2021 Pre-Season.

[Billy]

i see in the social media wrap up on the Knights site that they are sharing a photo from Matt Croker with Watson, Ponga, Jack Johns, Tex Hoy, Harry Croker and a few others.

We never hear about the reserve grade squad, but I think Andrew Ryan would have Matt and Harry Croker in his squad.

 

[danknights]

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.

His looking pretty fit aswell. He will be a class above q cup if his hamstrings hold up and he gets game time. Good luck to him.

 

[ALX25]

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

Todd Murphy will be there. Mullen will need to do well in the trials or will be playing in the local comp.

 

[cowboyman]

No chance Mullens hamstrings hold up. Couldn’t even get them right while on the PEDs to recover quicker and stronger let alone being a couple years older, out of the game and off the gear.

 

[mozza]

Not playing footy every week whilst constantly hurt will probably do his body good. Skill level wise he should be a class above anything in the Q Cup.

 

[Lord of the Skraelings]

His looking pretty fit aswell. He will be a class above q cup if his hamstrings hold up and he gets game time. Good luck to him.

Class above? Hasn't played in 4 years.

Sorry but either he'll be to slow or his hammy's will give up the ghost he'll be lucky to see round 1 in QLD cup.

 

[mozza]

Class above? Hasn't played in 4 years.

Sorry but either he'll be to slow or his hammy's will give up the ghost he'll be lucky to see round 1 in QLD cup.

There’s nobody in the Q Cup that would have half of his talent. Hence why they are playing Q Cup. If his body is ok he’ll absolutely brain it.

 

[Billy]

His end game is probably to get an ESL contract.
5 good games and he'll get one.

 

[TheBatman]

His end game is probably to get an ESL contract.
5 good games and he'll get one.

I'd be very surprised if he got a visa with his drug record, Billy. Don't necessarily disagree with you but I can't see it happening.

 

[Lord of the Skraelings]

There’s nobody in the Q Cup that would have half of his talent. Hence why they are playing Q Cup. If his body is ok he’ll absolutely brain it.

What a load of rubbish tonnes of stars come out of there and his coming in off 4 years off and couldn't get fit when 4 years younger. Have another can.

 

[EASBay17]

What a load of rubbish tonnes of stars come out of there and his coming in off 4 years off and couldn't get fit when 4 years younger. Have another can.

his obviously shown something though. you dont just go sign up for q cup, they must think he will offer something at that level

 

[Billy]

https://www.newcastleknights.com.au...-ponga-pencilled-in-but-replacements-aplenty/

Depth chart for fullback.
Lists our options in order
1 Ponga
2 Hoy
3 Watson
4 To'a
5 Hodgson
6 Sasagi

I think Mann and Best would both like to see themselves on that list as well. I'd have Mann at number 3 ahead of Watson. I thought he was the closest thing to Ponga in style we had last year.

 

[Billy]

"Simi Sasagi
He may be more at home in the halves, but young Sasagi is as versatile as he is talented.

The young gun scored four tries in the first 35 minutes of his Jersey Flegg debut, and spent plenty of time training at the back last season."

From the above article.
I feel like I know nothing about Sasagi.
I thought they had him pencilled in as a wing or centre - but training as a half or fullback according to that.
If they name him at prop for his first game, I won't be surprized.

 

[Billy]

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...t-for-his-career-after-contract-snub/?cs=7580

Article about Randall.
Says he was close to signing a top 30 deal after his debut but covid put it on hold.
Says he was disappointed to only get another development contract this year and thought about going back to Lakes.
Says he is doing his best to reach his potential this year.

 

[Lord of the Skraelings]

When nuffy players moan and cry about what they get if I was the club I'd pull any offer they have.

If he was good enough someone else would have come knocking.

 

[Billy]

When nuffy players moan and cry about what they get if I was the club I'd pull any offer they have.

If he was good enough someone else would have come knocking.

No one has put in more effort than him.
99% of players would have pulled the pin and gone back to the local comp 4 or 5 times if they were him.
He isn't whinging - he is saying he had to think about whether he should keep putting in the effort.
He could make more money playing for Lakes and stacking shelves at Coles for a fraction of the effort.

 

[Frank McWilliams]

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...t-for-his-career-after-contract-snub/?cs=7580

Article about Randall.
Says he was close to signing a top 30 deal after his debut but covid put it on hold.
Says he was disappointed to only get another development contract this year and thought about going back to Lakes.
Says he is doing his best to reach his potential this year.

Like the info you bring in, always interesting, makes for conversation during out of season, tks

 

[EASBay17]

No one has put in more effort than him.
99% of players would have pulled the pin and gone back to the local comp 4 or 5 times if they were him.
He isn't whinging - he is saying he had to think about whether he should keep putting in the effort.
He could make more money playing for Lakes and stacking shelves at Coles for a fraction of the effort.

lakes are broke mate, they arent paying players like they used to in the 90s and early 2000s.

 

[Lord of the Skraelings]

No one has put in more effort than him.

Everyone loves a battler, no doubt.

 

[daniels]

Its very hard when you have two utilities that don't really have another position that are pretty good at hooker to justify him a spot in the top 30, but with our luck at hooker, we will probably end up needing him and could end up taking the last spot anyway.