2025 pre season thread

[knights80]

Exactly, he does not have any inside information anymore.

Well he did give the first information out that I had heard about Jye Linnane doing his knee so he still has plenty of friends around the inside of the club.

But he also said in his post like previously quoted that his was only a guess about Gamble and Coggs at halves.
And I’m sure if anybody watched ball work training lately from outside the fence we would also be able to get an idea of the running of how the teams shaping to start the year with trials only a month away

 

[Celticman98]

Brimson and Campbell won't work as a halves pairing. Both are runners of the ball and aren't game managers.

Campbell is the only one with a semi competent kicking game and teams will quickly figure out that he's the only designated kicker in the side and pressure him easily. I've never seen Brimson kick a ball and isn't a 6.

Foran despite being busted and broken will surely end up in the halves at some point.

 

[Celticman98]

Back to the Knights, with Linnane out. It's a potential opportunity for guys like Fletcher Hunt, Haami Loza and James Mellor to show what they've got at Flegg level.

Wouldn't be surprised if Sutton plays in one of the trials.

 

[Seano]

Zero Tackle has AOB as one of the 5 under pressure coaches with Fitz, Bennett, Benji and Des.

Who are the top FIVE coaches under pressure heading into 2025?

Who is under the most pressure in 2025?

www.zerotackle.com

Not sure I agree with any of these, but I do agree AOB owes Ponga a debt of gratitude...Wests aren't paying AOB out two years with no clear replacement on the market.

 

[Oliver]

Is it just me or has this been one of the most quietest preseason?
No talk of the hardest preseason ever, army camps etc.

 

[Billy]

Is it just me or has this been one of the most quietest preseason?
No talk of the hardest preseason ever, army camps etc.

I haven't seen a single quote from O'Brien and even the players have said as little as they can in the few interviews.
No photos on the knights site apart from social photos.
Very few photos on social media and nearly all are just fitness training.
I'm hoping they are planning to surprise everyone in round one.

 

[Celticman98]

Knights have signed Chris James from the Roosters to be in charge of Head of Football operations and work alongside Peter Parr.
Source via CODE/Telegraph

 

[Sarge]

Knights have signed Chris James from the Roosters to be in charge of Head of Football operations and work alongside Peter Parr.
Source via CODE/Telegraph

Does Danny Buderus still work for the knights?

 

[Sarge]

Does Danny Buderus still work for the knights?

Doesn't appear to . I thought he was learning the ropes beside Parr.

 

[Grandpa Joe]

Does Danny Buderus still work for the knights?

Did he ever, pretty sure he has only ever been a puppet and a poster boy.

 

[Sarge]

Did he ever, pretty sure he has only ever been a puppet and a poster boy.

Yeah it was a dummy job . He left Foxtel to be the Knights football manager . A title he held before Parr arrived . Obviously he worked his way down . Seems to have left 7 months ago . Appears to be still an ambassador

 

[Seano]

Chris James
A former ref (vaguely remember him) was the bloke the Chooks signed as a consultant before the 2018 GF. Looks like that paid off.

Been the Roosters ops manager since 2020

Seems like an effective communicator:

Roosters in Vegas: Episode 2 - Briefing The Boys

Head of Football Operations Chris James briefs the NRL squad ahead of their historic trip to Las Vegas.

www.roosters.com.au

His wiki says he debuted in FG reffing us V the Titans (wonder how that went) and Friz was suspended once for making contact so they should at least be acquainted. lol

Chris James (referee) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Seems like a good get.

 

[Billy]

Danny is the team manager - in charge of booking buses, getting footballs pumped up, getting the training fields mowed, getting the pickle juice into little bottles - that sort of thing.
He does a bit of specialist coaching as well.

 

[Sarge]

Yeah that's what his was downgraded to . By his LinkedIn his title at the knights was Development & Pathways manager . Now has a title at a place called the Shorebird group . Been there seven months . When he left Foxtel he said he looked forward to learning off the one & only Phill Gardener . As Lord said a puppet

 

[Sarge]

Yeah that's what his was downgraded to . By his LinkedIn his title at the knights was Development & Pathways manager . Now has a title at a place called the Shorebird group . Been there seven months . When he left Foxtel he said he looked forward to learning off the one & only Phill Gardener . As Lord said a puppet

My memory is not gone , googled Danny Buderus leaves Foxtel . Article online said he was leaving Fox to become Newcastle Knights General Manager of football. Astute signing

 

[Hutcho]

Just going to drop this radioactive, theoretical side into the convo...

1. Fletcher Sharpe
2. James Schiller
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew
6. Kalyn Ponga
7. Tyson Gamble
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Jack Hetherington
11. Dylan Lucas
12. Kai Pearce Paul
13. Adam Elliott

14. Jaidyn Brailey
15. Tyson Frizell
16. Leo Thompson
17. Sebastian Su'a

lol

 

[Hope Springs]

Did he ever, pretty sure he has only ever been a puppet and a poster boy.

That’s a poor comment, DB is still heavily involved

 

[frankLauda]

Just going to drop this radioactive, theoretical side into the convo...

1. Fletcher Sharpe
2. James Schiller
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew
6. Kalyn Ponga
7. Tyson Gamble
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Jack Hetherington
11. Dylan Lucas
12. Kai Pearce Paul
13. Adam Elliott

14. Jaidyn Brailey
15. Tyson Frizell
16. Leo Thompson
17. Sebastian Su'a

lol

It’s a real shame Ponga can’t play six, well defensively anyway. The balance of the squad would be ideal with Sharpe at the back and Schiller on the wing. Anywho Ponga will be playing origin, gun in Sharpe to step in.

 

[Brad tighe]

It’s a real shame Ponga can’t play six, well defensively anyway. The balance of the squad would be ideal with Sharpe at the back and Schiller on the wing. Anywho Ponga will be playing origin, gun in Sharpe to step in.

could you do a hybrid role with kp defends at fullback attacks at 6

 

[Treadly]

Just swap KP and Sharpe in that scenario. We don't know what Sharpe has in the 5/8 role and if he can defend there, but KP is no 5/8