Nyc

[perverse]

32 - 24 win to the boys after we trailed 24 - 4 at one stage in the first half. we were pretty diabolical with our errors at times... but lots to be happy about in the match, too.

neenan simpson, cruize wilson and tyrone roberts all impressed me big time. roberts has a very good footy brain, and the skills to back it up. he was great at putting himself in the right spot. wilson was absolutely damaging with the ball in hand and had a lot of very strong carries. simpson was awesome to watch once the dogs started to get tired, it's like someone cloned preston campbell. was turning the bigger blokes inside-out and back to front with his footwork. very ellusive.

our first half was dire, but the boys fought back hard to win. the first try of the match (to the knights) must have been the quickest try i've ever seen in a match... the dogs dropped it off the kickoff... all matt herman had to do was catch the ball from the drop and fall over the line. 13 seconds into the match i think.

 

[aqua_duck]

Simpson is quality, he was a 2008 Australian schoolboy and is very highly rated by many good judges. I remember seeing him play for the dogs against us in 2008 in SG Ball and he embarassed our team that day

 

[Serc]

Pretty good summary there mate...Roberts and Wilson probably biggest standouts for me, Redman was impressive, some good runs from Cook, Pete did pretty well, and Simpson was probably next best after Roberts and Wilson. Not perfect in defence but I'd imagine he's going to struggle for his entire career given his size.

 

[Pika]

We let in 24 not 18, so in that regard I am disappointed.

Considering errors saw us on the end of a 70-30 possession in the first 30 minutes, I guess that made a difference.

Wilson outstanding.

Redman was great when he came on.

Roberts MOTM.

Neenan is an enigma.

If we reduce our errors we should have a decent year.

For the record, Macavity has not changed at all. Gave up at half time despite my pleas to hang in there and that we could turn it around with decent possession..... Nothing ever changes with that emo

 

[cram]

I'm working.
I haven't worked a weekend in a year - but all my whinging about not getting my fair share of penalties has 'paid off'.

Are you going to be impacted by the new roster system that is being introduced Roopy or is it just a John Hunter thing?

 

[aqua_duck]

If we take NYC seriously this year we should atleast make the 8

We've got decent backs, highlighted by Pete. We've got better halves than we've had in the past 2 years, Roberts showed more in 1 game than Stig showed in 2 years, and we've got a massive forward pack.

Would love to see Cordner come into the team because we know what he can do. Would love to see a starting pack of:

Wilson
Taufaao
Finn
Ailaomoi
Tetavano
Cook

With Redman and Cordner coming off the bench.

BTW Pika, are the 2 younger Mata'utia boys any chance to get a run after the ball season?

 

[shane1970]

#12 - Mat Herman = the son of former Newcastle Knight - Tony Herman. Wow his Mum must have some serious football genes in her body cause this kid impressed me hugely and he surely couldn't have gotten his footballing genes from his Dad!

 

[roopy]

I thought Herman was from qld - but i see he is a Rosella junior - good to see.

Looking at the game stats, Cook had a big one with most hit ups and second most tackles.

I see on the knights site that Cordner has had his profile added along with a few others.

Clacherty, Scott Dunn, Jarrad Tua in the backs, Tyler Sullivan in the halves, and Cordner, McMahon, Boss in the forwards are all unlucky to miss out - so we have plenty of depth this year.

 

[Pika]

Cordner just needs to bide his time. His quality will get him a start.

Mitch McMahon had back surgery preseason. I look forward to him getting a start. I hate making comparisons with young players, but he is raw boned country kid with the rip in attitude of Steve Simpson.

If that is not the kiss of death for the young bloke I dont know what is.

 

[Alex28]

16. Brendon Simpson - country boy - second rower

Brendon is from Mudgee and starred for the Dragons in First Grade last year in their premiership winning team. How did he play?

(There has been a lot of mentions of "Simpson" however I assume that is Neenan...)

 

[roopy]

Brendon is from Mudgee and starred for the Dragons in First Grade last year in their premiership winning team. How did he play?

(There has been a lot of mentions of "Simpson" however I assume that is Neenan...)

didn't see him on the stats lists, but Ailoami was there, so i assume he made way for Ailoami.

 

[Pika]

Josh played back row and prop.

Simmo was solid. Some good hit ups, solid defence and only one error (we will not mention it was a pressure pass that would have seen him score).

 

[macavity]

Josh put on one of the biggest hits I have ever seen - awesome to watch.

Wilson awesome in attack, but looks like he doesn't like tackling.

