The 2017 Pre-Season Thread

[perverse]

Josh is a good prospect. Bugger though I thought his apprenticeship finished this year.

Yeah, I think he's done well for a bloke who barely trains part time. He's obviously there for that reason... it's a shame that he's not willing to go all-in on footy like the Rossdawg has.

I get the opinion around here that if you didn't come out of the womb a superstar your not worth the effort.

Only if you attend the slotmachine school of armchair coaching.

 

[Sydney Knight]

I got the impression he would finish the apprenticeship at the end of this year and Browny was happy to run with a player working 45 hours a week in a year that was essentially a write off. I

dont know how much first grade he can expect to play next year with that work load (assuming we get some forward recruits).

 

[League_God]

1.-
2.Brendan Elliott
3.Dane Gagai
4.Pete Mata'utia
5.Nathan Ross
6.Brock Lamb
7.Trent Hodkinson
8.Sam Mataora
9.Jarrod Mullen
10.-
11.Sione Mata'utia
12.Mitch Barnett
13.Jamie Buhrer

14.Rory Kostjacyn
15.Daniel Saifiti
16.Jacob Saifiti
17.Micky Paea/Pauli Pauli/Josh King/Korbin Sims

f**k Bird. Our backrow actually looks good. We need a fullback and a prop

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

1.-
2.Brendan Elliott
3.Dane Gagai
4.Pete Mata'utia
5.Nathan Ross
6.Brock Lamb
7.Trent Hodkinson
8.Sam Mataora
9.Jarrod Mullen
10.-
11.Sione Mata'utia
12.Mitch Barnett
13.Jamie Buhrer

14.Rory Kostjacyn
15.Daniel Saifiti
16.Jacob Saifiti
17.Micky Paea/Pauli Pauli/Josh King/Korbin Sims

f**k Bird. Our backrow actually looks good. We need a fullback and a prop

Sims will get a start.
Not sure if we will always go for both Daniel and Jacob. Daniel seems a bit in front. Jacob might need more time.
Whether Pauli gets a run depends on whether he gets his fitness up.

 

[rabble1]

We need a centre and a fullback. If Gagai stays he goes to the wing. Wardle? to 3, Pete at 4. If we don't get a FB, Pythian gets a crack. Safiti's are the only props we have that really cut it. Sims for for No. 17. Kostjasyn start, Levi -14. Backrow - Barnett, Sione, Buhrer. I don't think Sione is big enough for the backrow.....Mullo - for now....Hodko - for now.... Need two props.

 

[Caped Crusader]

Sione killed it in the back row this year

Can't see how he's not "big enough"

 

[PenrithPanther45]

Can't wait to visit McDonald Jones Stadium http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4210905/mcdonald-jones-cements-stadium-deal/

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Can't wait to visit McDonald Jones Stadium http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4210905/mcdonald-jones-cements-stadium-deal/

Just call it Maccas.

 

[Knight Vision]

Sione killed it in the back row this year

Can't see how he's not "big enough"

just being able to debate who might fill a position is a great position to be in. We start to get some depth. Sione should be second row but could easily slot back to centre to allow his body time to develope. No way Gagai is a winger not with his talent and salary cap space. It's centre or he will soon be gooooooone

 

[rabble1]

Gag's killed it on the wing for qld with a decent team inside him. Sure, he goes. Just gotta replace him. Sione had to change his run up to get an impact. Not bagging. Love the kid. Love the team.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4214358/wests-wont-bid-for-knights/

Well looks like Wests aren't making a bid for us..

 

[Knight76]

I think Wests are holding back waiting for the NRL process to turn up no viable buyers. So they can walk in and take the club for cheaply. Every comment I have seen from them on this matter has been downplaying their willingness to spend, yet, they still keep their hat in the ring.

Their preference appears to be working in partnership with someone else to lessen their financial exposure, but also if that fails, to get the club cheap after nobody buys us.

That article states they would need permission from their members to make an offer for the Knights, and they have learned when their members said no to buying in to the Mariners.

Of course they voted no, very few people in Newcastle supported the Mariners from my recollections of that time. We did not want another Newcastle team, and did not want another rugbly league comp, we were an ARL city. So no surprise.

How about the board at Wests put a question to the vote by members, should we pursue ownership of the Knights, and investigate potentially making an offer?

I know what the result would be. But, they won't do that.....

It is all politics.

 

[slotmachine]

Wests are in the business of making money. Football clubs lose money. The Knights are a giant hole they would need to throw 4 or 5 million dollars into every year in order to be competitive. So, whats in it for Wests?

They would like a partnership where the club leases their facilities or engages their catering/management/etc as it makes them money.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

So with strong rumours mamo is gone for next season I really hope Ross is given fullback.

It's a no brainer for me, it was his best position in the lower grades. He is our best back. Having him at fullback automatically makes us a significantly better team IMO. Strong ball runner, great leap under the high ball, tackle bust machine, enthusiastic. Not sure about ball playing but no one else can ball play either.

I think this just has to happen.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

It's a no brainer for me,

and for a lot of us but not seemingly for Brown.

 

[Glendale]

I'm probably gonna get shot down for this, but I wouldn't mind seeing what Gagai can do at fullback with a full preseason in the position...

 

[Burwood]

I'm disappointed Feeney didn't end up at fullback in reserve grade. Would have been interesting to see how he developed with a full season in the position.

 

[slotmachine]

I'm probably gonna get shot down for this, but I wouldn't mind seeing what Gagai can do at fullback with a full preseason in the position...

he has the most natural talent out of any of the candidates

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

I'm probably gonna get shot down for this, but I wouldn't mind seeing what Gagai can do at fullback with a full preseason in the position..

He'd be good in attack but would need a lot of work on defence and positional play in defence.
I can't see him being re-signed after 2017 so maybe it's best to think longer term.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

I'm with CH on this one. Mamo is a winger and only a winger. Gagai can't defend or chooses self preservation over defense, either way he can go back to the Broncos for all I care given his 570K income. Put Ross there for a year or 2 until we get a terrific replacement and then put Ross back in the centres. It's a no brainer.