The pre-season 2026 thread

Les Misérables said:
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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For this season?
Francis for sure is next up along with Lachy Crouch.

As for genuine all star talent that will be thrilling to watch for years to come - Gow, Winter, Seve are some of the best naturally talented kids we’ve seen in some time. Gows speed and strength and now with a NRL pre season is so exciting. Winter ball play and foot work and footy IQ is exceptional and the most exciting of all them and Seve natural god gifted talent of strength and foot work and ball on hand skills (especially offloads) is very exciting. Either three could burst into a top grade spot if badly needed. But probably better to look at 2027.

Chase Butler has a big year ahead, apparently focousing on SG and wanting to be the 7 for AUS school boys. He possibly won’t feature in Flegg this year.
 
All the articles are locked on Sandon Smith besides a short one on zero tackle. The bit I read says he’s keen to play in the halves with Ponga and Brown and say they are freaks. Put two and two together. You have Sandon coming out and saying he wants to play halfback. And Sharpe saying he’ll play were the team needs him. Sandon should be the halfback. Sharpe will more than likely take Greg’s wing spot.
 
waynesworld said:
Sandon Smith interview with the Tele/Code sports talks about why he came to Newcastle (didn’t mention that we came back with a huge offer after he chose cows 😂) and that he’s keen to play 7.
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What is the figure on that? I saw one that reported $500k for Smith but that’s all I’ve found
 
BTP said:
For this season?
Francis for sure is next up along with Lachy Crouch.

As for genuine all star talent that will be thrilling to watch for years to come - Gow, Winter, Seve are some of the best naturally talented kids we’ve seen in some time. Gows speed and strength and now with a NRL pre season is so exciting. Winter ball play and foot work and footy IQ is exceptional and the most exciting of all them and Seve natural god gifted talent of strength and foot work and ball on hand skills (especially offloads) is very exciting. Either three could burst into a top grade spot if badly needed. But probably better to look at 2027.

Chase Butler has a big year ahead, apparently focousing on SG and wanting to be the 7 for AUS school boys. He possibly won’t feature in Flegg this year.
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I agree with the statement “better to look at 2027” if it’s one thing I think we need to look at is DEVELOPING these players not throwing them in and setting high expectations. We have mentioned of Hagan and Mckeown but they are kids just getting some exposure to training with NRL. Let them gain confidence first. Matt Arthur surely is an example of pushing to early - he’s still needing cup time let alone lower grade!
Great futures but let them get there!
 
It's a great problem to have - trying to decide between a 21 year old Sharpe and a 22 year old Smith - both quality young spine players.

I'm not bothered about it, because it will be a miracle if we ever get every spine player fit at the same time. Hardly any side ever gets everyone available at one time.
 
Billy said:
It's a great problem to have - trying to decide between a 21 year old Sharpe and a 22 year old Smith - both quality young spine players.

I'm not bothered about it, because it will be a miracle if we ever get every spine player fit at the same time. Hardly any side ever gets everyone available at one time.
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Brown seems durable. Does not get injured often. Phoenix does not get injury much. It’s mainly Ponga. We still don’t know with Sandon. So if things go the way they have been Ponga gets injured Sharpe to FB.
 
KP has missed a lot of games due to injury but they have all pretty much been contact injuries. Concussions, AC Joint, a Lisfranc injury in each foot. That’s pretty unlucky.

It’s not like he’s in the same boat as Turbo with recurring soft tissue injuries. Hopefully he can have some injury luck this year

JSaf and Best are the ones that keep missing games due to soft tissue injuries. Hopefully the new High Performance staff are better at managing those then the previous ones
 
Billy said:
It's a great problem to have - trying to decide between a 21 year old Sharpe and a 22 year old Smith - both quality young spine players.

