The pre-season thread - 2022

latest photos show Simi training - which is a positive.

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www.newcastleknights.com.au

Kalyn Ponga & Romy Teitzel join the KNIGHTS // HQ Podcast

In a KNIGHTS // HQ exclusive and first, we speak to the two Captains of the nib Newcastle Knights in Kalyn Ponga and Romy Teitzel.
www.newcastleknights.com.au www.newcastleknights.com.au

Podcast with Kalyn Ponga.
Interesting insight - Kalyn was talking about Gagai sharing his experience with the young backline players and named them as Braddy, Dom and Dyl. The interesting thing about that is Ponga considers Dylan Lucas as part of the mix it seems. I don't know if he has a contract yet, but I get the feeling that he's trained his way into at least a development spot.
Funny moment in the trial the other night - Dylan Lucas took his first hitup and had a decent impact and the commentator called him as a good young prop, before he went back out to his spot on the wing. He has certainly bulked up.
 
On the subject of our halves this year, I’m not sure things are as bad people are making out. I read an article somewhere declaring we have the worst halves in the comp and another article the other day predicting we will win the wooden spoon.

But if we look at our halves and fullback during 2021:

Rounds 1 to 4 : 6 – Mann, 7 – Pearce, 1 – Tex Hoy Round 5 : 6 – Watson, 7 – Green, 1 – Ponga Rounds 6 to 8 : 6 – Mann, 7 – Green, 1 – Ponga Round 9 : – Mann, 7 – Crossland, 1 – Ponga. Round 10 : 6 – Mann, 7 – Crossland, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 11 : 6 – Crossland, 7 – Green, 1 – KURT MANN Round 12 : 6 – Watson, 7 – Crossland, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 13 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Mann, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 14 : 6 – Watson, 7 – Clifford, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 15 & 16 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Pearce, 1 – Ponga Round 18 & 19 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Crossland 1 – Ponga Round 20 : 6 – Crossland, 7 – Clifford, 1 – Ponga Round 21 to 25 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Pearce, 1 – Ponga

That was a mess.

Pearce and Clifford only played 8 regular season games together in the halves at the back of the season. Clifford was impressive and got better, Pearce was poor most of the season, one good game against the Gold Coast, and an absolute shocker in the semi.

Pearce was cooked physically and mentally in 2021. More injuries, another pec, more hamstring problems and the off-field stuff. He’d be even worse this year. I would suggest that the 2022 version of Clune is actually a better player than the 2022 version of Pearce.

If we start 2022 with Clune at 7 and Clifford at 6, and we have some luck with injuries, we have a far better halves pairing than last year. Crossland at 14, the lock / hooker Connor role, and an option in the halves.

And I hope AOB has had Sasagi training in the 14 role and other positions too, he has to be in the 17 somewhere, even if it’s on the wing. AOB only playing him for two games last year was ridiculous. And not playing Sasagi in either of the trials is a worry. AOB is a worry.

Some of his selections and non-selections just don’t make sense. AOB has a thing for trundlers like Mann and Tuala and Musgrove and Hoy and that’s a problem. He doesn’t seem to have the confidence to coach talent and back talent: If Brian To’o had AOB for a coach he’d still be playing NSW Cup, and Kurt Mann would have his wing spot.

I genuinely think things are looking good.

Now, AOB, just, please, get the selections right.



UCW
 
1 Hodgson
2 Young
3 Best
4 Lucas
5 Vea'ila
6 Mapapalangi
7 Crossland
8 Croker
9 Ruglass
10 Saulo
11 Jones
12 Momoisea
13 Purcell

14 Sasagi

Average age about 20 - average firstgrade games less than 10 - all some sort of chance to get a game this year.

we need to buy 4 experienced firstgraders for our remaining spots. Lee and Milford would be a good start, but the other 2 need to be 100 gamers.
 
Billy said:
1 Hodgson
2 Young
3 Best
4 Lucas
5 Vea'ila
6 Mapapalangi
7 Crossland
8 Croker
9 Ruglass
10 Saulo
11 Jones
12 Momoisea
13 Purcell

14 Sasagi

Average age about 20 - average firstgrade games less than 10 - all some sort of chance to get a game this year.

we need to buy 4 experienced firstgraders for our remaining spots. Lee and Milford would be a good start, but the other 2 need to be 100 gamers.
Click to expand...
What positions do you think we need to strengthen with those 100 game players, Billy?

UCW
 
Unemployed CoachWhisperer said:
On the subject of our halves this year, I’m not sure things are as bad people are making out. I read an article somewhere declaring we have the worst halves in the comp and another article the other day predicting we will win the wooden spoon.

But if we look at our halves and fullback during 2021:

Rounds 1 to 4 : 6 – Mann, 7 – Pearce, 1 – Tex Hoy Round 5 : 6 – Watson, 7 – Green, 1 – Ponga Rounds 6 to 8 : 6 – Mann, 7 – Green, 1 – Ponga Round 9 : – Mann, 7 – Crossland, 1 – Ponga. Round 10 : 6 – Mann, 7 – Crossland, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 11 : 6 – Crossland, 7 – Green, 1 – KURT MANN Round 12 : 6 – Watson, 7 – Crossland, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 13 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Mann, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 14 : 6 – Watson, 7 – Clifford, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 15 & 16 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Pearce, 1 – Ponga Round 18 & 19 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Crossland 1 – Ponga Round 20 : 6 – Crossland, 7 – Clifford, 1 – Ponga Round 21 to 25 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Pearce, 1 – Ponga

That was a mess.

