Respected & Feared? Why Fans Optimism For 2009 Is All Hope No Substance

[Jono078]

I see the future already..

Knights make the top 4 and just before we start our finals campaign I see this thread.

'Knights wont make it past week 2 of finals with Dureau'

:lol:

I want to see a positive Karma thread this year, don't think i've seen ever.

 

[Gene Krupa]

Karma sitting in a room of mirrors and talking to himself does not make a group of Knight supporters.

 

[Yosh]

Wait so does Karma support the Knights or what?

 

[Misanthrope]

Haven't people essentially written off Canberra every year in recent memory? And haven't they fairly consistently shocked everyone by making the eight? I don't give a crap what captain's of other clubs think.

 

[Big Tim]

One of your best trolls ever Karma!

What will you do if we make the top 4, or even the top 8 if you are so confident? I've added that one to my small collection of other quotes too

Also, putting my thoughts forward before the season starts - I'm going for us to finish 5th-7th this year.

I think 6th will be our ticket.

Would love 4th, but we will no doubt lose some close games.

 

[otori]

I'm thinking 7th on for and against. Realistically, all I want out of this season is a win against the Broncos in Brisbane.

 

[Rudderriffic]

Hang on where is the evidence? :lol:


Who was only the one person who picked Manly to play in the GF last year? All of 2008 was filled with people saying its a ' two team race ' between Manly and Melbourne... WTF? :lol:

We aren't talking about commentator or observer predictions here, we are talking about the beliefs of players who are actually playing the game - lining up each week against the Knights.

Oops, wrong link, this one is better: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4686324a27746.html

That was a poll completed by the captains of the top eight teams just before the finals.

They seemed to think that Melbourne were the most liklely team to make te grandfinal (and rightly so), and that Manly's chances were on a par with the Brisbane.

 

[Serc]

I'm thinking 7th on for and against. Realistically, all I want out of this season is a win against the Broncos in Brisbane.

...and we aren't playing them up here this year

 

[Tommax25]

bookmarked.

Top 12? are you high?

Im not exactly known as an optimist, but if we get a fair run with injuries* we should get at least as many wins as we did last year. we are a better team this year IMO. Any year except 2008 we got enough wins to make the 8.


*disclaimer

Why do you think the knights are a better side this year? From where Im standing they lost buderus, replaced him with a good but nowhere near as good hooker, and a few fringe halves like rogers and ndaira. Have i missed some signings? It seems to be the same team as last year with the loss of buderus. Such a team can only be weaker without him.

 

[TooheysNew]

Except that every single young player has another year of experience.

 

[Karmawave]

Well, love me or hate me, this thread has over 700 views in a little over 24 hours.


Your gambling sponsors price better go up Coby.


Karmawave threads advertising should be worth double price... ;-)


The place does get a little more interesting with some lively debate :lol:

 

[Jono078]

Why do you think the knights are a better side this year? From where Im standing they lost buderus, replaced him with a good but nowhere near as good hooker, and a few fringe halves like rogers and ndaira. Have i missed some signings? It seems to be the same team as last year with the loss of buderus. Such a team can only be weaker without him.

I'll be honest, and I even mentioned it last year.

Buderus struggled at times last year unfortunately.

He still had his trademark classic games but you could tell he was starting to struggle with his game.

De Gois is just about the perfect replacement bar maybe Michael Ennis.

 

[TooheysNew]

The place does get a little more interesting with some lively debate

I've said that all along. lol

 

[macavity]

Why do you think the knights are a better side this year? From where Im standing they lost buderus, replaced him with a good but nowhere near as good hooker, and a few fringe halves like rogers and ndaira. Have i missed some signings? It seems to be the same team as last year with the loss of buderus. Such a team can only be weaker without him.

we are a very young team mate. we blooded a lot of guys last year that probably wouldnt hve played so much first grade in normal circumstances.

we now have pretty good depth and have strengthened every position bar possibly front row.

we have the best fullback in the comp, one of the best props, one of the best hookers, one of the best backrows (4 top backrowers), and a good mix of experience and flair in the outside backs. our dilemma is the 7 jersey - if we find a settled halves pairing, and get a good run with injuries, we will go well.

Im not thinking minor premiership, but top 4 is a (slight) possibility, and anything other than the 8 will be a very disappointing season.

 

[Jobdog]

A poll of all NRL captains, each of which name their Top 8 teams for 2009.

Not one of them - not even a single solitary NRL captain, believes the Knights will make the Top 8 in 2009.

When it comes to the Knights respect levels, we rank alongside Penrith, Canberra and South Sydney.

It is not a good sign that rival players think we suck that badly. No longer are the Knights a team that other opponents fear playing.

After all, rugby league success often revolves around gaining respect from the opposition, of which clearly, at this stage of 2009 - we have none.

Even with the improvements of 2008, peers have written us off in 2009 to a man.

It doesn't bode well for an organisation that needs a Top 4 finish to save our financial asses.

While we might come out and shock some people, the Knights remain an iffy proposition at best to be successful in 2009 irrespective of the often blinkered optimism that flies around in his forum.

Maybe losing Danny Buderus has impacted the way we are viewed by opponents. The likes of De Gois might be a handy replacement, but that aura of respected champion sure disappeared when he left for Leeds.

And the 15 rival captains have spoken about just what they think of the Knights.

One can only assume that they must be looking forward to playing us in 2009, given that they think so highly of our ability to make the Top 8...

Who cares what other teams think? I mean, seriously? Oh and it's nice to have you back too.

I'm prepared to say it - i'm thinking Smith has got together a side close to his best sides at Parra - not quite the 2001 side - but good enough to challenge for our first minor premiership.

I don't think I'd go that far ...

All I've seen is a nice column written about the 2009 prospects of the Knights. A column preview that tries to say nice things about all 16 teams... So they predicted us to finish last in 2008? And wow we overachieved and came 9th and still didn't play in the semis.

I hope I'm wrong. And bookmark this next quote for review later in the year... but...

We'll be lucky if we make the Top 12 in 2009. And we sure as all crap won't make the top 4.


Very lucky.

:lol: Bookmarked. And top 12, now surely you're trying your very best to get a bite :lol:

What will you do if we make the top 4, or even the top 8 if you are so confident? I've added that one to my small collection of other quotes too

Hopefully he might eat some humble pie Serc, we can't expect him to start being positive now, surely?

I think 6th will be our ticket.

Would love 4th, but we will no doubt lose some close games.

Agree 100%

 

[Rusty]

I often wonder whether you really are a Knights supporter Karmawave. So because all the all the other captains think we're no chance that means our seasons ridden off?

A little bit of optimism wouldn't go astray...

 

[God-King Dean]

To be fair, a lot of Knights fans are morons.

Couldn't agree more !

 

[Tommax25]

we are a very young team mate. we blooded a lot of guys last year that probably wouldnt hve played so much first grade in normal circumstances.

we now have pretty good depth and have strengthened every position bar possibly front row.

we have the best fullback in the comp, one of the best props, one of the best hookers, one of the best backrows (4 top backrowers), and a good mix of experience and flair in the outside backs. our dilemma is the 7 jersey - if we find a settled halves pairing, and get a good run with injuries, we will go well.

Im not thinking minor premiership, but top 4 is a (slight) possibility, and anything other than the 8 will be a very disappointing season.

fair enough, although I think its a big call on having the best fullback. Everything else is spot on imo, and I think top 8 is a real possibility for you guys. I reckon stick dureau in 7 and let him settle into the role with mullen.

 

[antonius]

I

Wait so does Karma support the Knights or what?

I think Karma has a soft spot for the Tigers!

 

[TooheysNew]

Subtle.