Newcastle Knights 2019 Team

[SamSepi0l]

I can see your point. But I’d rather have Klemmer, Dan and Ese starting and playing good minutes and have a couple of impact players like Gavet and Jacob Saifiti spell them for 25-30 minutes.

Glasby is only effective playing big minutes and I think we have better options.

That's just made up..
He only averages ~38mins and is incredibly sound defensively in the middle.
The past two years the majority of his games are off the bench, securing the middle when the fresh props come on and the middle opens up.

 

[Yosh]

I think its fine for Glasby to be somewhere in the 17. I think he will bring more off the field than on it. Glasby is a winner and probably has a lot to offer as a senior our juniors can learn from. On the other hand, Klemmer will provide immensely both on the field and off. Can't wait to see him take his first hit up.

 

[aqua_duck]

I think its fine for Glasby to be somewhere in the 17. I think he will bring more off the field than on it. Glasby is a winner and probably has a lot to offer as a senior our juniors can learn from. On the other hand, Klemmer will provide immensely both on the field and off. Can't wait to see him take his first hit up.

Klemmer brings so much to our team is can barely be put into words.
I mean most people were jizzing themselves last year at the thought of signing a 32 year old Matt Scott due to what he would've brought but instead we sign a 24 year old David Klemmer who'll not only bring the same mongrel and leadership but is a much better player these days.
Last year we had teams take cheap shot after cheap shot at Ponga without any consequences, I bet they'll think twice with Klemmer, and Gavet out there.

 

[aqua_duck]

That's just made up..
He only averages ~38mins and is incredibly sound defensively in the middle.
The past two years the majority of his games are off the bench, securing the middle when the fresh props come on and the middle opens up.

100%, pardon the cliche but I think Glasby is that player that every good team needs.

 

[Apey]

People forget how influential Mullen was. I invite you all to look at the youtube video chronicling Newcastle's greatest tries when he was running around. It was all off the back of him and that doesn't take into account his game management (e.g. long-kicking game) and defence. I think Ponga will be better, but not yet.

I agree. Still unintentionally and unfairly compared to Johns in people's minds imo. No doubt Ponga has a muuuuuch higher ceiling, but Mullen was pretty damn good for us.

 

[aqua_duck]

I agree. Still unintentionally and unfairly compared to Johns in people's minds imo. No doubt Ponga has a muuuuuch higher ceiling, but Mullen was pretty damn good for us.

Problem with Mullen was he could never stay fit for long periods, he's have a spell of 4-5 great games then get injured for 4-5 weeks and would need another 2-3 weeks to play himself into form, that form would last 3-4 weeks then he'd get injured again

 

[Old dog]

Problem with Mullen was he could never stay fit for long periods, he's have a spell of 4-5 great games then get injured for 4-5 weeks and would need another 2-3 weeks to play himself into form, that form would last 3-4 weeks then he'd get injured again

Don't recall Mullen being out for that many long periods, memory is a funny thing but would be interested if any stats person could give us starting 17 stats for Mullen over his career, yes his last couple of seasons were not so good but his 5-6 after becoming established would have been good, or at least I think so.

 

[TooheysNew]

2005 - 8
2006 - 15
2007 - 12
2008 - 21
2009 - 23
2010 - 21
2011 - 21
2012 - 24
2013 - 26
2014 - 16
2015 - 10
2016 - 14

 

[Old dog]

2005 - 8
2006 - 15
2007 - 12
2008 - 21
2009 - 23
2010 - 21
2011 - 21
2012 - 24
2013 - 26
2014 - 16
2015 - 10
2016 - 14

2008-2013 look very good, thanks, think wrecked to forget those and think mainly of 2015-16, pity was a very good player. Over 200 games

 

[Joel-22]

The way I see Glasby is a good defensive FRF who won't make errors. You'll get the same out of him every week. As I believe Mozza said in another thread somewhere:

a starting pack of

8.Dan Saifiti
9.Danny Levi
10.David Klemmer
11.Lachie Fitz
12.Aiden Guerra
13.Herman Ese'ese

can blow sides off the park in that opening 20-25.

