NRL Round 23 - Knights Vs Panthers - 6:00pm Friday 8th August - McDonald Jones Stadium

Lefty

Lefty

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
We have a bye in Round 22 and we then play the resurgent Panthers at home in the next round.

We will have to wait to find out whether Bradman Best has recovered from his “cartilage strain”.

It’s time for AOB to give some of our younger players more first grade games or their debut in first grade. De Courcey deserves a debut, Matt Arthur and ESL would benefit from more first grade games, but we need AOB to act in the club’s interest and select them.
 
It’s absolutely over now, you’re not getting into the finals with a losing record this year. I would bet all 8 teams will have more wins than losses the way things are going.
 
Season was over when Sharpe went down, then a week late KP, then a week or so after that Lucas. Besides we weren't going to do anything spectacular anyway.

Just effort to see the season out would be good, enjoy watching the ladies and Juniors.
 
I’d like to see this

1 Gagai
2 Schiller
3 Hunt
4 Best if fit
5 Young
6 Jake Arthur
7 Cogger
8 L Thompson
9 Brailey, 50 minutes
10 J Safiti
11 McEwan
12 KPP
13 Crossland

14 Matt Arthur, play 30 minutes
15 Frizell
16 Croker
17 ESL
18 Hastings

I’d drop:
McCarthy - some bad miss tackles today and I thought he was found out on a few effort areas that he will need to improve on going forward. Get him to work on it in reserves

Gamble - he was bad today, defence and his kicking weren’t great. It may be due to his injuries this season, but to me as time goes on, 2023 was an aberration in his career. He is an average player that would be best as a great reserve grader who can fill in on the odd occasion during the season

Marzhew - he is a liability under the high ball and is being targeted. His drops on kicks are really costly, the teams heads drop, we have to defend more than we should and our energy and confidence dwindles
 
Always thought Jones was a better 2nd row than middle, nice to hear, don’t get to see much besides 1sts so depend on feed back from those that do, bit disappointing we don’t get much of NSW Cup on telly, I know it’s available elsewhere but at an age we’re it’s more effort than it’s worth.
 
Jones played left second row and the play by play record says he wasn't replaced till the 71st minute.

I'd say he is being groomed to play Lucas's position for the rest of the year, but McEwen might have the jump on him.
Manuleleua was moved to the right side for the first time this year I think.
I don't think O'Brien wants to play McEwen for too long minutes, even though he seems to handle it, because he is a teenager after all.
 
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Ok we are in real danger of the spoon and no chance of top 8.
Time to make some real changes with future seasons in mind.
Firstly all players not with us for 2026 are Cup or Cup bench bound depending on injuries.

Selective selection to optimise our young talent coming through from Flegg a Cup.
2-3 young potentials each week rotating in top 17 for experience and development.
Long term injuries to Ponga, Best?, Sharpe, Lucas leaves the door open for this to happen along with players moving on such as Brailey, KPP, Hastings, Elliott, Hetherington as well as possible others and the likelihood of Gags and Frizell included.
 
Well no matter what happens lets make Penrith regret coming up The F3. Knights need to up Their aggression intensity even more & overwhelm the **** out of Penrith from 1st to 80th/90th minute if it takes that long.

Do This town proud no more being humiliated on home turf.
 
Last edited:
Frank McWilliams said:
Ok we are in real danger of the spoon and no chance of top 8.
Time to make some real changes with future seasons in mind.
Firstly all players not with us for 2026 are Cup or Cup bench bound depending on injuries.

Selective selection to optimise our young talent coming through from Flegg a Cup.
2-3 young potentials each week rotating in top 17 for experience and development.
Long term injuries to Ponga, Best?, Sharpe, Lucas leaves the door open for this to happen along with players moving on such as Brailey, KPP, Hastings, Elliott, Hetherington as well as possible others and the likelihood of Gags and Frizell included.
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I mean, we saw our inexperienced centres get really badly exposed yesterday. We just suddenly throw out a load of experience because they're not here next year and put a bunch of kids in, I don't think the result is going to be wonderful. Surely it's better our young talent comes into a stable successful team, and because they've actually earned their place in first grade?

Can only think Arthur, for example, isn't getting a run because he doesn't look ready and needs more time in NSW Cup. He's only 20 and hooker is one of the most physical positions on the field.
 
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