Ex-Knights in the NRL

Frizzed said:
Indeed, Chris Sheppard was brought into 5/8 to play his first NRL match in two years, then Sheppard got injured so Sione Faumuina played the rest of the match at 5/8.
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Yup. And he didn't do too much there. It was all Thurston running the show, and he was dangerous in the second half, despite looking tired.
 
What's the point of playing Abraham at 6 when he ain't one??

And what's the go with other teams such as the Broncos using second rowers/locks as five-eighths?
 
NK-9701 said:
What's the point of playing Abraham at 6 when he ain't one??

And what's the go with other teams such as the Broncos using second rowers/locks as five-eighths?
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He's a bit like a Bailey imo. He didn't play 5/8 last night anyway.
You hardly ever see the traditional 5/8 these days anyway, the role is slowly transforming.
 
Bailey is more a modern 5/8, strong passing and running game, much more suited than abraham, who is really just a fill-in like we used him and lowrie. Normally its either centres of second rowers who fill in like that. Hopefully we will never have to go down that path again though with Mullen, Bailey, Gidley, Walsh, Dureau, Karawana and Hilder all capable of playin there
 
Firstly, great win by the boys. Cowboys are a different team at home this year (you only have to look at their form compared to away games to see that). It doesnt matter that we scored 2 tries in 5 minutes. The game is 80 minutes, regardless of whether you score in the 20th minute or the 79th minute.

Secondly. Bailey is a classic example of a player remoulding the role of the 5/8. As Mullen said, the only difference these days is the Halfback feeds the scrum. Bailey is a devastating player close to the line. He runs like a backrower into gaps made by tired defense. His running game reflects that of "almost!" Joey, who when goes to the line is able to hold the ball up that little bit longer in order to best assess his options (pass, kick, show and go etc.). This is proven through his most recent tries against the Tigers, Roosters and Warriors. It is dissapointing the Knights must let him go and if the Sargent deal had been cleared up earlier we may have been able to keep him (before contracts are finalised on the Tuesday of Rnd 13). I think he will peform against the Roosters and only get better throughout the rest of the season. Big wrap to him. Hes got an experienced head on a fresh body, underrated late bloomer. Onya Bails.
 
IMO manly have got two bargins in Bailey and that Williams guy from the eels (i think thats where he is going). But i still dont know where they get all this money to sign players
 
Woolnough and Worth in NSWC so we wont play them but we do play Brad Tighe the little weed.

I'm suprised he has a spot over Sammut & Michael Gordon.
 
Tighe breaker
9/07/2008

BRAD Tighe reckons joining the Penrith Panthers has been the best move he ever made, except for one small problem.

It has been too long between tries.


The 24-year-old flyer, who played 44 NRL games for Newcastle between 2005 and last season, admitted this week that he had experienced a "bit of a drought at the moment" with regards to crossing the stripe.


And that could be bad news for his former Newcastle Knights teammates as they prepare for tomorrow night's crucial clash with the Panthers at CUA Stadium.


Asked when his last try was, Tighe thought long and hard before replying: "Aw mate, your guess is as good as mine.


"That's how long it's been.


"I haven't had a lot of quality ball the last few weeks, playing on the wing, but hopefully I get a couple [of tries] against these boys on Friday night."


For the record, Tighe last touched down four games ago against the Roosters hardly a barren spell of terminal magnitude.


That try gave him eight four-pointers for 2008, putting him equal with Michael Jennings as Penrith's top tryscorer.


And given that Penrith are hovering in the top eight after last week's gutsy away win against Parramatta, it is hardly surprising that Tighe is feeling right at home at the foot of the Blue Mountains.


"Loving it," Tighe said.


"Penrith is similar to Newcastle, just without the beaches.


"The fans out here love their footy, and if we can string a couple more wins together, hopefully they'll keep turning out and getting behind us."


One of the older hands in an L-plate backline that features rising stars Jennings, Lachlan Coote, Maurice Blair and Wade Graham, Tighe said he was excited by the potential the Panthers had shown during their mid-season surge up the ladder.


"We've got a really good junior base here, similar to Newcastle," he said.


"They're giving the young guys a go, and they've been stepping up to the plate, which is good to see.


"We haven't played our best footy, I think.


"Really, it's just starting to look a bit like how we want it to look come the latter stages of the season.


"Hopefully we can keep our momentum going and maybe improve a bit, and if we do that, we should be hitting our straps about the time the finals come around."


Tighe was disappointed last season when the Knights, whom he joined from Tamworth as a teenager, showed little interest in re-signing him, despite the fact he played in 21 games and scored seven tries in 2007.


But after securing a three-season deal with the Panthers, he said he had not looked back.


"It probably has been the best thing for me," he said. "Having come through the system at Newcastle, from when I was 16 up to first grade, I was probably looking for a change.


"Penrith's been great. I've learned a lot and trained hard, and it's easy to enjoy your football when the team is playing well."


Tighe warned his former teammates they could expect to see a lot less of him literally tomorrow night.


Since joining Penrith, he has trimmed off a couple of excess kilograms around his midriff and feels that has given him extra zip across the turf.


"They train us pretty hard down here," he said.


"My skinfolds are probably the lowest I've ever had them.


"I knew myself I had to shed a bit of weight and trim down. It feels like it's taken a load off my mid-section, and hopefully I've picked up a bit of pace."


His good form this season has been noted by Knights coach Brian Smith, although Smith is also well aware of areas in which they can target his former protege.


"I think Brad's done pretty well throughout the course of the year and has certainly held his spot in first grade without any problems," Smith said.


"He's a player that you need to watch, in some regards, but he's also a player who, if we execute our plan well, we could trouble him."


After starting the season in his preferred centre role, Tighe has spent the past few weeks on the wing.


And while he is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with his former Knights teammates, he said he had a point to prove to only one person: "Myself."


"There's a bit of extra motivation there, but I just want to play my best footy and show that I've still got a lot of good footy ahead of me," he said.


"I suppose it would be nice to come out and score a try or two. That would be a good way to break this drought."
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Herald
 
Brad is an excellent bloke, just after he moved to Penrith I seen him out and about a couple times and chatted with him.
 
so Brad is fitter and faster than ever huh? He was plenty fast before!
Why don't our trainers whip blokes into shape? :confused: Look at Perry this season too.
 
yeh wern't we supposed to have upgraded training facilities? It's made some difference but not a lot.
 
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just on training facilities

one area we have improved is our rehabilitation.It has has been very good compared to years gone by

we haven't had alot of players injured this year

its been mainly through origin :(
 
I guess Aidan Kirk(Warriors) could be added seen as though he played Harold Matts for us in 2002.

Brendon Worth(Panthers?) played Flegg for us in 2002.
 
big Snowy looks fantastic this season...:fist:I don't even want to say it...:brickwall:...perhaps I can just say that our best trainer was Scott Campbell and that since we let him go after winning in '01 alot of our promising players have had to go elsewhere to get in shape and thus reach their potential.
 
I think we should have kept Josh Perry and Kade Snowden. They have been playing good so far this season. O well we still have cross and Wicks.
 
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