Newcastle, Incentive ??

[TRANSLATION]

The only incentive for the knights to make the semis, is that they do it without requiring the services of A johns. But that wont matter, they wont go passed week 2 even if they do make it.

How do u keep performing, knowing you cant win games in the semis without him ?

I wish they just let us smash them lol. But I think they can beat us the way the dragons have been playing. Without Joey.

You got to geel for a club and it's fans and players when someone so good is out for these games.

But we can't feel too sorry for them, as we have played the whole season without 2, 3, 4 or 5 of our best unavailable.

 

[dannyboy]

I agree that the Knights won't go far without joey but seriously what hope do the Dragons have.

Let's imagine for a moment that the Dragons win their next two matches and the other teams lose their matches (and the rain falls up & the pigs go flying). The Dragons don't stand a hope in hades once there.

 

[TRANSLATION]

I agree that the Knights won't go far without joey but seriously what hope do the Dragons have.

Let's imagine for a moment that the Dragons win their next two matches and the other teams lose their matches (and the rain falls up & the pigs go flying). The Dragons don't stand a hope in hades once there.

Well They get Barrett Back in the finals. That would be a big Help.

Someone on the other side of the ruck. Someone that is a great ball runner and vicious Defender.

and Timmo can go to the Forwards. It's a Big Difference.

Who do you watch, Firmo, or barrett ??

Look how good firmo is all alone, he has 2 on him every week, that will be taken away.

 

[Dean Moriarty]

How do u keep performing, knowing you cant win games in the semis without him ?

If Newcastle are going into games thinking they can't win, they deserve to lose. With Hagan as coach, though, I don't think they will be.

 

[flip]

I agree that the Knights won't go far without joey but seriously what hope do the Dragons have.

Alot more then the sharks

Yeah, I doubt we will get far in the semis if we did make it though.

 

[DRRRAGONS]

I agree that the Knights won't go far without joey but seriously what hope do the Dragons have.

Let's imagine for a moment that the Dragons win their next two matches and the other teams lose their matches (and the rain falls up & the pigs go flying). The Dragons don't stand a hope in hades once there.

At least we won't get flogged by 70+

Is that a record dannyboy?

 

[El Diablo]

How do u keep performing, knowing you cant win games in the semis without him ?

If Newcastle are going into games thinking they can't win, they deserve to lose. With Hagan as coach, though, I don't think they will be.

If Hagan was a good coach he'd be able to get his side to win without Johns.

No Johns=No Newcastle

 

[Doctor]

But we can't feel too sorry for them, as we have played the whole season without 2, 3, 4 or 5 of our best unavailable.

Don't forget that the Knights have spent a lot of the season without key players like Kennedy, Simpson, Parsons, O'Davis, Tahu, MacDougall, Woolnough to mention a few.

Then there are the part-timers like Trent Estatheo, Clint Newton (who is actually a regular first-grader when fit), Hall and others who have suffered injury.

It has only been in the last few weeks that the Knights have returned to something resembling full-fitness with O'Davis and Tahu only back this week.

The Knights are considerably disadvantaged by the loss of Johns, but can't use that as an excuse for losing tomorrow afternoon. They've got most of the senior squad back, and nearly beat the Raiders last week (The Raiders beat the Bulldogs last night - flattering the performance of the Knights last week).

But, like any great player, Johns makes up a chunk of the available spending each season - the fact is that if he wasn't in the squad, the Knights would be able to retain guys like Kimmorley, Rauhihi, Albert, Morris etc and all the up-and-comers who have to leave each year because they're not receiving enough money, only to make it big elsewhere.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's match - hopefully the Knights will build something up (I too agree that the Knights will struggle to make it further than the first or second rounds) to give the finals series a bit of a shake.

 

[Anonymous]

You're right that Newcastle have no excuses. Saints are without Thompson, Ryles, Barrett, Gasnier, and Roberts. Plus Bailey and Timmins are in doubt.
The Knights will be playing the reserve graders. Thems the breaks.

 

[Doctor]

The Knights outplayed and outclassed the Dragons the other day - they had every reason to win by 10 or 12 points, but a 42-8 thrashing wasn't on the cards according to most.

We were underdogs by a country mile, yet came away with the points with a 28-0 second half.

I think it says a lot for suggestions Newcastle can't win without their regular number 7. Johns has always been missed, but Kurt Gidley stepped up and performed at a standard very few people expected.

It spells the end of the Dragons' season, despite having lost key personnel. The Knights now have a chance at knocking a few teams over in the finals, after a disappointing season with injuries hitting hard at the forward pack especially.

It comes as no surprise then that the Knights team with all its personnel back besides Johns, Hughes, Newton, Estatheo and co actually performed quite well - Dragons injuries or not.

It is the Knights second win against the Dragons this year, after many close encounters over the years, favouring the Dragons.

All the best for next season - hopefully both sides will have a better run with injury in the next 12 months.