frankLauda
Tony Butterfield
I thought the same thing when he scored that try. Smith missed an easy one for the penalty also. Get Dyral Hallagan back to the club to coach him and Ponga!
NRL Round 21 - Knights Vs Roosters - 6:00pm Friday, 24th of July - McDonald Jones Stadium
- Thread starter jamesgould
- Start date
bremsstrahlung
Russell Wyer
The great…
It was so bloody good to see Crossland lead the team out. Don’t think anybody personifies hard work, grit, determination more than him. I was deadset baffled when we re-signed him a few years ago. He looked gone for all money. But, I think he’s a perfect example of where hard work and motivation can get you. Where he lacks natural silky skills, he more than makes up for with heart. Really happy for him.
The bad…
**** injuries. Wishing Dylan’s speedy recoveries.
Assuming Lucas will be into surgery last night or this morning. Looked very much like a fracture dislocation (I don’t think I’ve ever seen an isolated dislocated ankle- incredibly rare), - getting it relocated into the right orientation helps with the ligaments - you don’t want them stretched for too long. Plates and screws. He would be good to go for next season - probably has enough time to get the hardware out as well if they want to. The mental trauma of seeing your foot the wrong way is the hard part and getting confidence back. But giving shakkas on his way off - legend. Absolutely gutted for him - he was a few games away from deserving a green and gold jersey.
I’m a little worried for Brown. He partially did his ACL 2 years ago. They don’t repair themselves. You rehab the muscles around the knee and strengthen them and they act to help support. That mechanism looks pretty similar to how I did my partial and then the rest of it 12 months later. Significantly less painful when you’ve got a partial and it doesn’t take much. Think he knew something was wrong straight away too. Fingers crossed for him, but expecting the worst.
The result - to lose to Roosters by one DCE field goal is heartbreaking with our outs is tough. They deserved some points tonight. Still think this is our karma for winning some games we had no right to earlier.
The good…
Manu with a cracker of a game. His runs are very Lucas-esque. It’s nice to see the consistency across the grades. Like are we training them to run these lines? (In a lot of sokkah clubs, they get the reserves and even junior academies to play the same formation and style as the first team, so that they can easily move along the grades seemlessly - think Ivan implemented similar at Penrith). Improving kick position should be on the whiteboard for the rest of the season with our recent narrow losses and poor goalkicking. If McEwen is back next week and he keeps this up, I think we will be in good shape. (Don’t mean to bag the guy, but Cant probably locks in a 2nd row bench spot for the rest of the season…). But I thought he did really well with his break to sum it up. Got through, looks around, gets his plan, draws teddy, passes to a rampaging Best and we score. Great execution.
Nice to see Sharpe run a little more. He’s dangerous. I think we have done him a bit of a disservice moving him around so much. He’s very talented, and obviously capable of doing a job. But Centre, Half and Fullback have such specific skillsets and not having consistency week to week there, limits performance.
Smith still has some defensive moments he needs to work on. But I think he’s capable of delivering in attack when we need it. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with the 7 on his back for the foreseeable future. Hopefully gives him a bit of confidence and allows him to get comfortable if he knows it’s his job for the rest of the season.
Kind of sick of saying it; because I think the team deserves better. But proud of their effort. Last few weeks they’ve really dig deep with a fair chunk of adversity. They’ve really deserved something to show for their performance. Hopefully this effort repays us in the back end. The injuries are bad. But it’s been really great to see everyone step up.
Hopefully we take some confidence that we seem capable of beating anybody, if we play well.
It was so bloody good to see Crossland lead the team out. Don’t think anybody personifies hard work, grit, determination more than him. I was deadset baffled when we re-signed him a few years ago. He looked gone for all money. But, I think he’s a perfect example of where hard work and motivation can get you. Where he lacks natural silky skills, he more than makes up for with heart. Really happy for him.
The bad…
**** injuries. Wishing Dylan’s speedy recoveries.
Assuming Lucas will be into surgery last night or this morning. Looked very much like a fracture dislocation (I don’t think I’ve ever seen an isolated dislocated ankle- incredibly rare), - getting it relocated into the right orientation helps with the ligaments - you don’t want them stretched for too long. Plates and screws. He would be good to go for next season - probably has enough time to get the hardware out as well if they want to. The mental trauma of seeing your foot the wrong way is the hard part and getting confidence back. But giving shakkas on his way off - legend. Absolutely gutted for him - he was a few games away from deserving a green and gold jersey.
I’m a little worried for Brown. He partially did his ACL 2 years ago. They don’t repair themselves. You rehab the muscles around the knee and strengthen them and they act to help support. That mechanism looks pretty similar to how I did my partial and then the rest of it 12 months later. Significantly less painful when you’ve got a partial and it doesn’t take much. Think he knew something was wrong straight away too. Fingers crossed for him, but expecting the worst.
