Rumours and Stuff

[Happy MEel]

Fun factoid - Wade Graham was halfback and captain of Penrith's 2006 champion Harold Matts team. Lachlan Coote and Matt Wright also played in that team. For the losing Bulldogs their only future first grader was second rower Martin Taupau.

Well it wasn’t fun so much, but ill take your word that it was a fact so partial credit.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

For mine, Salmon has more of a centre’s frame, at least for the next few years. Perhaps when he is older he could transition to the second roe ala Chris Lawrence.

Fair enough, however Graham / salmon are basically the same size according to their current profiles (same weight, Salmon 1cm taller at 187cm)

 

[Soto]

What if we couldn't land Jake but threw big $$$ and landed Ponga. Yep i know wishful thinking but look at that backline.
Also Salmon at lock in the Cam Murray, Radley mould. Is definitely big enough, can ball play and probably quicker than both.

1. Ponga
2. Sivo
3. Guth (c)
4. DWZ
5. Fergo
6. Drown
7. Moses
8. Paulo
9. Mahoney
10. Nrown
11. Lane
12. Niukore
13. Salmon

14. Schneider
15. Kaufusi
16. Stefano
17. Alvaro or (young back rower)

 

[emjaycee]

Who are the others ?

Turbo was also tossed up IIRC.

 

[emjaycee]

What if we couldn't land Jake but threw big $$$ and landed Ponga. Yep i know wishful thinking but look at that backline.
Also Salmon at lock in the Cam Murray, Radley mould. Is definitely big enough, can ball play and probably quicker than both.

1. Ponga
2. Sivo
3. Guth (c)
4. DWZ
5. Fergo
6. Drown
7. Moses
8. Paulo
9. Mahoney
10. Nrown
11. Lane
12. Niukore
13. Salmon

14. Schneider
15. Kaufusi
16. Stefano
17. Alvaro or (young back rower)

Doesn't solve our forward leader role though.

 

[Djay]

If we could strip the weight off Alvaro and get him back to 2017-18 performances he would be a solid option at 17 to provide some experience off the bench.

This is pure wishful thinking but this would be an incredible side in a few years:

1. Gutho (c)
2. Sivo
3. Salmon
4. DWZ
5. Fergo
6. Drown
7. Moses
8. Paulo
9. Mahoney
10. Nrown
11. Lane
12. Niukore
13. Jake T (c)

14. Schneider
15. Kaufusi
16. Stefano
17. Alvaro

Where's Jennings?

I don't get the hate for him on these forums, his been bloody brilliant this year, his defence is awesome and his been back to his best in attack, he just gets no ball.

For the right price I would definitely re-signing him especially if now we have signed DWZ.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Where's Jennings?

I don't get the hate for him on these forums, his been bloody brilliant this year, his defence is awesome and his been back to his best in attack, he just gets no ball.

For the right price I would definitely re-signing him especially if now we have signed DWZ.

I agree re: Jennings, but Happy MEel's hypothetical was stated to be for 'in a few years'. On current form Jennings will certainly still be a first grader next year (aged 32) but it's hard to be confident he'll still be up to 20+ games in 2021. I'd re-sign him for one year. We need his experience.

 

[Djay]

I agree re: Jennings, but Happy MEel's hypothetical was stated to be for 'in a few years'. On current form Jennings will certainly still be a first grader next year (aged 32) but it's hard to be confident he'll still be up to 20+ games in 2021. I'd re-sign him for one year. We need his experience.

His experience is invaluable playing alongside Sivo and everyone else on that edge.

Agreed, one year would be ideal. Having Salmon in the squad to fill in when needed.

Just wish Jennings got some more early ball, because he is still very dangerous.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Fun factoid - Wade Graham was halfback and captain of Penrith's 2006 champion Harold Matts team. Lachlan Coote and Matt Wright also played in that team. For the losing Bulldogs their only future first grader was second rower Martin Taupau.

His brother Marty has turned out better.

 

[Eelementary]

Van dyke from liverpool is best I've seen in a while.
J.Terry Ferdinand Marsielle Desaily
Nesta, Maldini all better the Vidic.

Maldini is, in my eyes, the greatest defender of all time - but he mostly played left back, and Vengey was talking about centre back.

Part of what made Puyol so brilliant was that he could play anywhere in the defensive line, and excel.

Another brilliant defender (but again, mostly a wing back) was the inimitable Japp Stamm.

 

[Eelementary]

His experience is invaluable playing alongside Sivo and everyone else on that edge.

