The pre-season 2026 thread

HarVeeGee13 said:
Rookie Dylan Brown was by some distance a more natural ball player and kicker. But also the doubts about Brown/Sharpe as a pairing are very specifically over whether playing 7 is the best use of Brown, just as much as it’s a question mark over Sharpe as a half.

If our options were Fogarty, Sharpe, Gamble and Cogger, I’d pick Fogarty 7 Sharpe 6.

We have different looking options.
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I spent a couple of years calling him a one trick pony - with his only trick being the dummy and run. Moses did nearly all the playmaking.
It changed when Joey wanted Moses to do a lot less, but higher quality touches, and got Brown to pick up the slack.

In short - I didn't rate Brown till about 2 years ago.
 
Billy said:
I spent a couple of years calling him a one trick pony - with his only trick being the dummy and run. Moses did nearly all the playmaking.
It changed when Joey wanted Moses to do a lot less, but higher quality touches, and got Brown to pick up the slack.

In short - I didn't rate Brown till about 2 years ago.
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This is true. Although, Browns aptitude for the role was apparent right out of the gate. I specifically remember watching game highlights from his first season where Sterlo was commenting on Brown's innate ability to play in shape, dig into the line, attract defenders and with soft hands deliver pitch perfect passes in a block play.

Sharpe definitely cant do that to a FG standard, let alone be noted as being particularly talented at it.

They are very different players. I think that's the sum of my view on this discussion. Who do I prefer as a player in my team? Probably Sharpe. But I doubt its a good use of Sharpe's talents to make him a shape conformist as is required of a traditional 6, particularly in the absence of an all encompassing 7
 
Les Misérables said:
This is true. Although, Browns aptitude for the role was apparent right out of the gate. I specifically remember watching game highlights from his first season where Sterlo was commenting on Brown's innate ability to play in shape, dig into the line, attract defenders and with soft hands deliver pitch perfect passes in a block play.

Sharpe definitely cant do that to a FG standard, let alone be noted as being particularly talented at it.

They are very different players. I think that's the sum of my view on this discussion. Who do I prefer as a player in my team? Probably Sharpe. But I doubt its a good use of Sharpe's talents to make him a shape conformist as is required of a traditional 6, particularly in the absence of an all encompassing 7
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🎯
 
Owey said:
Good thing rookie Brown has had five years to develop as a ball player and kicker. We should be all good. How good will Sharpe be in five years?
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Probably a better passer, it’s something you want your fullback to be good at 😛

I will be surprised if it ever becomes one of his biggest strengths though. I’m expecting something more like Papenhyuzen where he’s a good enough passer to capitalise on his running threat, but he’s always a guy who’s more of a try scorer than try assister.
 
I'll give you Lucas, thought he was great. Tbh it really is between Sharpe and Lucas as to who our best player was last season, there isn't really a close third option.
 
If time and practice is all that is required to be great at certain skills in FG there'd be 50 Jerome Hughes in FG.

That's not how it works unfortunately. Skills can be learned and improved, yes. And the point Billy is making regarding Sharpe is that Sharpe in particular is not only a top tier talent but also a good learner. However, based on what Ive seen on Sharpe in FG, his natural inclinations don't suit the halves as well as they suit fullback or the outside backs. So while it may be true that Sharpe could become a very good 6 over time, you could bet your life that he'd have become an even better fullback over that same period.

The good news is that we'll very likely see Sharpe play 1, 2, 3, 6 and maybe even 7 at some stage during the next season once injury and rep duties take their toll
 
www.newcastleherald.com.au

Brown's bounce back the perfect platform for first Knights campaign

The Kiwis playmaker is poised to hit the ground running in Newcastle.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article that says Brown's form and the return of Ponga, Sharpe and Lucas is a great springboard for the new coach going into pre-season proper.
Also says Dom shouldn't miss too much because he is not due back till he has had a long break anyway.
Says the squad should largely be available to train this pre-season and there is a buzz about the place with new staff and drills in place.
 
Confirmed faces at pre-season so far:
Cody Hopwood
Connor Votano
Diesel Hagan
Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Fletcher Hunt
Fletcher Sharpe
Francis Manuleleua
Harrison Graham
Jermaine McEwen
Kyle McCarthy
Lachlan Crouch
Logan Aoake
Matt Arthur
Matthew Hunter
Sosaia Latu
Tom Cant
Toby Winter
Wil Sullivan
Wilson De Courcey

Some who presumably should be there but I haven't seen:
Marcus D'Acre
Aidan Gow
 
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mullenmagic said:
Save you from clicking through a zero tackle list:

10. Kingston Seve
9. Diesel Hagan
8. Aidan Gow
7. Wil Sullivan
6. Sosaia Latu
5. Lachlan Crouch
4. Chase Butler
3. Francis Manuleleua
2. Toby Winter
1. Matthew Hunter
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Its from this list that a new star prospect may emerge this season. There's more than one serious candidate among them.
 
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At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I think Matt McEwen is at least as good a prospect as Diesel Hagan. They are the same age and both play hooker, but very different style. Hagan is smart and skilful and a great organiser, while McEwen is tough, aggressive and competitive.

I'm a bit worried that McEwen will look elsewhere if we don't give him the same opportunities, because you can see he has the same ambition and determination as his brother and will do what he has to to make NRL.
 
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