Second pre-season trial - Knights Vs Bulldogs - 6:00pm Saturday, 14th February - McDonald Jones Stadium

Billy said:
www.newcastleherald.com.au

Kalyn Ponga open to shock switch to New Zealand in World Cup year

The Newcastle skipper is on track to play in Las Vegas.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article about Ponga. He says his foot is OK and "it's been a process".

Long article, and that's all he has to say about his injury - not very convincing.
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slotmachine said:
Anyone know if KP started contact yet? Would be long odds to play in Vegas if he hasn't 2 and a bit weeks out.
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Les Misérables said:
Kinda starting to sound like Sharpe might get more than a couple games at fullback to start the year
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mullenmagic said:
www.newcastleknights.com.au

Coach’s Corner: Holbrook on trial two team list

Head Coach Justin Holbrook talks through his selection ahead of the second trial week
www.newcastleknights.com.au www.newcastleknights.com.au

Says he’s still undecided on the halves, will play Brown/Smith in the first half and Brown/Sharpe in the second.

Also says Ponga is back to full training this week and maintains he’s on track for Vegas.
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I like this. Should demonstrate to people why Brown/Sharpe isn't a good idea
 
Very surprised Hunt looks to be the first backup at centre and I love it
Extremely shocked Gamble is the 14 and Graham/Arthur not even in the side
Also where is Crouch he was great on the weekend
 
Hunt looked fit enough to not give up when chasing during the trial. Last year he looked slow because he just gave up - even when other made a line break and needed support.
I'd say he close to firstgrade standard now, and still young enough for Flegg since he was playing Ball in 2024.
 
If Ponga is 100% fit and locked for Vegas, I’m curious if we give Sharpe a bit of a run where he will actually be playing, or the preferred role he will be doing, to idk, see if it works.

Unless it’s a big secret. I which case, it might catch the Cowboys off guard, and then it’s out there anyway.

I get he is very versatile and can fill in anywhere, but I don’t know why he’s getting lots of reps at FB and 7 if he’s gonna be Wing or centre.

Also don’t love Ponga’s first game being in Vegas. Bit of a high risk way to figure out how good the foot is and how good the fitness is.
 
One thing I will say, I don’t think AOB was bullshitting when he said Sharpe had a powerful boot. He’s packing at least a 4 wood on what I saw on the weekend (no homo).

Does give me some optimism for the future given I think Kalyn leaving at some point is inevitable and having your fullback make clearing kicks is a very viable strategy (the guy who kicks it is the player who’s rarely in the kick chase line). You see Reece Walsh and Scott Drinkwater do it a fair bit even though they play with Reyno/Hunt and Clifford.

I really have good feelings about the balance between Sandon barking orders, bringing our strike players onto the ball & keeping fatigued forwards honest with his running game, Dylan’s class, athleticism & supreme threat in shape, and Fletcher as the love child of Ryan P and Dylan Edwards turning nothing into long breaks and half chances into tries, especially if like Ryan P he has stuff in his locker which can make up for deficiencies in his halves (Ryan has been Melbourne’s field goal kicker for years because Munny and Hughes are both hopeless at it; Fletch being the option for when we need someone to belt it long when we’re trapped in our own 30 can be our version of that).

Jumping ahead though; if you have Kalyn in your team I still believe that gives you a puncher’s chance at a premiership, so you bet on him as long as he’s here. I’ll believe he’s lost the ability to basically single-handedly win games when I see him fully fit again and it’s proven that it’s gone. Not before that.
 
Billy said:
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So, genuinely disappointed we aren't seeing Crouch or Arthur get anther go, or Graham for that matter.

I don't think Gamble has more ability to cover positions, nor has a good ball distribution at 9 compared to Graham, defiantly not Arthur.

His interview says this is the strongest possible team without others being out with rep or injury recovery.

I like Hunt being the main centre back up with McCcarthy and DeCourcey close second, DeCourcey however should be the right in the convo for next man up for winger, I think he's just waiting for an opportunity to blow people off the park and may eventually jump Hunt as first port of call.

If we're looking at a bench like that for round one with Croker moving back to 17 and Frizz to 13 I wouldn't be disappointed.
I'll give Cant the benefit of the doubt that being coached differently will do better for him, though I think off the bench is where he should be. McEwen, regardless of niggling injury should start Round 1 on right edge.

I think Elijah is in for a big year for our rotation and Hopwood will be apart of that with Crouch. I also thin Francis will jump Cant/Croker/Jones eventually, but there is no rush there

Keen to see how they go against a solid Dogs team, (keeping roosters trial in mind last year) dont care about result, just no injuries and good form)
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Okay then mr smart guy what do you think Fletcher can contribute on the wing over a full season? 25 tries? 30? What value is there in that?
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Well yeah why would the team that scored the least amount of points by far, want someone who can score a stack of tries, often in the same game

Obviously he’d be much better better utilised for just half a game in the middle, where he spends a good amount of time under fatigue due to his increased defensive workload.
 
So realistically, second row, choice, Right side, who is the current best option, Can’t, McEwen, Jones, not future best but now.
Give them a rating, not how they are training, not what the future holds but today, next few weeks, youth against experience.
I will hold my selection until others have committed
 
The strike on our left side compared to that on our right side couldn’t be more stark.

Lucas
Brown
Best
Marzhew / Sharpe
With KP favouring that side

Versus

Cant
Smith
Gags
Young

The left side has the potential to be like Souths left edge in 22 scoring at will if they can get it together
 
Frank McWilliams said:
So realistically, second row, choice, Right side, who is the current best option, Can’t, McEwen, Jones, not future best but now.
Give them a rating, not how they are training, not what the future holds but today, next few weeks, youth against experience.
I will hold my selection until others have committed
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Interesting question I suppose it depends on what people value.

A rating out of ten I’d say
Cant - 6/10
Brodie - 5.8/10
McEwen - 5.5/10

If you are basing it of purely now and not potential as I value defence and last year McEwens defence was noticeably worse than both Jones and Cant
 
KPGreatness said:
Interesting question I suppose it depends on what people value.

A rating out of ten I’d say
Cant - 6/10
Brodie - 5.8/10
McEwen - 5.5/10

If you are basing it of purely now and not potential as I value defence and last year McEwens defence was noticeably worse than both Jones and Cant
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I’d rate McEwen above those two. A 7/10
 
ESL was a very good right second row in the juniors. He had great footwork and speed and scored some very good tries. We seem to have decided he's a middle now.
 
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