frankLauda
Matthew Gidley
How do we think Frizz will go in the middle? We all know the consummate professional. Similar body build to JFH.
2025 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge - Round 2 - Knights V Eels - McDonald Jones Stadium - 6:00pm Friday 14 February
- Thread starter Lefty
- Start date
frankLauda
Matthew Gidley
But Lucus not available
Cant hasn’t nailed down a spot though. If the plan was for KPP to play right you’d put him there to get the runs in and play Cant on the left.
mullenmagic
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
KPP will be on the right, jersey number doesn't have any impact on what side of the field players are on.
Cant not being at 13 is a pretty strong indication that's not the plan with or without Elliott. They'd be giving him every rep possible in preparation if that was going to be the case. Makes no sense to play him elsewhere just for the sake of a trial.
Cant not being at 13 is a pretty strong indication that's not the plan with or without Elliott. They'd be giving him every rep possible in preparation if that was going to be the case. Makes no sense to play him elsewhere just for the sake of a trial.
14. Gamble. Good. It's a crucial role in the modern game with HIAs, the 14. has to be able to take on just about anything thrown at him. Kurn Mann was great at this, I'd really love to see the Gambler lock down this spot in the squad for this season and beyond.
Also excited to see Pryce get a run at FB. I hope he makes a case for FG footy when the opportunity arises and can earn an extension.
I agree that AOB likely recognises he will need Hastings at some stage this season as he did with Brails.
It will be interesting to see who earns contract extensions.
BTW IDK if the Knights are looking for any more outside backs (probably not) but with Ronaldo re-signing with the Sharks for 3 years this kid is good and is probably going to be looking to move on:
www.nrl.com
Also excited to see Pryce get a run at FB. I hope he makes a case for FG footy when the opportunity arises and can earn an extension.
I agree that AOB likely recognises he will need Hastings at some stage this season as he did with Brails.
It will be interesting to see who earns contract extensions.
BTW IDK if the Knights are looking for any more outside backs (probably not) but with Ronaldo re-signing with the Sharks for 3 years this kid is good and is probably going to be looking to move on:
Official NRL profile of Samuel Stonestreet for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | NRL.com
The NRL profile of Samuel Stonestreet including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.
www.nrl.com
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I really think Hastings has played his last game as a Knight unless there’s literally no other choice.
Celticman98
Timana Tahu
If Elliott isn't avaliable round 1 against the Tigers I'd go with this back row.
Lucas l back row
KPP r back row
Friz lock
Cant bench back row
Lucas l back row
KPP r back row
Friz lock
Cant bench back row
Billy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Who's in and who's out for the Knights' first NRL trial on Friday
Coach Adam O'Brien has named his squad for the 6pm match.
Article says Elliott and JSaf have minor injuries.
Best and Crossland are being rested
Billy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
He was told last year that he has a year to find a position other than hooker - I assume when we signed Arthur and malachi Smith was going well.
Jones played some centres in the juniors - in fact, I think it was his first position in Mathews 5 or 6 years ago.
Hard Yards
Robbie McCormack
I think Friz will be a exceptional middle, but we will miss his kick chase efforts with the higher defensive workloads in 13, 8 or 10;( or bench middle )
KPGreatness
Todd Bates
I want him to work out so bad the man is rapid and is good height
Scored a couple of slashing tries out wide towards the end of last season in reggies
KPGreatness
Todd Bates
Really good player I like him a lot, but don’t see the Knights going for himBTW IDK if the Knights are looking for any more outside backs (probably not) but with Ronaldo re-signing with the Sharks for 3 years this kid is good and is probably going to be looking to move on:
Official NRL profile of Samuel Stonestreet for Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | NRL.com
The NRL profile of Samuel Stonestreet including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.
We have Marzhew, Siteni, Sharpe, Gagai, Schiller, Annan, Votano that can all cover wing and I think Logan Aoake is a winger as well although his proximity to NRL is unknown to me
Sucks though cause I’d love for us to have him I think he is a star in the making
mullenmagic
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Jones was kind of the forgotten man throughout preseason due to not knowing where/if he was going to be featured after being moved from hooker. I was expecting to see him named towards the bottom of the list and getting little game time so being named ahead of Taukamo, Votano & De Courcey is a good sign for him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he does brain it at centre, he’s got all the physical attributes for it. Would certainly help the outside back depth.