I'm not bothered about it, because it will be a miracle if we ever get every spine player fit at the same time. Hardly any side ever gets everyone available at one time.
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This.
There isn’t some massive gap between Smith and Sharpe that some on here making out. Both are quality young players and will be a significant upgrade on blokes like Hastings, Cogger and Arthur.
 
mozza said:
This.
There isn’t some massive gap between Smith and Sharpe that some on here making out. Both are quality young players and will be a significant upgrade on blokes like Hastings, Cogger and Arthur.
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I don’t think it’s a question of one being superior to the other, so much as it is what’s the best fit for the team.

Personally, I think Sharpe will be a better player in the long term and already has a higher ceiling. It’s just that he’s also more versatile, so he can basically play anywhere in the backline.

I think at this stage in their careers, Smith is a better half but he’s more limited in where he can play. He’s either a half or a hooker really. Therefore, I think it just suits the team as a whole better to have him at 7.
 
Newygirl said:
I don’t think it’s a question of one being superior to the other, so much as it is what’s the best fit for the team.

Personally, I think Sharpe will be a better player in the long term and already has a higher ceiling. It’s just that he’s also more versatile, so he can basically play anywhere in the backline.

I think at this stage in their careers, Smith is a better half but he’s more limited in where he can play. He’s either a half or a hooker really. Therefore, I think it just suits the team as a whole better to have him at 7.
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Also, it’s not a criticism of Sharpe at all. He will be a star for us
 
mozza said:
This.
There isn’t some massive gap between Smith and Sharpe that some on here making out. Both are quality young players and will be a significant upgrade on blokes like Hastings, Cogger and Arthur.
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It’s not a gap. On pure talent Sharpe is better. It’s there skill set. They are different players. Sharpe is a gun 1 and Smith is a good half.

Edit: more or less what Wicket said. I should have read down before I replied. Ha
 
I really can’t see us extending Ponga when his contract is up. We will be upgrading Sharpe. I can’t see a world were we keep him (Ponga) And as of November next year he could go early if we don’t commit to him.
 
mozza said:
This.
There isn’t some massive gap between Smith and Sharpe that some on here making out. Both are quality young players and will be a significant upgrade on blokes like Hastings, Cogger and Arthur.
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Sharpe isnt an upgrade on Hastings at 7. Not to strawman you, if you weren't making that point.

But following that line of thought, I think there is daylight between Sharpe and Smith depending on what position they play. At fullback, its obviously Sharpe and the inverse is true for Smith at 7.

Though Billy's point, which you were agreeing with, is absolutely true, only that, our best halfback replacement is Gamble, not Brown and certainly not Sharpe.
 
Les Misérables said:
Sharpe isnt an upgrade on Hastings at 7. Not to strawman you, if you weren't making that point.

But following that line of thought, I think there is daylight between Sharpe and Smith depending on what position they play. At fullback, its obviously Sharpe and the inverse is true for Smith at 7.

Though Billy's point, which you were agreeing with, is absolutely true, only that, our best halfback replacement is Gamble, not Brown and certainly not Sharpe.
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Not sure if there’s a lot of difference between what a crippled Hastings and Sharpe would provide at halfback in 2025. I’d lean towards Sharpe.

My comment was more in relation to the posts saying we’re an a gun side with a Ponga/Brown/Smith/Crossland spine and a wooden spoon contender with a Ponga/Brown/Sharpe/Smith combo. Either is a massive upgrade on what we had for the 2nd half of 2025 and is worth getting excited about.

Personally I’d lean towards Smith at 7 and Sharpe in the outside backs but I’m not slitting my wrists at the alternative either.
 
What the Newcastle Herald knows of the draw so far:

Round one - Sunday, March 1: Knights v Cowboys in Las Vegas
Round three - Saturday, March 21: Knights v Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium, 3pm (first game in Newcastle)
Round eight - Sunday, April 26: Knights v Panthers at McDonald Jones Stadium, 2pm (ANZAC round)
Round 11 - Sunday, May 17: Titans v Knights in Brisbane, 2pm (Magic Round)
Round 13 - Saturday, May 30: Knights v Eels at McDonald Jones Stadium
Round 25: Knights v Sea Eagles at McDonald Jones Stadium (Old Boys Day)
 
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