R25 // Knights 42-12 Eels @ Hunter // Sat 3.00pm

[Newie is God's Country]

Our second half of seasons are excellent. In fact if I were Stone I would drill into the boys the first half of the year means we need to jag 2 or 3 more wins pre origin and we will make the finals. Takes the pressure of them. They need to warm to the season. I would not want to play us in the finals. We are too hard to predict.

We have unearthed very very skilful side this last three moths. It is the pure footy we need to play. The crowds love it.

 

[jonno_knights]

Our second half of seasons are excellent. In fact if I were Stone I would drill into the boys the first half of the year means we need to jag 2 or 3 more wins pre origin and we will make the finals. Takes the pressure of them. They need to warm to the season. I would not want to play us in the finals. We are too hard to predict.

We have unearthed very very skilful side this last three moths. It is the pure footy we need to play. The crowds love it.

And that is generally what we played under stone.. which is very positive going into next year.

The only thing we lacked back then was experienced players, and now we have that in Smith / Scott + the experience of last years finals series. A couple of hardened, no-frills props would really round out the side. Hopefully Clydesdale makes a big leap next year too. Really need him to make him make the jump to Country Origin standard at least if we are to be a consistent threat. A good hooker can really make up for a lack of skill/size in the prop department, so much so you could get away with guys like Rochow/Housten playing there.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

And that is generally what we played under stone.. which is very positive going into next year.

The only thing we lacked back then was experienced players, and now we have that in Smith / Scott + the experience of last years finals series. A couple of hardened, no-frills props would really round out the side. Hopefully Clydesdale makes a big leap next year too. Really need him to make him make the jump to Country Origin standard at least if we are to be a consistent threat. A good hooker can really make up for a lack of skill/size in the prop department, so much so you could get away with guys like Rochow/Housten playing there.

IMO the major thing we lacked back then was toughness. We had players like Tolar, Kaufusi and houseton. Plus we had Hilder who seriously lacked size. The only really tough player in the team was Costigan and he was more rocks than diamonds.

 

[Joker's Wild]

You're suggesting Hilder wasn't tough? You saw him with about 1000 staples in his head yeah?

 

[jonno_knights]

IMO the major thing we lacked back then was toughness. We had players like Tolar, Kaufusi and houseton. Plus we had Hilder who seriously lacked size. The only really tough player in the team was Costigan and he was more rocks than diamonds.

I think you mean we lacked intimidation. Something we also get from smith/scott.

I dont think you could say any knights side has lacked toughness. Mental toughness yeah, an intimidation factor yeah. But physical toughness is something we've always had, and really the majority of NRL players have this. Just have to look at the likes of Hilder, Fa'aso, Taia, Gidley etc. playing through some pretty nasty injuries. Although other than Costigan/Fa'aso/Taufua there wasnt really any forwards who would make our pack look fierce. And these players were far from cosistent, and not mainstays in our starting 13.