The result - to lose to Roosters by one DCE field goal is heartbreaking with our outs is tough. They deserved some points tonight. Still think this is our karma for winning some games we had no right to earlier.
The good…
Manu with a cracker of a game. His runs are very Lucas-esque. It’s nice to see the consistency across the grades. Like are we training them to run these lines? (In a lot of sokkah clubs, they get the reserves and even junior academies to play the same formation and style as the first team, so that they can easily move along the grades seemlessly - think Ivan implemented similar at Penrith). Improving kick position should be on the whiteboard for the rest of the season with our recent narrow losses and poor goalkicking. If McEwen is back next week and he keeps this up, I think we will be in good shape. (Don’t mean to bag the guy, but Cant probably locks in a 2nd row bench spot for the rest of the season…). But I thought he did really well with his break to sum it up. Got through, looks around, gets his plan, draws teddy, passes to a rampaging Best and we score. Great execution.
Nice to see Sharpe run a little more. He’s dangerous. I think we have done him a bit of a disservice moving him around so much. He’s very talented, and obviously capable of doing a job. But Centre, Half and Fullback have such specific skillsets and not having consistency week to week there, limits performance.
Smith still has some defensive moments he needs to work on. But I think he’s capable of delivering in attack when we need it. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with the 7 on his back for the foreseeable future. Hopefully gives him a bit of confidence and allows him to get comfortable if he knows it’s his job for the rest of the season.
Kind of sick of saying it; because I think the team deserves better. But proud of their effort. Last few weeks they’ve really dig deep with a fair chunk of adversity. They’ve really deserved something to show for their performance. Hopefully this effort repays us in the back end. The injuries are bad. But it’s been really great to see everyone step up.
Hopefully we take some confidence that we seem capable of beating anybody, if we play well.
Joey1245
Brad Godden
I was at the game and every one around me blew saying it wasn’t. So don’t know if I agree it looked like one live
KriKri
Nathan Ross
Caveat of dunno what im talking about, but have read that he didn’t have surgery on the partial tear he had in 2024, he just rehabbed it. This meant it was a bit of a ticking time bomb. I guess the only positive to take out of it now is that it’s gone, he can get the surgery and hopefully rehab it to the point that he’s stronger than he was before hand. Long road ahead for him, but he seems like a dedicated and cool head so fingers crossed.
On the initial TV angle, it's only obvious on the close-up and replays...but even so, we only have one ref (thx Gus); he's going to get things wrong, that's what the challenge is for.
Holbrook in the presser didn't mention it; he was also not particularly concerned about the head highs either, called them accidents, but was disappointed at Dom not getting the call for tackle in the air, which may have given us a last shot to win.
frankLauda
Tony Butterfield
Speaking off Brodie Jones had a few an obviously the one that lead to Crokes try.
My question is which knee had the partial tear? Is it the one that went last night?
Mclovin
Clint Newton
Just watched the game.
That last play where Smith ran it on last left me feeling deflated after a strong team performance. Definitely a mixed bag of feeling for all Knights fans, so happy with how we played, I thought the forwards were very good but then to see more injuries at this time of the year feels bad and pretty on par for the Newcastle Knights.
I still think the team will good enough to stay in the eight and there is going to be a lot more pressure on KP but we all know he can do it.
Really liked Crossland as captain, he played like one and it was good to see him get the recognition that he deserved.
Croker was on fire!! The man has lifted and will deserve a long holiday at the end of the season.
It was nice to see the outcome not be decided by the reff this week.
That last play where Smith ran it on last left me feeling deflated after a strong team performance. Definitely a mixed bag of feeling for all Knights fans, so happy with how we played, I thought the forwards were very good but then to see more injuries at this time of the year feels bad and pretty on par for the Newcastle Knights.
I still think the team will good enough to stay in the eight and there is going to be a lot more pressure on KP but we all know he can do it.
Really liked Crossland as captain, he played like one and it was good to see him get the recognition that he deserved.
Croker was on fire!! The man has lifted and will deserve a long holiday at the end of the season.
It was nice to see the outcome not be decided by the reff this week.
Defence wins games
Todd Bates
As a spectator at the ground last night, we seemed to take an age to get the ball cleared from dummy half. The Roosters line moved up quickly for most of the night, as did ours, but we were definitely slower out of dummy half.
That was as good as I have seen the Knightd play for a few years last night, probably on both sides of the ball.
For once I felt reasonably happy coming away from the game after a loss. We definitely have the makings of a genuine top 4 team, even with the players out atm.
