The pre-season 2026 thread

I can see Hopwood jagging a bench spot over Jones too. Our bench will have a serious lack of size otherwise.
I’m hoping we end up with a strongest 17 something like this:

1 - Ponga
2 - Young
3 - Gagai
4 - Best
5 - Sharpe
6 - Brown
7 - Smith
8 - J Saf
9 - Crossland/Arthur
10 - Frizell
11 - Lucas
12 - McEwen
13 - Mooney

14 - Gamble/Crossland
15 - Saulo
16 - Hopwood
17 - ESL/Manuleleua/Croker
 
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EASBay17 said:
If sharpe is going to be in the 7 i dont understand why he would be doing any preaseason covering ponga, are we really going to continue to shuffle the whole spine should ponga get injured again.
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Logic would suggest you'd want as many reps as possible with him in the 7 and throw whoever in at fullback until KP is right.
 
Yeah if Sharpe is playing 7 why would he not be training there, and have Vatano filling in for KP tills he gets back. Sharpe does not need reps at FB he knows how to play that position. Maybe for combos with Brown and Smith though.

Holbrooks comments it will work itself out by round 1. 🙄
 
Yeah I’m not too confident on a good, cohesive start to the season. No Ponga, I really hope they aren’t relying on the trials to decide the halves.

I still think we will be a dangerous side this season, it’s just annoying the trend of starting the season like they’ve never met each other before.
 
Crouch is 3 years older than Hopwood I think.
I don't think he'll be as good as Hopwood over time, but his numbers last year in reserve grade were much better.
Both are big props who have made plenty of NSW junior sides.
Crouch looks to have had a very good pre-season - looks much fitter.
 
Just watched a short preview on the Knights on Levels. Horo pretty high on us. Main take away, Mason thinks Ponga might play 7!

Here we go again. Lol. I think he did play 7 in the all stars game last year. Maybe had 1 on his back but I remember him being first receiver and organising the plays.
 
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slotmachine said:
Logic would suggest you'd want as many reps as possible with him in the 7 and throw whoever in at fullback until KP is right.
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Yep if the plan is for him to slot in in the halves during the season, then it is absolute insanity to have him train in a different position for what has now been *the majority* of the pre-season. It would legitimately make more sense to be giving Sandon the reps at fullback instead so Fletch can get as much time in the halves as possible.

Either Sandon is playing 7 or Holbrook is out of his god damned mind.
 
frankLauda said:
Just watched a short preview on the Knights on Levels. Horo pretty high on us. Main take away, Mason thinks Ponga might play 7!

Here we go again. Lol. I think he did play 7 in the all stars game last year. Maybe had 1 on his back but I remember him being first receiver and organising the plays.
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It doesn't surprise me that Horo is high on us. He's one of the few people who wasn't critical of DylBro signing.

Ponga should never be allowed in the halves again after the start of 2023.
 
Does anyone know if Adam Blair is still working with our pathways?
Pretty sure POS brought him over for the 2025 season and he was working with firstgrade last pre-season - but no sign of him this year.
I think he was a good influence on McEwen, ESL, Manuleleua, Hopwood, Crouch etc.
Linked in still has him at the Knights, but I would have thought we would have seen him by now.
 
mozza said:
I can see Hopwood jagging a bench spot over Jones too. Our bench will have a serious lack of size otherwise.
I’m hoping we end up with a strongest 17 something like this:

1 - Ponga
2 - Young
3 - Gagai
4 - Best
5 - Sharpe
6 - Brown
7 - Smith
8 - J Saf
9 - Crossland/Arthur
10 - Frizell
11 - Lucas
12 - McEwen
13 - Mooney

14 - Gamble/Crossland
15 - Saulo
16 - Hopwood
17 - ESL/Manuleleua/Croker
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Pretty close to what I’m thinking. I was initially wanting Mooney as 13 too but Matty Croker looks to be having a great pre season. If they are going to back him to be a ball distributor and off loader then I’d like to see him at 13 starting. Though nothing saying he doesn’t come on and do that from the bench and provide a momentum change like Mann did for Dogs last year.

My squad.
1. KP
2. Dom
3. Gags
4. Best
5. Sharpe
6. Brown
7. Sandon
8. Jsaf
9. Crossy
10. Frizz
11. Lucas
12. McEwen
13. Mooney

14. Graham
15. Saulo
16. Hopwood
17. Croker.

From what I’ve heard Graham has impressed in reps at 9 and Edge forward and I’d like an option to rest McEwen if it’s a heavy game, allow him to have a breather at a young age instead of bashing him.

Agree Crouch and Hopwood I think force there way in. Crouch is an impressive 1% merchant. Guy just executes at a high rate and good ball skills too. HopWood is a future leader and even on a game where everyone could care less against eels last year he came on with intent to turn the game around and offloaded well at will.

Saulo is going to be a great buy for us. He’ll be happy at home again around family and his wife and kids at home again too.

Edit: was about to post a realise I left out Frizz. 🤯

So bold players are the changes I made. Wanted frizz on bench but starting may be preferable in early rounds for some leadership.

Also I’d rather bench Crossy, allow him to rest instead of busting himself for 80mins and making a mistake or too. Allows him to come back in final 15mins and lead the defensive line more effectively.
 
Also off that NRL squad our depth looks stronger. Our depth looks sexier. Not perfect, but definitely sexier.

NSW Cup side.
1. Votano
2. Kepaoa
3. DeCourcey
4. Hunt
5. Schiller
6. Hunter
7. Gamble
8. Crouch
9. Arthur
10. Elijah
11. Manulelua
12. Jones
13. Cant

14. Davies
15. Hola
16. Sullivan
17. Tualani

Marz I think will exclusively used as a 18th/19th man or moved on before season starts. McCarthy will be there but I just don’t know where currently.
 
I just hope the pick and stick to be honest, if it means Crossland at lock, Sandon at hooker and Sharpe to 5/8th, just stick Votona at 1 if Kalyns not ready and next up after that hunt.

Just give combo's time to build.
 
The facts are, Holbrook has never said he might play Sharpe at halfback. He has said Sharpe could play 'in the halves'. But that's not a revelation. Sharpe played in the halves last year, but at 6. However, this year we have a better 6 in Brown.

We also have a better 7 in Smith. And that's where Smith has been training.

Sharpe won't be playing halfback, not just because its a bad idea but because there's literally no evidence that he is being considered to play halfback. And if we're thinking it could be a Sharpe/Brown combo like all the 'experts' have been saying, then why is Holbrook training predominantly with a Brown / Smith halves combo?
 
I was watching the levels podcast yesterday.

They believe that KP will be the 7 alongside Brown at 6.

Sharpe to fullback, Smith/Crossland sharing 9.

The more I thought about it the more it made sense. The only problem would be KPs defence and injury concerns. It does make sense though from an attack point of view.
 
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