2021 Pre-Season.

Don't know Best from a bar of soap, he might be the nicest bloke in town, but he looks like a complete meathead psycho and I love it.

 

There's a guy in the training photos for the last few times that I recognise from our lower grades, but I just can't put a name to him. Really bugging me.

 

The only one I see out of character is Mr s dureau in those pics. Poor guy. Hope his doing ok.

 

I expect him to be pretty injury prone next 12-18 months but once he grows into his body and is comfortable with playing against men, the opposition should be terrified and they pretty much are already.

 

Heartbreaking to see. He’s hardly recognisable now. Cancer sucks so bad.

 

Kudos to him though. He keeps turning up to work, smiling.

 

NRL.com has named Dom Young as our rookie to watch. can't argue because I don't know if he's any good or not.

They have named Brock Gardner as the Souths rookie to watch. He was a standout in our Mathews and Ball, but I always think of him as a similar player to Jaron Purcell - a year or 2 older and not as good.

Newcastle Knights – Dominic Young
Date of birth: 8/9/2001

Position: Centre

NRL games: Yet to debut

After playing two games for Huddersfield in the UK Super League, 19-year-old Englishman Young has decided to test himself abroad. The centre/winger stands 198cm tall and has a 106kg frame that will help him absorb the physical rigours of the NRL.

South Sydney Rabbitohs – Brock Gardner
Date of birth: 14/1/2000

Position: Second row

NRL games: Yet to debut

A member of South Sydney's top-30 squad, Gardner previously captained Newcastle's Harold Matthews and SG Ball junior teams. With Bayley Sironen departing for the Warriors, there's perhaps an opening for the second-rower to nab some game-time.

 

Alex McKinnon says that they had a lot of phone calls to get him here , so he thinks he is a talent or he wouldn't have bothered .
I read somewhere that he had plenty of offers in League and Union , he played 2 games of superleague at 19.
I reckon he must be a talent for them to worry about him , whether he will make it in the NRL is another thing but they must think he's a good chance.

 

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...d-preparing-for-make-or-break-season/?cs=7580

Article on Crossland.
Says he has been playing with groin pain for 2 years and needed physio and cortisone injections to get on the field in 2020.
Had a nasty sounding operation 12 weeks ago and is due to resume full training next week or the week after.
Wants to earn a chance to play 5/8 now that he is fit to play.
I hope he gets his speed and big kicking game back - Jack Cogger took a couple of years to get back near where he started after his groin operation.

 

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...bsite&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews
Jarrod Mullen playing for Melbourne Storm feeder club Sunshine Coast.
No more crazy than Sandor Earle getting a run for Melbourne.

 

Mullen is about 20 times more talented than Sandor as well.

 

Hope he does well.

In a land, far, far, far, far away from the Hunter!

 

I haven't followed Sunshine coast falcons news, but if they have the same halfback as last year they will have 7 Cooper Johns 6 Jarrod Mullen

 

Good chance he will get a run.

 

0 chance he gets a run

 

https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2021/01/14/shots-the-boys-come-out-charging-in-summer-heat/

Enari looking stacked this pre-season.

 

Guys outside the top 30 still training with the top squad (from the pics so far)

Jack Johns (second row, 5/8)
Chris Randall (hooker)
McKenzie Baker (fullback, wing, centre)
Garrett Smith (prop)
Cooper Jenkins (second row)
Brayden Musgrove (centre, wing)
3 or 4 others I don't recognise.

 

The young half-back from the Wests Tigers is also there (can’t remember his name).

 

Zane Camroux (I think).

 

I see Christopher Veaila is still there too.
He'd be 17 still I think - 18 later in the year - so the youngest guy in the squad still.
Played fullback or centre in under 18s in 2020 and in under 16s in 2019 - also fullback for the Pacifica rep side in 2019.