Glasby can come on to spell one of the big boys doing enough in D and A to not cost us what we gained in that first 20-25.
Gavet, Jaifiti, Sione even Barny if picked are a bit more unpredictable, which for the balance of the side is what you want. They could come on and do things differently to the starters and cause a shift in momentum. Equally, they could come on and lose a bit of that momentum the starters got us with dumb mistakes and/or penalties. Glasby won't do either. Players like Buhrer (who i've been critical of) and Glasby (who i've also been critical of) won't do either. They'll just reliably do a job

 

[Joel-22]

2008-2013 look very good, thanks, think wrecked to forget those and think mainly of 2015-16, pity was a very good player. Over 200 games

On paper he was terrific, the best player we've produced in a long time.
Had at times the best long-kicking game in the comp, best left-to-right pass in the comp, best defensive half in the comp, was lightning fast, strong as f**k, tough as f**k, had a solid attacking kicking game, rarely made errors.
Sadly, I will always remember Mullen as a mental midget. He had every attribute (as listed above) to be the long-term NSW 5/8 and an Aus regular but he rarely grabbed big games by the scruff of the neck. He'd often go missing.
I used to get roasted on this forum (i had another account i lost the password for) for bagging Mullen. But my criticism was borne of frustration with an incredibly talented player who only lacked the mindset to be considered an all-time Newcastle great.

 

[Yosh]

I was a huge Mullen fan. A big big what if... What if he got to grow up as a player with Joey playing seven beside him for 2-3 more seasons to steer him in the right direction and take some pressure off him.

What if he played under the Storm or the Broncos system and had really good players and management around him since he was a youngster? What if he was to debuting this year instead of a decade and a half ago?

Imagine a spine with Ponga, a 18 year old Mullen and Pearce.

It's a real pity because he was local boy as well. Could have gone onto have 30 Origins and 20 Tests for Australia. Real pity.

Still remember he nearly scored a 110m try after catching it in goal against Manly in the 79th minute or something. Or some of his bullet passes that put our Georgie Carmont into acres of space. Imagine those were passes to Ramien... Pearce and Mullen would have the best long kicking game in the comp by at least double whoever else. Mullen was one of the best defensive halves I've seen also....

Ah... What could have been...

 

[Joel-22]

Just to divert conversation back to subject of the thread;
What role do you see Mitch Barnett playing in 2019?

He's not in my 17 but I recognise he's someone whose game would improve immensely having genuine middle forwards taking the hard hit-ups. Herman is my lock. He has shown he is Barnett on steroids. Big, relatively quick, good footwork and an offload.
Does he jag a spot in other people's 17? He's won player of the year (or some other award) for the club hasn't he?

 

[Knight Vision]

Just to divert conversation back to subject of the thread;
What role do you see Mitch Barnett playing in 2019?

He's not in my 17 but I recognise he's someone whose game would improve immensely having genuine middle forwards taking the hard hit-ups. Herman is my lock. He has shown he is Barnett on steroids. Big, relatively quick, good footwork and an offload.
Does he jag a spot in other people's 17? He's won player of the year (or some other award) for the club hasn't he?

I rate Barny although I know others dont. He's aggressive and I love an agro player who doesnt take crap. He had some poor patches this year but looking at his stats he stacks well against other backrowers.

I have trouble finding a place for both him and Sione. Shame we dont have an 80 min hooker.

Herman could be part of our prop rotation with Guerra at lock and Barny with Fitzy in the backrow and Sione on the bench.

 

[Knight Vision]

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/11/28/jesse-ramien-will-light-up-newcastle-knights-danny-buderus/
“Jesse Ramien has just scratched the surface,” Buderus told NSWRL.com.au

“He had a breakout year this year and I’m really looking forward to seeing the potency on that right edge, and playing around Kalyn (Ponga).

“It’s really exciting for Knights fans because he’s young and very aggressive in the way he plays so he’s in for a really good year.”

