Interesting from yesterday:
First half - played our 1st grade squad, predictable, hit ups then kick. Didn't see much enterprise apart from Lomax's pass to Rava to score. Defensively ok
Second half - played mostly our fringe players, good variation, attacking running football, support play, offloads.
First half we score 6 points and gave up 6.
Second half wd score 32 points and gave up 6.
Yes the second half, both teams had their fringe players in, but remember fod the first half Knights were missing Ponga and a few others. Our 3 biggest outs were Graham, Merrin and Kerr. Me thinks Ponga would have had a field day against us yesterday.
So, on to CS where we will get a much clearer picture of how we are shaping in 2020.
True our first half performance was great in defence but on par with 2019 in attack. Maybe the boys were under orders just to concentrate on getting their defensive structures working.
I don't think Hunt and Norman have clicked since day one and yesterday was no different, they don't work together. Lomax chiming in was good to see and a promise of things to come I hope. I wouldn't have thought this yesterday morning but Clune could be an option in the halves, played a great organizing and attacking role and just took control - control of a stitched together rag bag trials team, not bad.
I really like Periera and 4 tries is a good effort but he didn't have to do that much and the right side, 2nd half Newc defence were clueless. I would still prefer to see Rava and Saab start on the wings. Maybe Periera to centre, who knows but we can't keep everyone in the team.
Williame ( 1 try, 1 line break, 2 try assists, 2 line break assists ) looked real good out there and should slot straight into the centres, in for Lafai would be good but he looked good playing on the right and Aitken has to go, he just needs to go.
Kerr was starting prop last night and killed it, put on a fantastic try, he's so dangerous close to the line and he put on some great hits, I saw him hit Bromwich and Bromwich get up and looks around like " what just hit me ? ". If he keeps that up he needs to replace Graham to start with Vaughan - our go forward in the 1st half against Newc was woeful, only 850 metres for the entire game and you'd think most of that came in the 2nd half. Kerr and Vaughan with K.Sims, Graham and or Blacker off the bench should improve those stats and leave Friz and T.sims out wide where they belong.
