Trial vs. Sharks

[roopy]

Trial Team - Knights v Sharks

Monday, 25 February 2008 - Newcastle Knights

KNIGHTS V SHARKS
Baddeley Park

Cessnock

7.30pm Saturday 1 March, 2008

Coach: Brian Smith


1. Kurt Gidley

2. James McManus

3. Wes Naiqama

4. Keith Lulia

5. Cooper Vuna

6. Chris Bailey

7. Jarrod Mullen

8. Jesse Royal

9. Danny Buderus (C)

10. Daniel Tolar

11. Chris Houston

12. Zeb Taia

13. Steve Simpson



Adam MacDougall

Luke MacDougall

Scott Dureau

Matt Hilder

Danny Wicks

Matthew White

Cory Paterson

Richard Fa’aoso

Some interesting selections there.
No Uate.
Tolar ahead of a few.
Houston ahead of Patto
Lulia ahead of the doogs.

 

[Jono078]

I don't know if I look at it as those ahead of others but rather sacrifice them instead of the others getting injured.

No Uate is interesting, but it seems pretty much like this is what we'll see in round 1 except for a few here and there.

 

[keeney]

Interesting selections.

Simmo in the 13 again. No Uate. No Walsh. I guess the Bailey Mullen Halves combo is gonna be it.

 

[Super Sub]

I guess the Bailey Mullen Halves combo is gonna be it.

Is it really that likely that this will be Smith's preference for halves when the season starts? because he spent a big chunk of last year trying to move mullo back to 5/8 to suit his natural game, does it make sense for him to put him back into halfback again? Also Dureau is on the bench so maybe there will be a swap at some stage and Dureau will take over at half and mullo to 5/8 or get a rest?

That being said I do like Bailey at 5/8, he really does have a good running game and passing game, and I don't think his defence is good enough for him to be at lock a whole game. I would like to see mullo at 5/8 and Dureau or walsh at half idealy but I think Bailey does bring his own qualities to the role in the halves. Anyway I am still not totally convinced that mullo is going back to halfback this year for good.

 

[keeney]

That's the problem with Bailey, he has fantastic touches, but isn't good enough or bad enough to be one position over another. It's frustrating trying to place him in a team, you want his running game, and the class he seems to ooze every now and again, but as a long term option anywhere?

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Trials a trial, I'll wait til round one before I start guessing what team runs out, because as we all know Tuesday teams is usually very different from the team that actually runs out!

 

[Hanscholo]

Is it really that likely that this will be Smith's preference for halves when the season starts? because he spent a big chunk of last year trying to move mullo back to 5/8 to suit his natural game, does it make sense for him to put him back into halfback again? Also Dureau is on the bench so maybe there will be a swap at some stage and Dureau will take over at half and mullo to 5/8 or get a rest?

That being said I do like Bailey at 5/8, he really does have a good running game and passing game, and I don't think his defence is good enough for him to be at lock a whole game. I would like to see mullo at 5/8 and Dureau or walsh at half idealy but I think Bailey does bring his own qualities to the role in the halves. Anyway I am still not totally convinced that mullo is going back to halfback this year for good.

I think Mullo is the best half back we have, and he has the maturity and the experience in some ways to start to point us around the paddock. So i agree with having him in the 7. Walsh is another year away at least. I am a fan of Bailey, I think with another pre season under his belt his power will start to show thru.

Lulia is the interesting one for me, if he works out at centre for us that will be a massive boost for us.

 

[Spike]

Geez we're looking thin in the props department at the moment

 

[keeney]

I think Mullo is the best half back we have, and he has the maturity and the experience in some ways to start to point us around the paddock. So i agree with having him in the 7. Walsh is another year away at least. I am a fan of Bailey, I think with another pre season under his belt his power will start to show thru.

Lulia is the interesting one for me, if he works out at centre for us that will be a massive boost for us.

Mullo is the best Halfback we have, but in the 6 he is a better player. That has always been the issue.

 

[~knights~]

CENTRAL NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
V
CRONULLA SUTHERLAND COBRAS
Baddeley Park
Cessnock
5.30PM Saturday 1 March, 2008
Coach: Rick Stone

1. Stephen Gordon
2. Akuila Uate
3. Mat Cooper
4. Junior Sau
5. Byron Warren
6. Marvin Karawana
7. Luke Walsh
8. Mark Taufua
9. Terence Seu Seu
10. Toa Asa
11. Cameron Ciraldo
12. Lui Toimoana
13. Michael Young

14. Tanu Wulf
15. Willie Tupou
16. Jacob Ling
17. Scott Briggs
18. Milton Thaiday

anyone know of byron warren?

 

[Johns Magic]

Scott Briggs!

 

[bluesbreaker]

That is deadset unbelievable. I cannot fathom them bringing Briggs back.

 

[roopy]

That is deadset unbelievable. I cannot fathom them bringing Briggs back.

Briggs was the star for Steve Burraston when he coached Macquarie for the last few seasons, and we are looking for a quality halfback - and he could be that if he gets his sh*t together.
It's great to see Matt Cooper getting a run. I thought we lost him.

 

[roopy]

Warren played Flegg last year.
He only played 9 games but was starting winger for our finals side.

 

[bluesbreaker]

Briggs was the star for Steve Burraston when he coached Macquarie for the last few seasons, and we are looking for a quality halfback - and he could be that if he gets his sh*t together.
It's great to see Matt Cooper getting a run. I thought we lost him.

He may be a star but he's a deadset f**king drip. Has the same shirt grabbing tendencies as Walsh IIRC too.

 

[roopy]

He may be a star but he's a deadset f**king drip. Has the same shirt grabbing tendencies as Walsh IIRC too.

I haven't seen him play for a long time now. He was a poor defender when first thrown into PL as a 20 year old - but i'd like to see how he has improved after a stint at Souths and a few seasons of real NRL. If we can get him to show up at training he might go OK.

 

[bluesbreaker]

The last time I saw him was at Maccas Tronno on Christmas Eve 2 years ago, just sitting outside at about 2am. Possibly waiting for Brekky, i'm not entirely sure.

 

[bluesbreaker]

Bit harsh to call him a drip I guess. Better to say he's quite aggressive, can be a very angry young man, and doesn't mind the odd scuffle. Sounds very familiar to another halfback we had once :S

 

[Spike]

I wonder how Briggs' attitiude has changed if at all.... He was a great little player but man what a f*ckstick

 

[aqua_duck]

who's toa asa?