Trial 1: Panthers vs Newcastle

[Caged Panther]

Well now seems as good as time as any to start a thread on this weekends trial so here it is...

 

[griffo346]

is there any coverage of the game anywhere?

 

[mxlegend99]

So with how many PL players were left out of todays pick, i'm expecting that not very many first graders will get a runt his weekend?

Wallace looks pretty certain to get a start. With Gower out, and i've read that Firman is injured (haven't seen it confirmed though)... Wallace would have to be the first one on the list, surely?

 

[Frederick]

Here's our squad:

Trial Squad for Darwin Match

Monday, February 19, 2007 - Newcastle Knights

KNIGHTS v PANTHERS

Richardson Park

NRL Trial Match

7.30pm, Saturday 24 February, 2007

Coach: Brian Smith

Abraham, Daniel
Carmont, George
Franze, Paul
Gidley, Kurt
Karawana, Marvan
Ling, Jacob
McManus, James
Mullen, Jarrod
Paterson, Cory
Perry, Josh
Polglase, Todd
Quigley, Luke
Reynoldson, Kirk
Royal, Jesse
Seu Seu, Terrence
Tafua, Mark
Tighe, Brad
Tupou, Willie
Walsh, Luke
White, Matthew
Woonough, Adam
Uate, Akuila

 

[Bicey_18]

Should be a pretty good clash, always the case between these 2 clubs

 

[Bob]

I have read we are taking 2 teams with everyone getting a bit of game time. It gives every player a chance to impress.

 

[choc_soldier]

Match threads... another indication the season is near. Only a trial, but still... woo hoo!

 

[Frederick]

Match threads... another indication the season is near. Only a trial, but still... woo hoo!

Completely agree. It's been the longest off season I can remember

 

[mxlegend99]

Feb 20 - The Panthers will fly out of Sydney tomorrow for their trial against the Knights in Darwin on Saturday night.

Twenty-six players have been named in the squad for the club's first trial of 2007. They are:

Paul AITON, Matthew BELL, Maurice BLAIR, Liam CAMPBELL, Joel CLINTON, Matthew CROSS, Geoff DANIELA, Michael GORDON, Craig GOWER, Tim GRANT, Luke LEWIS, Mark MEREDITH, Junior MOORS, Bryan NORRIE, Mark O’HALLORAN, Keith PETERS, Luke PRIDDIS, Tony PULETUA, Luke ROONEY, Nathan SMITH, Craig TRINDALL, Peter WALLACE, Trent WATERHOUSE, Rhys WESSER, Brendan WORTH, Nick YOUNGQUEST.

In between training sessions in Darwin, the players will visit schools and hold rugby league clinics. They'll also attend a function at Parliament House and a charity fund-raising dinner.

The match kicks off at 7.30pm Darwin time on Saturday night.

The following day the squad will fly to Queensland for the second trial, against the Titans at Carrara on March 2.

26 Players named. Capable of making a VERY strong squad of 17. I'm looking forward to us making the top 8 this year.

 

[Panthagrey]

Mr Weaver in a thread in PI said that Firman had rolled an ankle at training and they hope he is back for the second trial

 

[roopy]

The most interesting selection for Newcastle is big Mark Tuafua.
He is a 24 year old who is the elder brother of our Flegg second rower from last season, Larry Tuafua.
Big Mark has been the standout player in Newcastle Rugby Union for the last few seasons, but this year he started training with the Knights and has impressed so much he gets his first ever game of League as an NRL firstgrader. He is playing for a contract, and will probably go back to Union if he doesn't get one - so he could be a trivia question in the future - which two players only ever played one game of League in their lives - a firstgrade trial for the Knights? answer - Greg Smith and Mark Tuafua.

 

[Munky]

Mr Weaver in a thread in PI said that Firman had rolled an ankle at training and they hope he is back for the second trial

Good news IMO.

Gives one of the younguns first shot at impressing. If they do well they can put Firman where he belongs in Jim Beam Cup.

 

[griffo346]

26 Players named. Capable of making a VERY strong squad of 17. I'm looking forward to us making the top 8 this year.

I totally agree anything short of top 8 will be a disopointment considering the hype we have about the pack being mobile and everyone losing weight and becoming more fitter

 

[murraymob]

Good to see trindall is still in the mix. Well done craig. A good mix of players selected by elliott .He is sending a message to all players if you are good enough you will get picked in first grade. Not like last year where no matter how bad you played you still got picked. I reckan Ronney may be under presure from Daniella.

 

[griffo346]

we lost 30-18

 

[mightypanther]

.
.
Feb 24 -

Panthers Interactive

http://www.panthers.com.au/Forum/Topic39506-18-1.aspx


The Panthers lost their first trial of the season, against the Knights tonight in Darwin.

But there were many positives, among them the fact that a number of young guns got a run and there were no serious injuries reported.

Newcastle won 30-18 in very wet conditions which would have been better suited for a game of water polo, particularly in the second half.

Penrith's try scorers were Trent Waterhouse, Paul Aiton and Geoff Daniela. Michael Gordon kicked two goals and Peter Wallace one.

Coach Matt Elliott pulled all of his top players except Craig Gower for the last quarter.

Waterhouse, Joel Clinton and Matthew Bell were among those who had strong games.

In Gladstone, Penrith's Premier League, captained by Liam Georgetown, beat the Central Coast Comets 34-22.

Alex Ranieri was a stand-out performer. Josh Bateman was also very strong defensively.

In Newcastle earlier today, Penrith's SG Ball and Harold Matthews sides both had good wins over Newcastle.
.
.

 

[Kilkenny]

Fibroman, just rang me from the Darwin Sherton Hotel, after getting back from the game and he assures me there's nothing to worry about!

There were a few issues to come out of the game which according to Fibroman included;

• The ref had a Barry Crocker.
• Our tactics of playing dry weather football in monsoon conditions were flawed.
• We missed Brett Firman's kicking game.
• It was hard for the players to motivate themselves against the Knights Jersey Flegg side.
• The late kick off time couple with the fact the casino closes at midnight effected our players concentration.
• It will take time for the three on field captains to gel as apparently they used the papers, scissors and rock method to make crucial on field decisions.
• The players were worn out from the intensive fitness training they have undergone in the off season.
• We were outmuscled by the much bigger Knights pack!

There just a few of Fibroman's thoughts on the game.

His main gripe is apparently there are no licenced premises open in Darwin after midnight?

 

[Kilkenny]

Trying to drown my sorrows in peace but fibroman keeps ringing me from Darwin.

Apparently, he's found an open bar and has tagged along with some American Sailors on recreation leave. He's blubbering something about using his ' weapon ' of passionate destruction.

Not sure what he means!

Expect a trip report when he get's back.

On a positive note he did say our goal kicking this evening was very good in difficult conditions.

 

[Caged Panther]

Small report on the trial

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21283414-23214,00.html

 

[macavity]

• It was hard for the players to motivate themselves against the Knights Jersey Flegg side.
• We were outmuscled by the much bigger Knights pack!

If your "very strong" "top 8" squad was outmuscled by our JF pack, you have major issues.