Cody Hopwood discussion

Billy

Billy

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
www.newcastleherald.com.au

Rookie Knight who debuted in 66-10 loss adamant better days are on the way

The 19-year-old debuted in a 66-10 loss to the Eels.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article about Cody Hopwood.
Says he cried when told he would debut and then called his Mum and they both cried.
Says his lifelong dream was to debut for the Knights and talks about watching games at the ground from a young age and watching his half brother play in the junior system.
Says he was mixing finishing his HSC and doing preseason last year and is keen to have a really good pre-season for 2026.
 
Billy said:
Says his lifelong dream was to debut for the Knights and talks about watching games at the ground from a young age and watching his half brother play in the junior system.
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God damn. Things you love to hear.

I don’t think it’s over-egging it to say that how good this kid turns out to be is maybe the single biggest swing factor in how much chance we have to become a premiership force over the next decade.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
God damn. Things you love to hear.

I don’t think it’s over-egging it to say that how good this kid turns out to be is maybe the single biggest swing factor in how much chance we have to become a premiership force over the next decade.
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Hopwood quotes from the article

"It was the best feeling in the world," Hopwood said, speaking to the Newcastle Herald after the game at Parramatta.
"I had dreamt of that since I was a little kid.
"I remember when I was younger I'd sit on the hill with my mum watching the games. I thought how cool would that be, to play for the Knights one day.
"And now to actually do it, I'm still pinching myself. I'm one grateful kid at the moment, and I love this joint."
Click to expand...
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
God damn. Things you love to hear.

I don’t think it’s over-egging it to say that how good this kid turns out to be is maybe the single biggest swing factor in how much chance we have to become a premiership force over the next decade.
Click to expand...
It is key, huh. Because we'll need an all encompassing and domineering middle forward, with an offload and a brain, if we're to contend for a premiership. And there's perhaps a handful of those in the comp, they all cost about $1m give or take.

If we can develop one, we'll probably have him for half price for at least 3 or more years. And perhaps marginally under value thereafter.

Hopwood ticks many boxes. Its pretty obvious why he is so highly regarded. To debut at 19 and perform the way he did was, for me, reassuring because for many middles Cup form doesnt translate. His did and as a teenager. Hes had a year in seniors and improved steadily over the year.

The biggest challenge for Hopwood is whether he can be physically penetrative.
 
Les Misérables said:
It is key, huh. Because we'll need an all encompassing and domineering middle forward, with an offload and a brain, if we're to contend for a premiership. And there's perhaps a handful of those in the comp, they all cost about $1m give or take.

If we can develop one, we'll probably have him for half price for at least 3 or more years. And perhaps marginally under value thereafter.

Hopwood ticks many boxes. Its pretty obvious why he is so highly regarded. To debut at 19 and perform the way he did was, for me, reassuring because for many middles Cup form doesnt translate. His did and as a teenager. Hes had a year in seniors and improved steadily over the year.

The biggest challenge for Hopwood is whether he can be physically penetrative.
Click to expand...
Yeah the mix in the pack is very interesting if both him and Mooney pan out like we hope. J Saf I think will be at his best in more of an enforcer role (that was an issue we had because it’s the same case with Leo), Mooney would be up there with the quickest and most agile middles in the game and has genuine passing/offloading ability, and yeah Hopwood at every level has been that guy with the unusually large motor. Even though we got flogged, coming in and playing 40 mins vs NRL players and not looking out of place at his age is a good sign. A Carrigan or Yeo type definitely the hope there. And that’s the balance you want in your best three middles - go forward, enforcer, big work rate. The best packs always have some combo of that, in different body types (unlike our Klemmer/D Saf/J Saf combo, three versions of a very similar player).
 
Saulo had a year where he was the best young prop in the comp like Hopwood.
Saulo has never got through a full pre-season at the Knights though.
He gets injured doing up his shoelaces.
Even before he had that great year of juniors, he was injured every 5 minutes.
Hopwood has had very few injuries and seems very robust - fingers crossed.
 
Les Misérables said:
It is key, huh. Because we'll need an all encompassing and domineering middle forward, with an offload and a brain, if we're to contend for a premiership. And there's perhaps a handful of those in the comp, they all cost about $1m give or take.

If we can develop one, we'll probably have him for half price for at least 3 or more years. And perhaps marginally under value thereafter.

Hopwood ticks many boxes. Its pretty obvious why he is so highly regarded. To debut at 19 and perform the way he did was, for me, reassuring because for many middles Cup form doesnt translate. His did and as a teenager. Hes had a year in seniors and improved steadily over the year.

The biggest challenge for Hopwood is whether he can be physically penetrative.
Click to expand...
This is why we need more old boys involved at the club to mentor these young ones. I could see Chief and Butts filling that role, particularly for Hopwood and Mooney, and indeed for all the younger forwards we have at the club presently.
They could help return the Knights DNA, particularly around dominance in the middle.
 
Chaister said:
He’ll captain one day imo
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I can see a great player in Hopwood, but he needs to be brought along carefully.
By thrusting him in to early and having him knocked around is what happened to Snowden and the Safitti twins.
Warren Ryan had the right idea with Steve Simpson, playing him off the interchange bench to bring him up to speed. Horse turned out to be one of the great club, state and Test second rowers born and bred in Newcastle.
Hasten slowly and carefully and Hopwood could be the same.
 
Hopwoods best game,
Didn't miss a tackle.
14mins, 52M, 24pcm, 9tk.

Maybe start him next week and show that having a crack will be rewarded. Even if he only has one stint.

Hopefully he eventually becomes Jacobs starting partner that we desperately need.
 
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