R1 // Panthers 30-8 Knights @ Sportingbet // Sat 4.30pm

[The Showstopper]

There is no Panthers hype. I feel that is myth probably brought on by Gus Gould, who's job it is to hype the club's prospects. In fairness to the Pennies fans they have waited a long time as have we for more glory. I think these two clubs will go very well this season. Our backline is as good as anyone's. Our forwards are in no way bigger than theirs though.

 

[Apey]

If I were trolling I would have mentioned how highly I rate Dobson. Also that your forward pack should ambush ours & piss all over them.

Don't make me go on a power trip. :sarcasm:

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

We should really crush them in the forwards. Soward will get plenty of traffic and we just need to keep it simple and let our outside backs tear it up. Knights by 30.

This.

Were not going to have Danny's dummy half running anymore, or Mullo's kicking game for a while so need to play to our remaining strengths.

Hopefully Roberts uses his running game to keep them guessing as well.

 

[Frederick]

Based on the articles on the knights website, looks like Gidley will line up at 9, and (I reckon) Dobson at 6

 

[Yosh]

I think Penrith are gonna be a strong side this year. Furthermore, Soward always plays like Langer when he plays against us... Having said all that, I still think we're gonna win. Our forwards are stronger and our backline is the best in the comp.

Us 34-6

 

[Burwood]

This.

Were not going to have Danny's dummy half running anymore, or Mullo's kicking game for a while so need to play to our remaining strengths.

Hopefully Roberts uses his running game to keep them guessing as well.

Have you looked at Buderus' stats for 2013?

15 games
1 line break
0 line breaks assists
4 tackle busts

His real strength seemed to be how he organised our defensive structure. There was always a drop off in intensity once Waddell/Hilder/Costigan/whoever took over. Gidley should offer a lot more to our attacking structure this year.

 

[The Showstopper]

Bedsy was basically a halfback playing from dummy half. His energy was like noone else . Always high octane.

 

[Rod]

Bedsy's impeccable timing and selection of his passes allowing our forwards to get on the front foot was something that can't really be reflected by stats or appreciated properly unless you're actually watching the game.

Even last year Smith was the only one who was his equal in that regard, and is the part of his game we'll miss the most by far.

 

[Burwood]

Bedsy's impeccable timing and selection of his passes allowing our forwards to get on the front foot was something that can't really be reflected by stats or appreciated properly unless you're actually watching the game.

Even last year Smith was the only one who was his equal in that regard, and is the part of his game we'll miss the most by far.

Which is all fine and I'm not even going to try and argue that, but it wasn't his running game.

 

[Panther Pete]

There's no doubt you guys have a very impressive back line. I just hope we put in a better performance than when you towelled us in round 1 a couple of years back at Penrith Park in 35 degree heat.....from memory you put 30 on us.

 

[doggone]

Let the games begin. Should be a close game always hard at Penrith.

 

[mxlegend99]

I think Knights will be too strong for the Panthers. Panthers have a strong squad on paper, but will take a while before its performing near its potential with so many new combinations to be built. Knights on the other hand have a strong squad that is largely settled and finished off 2013 in red hot form. Trial form is also better and even without Mullen, I think Knights will continue their win streak over Panthers. Gidley will carve up and probably be a great choice for captain in fantasy teams.

 

[Noname36]

There's no doubt you guys have a very impressive back line. I just hope we put in a better performance than when you towelled us in round 1 a couple of years back at Penrith Park in 35 degree heat.....from memory you put 30 on us.

I think you guys will. Completely different team and coaching at the helm. I'm not confident given we've lost Mullo.

 

[Nugget10]

Pennies to bash you guys in the Forwards. Cleary knows we have to gel and will keep it pretty simple with a Forward dominated game. Newcastle will have a tough time of it at Penrith Park

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Bedsy's impeccable timing and selection of his passes allowing our forwards to get on the front foot was something that can't really be reflected by stats or appreciated properly unless you're actually watching the game.

Even last year Smith was the only one who was his equal in that regard, and is the part of his game we'll miss the most by far.

Fantastic point. Buderus's service from dummy half was first class and we missed him greatly whenever he was off the field. I did notice however that after his back operations, his impact was diminished in other areas of his game. His dummy half running dropped off, as well as his high intensity defense where he would belt blokes one on one (apart from the obvious exception in his last game).

I'm really confident in Gidley being a quality 9 for us. He's a leader, is fit as any player, will put his body on the line and offers a great running game. He has a tendency to take incorrect decisions when playing in the halves, as the defense is generally set and sliding. From dummy half I can see him taking the defense off guard and setting up close support players. Playing hooker offers him less structure and more of a chance to play instinctively.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Pennies to bash you guys in the Forwards. Cleary knows we have to gel and will keep it pretty simple with a Forward dominated game. Newcastle will have a tough time of it at Penrith Park

Good luck to them if they want to try and beat us into submission with their forward pack, Jeremy Smith and Beau Scott say hi.

 

[Allstar Knights]

Gidley should mould his game from Isaac Luke. Stick to a simplified game from DH but whenever we're on the front foot and there's lazy markers, keep running over and over with that energy of his and he will damage teams through the middle. Will need to pick his moments still and try not to hog it, though.

I thought he was harshly criticized for us at hooker. Took him a while to adjust (which is normal with no pre-season training there) but he was looking better and better there before he got injured.

 

[Swarzey]

Good luck to them if they want to try and beat us into submission with their forward pack, Jeremy Smith and Beau Scott say hi.

Jezza is apparently injured

But Scott will still tear them a bloody new one. The hype around their forward pack is funny, most are inconsistent as f**k.

 

[Yosh]

I've watched my fair share of league over the years but I've yet to see a hooker who could get the forwards rolling as well as Bedsy did. His passes were on the chest and perfectly timed. Cam Smith had the overall better skill set but Bedsy was the master of getting our forwards rolling. He made our forwards look better than they really were for the best part of a decade.

Gidley doesn't possess that kind of genius but he offers plenty of energy, tidy defensive work, dummy half runs and even though we all know his kicking game is shite, it's still better than Bedsey's. It's an option at least.

I can't see how Penrith are going to score enough points on us this game. In Wallace and Soward they have solid but the least creative halves in the league. With Gould pulling the strings, I think the club is going in the right direction but I think we're just too good all over the paddock and up in the coach's box.

 

[mxlegend99]

Jezza is apparently injured

But Scott will still tear them a bloody new one. The hype around their forward pack is funny, most are inconsistent as f**k.

Last year our forward pack was up to the task even with Ciraldo and Newton in it. This year those fellas are out, and in their place we have Elijah Taylor and Tyrone Peachey.

Not saying the forward pack will smash the Knights. But at full strength it's as good as any. 3 representative front rowers and on of the hardest hitters in the game in the front row, and a ridiculous back row with current and former representatives starting, and about 6 or 7 players who could be first graders fighting for a single bench spot.

The major weakness will be carrying Kingston instead of another one of those players.