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

[Chicken_Hunter]

Every player in our forward pack is an origin or international rep except for Mckinnon who will be there at some stage and Houston. Whats your point?

 

[hugzy]

Panthers 28-6 Knights

sorry guys, just got back from the future... we sucked

Knights verdict: we lacked direction without Mullen. Tyront going off injured didn't help. The fwds tried and we had our chances but we just couldn't get over the line without our key playmaker

Panthers verdict: soward kicked us out of the game. Their lack of a big name superstar means they were a threat all over the park. They wont cause the roosters or souths any problems but they gave us plenty of headaches.

lemme know if youse want me to go back to the future again to see next week's result

Regards,
HuGzy

 

[Joker's Wild]

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.

TBH, that sounds just like our pack

 

[mxlegend99]

Very similar style packs. I think Cleary is similar to Bennett in the style of players he likes. Work horse players and tough/aggressive players seem to edge out flashy players for the most part. Infact the Panthers entire line- up minus the halves is similar to the Knights.

The Knights back 3 is the huge advantage IMO. Quality wise every other position is close, but Boyd owns Moylan. Uate is much faster and more dangerous then Mansour. McManus is a representative version of Simmo. Idris/ Bj, Whare/Gagai, Plum/Smith, Mason/Grant, Docker/Scott etc. are all super close and could go either way on any given day. But that back 3 is well and truly ahead of ours. When Naiqama, Nabouli and Roberts are fit and firing its much closer, but not established ofcourse. That back 3 could easily be the difference in many games for Knights. Class, experience and consistency. Uate is the weaklink and he's the most damaging ball runner in the game when he fires up.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Cleary needs to find a spot for Kev N. He is not that far off Uates ability when he came into grade but with better ball playing

 

[Swarzey]

1. Darius Boyd
2. James McManus
3. Dane Gagai
4. Joey Leilua
5. Akuila Uate
6. Michael Dobson
7. Tyrone Roberts
8. Kade Snowden
9. Kurt Gidley (c)
10. Willie Mason
11. Beau Scott
12. Robbie Rochow
13. Jeremy Smith

Interchange
14. Travis Waddell
15. Chris Houston
16. Alex McKinnon
17. Adam Cuthbertson
18. David Fa’alogo

f**k Waddell.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

No surprises. Waddell was expected but it won't be long until clydsdale gets a run.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Bloody Waddle. Would have preferred Redman, Adams or Hilder injuries permitting

Hell, even Cuthbo is a better DH

 

[Steel Dragon]

Hey guys,

Any idea who might be kicking goals for you lads, Gids or Roberts?

 

[mozza91]

Hey guys,

Any idea who might be kicking goals for you lads, Gids or Roberts?

Gidley.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

1. Darius Boyd
2. James McManus
3. Dane Gagai
4. Joey Leilua
5. Akuila Uate
6. Michael Dobson
7. Tyrone Roberts
8. Kade Snowden
9. Kurt Gidley (c)
10. Willie Mason
11. Beau Scott
12. Robbie Rochow
13. Jeremy Smith

Interchange
14. Travis Waddell
15. Chris Houston
16. Alex McKinnon
17. Adam Cuthbertson
18. David Fa?alogo

f**k Waddell.

That's basically the team that I expected to play round one. I'd obviously rather Clydesdale than Waddell, but what can you do. I'm glad to see Cuthbo on the bench. I'm expecting a big 2014 from him. Hopefully Smith plays as apparently he's got a knee injury.

 

[Frederick]

FYI guys, for those of you with fox, all three grades will be shown on tv on Saturday, starting with NYC at 12:10 on FoxSports one

 

[Zoidberg]

Close to our best team, minus Mullo obviously.

Yay I got the day off work too. Can't wait to get back into the footy Thursday, then really back into it Saturday.

 

[Knight Vision]

Same faces as last year but we're all hoping for a different result ( a GF win ) this year. We really are missing a couple of big mean props to stand up to the likes of the Roosters and Bunnies.

Overall I like the team minus of course Waddell. Having said that Bennett knows a thing or 2 so perhaps the other guys just arent up to it as yet ??

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Im happy to see Tyrone and MickDobson as halves partners.

It my not be our best pair, but it is definitely the pair i am most interested in watching...

 

[soc123_au]

If both teams run out as named it should be a belter of a game. I think our bench with Segs, McKendry & Peachy gives us a slight edge.

 

[Spot On]

Pretty poor bench for us. Seg will kill us around the ruck when he is on. Fingers crossed Dobson likes to use a shoulder in defence.

We have a backline so let's hope we use it as much as possible.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Gidley has always been extremely fit. I'd much prefer him to play the 80 and then to go with Fa'alogo on the bench instead of Waddell. All of a sudden our bench looks pretty solid.

 

[mxlegend99]

Breaking it down...

Knights back 3 easily
Centres are about even
Panthers should have the edge in the halves without Mullen playing, but that's assuming they had a combination and form... Which they probably won't
Starting packs are pretty close
Panthers have a slight edge in the bench through Segeyaro

If the Knights win odds on the back 3 will be heavily responsible, and the halves will have stepped up without Mullen and the Panthers halves probably lived up to expectations of the haters.

If the Panthers win odds on its the halves firing and Segeyaro off the bench giving us the edge. Which as I type out seems very unlikely in their first game together.

On paper it should be a close game and high quality. But I can't help but feel like Penrith will start slowly and that any side who has good combinations going will be capable of racking up a cricket score.

 

[nick87]

Fingers crossed Dobson likes to use a shoulder in defence.

He does not gots dis.