Snowden shapes up for shot at Knights
BY ROBERT DILLON
SHARKS coach Ricky Stuart warned the Newcastle Knights yesterday that they may not recognise Kade Snowden in tomorrow night's clash at Toyota Park.
Snowden was released by the Knights last season to join Cronulla, despite having a year to run on his contract, and the 21-year-old prop has since undergone a physical makeover and started to realise his undoubted potential.
He has played nine NRL games for the Sharks, four of them in the starting line-up, but has been named on the bench for his first game against his home-town club.
"I've followed Kade since he was a schoolboy footballer," Stuart said yesterday.
"I've always had a high regard for him, and I've been very impressed with his attitude and the amount of work he's put into his body shape and fitness this year.
"He's really worked hard on his fitness.
"He's playing well. He gives us a bit of impact."
Cronulla's other off-season gain from Newcastle was promising hooker Terence Seu Seu, who was sacked by the Knights for repeated off-field indiscretions.
The 20-year-old has made seven NRL appearances for Cronulla but will play in their NSW Cup team this weekend.
"He's going fine; it's just that he wasn't getting a lot of time in first grade so I just wanted him to get a bit of football under his belt," Stuart said.
Seu Seu shapes as the likely replacement next year for crafty rake Isaac De Gois, who has signed a three-year deal with Newcastle, starting in 2009.
"We didn't get into a bidding war," Stuart said.
"Isaac got offered a tremendous deal from Newcastle and we couldn't match it.
"He's a good kid. I hope his future's as good as it's been here."
Knights coach Brian Smith believes De Gois can prove a worthy successor to champion skipper Danny Buderus, who will join Leeds Rhinos next season.
Smith said De Gois will be a major threat out of dummy half tomorrow night but was confident Newcastle can keep him contained.
"He can have a week off, if he likes," Smith joked. "Isaac's been in our plans this week, because we need to shut him down.
"He's quick and he's very dangerous around the rucks.
"But a lot of that can be negated by doing the rest of the things you have to do every week: tackling well, winning the ruck and getting our markers and inside defence really tight.
"If we can do that, we can shut Isaac down to some extent, and that would also help us deal with Brett Kimmorley and his kicking threat."
De Gois was in doubt with a rib injury earlier in the week but is expected to take his place in Cronulla's starting side.
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