Round 1 2016 Team

Chief Longhorn said:
I have a completely different view on Mullen! I believe Brown is trying to take as much pressure off him as possible to allow him to focus completely on playing! He was labelled early and has been under enormous pressure his entire career, and in my opinion is a fantastic player. Taking Mullen out of the spotlight for the first time in his career is an absolute coaching masterstroke from Brown! I am really looking forward to watching him play this year, especially alongside Hodkinson, and injuries aside I am sure he will be huge for us! Cue the Mullen Haters Club8)!
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Although I'm one of the guys who thinks Mullen hasn't lived up to his potential which he definatly had . I'm looking forward to this year with Mullen next to Hodkinson but I get the feeling that if Mullen does'nt have a big year Lamb will be 5/8 in 2017..
 
I'm willing to bet that Brian McGuigan's speech was the most cringeworthy and embarrasing thing imaginable.
 
1. Jaelen Feeney
2. Pat Mata'utia
3. Chanel Mata'utia
4. Dane Gagai
5. Akuila Uate
6. Mullen/Brock Lamb if its true
7. Trent Hodkinson
8. Mickey Paea
9. Tyler Randal
10. Pauli Pauli
11. Korbin Sims
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Jeremy Smith

14. Kade Snowden
15. Jack Stockwell
16. Bhana
17. Daniel Saifiti
 
Tariq is a goose. Started last season with a six week suspension and 2016 with five weeks. Just the sort of guy to make co-captain with those qualifications and show leadership. Hodko and Smithy a big yes!
 
Hi guys, I think Bhana was tried as a Hooker with us (Warriors) in NSW Cup, from memory went OK but nothing memorable. Seems to be a decent young bloke who is a good defender with a good work ethic. He was against guys like Ben Henry and Faitala- Marriner so his options were limited. Actually good to see him go to a good club.

All the best for the season. In my opinion predictions of you guys getting the spoon are so much crap.
 
slotmachine said:
Bhana would be playing 30-35 minutes of lock, levi and randall to share hooker.
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Bhana looked like a beast in the Canberra trial, I'd honestly drop either Levi or Randall and going off the Canberra Trial Levi would miss out. Be happy to say Bhana play 40 and spell Randall for 20-30 mins.

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rob c said:
While the prospect of 5 players making their debuts all at once seems risky, let's not forget why Nathan Brown was brought in as coach. The Knights finished dead last in 2015, in order to improve tough decisions have to be made. I'm sure the easy thing to do would be go with players who have played first grade, but those are the same people who contributed to a 16th-placed finish last year. It would be a massive call to drop Mullen and put Brock Lamb in, but Nathan Brown is here for a reason. If he thinks the best way to get the Knights into contenders he has to be allowed to do it, otherwise it'll be another season of disappointment.
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Why is it risky we are coming off the spoon, not as if the cattle we had last year were setting the world on fire?

I doubt if Mullen gets dropped it would be done lightly. Seriously I'd genuienly like to know what success we can attribute to Mullen, no doubt his got all the attributes of a gun but whens he ever consistantly put them to good use?

Brown said all positions were up for grabs and if our established boys haven't had a decent dig in the preseason stuff them, they can start in NSW cup and either fight for their place to get back in first grade or go someone else as I am sure Brown would love to clear some dead wood - And good knows after our past few years there's plenty that needs to go!

What we had previously hasn't worked in the slightest so good on Brownie if his making these bold moves, might get rid of the complacency thats dogged this place since the Hagan era that Smith all almost got rid of and no one else has had a crack at destroying.
 
Lord of the Skraelings said:
Bhana looked like a beast in the Canberra trial, I'd honestly drop either Levi or Randall and going off the Canberra Trial Levi would miss out. Be happy to say Bhana play 40 and spell Randall for 20-30 mins.

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Why is it risky we are coming off the spoon, not as if the cattle we had last year were setting the world on fire?

I doubt if Mullen gets dropped it would be done lightly. Seriously I'd genuienly like to know what success we can attribute to Mullen, no doubt his got all the attributes of a gun but whens he ever consistantly put them to good use?

Brown said all positions were up for grabs and if our established boys haven't had a decent dig in the preseason stuff them, they can start in NSW cup and either fight for their place to get back in first grade or go someone else as I am sure Brown would love to clear some dead wood - And good knows after our past few years there's plenty that needs to go!

What we had previously hasn't worked in the slightest so good on Brownie if his making these bold moves, might get rid of the complacency thats dogged this place since the Hagan era that Smith all almost got rid of and no one else has had a crack at destroying.
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Randell is in the leadership group and Brown seems a big fan of him. No doubt he'll be named next week.
 
Looked way more impressive than Levi did, If they pick Levi I'd start with him and use Randall as a utility off the bench.
 
rob c said:
There's also some interesting resemblance to the 2007 Dragons. In 2007, the Dragons named 5 debutants in their 18-man squad for Round 1 (Josh Morris, Keith Lulia, Richie Williams, Dan Hunt & Lagi Setu - 18th man). Nathan Brown also named a player who had only 1 NRL game to his name (Tony Caine). The Dragons had 3 captains (Ben Hornby, Mark Gasnier & Jason Ryles), while they named 3 captains Gasnier missed the start of the season. The Dragons played the Gold Coast Titans on a Sunday in Queensland.

All these facts might sound coincidental, but on the back of today's announcement there is a degree of symmetry.

- Nathan Brown was coach.
- They played the Gold Coast Titans away on a Sunday.
- 3 Captains were named, only 2 played. Tariq Sims will miss the first 5 weeks.
- Lachlan Fitzgibbon is a strong chance of playing. He has only played 1 NRL game. Just like Tony Caine.
- Pat Mata'utia will debut, but not alongside his brother. When Josh Morris debuted, Brett didn't play.

It may sound crazy but you cannot deny there are similarities.
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Very interesting and quite insane. The Dragons also won that game by 2 points. A sign of what's to come for us perhaps?
 
After the trial Levi (and I am a fan of his ) wouldn't be in my 17 , Randall was much more impressive and should start and Bhana who was also impressive to the Bench
 
Why is this 1 trial against Canberra suddenly more meaningful than every other single game we've seen so far? Levi is our best hooker, Bhana would be very makeshift, Mataora is not better than Snowden or Stockwell, 1 trial match doesn't change that.
 
mozza said:
I'm willing to bet that Brian McGuigan's speech was the most cringeworthy and embarrasing thing imaginable.
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Nope. That belonged to Gidley, as it has for the past 5 years running. Admittedly this years speech wasn't as bad as his infamous "everyone is hopping on the bus" speech that lasted a good 20 minutes he gave 2012 when Tinkler first took over the club but it was still pretty "cringeworthy and embarrassing". Seriously, I still don't know how he has a job.
 
I don't think Levi is our best hooker, and I don't see Bhana ever playing there for us while Levi and Randall are fit. He would make a handy option to rotate with Smith though.
 
I'd be pretty annoyed is Mullen isn't selected..
And I know I'm late to the captains party but not sure how 3 captains sit with me... I'm not even a fan of 2.
 
ragnor said:
Nope. That belonged to Gidley, as it has for the past 5 years running. Admittedly this years speech wasn't as bad as his infamous "everyone is hopping on the bus" speech that lasted a good 20 minutes he gave 2012 when Tinkler first took over the club but it was still pretty "cringeworthy and embarrassing". Seriously, I still don't know how he has a job.
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Dunno at least Gidley speaks coherently. I saw McGuigan at the fan day the other week and he seemed half cut at like 10 in the morning. Babbling on with garbage and making everyone around him feel uncomfortable.
 
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