Let's be honest its time for our team for 2021!

https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2020/05/06/aob-managing-loads-no.9-fix-and-nrl-return/

19 minute interview with O'Brien.
He says the guys were rusty but all very fit.
He said Watson and Randall will both get time at 9 and he is looking at Mann as well, but wants to make as few changes as he has to.
When asked about options at fullback he said It's Hoy's to lose for game 1 and Hoy was very impressive in the time trial this morning and has done all the training.
He seemed pretty upbeat and pleased with how the team is going.
 
Billy said:
https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2020/05/06/aob-managing-loads-no.9-fix-and-nrl-return/

19 minute interview with O'Brien.
He says the guys were rusty but all very fit.
He said Watson and Randall will both get time at 9 and he is looking at Mann as well, but wants to make as few changes as he has to.
When asked about options at fullback he said It's Hoy's to lose for game 1 and Hoy was very impressive in the time trial this morning and has done all the training.
He seemed pretty upbeat and pleased with how the team is going.
Click to expand...

Sounds Like O’Brien has held them all accountable since down tools. Good signs.
 
One thing I found curious in O'Brien's interview was that he said it isn't a side that will improve a lot over the season, so they must hit the ground running.
I hope that's just what he tells the boys to get them pumped up for the early games, because I think the exact opposite is true.
I think we have a very young side that has been poorly coached, and they should improve game after game over the season, as the coaching staff iron out the flaws in their game and get them playing well together.
 
Matty23 said:
Can we please just never play Mann at hooker ever again?
Click to expand...
I'm all for stability, but I hope Hoy goes that well in the next round that Obi has to find a spot for him when Ponga comes back and he wears the six come round 4.

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I suppose it's the same for every club, but something O'Brien said in the interview got me thinking.
He said the key to a good season is the work you put in during the pre-season, and players always make the most progress physically during the pre season, and they just try to hold the gains during the season while doing rehab and resting up for games every week.
Anyway, our young squad has now had another good 6 weeks of pre season with 3 more weeks to go.
I suspect a lot of sides haven't kept their guys training as hard as we have, while some others will have.
It will be interesting to see if our young guys like Hoy and Randall have made 2 off seasons worth of gains.
 
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...bsite&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews

article on our kicking options.
Bottom line is we don't have any.
Lino is the only recognised kicker, and the tone of the article is that he won't be picked.
Tex Hoy was a pretty good goal kicker in under 16s and I think he might have kicked a bit in under 18s, but it's been 3 or 4 years since he kicked - and good in under 16s is about 70%, and that's not good enough these days.
Article says O'Brien is hoping someone steps up in the next 3 weeks.
 
Fastest backline.

1 Ponga
2 Tex Hoy
3 Starford Toa
4 Bradman Best
5 Edrick Lee
6 Simi Sasagi
7 Pheonix Crossland

Before I saw him in the trials i'd have said Tyronne Roberts-Davis would be one of the fastest, but not sure now.
 
Just heard that James Maloney wants to play NRL for the rest of the year.
Perfect fit for us for this year, but he'd probably want a multi year deal, and that's not on.
 
Billy said:
Just heard that James Maloney wants to play NRL for the rest of the year.
Perfect fit for us for this year, but he'd probably want a multi year deal, and that's not on.
Click to expand...

we’d be a good chance to snag him. I’d sign for this year and next
 
Hard to see him getting a deal (from now) till beyond the end of 2021 with his current age and defensive issues. But he does have the whole dual premiereship selling point going on too I guess.
 
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