Round 1: Newcastle Knights vs NZ Warriors

I won't be surprised if he debuts some time this year. He needs a bit of time in Reserve grade first though. A bit of a taste later in the year to see how he goes...
 
Stone has come a long way in 12 months.
He didn't get a game in NYC last year till round 4.
He didn't make the starting side till round 7.
He didn't run 100 metres in a game till round 10.
In the last 5 rounds he averaged 150 metres, 30 tackles with about 1 miss per game, and scored 4 tries in his last 6 games. He also played 80 minutes in the last 8 games in a row.

In the pre season he has clearly got a lot fitter, stronger and bigger.

This time 2 years ago he was playing 5/8 in SG Ball.

He is on a steep learning curve, and Brown needs to judge when to introduce him to the top grade. In a perfect world he will be allowed to play 20 minutes off the bench for a few games before we really ask him to carry a full workload, just to get used to it.

If he goes back to NYC he'll smash it this year.
 
It was obvious from the 9's that he's got a heap of skill

The only thing stopping him from being a real quality backrower is his strength. If he can have a physical presence in FG then he will be a very good player. But it remains to be seen if he has the ability to make over 100m per game in FG, and make 30 effective tackles

He's certainly got the footballing IQ to be a real asset. You can tell that he wouldn't make many mistakes and has the head to be a Buhrer type leader

So he's no doubt an exciting prospect. But he'd by no where near my rnd 1 team
 
The main factor in the improvement in Stone i'd say is a growth spurt. As a 17 year old 5/8 he was tall, but i'd say about 186cm, not the 194cm his profile says now, and my guess would be he is about 12-15kg heavier too. He has always had the skills, but the size is a pretty recent thing.
 
I'd run him in the centres and let Pete play NYC inside Chantel.

Competition for spots is just going to be so great!
 
I expected all the young guys to get a lot fitter and stronger in the off season, but I have to say the improvement in Hodko, Gagai, and Pete has come as a pleasant surprize. They all look really fit.
 
My guess would be Stone and Yates. Could be Bradie Smith too.
Braidie Smith is out for another 2 months with a broken shoulder.

- - - Updated - - -

Yates and Stone have been named on Knights twitter.
That's the long and the short of it.

Seems crazy to me. 1 of those guys would be OK, but we need to name an experienced side.
 
Maybe Tupou has been training really really well and forced himself into selection? He along with Stone?

I'd be happy with that i guess. It just means that we will have experienced forwards in Paea and Stockwell likely miss out

It looks like Billy might be right. Buhrer to hooker, Stone to 2nd row

Pretty excited to see how Stone goes. If he can look physically strong as a 19 year old debutante then ill be his biggest fan, because he has the footy IQ to be a special type of player
 
You'd think this means no Randell if they plan on shifting Buhrer to hooker with Stone replacing him. Otherwise it's a very light bench.
 
I rated Yates at NYC level but geez he's looked ordinary against men and didn't impress me in the 9s or FG trial.
 
You'd think this means no Randell if they plan on shifting Buhrer to hooker with Stone replacing him. Otherwise it's a very light bench.

I think you're right. It wouldn't make sense to play Randell otherwise our bench would look so weak. I'd say it's a battle between Mataora and Stockwell for that final spot. Didn't expect these two to be lining up in Round 1 at all, but well done to them. Must've knuckled down in the pre-season and Browny obviously rates them both.
 
what im expecting

1 Phythian
2 Sio
3 Gagai
4 Pete
5 Ross
6 Lamb
7 Hodko
8 Starling
9 Levi
10 D.Saifiti
11 Sione
12 Buhrer (cover 20 minutes at hooker)
13 Barnett

14 Yates
15 Stone
16 Stockwell
17 J.Saifiti
 
Hmm good point Matty, bench could be;

jacob, stockwell, stone, yates

stockwell and jacob rotate with starting props. stone plays 20 minutes of second row while buhrer spells levi, yates play 15 minutes of lock to spell barnett.

yates is a gutsy little defender. he'll tackle everything that moves. just no impact with the ball.
 
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