The coaching team have definitely transformed Newcastle into a respectable football team who play with toughness and grit.
And that’s what all Knights fans want.
Agree with all that , if everyone is fit Cant is in reserve grade
Yeah poor Cant did an admirable job at hooker under the circumstances, but his passes were pretty ordinary.
There was a tackle Crossland did towards the end of game where he chased hard and tackled there centre to close a gap, probably unnoticed but it was a big play from a guy that had done a mountain of work already.
Said it last night, but I think Holbrook should really consider co captaining him, perfect player to captain and such a competitor. Love Kalyn, but he’s just to laid back to be in the refs ear all game, which is also hard to do from fullback. I reckon Crossland would thrive in the role.
There was a tackle Crossland did towards the end of game where he chased hard and tackled there centre to close a gap, probably unnoticed but it was a big play from a guy that had done a mountain of work already.
Said it last night, but I think Holbrook should really consider co captaining him, perfect player to captain and such a competitor. Love Kalyn, but he’s just to laid back to be in the refs ear all game, which is also hard to do from fullback. I reckon Crossland would thrive in the role.
KPGreatness
Todd Bates
Ok my opinions on the game after rewatching it.
Croker: I forgot what Teddy try it was but the one where he stepped both Croker and Hopwood it was poor defence from Mat as once Teddy stepped him he stopped moving and left Hopwood on his own and once Cody got stepped because Mat didn’t slide it left the gap, he has to keep moving but apart from that he played well.
Brodie: He did alright without being good, I am not sad we are letting him go but this game did highlight that we need to re-sign Frizell.
Hunt: played really well on both sides of the ball and I’d honestly tell Gagai he can work his way back through cup, especially since Gagai is leaving.
Hopwood: I think he handled himself very well he had a Herculean job of trying to nullify Whyte and I think he did very well.
Halves: I think both Brown and Smith played pretty poorly as a whole and next week I’m guessing it will be a more traditional combo with a ball runner in Sharpe and a general halfback in Smith, I guess we will see how it goes.
Sharpe: He isn’t anywhere near as dangerous as Ponga at fullback and got handled decently, I think the future is him as a 6 or on the wing.
Manu: Played the house down, showed how hard he is to handle, quick shoutout to the people that said he was “noticeably” worse than McEwen, he really isn’t but it’s great we have that depth a second row combo of Manu and McEwen will be great.
All in all with the adversity we had coming into the game and than more during, I think we handled it pretty well and toke another top 4 team to the death and have gotten our respect back as a hard team and showed that at full strength we really can take on anyone, I am however getting so sick and tired of these super close losses, you don’t get points for trying and it’s another game that was ours to lose and we did. Next week is a must win after three losses in a row
Ps. GET CANT OUT THE ****ING TEAM
Pps. Crossland played great and am so happy he got the captaincy nod, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he is just the ultimate competitor, a throwback to what the Knights were and what we want to get back to.
Croker: I forgot what Teddy try it was but the one where he stepped both Croker and Hopwood it was poor defence from Mat as once Teddy stepped him he stopped moving and left Hopwood on his own and once Cody got stepped because Mat didn’t slide it left the gap, he has to keep moving but apart from that he played well.
Brodie: He did alright without being good, I am not sad we are letting him go but this game did highlight that we need to re-sign Frizell.
Hunt: played really well on both sides of the ball and I’d honestly tell Gagai he can work his way back through cup, especially since Gagai is leaving.
Hopwood: I think he handled himself very well he had a Herculean job of trying to nullify Whyte and I think he did very well.
Halves: I think both Brown and Smith played pretty poorly as a whole and next week I’m guessing it will be a more traditional combo with a ball runner in Sharpe and a general halfback in Smith, I guess we will see how it goes.
Sharpe: He isn’t anywhere near as dangerous as Ponga at fullback and got handled decently, I think the future is him as a 6 or on the wing.
Manu: Played the house down, showed how hard he is to handle, quick shoutout to the people that said he was “noticeably” worse than McEwen, he really isn’t but it’s great we have that depth a second row combo of Manu and McEwen will be great.
All in all with the adversity we had coming into the game and than more during, I think we handled it pretty well and toke another top 4 team to the death and have gotten our respect back as a hard team and showed that at full strength we really can take on anyone, I am however getting so sick and tired of these super close losses, you don’t get points for trying and it’s another game that was ours to lose and we did. Next week is a must win after three losses in a row
Ps. GET CANT OUT THE ****ING TEAM
Pps. Crossland played great and am so happy he got the captaincy nod, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he is just the ultimate competitor, a throwback to what the Knights were and what we want to get back to.