Opinion Newcastle under Justin Holbrook

[James Rick]

How far can the Knights go under Holbrook? I know people questioned his signing and said he was too similar to Adam O'Brien but the Knights will surprise a few teams this year especially if Gagai and Ponga stay fit and can maintain the form they showed in Vegas throughout the season.

 

[Nuke]

There we go. The inevitable Knights thread. Been waiting for this.

I don't think too many people were thinking Holbrook and AOB are similar types of coaches. AOB focuses on defence, and actively stifles attack despite all the attacking flair in his squad. Holbrook is known, from his days at GC, to be an attacking coach.

 

[Rabbit toes]

Got good vibes for the knights, can see them rocketing up the ladder to 15th

 

[Captain Apollo]

The Knights will improve on 2025. However, they have so much money tied up in a few key players that they lack depth and also talent in other areas of the squad (e.g. its pack).

 

[Chins]

Beating a Cows side that will be bottom 4 hasn't proven anything really.

 

[Vic Mackey]

I see the Knights having a similar year to the Eels last year. Will take a while to get rid of the AOB stench around the joint but there will be plenty of positives in the second half of the season.

 

[This Year?]

Got good vibes for the knights, can see them rocketing up the ladder to 15th

Hey! That's my spot.
*falls to 16th/17th*

 

[Nundah Wonder]

He’s already showing that he is smarter than O’Brien, which wouldn’t be hard. He’s done that by playing Ponga inside Sharpe in attack. Sharp might be an outstanding individual taking player but he hasn’t got ball skills and he was not providing quality service to the players outside him last year and this was the reason I struggled Ponga struggled.

You could see the difference last week with Ponga getting the ball as a half. He might’ve been wearing no 1 but he was playing as a half and sharpe wasn’t

 

[Woody90]

Got good vibes for the knights, can see them rocketing up the ladder to 15th

We’ll take it

 

[Fangs]

Only round 1 but they actually showed some fight in the first AND second half. New ground there.

Ponga was heavily involved which he needs to be. They've made the finals in 4 out of 8 seasons with him but their best finish was week 2. Not good enough for a guy pulling his coin. He needs a bumper year.

 

[Nealo 12]

Only round 1 but they actually showed some fight in the first AND second half. New ground there.

Ponga was heavily involved which he needs to be. They've made the finals in 4 out of 8 seasons with him but their best finish was week 2. Not good enough for a guy pulling his coin. He needs a bumper year.

Yeah but they were playing on the big stage , the whole World Newcastle was watching

 

[nick87]

It was a good first win and Trey Mooney gonna be a really good signing, i think they make major improvements on last year, a top 16 finish isnt out of the question