Agreed, one year would be ideal. Having Salmon in the squad to fill in when needed.

Just wish Jennings got some more early ball, because he is still very dangerous.

Agreed.

Michael Jennings is still class.

I think we underestimate just how good he is, tbh.

 

[Soto]

Doesn't solve our forward leader role though.

No it doesn't but you would have to be pleased with that backline.
In terms of fwds and I'm not suggesting being THE forward leader but I'd throw good money at the following: Brandon Smith, Christian Welch, Tui Kamikamica, Tevita Pangai Jnr, Agnatius Paasi, Braeden Uele and Zane Tetevano. All these guys have that mongrel in them. Scoring 2 of them would change the dynamic of the fwds.
Nrown would have some angry mates to go with him when that aggression, big run or big hit is required

New players emerge all the time. So we dont necessarily know if there is a potential fwd leader from the juniors or any of the other clubs.

 

[emjaycee]

No it doesn't but you would have to be pleased with that backline.
In terms of fwds and I'm not suggesting being THE forward leader but I'd throw good money at the following: Brandon Smith, Christian Welch, Tui Kamikamica, Tevita Pangai Jnr, Agnatius Paasi, Braeden Uele and Zane Tetevano. All these guys have that mongrel in them. Scoring 2 of them would change the dynamic of the fwds.
Nrown would have some angry mates to go with him when that aggression, big run or big hit is required

New players emerge all the time. So we dont necessarily know if there is a potential fwd leader from the juniors or any of the other clubs.

Well two of those names have been thrown around by our recruitment team in the last 12 months - Welch and Tetevano.

Remember, "it is the forwards who win you matches and the back who decide by how much".
Our lack of forward power and leadership for the last 3 weeks has been our major downfall (actually for the last 5+ years with 2016 and 2017 being the exceptions).

 

[Poupou Escobar]

His brother Marty has turned out better.

Their sister Martina is very good at shot put.

 

[Djay]

Maldini is, in my eyes, the greatest defender of all time - but he mostly played left back, and Vengey was talking about centre back.

Part of what made Puyol so brilliant was that he could play anywhere in the defensive line, and excel.

Another brilliant defender (but again, mostly a wing back) was the inimitable Japp Stamm.

Guys, Cannavaro won the Balon d'or playing as a centre back, people quickly forget how good he was.

Go and watch how good he was during the 06 world cup, easily the best defender I've ever seen.

Nesta wasn't far behind him either and got injured in the group stages of the 06 world cup, Materazzi came in and played alongside Cannavaro and suddenly turned into a superstar.

Cannavaro made everyone around him look good, he could play out and read the game better then any defender I have seen.

 

[Djay]

Agreed.

Michael Jennings is still class.

I think we underestimate just how good he is, tbh.

His a gun, we don't appreciate him enough for my liking.

 

[TheRam]

We should kick the tyres on Blake Austin.
He is doing well in England and has some ticker to him.

He can't tackle. Hardly what we need right now.

 

[TheRam]

Fair enough, however Graham / salmon are basically the same size according to their current profiles (same weight, Salmon 1cm taller at 187cm)

Salmon nearly 6'2"? Very doubtful. Who does these profile measurements? FFS!

 

[Eelogical]

Salmon nearly 6'2"? Very doubtful. Who does these profile measurements? FFS!

Most likely under size. Throw him back.

 

[Incorrect]

Just listening to the Dragons v Sharks game while cooking the bbq, and then hearing Xerri get interviewed after scoring his hattrick.... And it got me thinking about much hyped youngsters and the ones that actually deliver... Ponga is obviously delivering everything and more than was anticipated by the Knights. Xerri is fitting in to first grade seamlessly and looks a star already. Turbo and Jake at Manly have justified the hype around them. RTS another example...

On the flip side, there's been plenty of Parra youngsters talked up prior to making NRL debut but none have or are delivering. The likes of Moeroa, Kris Keating, Loko. I heard all about these prodigies and how they were rep stars of the future but for different reasons they delivered bugger all... Hayne the outlier but even he f**ked up his career....

All part of a broader conversation on promoting the right juniors, but we also can't miss the boat on some of the other gun talents elsewhere. As it stands, the Knights pretty much hit the jackpot with Ponga. I'd like to see us buy a few more lottery tickets from other sellers around the place and not just stick to the same newsagent in Parra if you catch my drift.... And I know we are trying, but I'd love to see us produce or poach someone special again. We're overdue IMO...