us.

Either that or offer them Lamb instead

 

[mozza91]

Cogger has had one pretty good game in First Grade. Let’s not go nuts.

 

[Old dog]

Not that long ago we thought Lamb was the bees knees, better than all our other halves before purchasing Pearce and Watson. I still rate him in our top two prior to Pearce injury, hard to work out why, especially Watsons injury, that he isn't selected. That could change prior to game time, think winning and not changing played a big part, Watson had to come back, no one deserved to be dropped, Watson for Pearce, easy, no controversary selection.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Brown rates Lamb highly so he must have done a lot more in training than we see on the field. He might be one, of many, players who can't convert his potential. I hope he can.
Some defence to his form is that he has been totally targeted in both attack and defence and shut down.
But so has Ponga and he gets through it and doesn't crumble.

 

[Noname36]

I'm having a bit of trouble understanding the mentality that because he played a couple of good games at the back end of LAST season Lamb automatically deserves selection now.

Brown has made it perfectly clear that he will choose who fits the team best NOW...it's nothing personal. Look at Danny Levi for example. He was solid for us from the moment he came into FG, and he's played A HEAP more good games in FG than Lamb has, and still he's not in the side because he's not the best option for the team at present.

Lamb has been given a lot of opportunities this year. He was given first preference of bench spot over Levi and was also given first shot in the starting line up when Watson went down. He just wasn't up to it though. It's not even about the defence for mine, it's the fact that play has broken down every single time he's gotten the ball this year.

Lamb defiently had a couple of good games at the backend of last year, nobody is denying that at all, but he's clearly not up to it now or the right fit in the CURRENT team, and that isn't going to change over night. Now that Cogger's in FG he can go back to reserve grade and work on his game at his preferred position of 7 and try to force Cogger or Watson out, but there's no way he deserved to just walk back in this week over them just because Pearce was injured IMO.

Brown has made it clear that if you're not the best option you won't be in the side, previous seasons service be damned. It's why Levi is in reserve grade despite playing many more good games than Lamb in his career. I'm also sure if say Sione was in an important spine position and there was a better option he'd be in reserve grade too. I like that we finally have a coach that will pick based on what's best for the team rather than how much he may like certain players personally...such a nice change after the Hagan/Stone/Bennett years.