The 2017 Pre-Season Thread

[Caped Crusader]

Honestly, I don't

I'm 90% confident that Pete Mat will get the gig and Phythian will be playing FB in NSW Cup. If he kills it there and Pete Mat is crap/injured/moved to the centres then I can see him getting a run later on though

 

[slotmachine]

Does anyone think Phythian is a chance to play FB round 1?

Doesn't look like after being named in the B Grade trial.

 

[Johns Magic]

Doesn't look like after being named in the B Grade trial.

There are a few players in that 9's squad I suspect Phythian would be in over if it was just on picking a "full-strength" side.

I think there's a chance Brown would rather watch Phythian play a game at fullback and see how he goes in that position than run around at the 9's.

 

[Caped Crusader]

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4444447/knights-welcome-the-best-of-british-to-town/?cs=306

Article about Wardle

Interesting it says he wants to play in the backrow. If he does, who plays left centre? Does this mean Pythian is a chance at fullback? Hmmm

 

[slotmachine]

Ross.

 

[Hardcore_Fan]

Does anyone think Phythian is a chance to play FB round 1?

I reckon he will be first picked. He has been training there all off season with Pete. IMO there is more upside to what Pythian can do. Pete would be the safe boring no frills option.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

I haven't seen a great deal of Pythian. Can anyone list his strengths that he has demonstrated so far?

 

[slotmachine]

His biggest strength is that he's not Pete mat

 

[Hardcore_Fan]

We won our trial against tweed.

FT | Knights 38 (T: Cogger, Gibbs, Gudgeon 2, Hughes 2, Mata’utia, Phythian G: Hodkinson 4/5, McNamara 1/1, Pearsall 0/1)

Seagulls 22

I heard Pythian had a good game.

I also heard we we were well ahead then took all our nrl guys off so they scored a couple

 

[Johns Magic]

Interesting Toohey article today. Three main points.

1) 5/8 and fullback are the two positions yet to be decided. Lamb vs Feeney and Pete vs Dylan. Both will be decided by the Canberra trial but Lamb took the points yesterday.

2) We are trying to get a "prominent" English front-rower from ESL here for 2017 but the English club is stonewalling the deal. Two other NRL clubs are circling the player as well. It reads to me like he would be ours right now but it's just a matter of the ESL club letting him go.

3) Smith is a big fan of Barnett, wants him to fill the Smith role at lock and we are well underway in re-signing him. Mail is he is going nowhere.


For full article you'll have to go on Barry Toohey's twitter.

 

[slotmachine]

Wonder who is going to get the spot on the bench to spell Barnett. Would think it's either Yates or Stockwell...

Reckon Elliott is going to be the other winger too.

 

[Johns Magic]

I would have thought Wardle if he is fit

 

[slotmachine]

He's not a lock

 

[Johns Magic]

I hope Elliott doesn't start but he seems the likely option.

 

[Johns Magic]

He's not a lock

Hmmm he must have been signed to play NSW Cup then...

 

[slotmachine]

Pretty sure that's where he'll start the season after he's done rehabbing his knee.

 

[Johns Magic]

And when he's fit?

 

[slotmachine]

Replace whichever of Buhrer/Sione is injured/suspended. Maybe fill in at centre.

He'll be miles of the pace with no preseason, doubly so coming from ESL.

 

[Johns Magic]

Replace whichever of Buhrer/Sione is injured/suspended. Maybe fill in at centre.

He'll be miles of the pace with no preseason, doubly so coming from ESL.

Ok so you think the guy we just got to break contract and sign for three years will be in NSW Cup when he's fit unless there are injuries/suspensions.

 

[slotmachine]

In 2017, yes. Imo he won't be in NRL ready condition until 2018.

Apart from that my question was who is going to be bench lock to start the season. It's obviously not going to be Wardle as he's been in the country for five minutes and still had a month of rehab to go.