Finn was fantastic for us - can tell he likes hurting people. Definately going to be FG quality, it will be interesting to see where he ends up. He is a prototype prop - like a mini Shane Webcke - but he is what, 5'8? Will his size count against him in the front row... and could he become a Mark Glanville style lock instead? I don't know if he has the ballskills to be a wide running lock, and I don't know if mobility will be an issue, but I am just putting it out there....

Tyrone might just be our answer at 7 for FG. I don't know if it will be this year, but damn he looks good.

And yes, I thought we were gone at 1/2 time....

 

[Serc]

Bah how did I forget that hit from Ailaomai near the end...huuuuuuuuugggggggeeeeeeeee! Would be awesome if someone recorded it and put it on youtube or something, deserves it.

 

[Johns Magic]

32 - 24 win to the boys after we trailed 24 - 4 at one stage in the first half. we were pretty diabolical with our errors at times... but lots to be happy about in the match, too.

neenan simpson, cruize wilson and tyrone roberts all impressed me big time. roberts has a very good footy brain, and the skills to back it up. he was great at putting himself in the right spot. wilson was absolutely damaging with the ball in hand and had a lot of very strong carries. simpson was awesome to watch once the dogs started to get tired, it's like someone cloned preston campbell. was turning the bigger blokes inside-out and back to front with his footwork. very ellusive.

our first half was dire, but the boys fought back hard to win. the first try of the match (to the knights) must have been the quickest try i've ever seen in a match... the dogs dropped it off the kickoff... all matt herman had to do was catch the ball from the drop and fall over the line. 13 seconds into the match i think.

I was really keen to watch this match on tv but due to cricketing commitments didn't get to.

My biggest question is, does Tyrone Roberts look like an organising 5/8? Or is he more of a running half who leaves the organising to the halfback a-la Ben Barba, Ben Roberts etc.

 

[Serc]

I was about to say that I think a bit more of the latter...but then I looked at the stats (expecting to see that Davis got the ball as much as he did) and saw that Davis had 26 receives to Roberts' 49...so not sure now!

No doubt my post is entirely devoid of value now but yeah just off what I saw on the TV he seemed to get the ball a lot like Mullo does from Dureau.

 

[Serc]

And now that I have just discovered that they have some NYC stats, I'll do up some of the main ones from this as well:

N Simpson 133m (11 runs)
Finn 133m (11 runs)
Mata'utia 111m (10 runs)
Wilson 97m (10 runs, 9 hitups for 92m)
Tetavano 95m (12 runs, 12 hitups for 95m)
Cook 94m (14 runs)

2 try assists for Roberts

Tackle breaks
N Simpson 8
Mata'utia 5
Cook 5
Hunt 3
Wilson 3

2 offloads and 2 line breaks for N Simpson (3 errors and penalised twice also)

Tackles
Cook 31 (missed 2)
Herman 28 (missed 1)
Wilson 23 (missed 2)
Taufaao 22 (missed 5)
Roberts 22 (missed 1)
Davis made 13 and missed 6
Finn made 16 and missed none

Kicking
Roberts 9 kicks 200m
N Simpson 2 kicks 83m
Taufaao 2 kicks 68m
Davis 3 kicks 50m

 

[perverse]

I was really keen to watch this match on tv but due to cricketing commitments didn't get to.

My biggest question is, does Tyrone Roberts look like an organising 5/8? Or is he more of a running half who leaves the organising to the halfback a-la Ben Barba, Ben Roberts etc.

from what i saw he's much more of an organiser than a runner. has a great passing game... a couple of passes he held up very nicely... and always backed up on run-arounds, even when the offload didn't look like it was on - which earned us a try. Davis was invisibile at times... but Roberts stood out brilliantly, and i'm not sure he ran much at all.

Roberts is definitely the dominate half in the team, and wouldn't look at all out of place with the #7 on his back.

 

[Serc]

^post with a bit more value than mine - lol

Definitely going to watch him more closely the next time they are on the telly, thats for sure.

 

[robertfc2312]

The NYC did very well and i am so proud of the team and the effort that they put in...WELL DONE GUYS...hope and trust that this year will be the year for our NYC to shine....

I wish Charley was among them, but i guess time will tell...i was told he scored a mean 70 meter try in the Scorpion RL colour, he was playing beside his big brother Grant against Charlestown....

I am sure according to Garth that when he is needed he will be called up. This is the journey that Harmony took last year but now he is a better player and person...I hope also that Chris will make it back to NYC...Garth said that they will keep an eye on Charley thru this years season....i won't be surprise if they called him up to NYC duties soon...

GO THE KNIGHTS