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Stonestreet looks like a good player but at this stage how many outside back prospects do we already have? McCarthy, Annan, Taukamo, De Courcey, and you’d have to assume centre or wing is Votano’s best path to first grade too. Wouldn’t hate picking up a reliable cheapie backup to replace Tuala, rather than relying on guys who are massive question marks once one of Marz/Braddy/Gags/Schiller goes down. But I guess “massive question mark” was that Tuala was before AOB got his hands on him, so I’m sure our outside back depth is fine.
Les Misérables
Mark Hughes
Well yea, that's the thinking, if Cogger is literally the only 'halfback' we have at the club besides Hastings it stands to reason that Hastings will see FG this season.
I personally like the idea of trialling Gamble at 7 as an alternative to Cogger, but if OBI thought that was an option you'd expect we would've already seen it?
I'd be very surprised if we dont see Hastings at 7 and sooner than people would expect. If for no other reason than the coach has his career to save and ill be damned if he expects us to believe that he'll leave it in the hands of Jack Cogger lmao. Hastings will play halfback in 25'. The coach just needs the playing group to warm to the possibility organically as the season goes
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I don’t really understand what you’re saying here. It’ll be Cogger right sided half & Fletch on the left replacing Crossland, and Hastings before that. You really need to break out mentally from worrying about the numbers on the back. Are you expecting Cogs to play a different role from last year because he’s not wearing 6 anymore?
Gamble will be Cogger’s backup if Cogs gets hurt or his form is ****. Crossland or Pryce will come in for Fletch if there’s an injury at 6 (there will be way more reluctance to drop Fletch because AOB will go into this knowing it’s a longer term project and will tolerate more teething issues). I’m telling you now that Hastings will be behind all these guys in the pecking order because if you’re trying to win games, the question of who’s quote unquote better (and given Jackson’s ****ed leg it’s honestly arguable he’s now actually our worst option at NRL level) doesn’t trump the reality of other players not wanting to play with the bloke.
It’s honestly going to be questionable whether Jackson is even playing halfback in reserves, I’d give you good odds on him trying to reinvent himself as a bit of a hooker/lock utility who can cover the halves in NSW Cup this season (and for a little while I’ve actually thought hooker would secretly be his best spot tbh). It’s all happy smiles in social media posts and all that, but the second some desperate club comes in thinking he’s the answer to an injury crisis or something & offering to foot even some of his wage for the rest of the season, the dude is gone.
Gamble will be Cogger’s backup if Cogs gets hurt or his form is ****. Crossland or Pryce will come in for Fletch if there’s an injury at 6 (there will be way more reluctance to drop Fletch because AOB will go into this knowing it’s a longer term project and will tolerate more teething issues). I’m telling you now that Hastings will be behind all these guys in the pecking order because if you’re trying to win games, the question of who’s quote unquote better (and given Jackson’s ****ed leg it’s honestly arguable he’s now actually our worst option at NRL level) doesn’t trump the reality of other players not wanting to play with the bloke.
It’s honestly going to be questionable whether Jackson is even playing halfback in reserves, I’d give you good odds on him trying to reinvent himself as a bit of a hooker/lock utility who can cover the halves in NSW Cup this season (and for a little while I’ve actually thought hooker would secretly be his best spot tbh). It’s all happy smiles in social media posts and all that, but the second some desperate club comes in thinking he’s the answer to an injury crisis or something & offering to foot even some of his wage for the rest of the season, the dude is gone.
Les Misérables
Mark Hughes
You might be right. That's certainly how things appear atm.
But to your point about Cogger playing one side and Sharpe the other, the side of the field each player finds themself on doesn't dictate their role, their aptitude does. That's why we won't see a Sharpe/Pryce halves combo.
Beyond Cogger we're extraordinarily limited for players who can organise and instruct to a FG standard. Could a combo of Gamble and Sharpe/Pryce/Crossland work? Maybe. Has it been tried? Not that i can remember, not on a starting team sheet at least. That's apparently due to the fact that Gamble plays more like a 6 than a 7. If you're asking what the difference is I'd suggest asking OBI why Gamble is yet to wear the 7 jersey. Or why there's any discussion at all around why Dylan Brown can't substitute for a 7 in our squad.