The pre-season 2026 thread

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Hunt, Crouch, McCarthy, Hunter, Salesa-Leaumoana off at an NRL rookie camp this weekend so explains their absences
 
Holbrook said there was 8 pathways players there because the senior squad had already done their training load for the week, so seems they were just there to give the fans something to watch.

Blonde one next to Aoake is Cooper Townsend, I believe. Captained Harold Matts last season.
 
frankLauda said:
So happy to see the back of AOB. He was just not head coach material and the players in the end gave up on his game plan and approach. I’m quietly confident Hollbrook will do a great job. Hopefully the young fowards can step up.
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People like you will forget the 4/6 finals appearances and be like the opposition and blame him for our woes the next 10 years. Get over it the obi bashing is cringe now.
 
Grandpa Joe said:
People like you will forget the 4/6 finals appearances and be like the opposition and blame him for our woes the next 10 years. Get over it the obi bashing is cringe now.
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Don’t think anyone will forget the 4/6 finals appearances, it was humiliating there to be instantly known to be a easy win against, not to mention almost losing a easy game against the Raiders where we got lucky with a penalty to progress only to get slapped by the Warriors.

Might be cringe to you but that doesn’t change the facts of AOB was a detriment and 98% of the fan base are glad he is gone
 
The way i see it, 4/6 finals is great, he couldn’t get us to the next level so we parted ways and moved on. To dismiss them 4 finals series is stupidity i think, there was plenty of teams below us that would of loved to have been there that just simply weren’t good enough… We went well for the roster we have had, haven’t had a proper half since Pearce and in saying that he was partnered with Mann or Watson so don’t know what you guys bagging AOB were expecting.

Anyways AOB era is gone, build a bridge and get over it and stop the bashing, let’s look forward to the Holbrook era… AOB has left us in a lot better position than uncle wayne did.
 
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AOB shouldve been sacked in 2022.

The fans were calling for it at the time, the club held on, we were half way through 2023 and were languishing deep in the bottom 4, again. The club were resigned to the fact that they had no choice but to sack him at the end of the year, despite not wanting to do it.

We win 11 straight games against practically all bottom 8 teams bar a couple. It didnt matter what happened in the finals the club had its excuse to re-sign him, and they did.

That decision cost the club another 3 years whipping a dead horse. If the club was managed properly they would've sacked him in 22' when 10 year old Benjamin could see that AOB had reached his ceiling as a head coach. One might say '2023 was his ceiling', no that was Ponga's ceiling seasoned with a little fortuity and a reasonable halfback.
 
His my take, the club is in the strongest position for success long term in our history we have so many academies now and the kids where I live are choosing Newcastle over the bulldogs and panthers.
AOB was good just as Warren Ryan was good for the club. I think Holbrook will have success here.

The critics are banging on about the forward pack but remember we have signed arguably the best two forwards from reserve grade in Lachlan crouch and Trey mooney. Both those boys will probably end up rep players in a year or two. We have the best spine we have had in a long time. I’m think top four with our squad is possible if the players play to their potential.
 
Brad tighe said:
His my take, the club is in the strongest position for success long term in our history we have so many academies now and the kids where I live are choosing Newcastle over the bulldogs and panthers.
AOB was good just as Warren Ryan was good for the club. I think Holbrook will have success here.

The critics are banging on about the forward pack but remember we have signed arguably the best two forwards from reserve grade in Lachlan crouch and Trey mooney. Both those boys will probably end up rep players in a year or two. We have the best spine we have had in a long time. I’m think top four with our squad is possible if the players play to their potential.
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We are also in the best financial position we have ever been in and have a crop of juniors currently sitting on the fringe of first grade that have more potential than any I can remember since 1995.
 
Lachlan Crouch is 22 and much like Mooney and Saulo at the Raiders was stuck behind one of the more experienced and talented packs in the comp at The Sharks.

I haven't seen too much of Crouch. He looked good in Cup the very few times I watched him play. But is he a better FG prospect than Saulo? What is the tip sheet on Crouch
 
Les Misérables said:
Lachlan Crouch is 22 and much like Mooney and Saulo at the Raiders was stuck behind one of the more experienced and talented packs in the comp at The Sharks.

I haven't seen too much of Crouch. He looked good in Cup the very few times I watched him play. But is he a better FG prospect than Saulo? What is the tip sheet on Crouch
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To me both should be in the team.

I'd personally have Frizz start on the edge, allow McEwen to just be an explosive edge interchange for most the year, ease the pressure from last year. I'd have Saulo Start if he is good to go and proves himself in off season. He has enough experience to achieve that.

8. Jsaf
10. Saulo
11. Friz
12. Lucas
13. Mooney

14. Graham
15. Crouch
16. Hopwood
17. McEwen.

Behind that in no particular order we have.
Jones
Croker
Hola
Salesa-Leaumoana
Sullivan

Then of course Mooney and Frizz can play middle, and kind of expect to see Frizz move positions a bit.

If we wanted to rest Frizz then Harrison Graham can easily play edge, let alone bringing in Francis. and Croakes is a quality 13 still in my opinion who might be freed up a little by Holbrook and co to bring back his offloading and embrace his foot work at the line.

There is enough depth in the middle, it's close to the same middles that got us to 5th place in 23 and finals of 24 seasons. No reason it can't again.
 
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