Pearce and Clifford only played 8 regular season games together in the halves at the back of the season. Clifford was impressive and got better, Pearce was poor most of the season, one good game against the Gold Coast, and an absolute shocker in the semi.

Pearce was cooked physically and mentally in 2021. More injuries, another pec, more hamstring problems and the off-field stuff. He’d be even worse this year. I would suggest that the 2022 version of Clune is actually a better player than the 2022 version of Pearce.

If we start 2022 with Clune at 7 and Clifford at 6, and we have some luck with injuries, we have a far better halves pairing than last year. Crossland at 14, the lock / hooker Connor role, and an option in the halves.

And I hope AOB has had Sasagi training in the 14 role and other positions too, he has to be in the 17 somewhere, even if it’s on the wing. AOB only playing him for two games last year was ridiculous. And not playing Sasagi in either of the trials is a worry. AOB is a worry.

Some of his selections and non-selections just don’t make sense. AOB has a thing for trundlers like Mann and Tuala and Musgrove and Hoy and that’s a problem. He doesn’t seem to have the confidence to coach talent and back talent: If Brian To’o had AOB for a coach he’d still be playing NSW Cup, and Kurt Mann would have his wing spot.

I genuinely think things are looking good.

Now, AOB, just, please, get the selections right.



UCW
Click to expand...
That's a pretty good analysis CoachWhisperer...
 
Unemployed CoachWhisperer said:
On the subject of our halves this year, I’m not sure things are as bad people are making out. I read an article somewhere declaring we have the worst halves in the comp and another article the other day predicting we will win the wooden spoon.

But if we look at our halves and fullback during 2021:

Rounds 1 to 4 : 6 – Mann, 7 – Pearce, 1 – Tex Hoy Round 5 : 6 – Watson, 7 – Green, 1 – Ponga Rounds 6 to 8 : 6 – Mann, 7 – Green, 1 – Ponga Round 9 : – Mann, 7 – Crossland, 1 – Ponga. Round 10 : 6 – Mann, 7 – Crossland, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 11 : 6 – Crossland, 7 – Green, 1 – KURT MANN Round 12 : 6 – Watson, 7 – Crossland, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 13 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Mann, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 14 : 6 – Watson, 7 – Clifford, 1 – Tex Hoy. Round 15 & 16 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Pearce, 1 – Ponga Round 18 & 19 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Crossland 1 – Ponga Round 20 : 6 – Crossland, 7 – Clifford, 1 – Ponga Round 21 to 25 : 6 – Clifford, 7 – Pearce, 1 – Ponga

That was a mess.

Pearce and Clifford only played 8 regular season games together in the halves at the back of the season. Clifford was impressive and got better, Pearce was poor most of the season, one good game against the Gold Coast, and an absolute shocker in the semi.

Pearce was cooked physically and mentally in 2021. More injuries, another pec, more hamstring problems and the off-field stuff. He’d be even worse this year. I would suggest that the 2022 version of Clune is actually a better player than the 2022 version of Pearce.

If we start 2022 with Clune at 7 and Clifford at 6, and we have some luck with injuries, we have a far better halves pairing than last year. Crossland at 14, the lock / hooker Connor role, and an option in the halves.

And I hope AOB has had Sasagi training in the 14 role and other positions too, he has to be in the 17 somewhere, even if it’s on the wing. AOB only playing him for two games last year was ridiculous. And not playing Sasagi in either of the trials is a worry. AOB is a worry.

Some of his selections and non-selections just don’t make sense. AOB has a thing for trundlers like Mann and Tuala and Musgrove and Hoy and that’s a problem. He doesn’t seem to have the confidence to coach talent and back talent: If Brian To’o had AOB for a coach he’d still be playing NSW Cup, and Kurt Mann would have his wing spot.

I genuinely think things are looking good.

Now, AOB, just, please, get the selections right.



UCW
Click to expand...
Welcome aboard UCW 👍...

I think we can all agree that we don't all agree with Adzy's selection policies?! :confused::oops:

I also think your post highlights the bigger issue the Knights have had over the past few season and that is player stability in positions. I think the 'trundlers' he opts for are many of the player types that make up large parts of the systems he has come from.

Just thinking about it, Adzy came from an environment at his 2 previous clubs where all the lower grade players were drilled in their roles and moving players in and out and it largely didn't affect the balance of the NRL squad because their systems allowed that to happen fairly seamlessly - which means player stability is less important if you have ready made replacements drilled to step in and play the same structures, etc. as the top team.

We are only now starting to build that capacity at the club level, based purely on what I was at the trial last week, when the lower grade players got a good run in the same patterns and structures...but in the last 2 years, when we lose 1 or more players, the systems the Storm and Roosters have established weren't here.

I think what I've noticed with Adzy is that he is not the 'super coach' know all...what he is is the Phil Gould type club leader that will build the systems and structures and coaching and support talent around the Knights that will set the club up for sustained level of competitiveness for the long term
 
Sasagi sure as hell has a lot of hype about him for a guy that’s hardly played a game for 3 years. Think he needs to prove himself in reserves before saying he has to be in the 17.

Played centre against the Cowboys and they schooled him. He had no idea in his decision making in defence.

Throwing him to the wolves against better sides is only going to hinder his development.
 
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