2025 pre season thread

If true, it's an indication that AOB's not going to ignore the lack of points problem and hope they can defend their way out of trouble. We'll have to see if he pulls the trigger, but this is an encouraging sign from the coach.

As with some of our players, the Knights have invested a fair bit in AOB. He's still got plenty of contract to go, and there are not many options in the coaching market. So we need the coach to develop along with some players.
 
If this goes ahead I'd be so happy. I back Gamble to get it done at 7 even with a few errors, he won't be perfect and there will be the odd 7 set from a dead ball. But he has the biggest boot and the best 40/20 strike rate in the club and has shown he can create tries with ball play and kicks.

Sharpe I;ve quietly been hoping has been showing up at 6 for majority of pre-season - He dosent need to train at FB or wing as he already has that down. If he can show he's defensively sound on an edge (there'd be a hiccup or two) then I have no doubt about him at 6. He is a quietly confident kid who would go about his work and the footy intelligence in him is high that he'd pick his time to run at tired D and split them for points. Ball play and general kicking is only thing I havent seen heaps of, but his 23 season in SG and Flegg he threw some great cut out balls to set up wingers.

I'm so down for this I want to see nothing else. Coaching staff just need to back them in at start of season, 3 rounds against not the strongest defensive teams but mobile packs then a bye would be a good set up for Gamblor and Sharpie.

Billy is spot on with the B side option with only young Sutton a wild card now Linnane is injured, Suttons stakes just got very high and he hasn;t been a disapppointent
 
alexwilliams said:
Has anyone else seen this? 🤔

www.nine.com.au

Knights coach plots 'major gamble' in halves shake up

The Mole's scoops
www.nine.com.au www.nine.com.au

'Wide World of Sports spies at Knights training have reported that the majority of the pre-season sessions have featured Gamble at halfback and Sharpe at five-eighth.'
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That's just what I was saying yesterday. Him or Pryce, whoever does better.

I'm interested to see what play-acting skills Sharpe has. We has seen him in space, we have seen him put in some kicks from the wing. We know he has X-factor.

If he has an ok short kicking game, or if he can put on some good passing to get line break or try assists, well I'm excited
 
alexwilliams said:
Out of those two combinations I think I'd much prefer Gamble and Sharpe...
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Gamble has been the most composed and consistent half over the last two years, as others have mentioned has a good boot, playmakes well enough, and is a good defender. So given the other options I’m happy to give him the keys and say you can run things at halfback.

The one change to the halves that didn’t make much sense last season was him getting dropped in the early rounds for Cogger.

Sharpe, if he can make the transition to 6, solves a heap of problems.

But, if we do run out with this combo in round one, it really does need to be stuck with by AOB. Because of the inexperience in both in those roles at that level, they will have good and bad weeks. It has the potential to be worth the perseverance, so I’m pretty happy with it.
 
jamesgould said:
Gamble has been the most composed and consistent half over the last two years, as others have mentioned has a good boot, playmakes well enough, and is a good defender. So given the other options I’m happy to give him the keys and say you can run things at halfback.

The one change to the halves that didn’t make much sense last season was him getting dropped in the early rounds for Cogger.

Sharpe, if he can make the transition to 6, solves a heap of problems.

But, if we do run out with this combo in round one, it really does need to be stuck with by AOB. Because of the inexperience in both in those roles at that level, they will have good and bad weeks. It has the potential to be worth the perseverance, so I’m pretty happy with it.
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Well said and sticking point is AOB picking and sticking. There will be moments but a quick fix isn’t there in any back ups. A change won’t help much.

This halves pairing success however will also come mostly down to the whole top 30 all g there job and top 17 on game day executing the small stuff. Good D, good line speed, ruck control (looking at you Brails and Crossy) and ball control will help the halves execute their jobs.
 
If Sharpe does play in the halves I'm guessing that makes Pryce the backup for KP on the assumption that they probably don't want to chop and change the halves combo as often as they did last season.
 
Votano would be great if he's ready, if we want to ward off poachers getting him a path to FG may help us do that.

Gags has had a few opportunities to backup to FB in recent times but AOB has passed on it so can't see it happening now.
 
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Seano said:
If Sharpe does play in the halves I'm guessing that makes Pryce the backup for KP on the assumption that they probably don't want to chop and change the halves combo as often as they did last season.
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We would still need back up’s for the halves to cover for injuries. Pryce could cover both 5/8 and fullback.
 
www.newcastleherald.com.au

Knights recruit's 'shock to the system' and why he crossed codes

The Novocastrian has returned home after several years in Queensland.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Taj Annan saying the League training is more about fitness and stamina and has been a bit hard to get used to.

Like everyone else this year, avoiding answering any questions about where he is training.

Says he doesn't want to spend years in reserves and hopes to make firstgrade sometime in 2025.

Talks about playing League and Union as a kid in Merewether and says coming back home was the big selling point for him to come to the Knights.
 
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