 

[Joel-22]

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/11/28/jesse-ramien-will-light-up-newcastle-knights-danny-buderus/
“Jesse Ramien has just scratched the surface,” Buderus told NSWRL.com.au

“He had a breakout year this year and I’m really looking forward to seeing the potency on that right edge, and playing around Kalyn (Ponga).

“It’s really exciting for Knights fans because he’s young and very aggressive in the way he plays so he’s in for a really good year.”

I'll be honest, I haven't seen a helluva lot of Ramien - just highlights and I very much liked what I see. My old man who is a diligent student of the game (and manly supporter - ew) hates Newy because of my love of them, and he's a big believer that Ramien will play rep football. Means a lot coming from him (to me at least) lol He must be a superstar.

Aggression is something I'd love to see from more of our players, so that's a huge bonus. I'm sick of supporting soft cocks.
That's one valuable thing Barny has going for him. Haha I can't be the only one hoping for Klemmer and Gavet to get into the Saifiti boys' heads and dialling up the aggression software a million-fold.

If the Saifiti's reach their potential (Dan just needs to play the whole season like he tends to play the backend of seasons - which to me shows that it's a fitness issue), Herman continues to improve, Fitzy continues improving, Sione transitions smoothly to the backrow, Klemmer simply remains Klemmer - we could have close to the strongest pack in the comp within the next couple of years.

 

[Knight Vision]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...r/news-story/c368679b557268b79d239465ba40ebeb

The Knights can go all the way in 2019.
After signing David Klemmer, Fox League expert Michael Ennis believes Newcastle have the squad capable of challenging for the premiership next season.

“They become title contenders in my opinion,” Ennis said.

 

[Knight Vision]

I'll be honest, I haven't seen a helluva lot of Ramien - just highlights and I very much liked what I see. My old man who is a diligent student of the game (and manly supporter - ew) hates Newy because of my love of them, and he's a big believer that Ramien will play rep football. Means a lot coming from him (to me at least) lol He must be a superstar.

Aggression is something I'd love to see from more of our players, so that's a huge bonus. I'm sick of supporting soft cocks.
That's one valuable thing Barny has going for him. Haha I can't be the only one hoping for Klemmer and Gavet to get into the Saifiti boys' heads and dialling up the aggression software a million-fold.

If the Saifiti's reach their potential (Dan just needs to play the whole season like he tends to play the backend of seasons - which to me shows that it's a fitness issue), Herman continues to improve, Fitzy continues improving, Sione transitions smoothly to the backrow, Klemmer simply remains Klemmer - we could have close to the strongest pack in the comp within the next couple of years.

Once the younger players improve and reach their potential we'll be up to our eyeballs in the Premiership that's certain. Our pack has huge potential and the backline is a Ferrari.

 

[Joel-22]

Once the younger players improve and reach their potential we'll be up to our eyeballs in the Premiership that's certain. Our pack has huge potential and the backline is a Ferrari.

That's actually reminds me of something I've been thinking a lot about lately; is this the most balanced side we've had since the early 2000s? At different stages since we've had close to the strongest 1-6 in the comp (even though reading the names it may not seem it now). I'm talking;

1.Darius Boyd
2.James McManus
3.Timana Tahu
4.Dane Gagai
5.Aku Uate
6.Jarrod Mullen

even

1.Kurt Gidley
2.Cooper Vuna
3.Junior Sau
4.Adam McDougall
5.Aku Uate
6.Jarrod Mullen

these backlines all had shit forward packs though. We've been weak in the forwards for a long time though. This is the first time in a long time, that we have balance across the park.
1-17 are all first graders which is more than can be said for previous squads from the last 10-15 years. f**k I'm excited, bring on 2019!!

 

[Old dog]

Barnett won't make the 13 unless injuries, might be in 17 depending on utility/hooker cover, see him having 13 on his back in reserves but a very good backup for 1sts. He looked good in a bad team lacking aggression but now we have improved our pack he will struggle, he was a reserve grader when we got him.