The pre-season 2026 thread

They have trimmed the profiles list to remove players leaving but haven't added new arrivals yet.
Good to see Aoake, McCarthy, De Courcey, Gamble, Votano and Manuleleua are still there.
I think Annan had a profile and it's now gone
 
Positions listed

Fullback

Ponga
Votano

Wing

Young
Marzhew
Hunt
Schiller
Aoake

Centre

Gagai
Best
McCarthy
De Courcey

5/8

Sharpe
Gamble

Halfback

------

Prop

Saifiti
Hopwood
Crouch
Croker
Sullivan

Second row

Frizell
Lucas
McEwen
Jones
Cant
ESL

Lock

-----

Hooker

Crossland
Arthur
 
Sharpe had 12 games in the 6 in a totally dysfunctional side with a below average halves partner. His ball playing was not great last year, but for that to the be all and end all when he’s still only 21 would be a crazy decision to me. A full preseason getting better coaching he could get exponentially better at that part of his game.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
It's not "ball playing skills" per se. Kalyn Ponga throws better money balls than almost any other player in the game but also had massive issues with the role he was given this year of trying to be on-ball more, working the team to the right positions, doing the lead-up work which disorganises the defence so that someone like Kalyn Ponga can punish it (too bad he wasn't in positions to do so anymore!).

Throwing passes to unmarked wingers & other money balls like those described are absolutely not indicators of a good ball-playing skill set *for a half*, specifically. When you watch Sharpe and Sandon Smith play, try to turn your attention away during the parts where they are directly involved in a try being scored. Watch the other parts. Watch what they're doing in yardage sets, watch how and when they are delivering the ball to their outside men when the team is working through its shapes - what decisions are they making, how consistently is the defence reading it and shutting it down with a dominant tackle vs being stressed and making ineffective contact + giving up quick play the balls. Watch for if the ball is out in front of those outside men or behind them. Watch for when they're turning down opportunities to keep spreading the ball to run it instead. Watch for something as simple as how switched on and clear in their positioning the forwards and backs playing off the back of said half look. What kind of grade would we give Fletcher and - I'm not singling Sharpe out here - Kalyn on any of these points?


Sandon Smith - Connor Watson comparisons. That'll do me.
Click to expand...
I was answering the claim he would have about 5 try assists in a year in the halves
 
Billy said:
Positions listed

Fullback

Ponga
Votano

Wing

Young
Marzhew
Hunt
Schiller
Aoake

Centre

Gagai
Best
McCarthy
De Courcey

5/8

Sharpe
Gamble

Halfback

------

Prop

Saifiti
Hopwood
Crouch
Croker
Sullivan

Second row

Frizell
Lucas
McEwen
Jones
Cant
ESL

Lock

-----

Hooker

Crossland
Arthur
Click to expand...
No Mooney or Brown or Smith on that list?
 
I understand the argument to keep Sharpe at 6. And he would be 💯 be there, if we did not land Sandon Smith. So for me right now from what I’ve watched of those players and there most natural games. This would be my spine.

1 - KP
6 - Brown
7 - Smith
9 - Crossland

I would like to see Crossland shift to that 13 role later in the game, and have (whoever puts there hand up as best 9) later. Otherwise Crossland plays 80. Yes he’s not the best and most natural hooker but I feel for the team we need Sandon at 7 and Crossland is our next best hooking option.

Let’s see what Hollbrook does. It’s definitely a hot topic and difficult decision for the coaching staff to make, as we are pretty divided on here.
 
Billy said:
Positions listed

Fullback

Ponga
Votano

Wing

Young
Marzhew
Hunt
Schiller
Aoake

Centre

Gagai
Best
McCarthy
De Courcey

5/8

Sharpe
Gamble

Halfback

------

Prop

Saifiti
Hopwood
Crouch
Croker
Sullivan

Second row

Frizell
Lucas
McEwen
Jones
Cant
ESL

Lock

-----

Hooker

Crossland
Arthur
Click to expand...
There we go, we’ve got a solution.

In an exciting new development the Newcastle Knights have decided to put an end their ongoing experiment of playing new halves every fortnight, opting to instead try a radical new plan of simply playing without a halfback.

No longer will players need to worry about who wears the famous no 7 because this year, nobody will.
 
Treadly said:
Yep the current NZ no.9 isnt good in that position. This astounds me every time I read it. There are things he could be better at yes. But he is good, at the very least.

Seems Crossy will be the 2026 whipping boy
Click to expand...
To be fair NZ’s depth at hooker is awful

Crossland, JMK (injured) and Brandon Smith (injured)
 
Newygirl said:
There we go, we’ve got a solution.

In an exciting new development the Newcastle Knights have decided to put an end their ongoing experiment of playing new halves every fortnight, opting to instead try a radical new plan of simply playing without a halfback.

No longer will players need to worry about who wears the famous no 7 because this year, nobody will.
Click to expand...
Jarrod Mullen spent years playing halfback in the 6 jersey to avoid the cursed 7 jersey. He got Tyrone Roberts to wear the 7 Jersey and do nearly nothing.
 
frankLauda said:
I understand the argument to keep Sharpe at 6. And he would be 💯 be there, if we did not land Sandon Smith. So for me right now from what I’ve watched of those players and there most natural games. This would be my spine.

