How many of you were there supporting? Just curious.
Unfortunately there never is a huge crowd - shame for the boys.I went along to it as I stayed in Sydney Saturday night. Really surprised there wasn't more knights fans there as I'm sure some would have stayed the night in Sydney.
Even had the 'our town our team banner'
The Sharks/Melbourne side were way better than anyone else early in the season, but as injuries in the two firstgrade teams took out most of the firstgrade quality players they had they came back to the pack. They still had access to quality development players from two clubs, and got a few back when their firstgrade teams were knocked out, but by grandfinal day they were far from unbeatable. Our best side would have tested them.The best team all year won just like in first grade.
We beat them in Newcastle fairly comfortably, but as i said earlier, the difference was that Kev and Hilder were pretty key players for us, and they were both out because we were still alive in firstgrade. Kev spent the last month of the comp causing havoc by linking with AJ, Pete and Chanel down the left side, and Hilder's workrate was crucial to keep our pack together.I don't think we'd have won, Cronulla bet Windsor comfortably and Windsor were equally comfortable over us.
We just lacked the consistency this year, we'd be great one week and average the next. On our day we could beat anybody, but you have to do that three or four weeks in a row to win the grand final, and we weren't up to it.
We beat them in Newcastle fairly comfortably, but as i said earlier, the difference was that Kev and Hilder were pretty key players for us, and they were both out because we were still alive in firstgrade. Kev spent the last month of the comp causing havoc by linking with AJ, Pete and Chanel down the left side, and Hilder's workrate was crucial to keep our pack together.
Admittedly the absolute standout player for us when we beat them in Newcastle was Cuthbertson, and he wasn't available, but I'm pretty confident that if Cronulla and Melbourne had both made the top four in firstgrade and we didn't, it would have been a completely different ball game. A few of our best in, and a few of their best out would make all the difference, which is why reserve grade can be a real lottery towards the end.
It's an old cliche, but Frei only knows one way to run - never take a sideways step - just runs straight forward every time - and in the game against Wyong where we were down to 11 players for a while and had a prop sent off in the first 10 minutes he played 70 minutes and never shirked a hit up once. I think he is just a Dan Tolar type footballer, but he gets stuck in.NSW Cup Coach's Award goes to Mitchell Frei
NSW Cup Players' Player Award goes to Matt Hilder