2020 Pre Season and Trial Games

[Billy]

https://www.newcastleknights.com.au...jirah-momoisea-nrl-dream-and-backrow-lessons/

Article saying the new coach has got Jirah Momoisea training for second row.
He certainly looks like an athlete and I remember reading articles about him being an all round athlete before he took up league.
He is currently 109 kg, although he doesn't look it, having a slim build for a prop. I'd say he could lose a few kgs and get a bit more mobile.

 

[Alex]

Moga is looking pretty lean and fit this pre-season!

 

[krustykraz]

Also no strapping on the Knee is a good sign.

 

[slotmachine]

Not much evidence in favour of strapping aiding joint stability, it's mostly a psychological thing.
Always like to see players ditch it, shows they have confidence in their rehab

 

[krustykraz]

Toa needs surgery on his finger.

 

[Simon Templar]

Also no strapping on the Knee is a good sign.

Looks like he has his Hamstring strapped though.

 

[Billy]

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...ets-fresh-start-at-newcastle-knights/?cs=7580

Article where Moga says he has a fresh start under a new coach.
Moga comes across as an arrogant guy who rates himself as pretty damn good, and I thought him and Brown clashed personalities, which is why Moga spent a long time in reserve grade and wasn't exactly trying hard to get into firsts.
I don't rate him as high as he rates himself, but he is probably our best outside back if he wants to give his best effort, and being out of contract, he really has to dig in if he wants to earn a big contract for 2021.

 

[Billy]

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...m_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews#slide=0

Kurt Mann says he is only training at 5/8 this year.
Says the coach wants stability - not moving players around.

 

[Rob]

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...m_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews#slide=0

Kurt Mann says he is only training at 5/8 this year.
Says the coach wants stability - not moving players around.

And you look at the recent training pics and I think I saw one of him shovelling a ball out from dummy half

 

[knightime]

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...m_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews#slide=0

Kurt Mann says he is only training at 5/8 this year.
Says the coach wants stability - not moving players around.

It's good we've got better depth this year in the outside backs, so hopefully Mann isn't asked to fill in there. His ball-playing and kicking is good IMO, so hopefully Obi sticks to keeping him in that spot rather than moving him around as Brown did. Pretty sure Mann played 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 14 last year, despite coming here to play 9 apparently.

 

[member 2299]

Mann at 5/8?

We are doomed and time to move obi on!!!!!

 

[krustykraz]

Mann at 5/8?

We are doomed and time to move obi on!!!!!

It's probably Mann's best chance of a starting gig.
But I honestly don't see him in the 17 come round 1.

 

[slotmachine]

There's a few who have been regulars in the side over the last few years who should find themselves in reserves.

 

[relicorange94]

There's a few who have been regulars in the side over the last few years who should find themselves in reserves.

Sione comes to mind...

 

[knightime]

Sione comes to mind...

He was good for us off the bench this year, but yeah, I can't see him holding down a spot regularly, either at 2nd row or centre, just because of the competition we have already.

 

[Grandpa Joe]

Sione comes to mind...

But his our future cuptin!

 

[slotmachine]

Yeah mainly guys who can play a few positions but are pretty ordinary at all of them.

Klemmer, Dan, KP, Pearce, Glasby, Brailey, Barnett, Watson, Lee and Herman would all be lock picks for me.
Competition for the outside backs, 5/8 and backrow/bench.

 

[Grandpa Joe]

Fitz?

 

[Billy]

https://www.northerndailyleader.com...o-train-and-host-clinic-in-tamworth/?cs=14206

Article saying the whole squad is doing a week long camp at farrer college and says the Knights have a relationship with farrer, which seems odd because we get very few players from them, although Jack Cameron is a former farrer boy, and he is training with the squad this year.

 

[Billy]

Players who should be cut after Christmas (back to train with reserve grade) should include Toby Marks, Jack Cameron, Bayden Searle, Matt Soper Lawler, Tyrone Roberts-Davis, Chris Randall, Luke Huth, Tex Hoy, Matt Croker, Jirah Momoisea.
Some of them should survive, but not many.