1 - KP
6 - Brown
7 - Smith
9 - Crossland

I would like to see Crossland shift to that 13 role later in the game, and have (whoever puts there hand up as best 9) later. Otherwise Crossland plays 80. Yes he’s not the best and most natural hooker but I feel for the team we need Sandon at 7 and Crossland is our next best hooking option.

Let’s see what Hollbrook does. It’s definitely a hot topic and difficult decision for the coaching staff to make, as we are pretty divided on here.
Click to expand...
And we never know who might jump out of the ground during pre season and make a good fist of the 9, or who POS might land before 2026 season commences.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
It's not "ball playing skills" per se. Kalyn Ponga throws better money balls than almost any other player in the game but also had massive issues with the role he was given this year of trying to be on-ball more, working the team to the right positions, doing the lead-up work which disorganises the defence so that someone like Kalyn Ponga can punish it (too bad he wasn't in positions to do so anymore!).

Throwing passes to unmarked wingers & other money balls like those described are absolutely not indicators of a good ball-playing skill set *for a half*, specifically. When you watch Sharpe and Sandon Smith play, try to turn your attention away during the parts where they are directly involved in a try being scored. Watch the other parts. Watch what they're doing in yardage sets, watch how and when they are delivering the ball to their outside men when the team is working through its shapes - what decisions are they making, how consistently is the defence reading it and shutting it down with a dominant tackle vs being stressed and making ineffective contact + giving up quick play the balls. Watch for if the ball is out in front of those outside men or behind them. Watch for when they're turning down opportunities to keep spreading the ball to run it instead. Watch for something as simple as how switched on and clear in their positioning the forwards and backs playing off the back of said half look. What kind of grade would we give Fletcher and - I'm not singling Sharpe out here - Kalyn on any of these points?


Sandon Smith - Connor Watson comparisons. That'll do me.
Click to expand...
So basically, watch the whole game, not the just the Kayo mini 🤣

Also agree, the comparison of Sandon Smith and Connor Watson are way off. 2 vastly different players with very different skill sets
 

frankLauda said:
I understand the argument to keep Sharpe at 6. And he would be 💯 be there, if we did not land Sandon Smith. So for me right now from what I’ve watched of those players and there most natural games. This would be my spine.

1 - KP
6 - Brown
7 - Smith
9 - Crossland

I would like to see Crossland shift to that 13 role later in the game, and have (whoever puts there hand up as best 9) later. Otherwise Crossland plays 80. Yes he’s not the best and most natural hooker but I feel for the team we need Sandon at 7 and Crossland is our next best hooking option.

Let’s see what Hollbrook does. It’s definitely a hot topic and difficult decision for the coaching staff to make, as we are pretty divided on here.
Click to expand...
Given how Crossland played, im not sure he is an 80 minute player. I prefer him for 65/70 minutes per game

I feel when he’s is fatigued his decision making becomes poor
 
jamesgould said:
Probably going against the spirit of running a forum here lol, but I don't see much point stressing about anything until Holbrook names his first team.
Click to expand...
IMG_1983.gif
 
Newygirl said:
There we go, we’ve got a solution.

In an exciting new development the Newcastle Knights have decided to put an end their ongoing experiment of playing new halves every fortnight, opting to instead try a radical new plan of simply playing without a halfback.

No longer will players need to worry about who wears the famous no 7 because this year, nobody will.
Click to expand...
I saw that blank also! Haha
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
It's not "ball playing skills" per se. Kalyn Ponga throws better money balls than almost any other player in the game but also had massive issues with the role he was given this year of trying to be on-ball more, working the team to the right positions, doing the lead-up work which disorganises the defence so that someone like Kalyn Ponga can punish it (too bad he wasn't in positions to do so anymore!).

Throwing passes to unmarked wingers & other money balls like those described are absolutely not indicators of a good ball-playing skill set *for a half*, specifically. When you watch Sharpe and Sandon Smith play, try to turn your attention away during the parts where they are directly involved in a try being scored. Watch the other parts. Watch what they're doing in yardage sets, watch how and when they are delivering the ball to their outside men when the team is working through its shapes - what decisions are they making, how consistently is the defence reading it and shutting it down with a dominant tackle vs being stressed and making ineffective contact + giving up quick play the balls. Watch for if the ball is out in front of those outside men or behind them. Watch for when they're turning down opportunities to keep spreading the ball to run it instead. Watch for something as simple as how switched on and clear in their positioning the forwards and backs playing off the back of said half look. What kind of grade would we give Fletcher and - I'm not singling Sharpe out here - Kalyn on any of these points?


Sandon Smith - Connor Watson comparisons. That'll do me.
Click to expand...
Completely agree.

Smith is a sophisticated ball player. Great vision, good hands, smart.

Also happens to be quite fast off the line. Yes, that suits 5/8th but those things also suit first receiver, particularly in our set-up up where our 7 isnt expected to put on the the try assist, he's expected to create the conditions for his pivot(s) to put on the try
 
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