2025 pre season thread

Think everyone is accounted for based on that opening video of them taking off from the try line. In order: Aoake, De Courcey, Su’a, Thompson, Hopwood, Greacen, Smith, Loza, Salesa-Leaumoana, Manuleleua, McEwen, Linnane, Sutton, McCarthy, Hilliar, Arthur, Votano, Annan.

That’s 6 top 30 players (Su’a, Hopwood, Manuleleua, McEwen, Arthur, Annan) and 12 juniors/development players. No sign of any train and trial recruits so far.
 
From that footage, I hadn't realised how much Jack Hilliar has grown. I knew he was bigger this year than the about 6 foot chunky forward he was in 2023, but he is only an inch or two shorter than Sua and Hopwood - so 6'4" maybe, and at 18, he'll probably grow a bit more. They all tower over Tyrone, who is supposed to be a little bit taller than Leo.
 
Hilliar, Sua, Thompson
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What’s this graecen like did he play cup last year or mainly for central got that Brodie jones build going on looks very powerful
 
What’s this graecen like did he play cup last year or mainly for central got that Brodie jones build going on looks very powerful
I went through his games in cup.
He got 10 minutes off the bench in round 7 and didn't get another game till round 11 where he got 35 minutes off the bench.
3 or 4 more games off the bench and from about round 16 he was mostly starting 2nd row or prop and played 80 in several games. He was getting between 30 and 50 fantasy points and looking very good when we went on that winning streak towards the end of the year. He ran for over 100 metres most games.
In short, joined the team about when Jed Cartwright left and got better and better as the season went on. He was one of our best by the end of the season.

Round 7 - 8 minutes - 5 fantasy points - bench

Round 11 - 35 minutes - 19 fantasy points - bench

Round 14 - 45 minutes - 35 fantasy points - lock
Round 15 - 54 minutes - 38 fantasy points - lock
Round 16 - 24 minutes - 23 fantasy points - bench
Round 17 - 57 minutes - 53 fantasy points - prop
Round 18 - 57 minutes - 45 fantasy points - bench
Round 19 - 80 minutes - 43 fantasy points - 2nd row
Round 20 - 80 minutes - 59 fantasy points - 2nd row
BYE
Round 22 - 51 minutes - 45 fantasy points - bench
Round 23 - 80 minutes - 37 fantasy points - 2nd row
Round 24 - 80 minutes - 47 fantasy points - 2nd row
Round 25 - 39 minutes - 23 fantasy points - 2nd row
Round 26 - 80 minutes - 29 fantasy points - 2nd row
 
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Article on the young squad.
Make the point that O'Brien has debuted 9 guys under 21 in the last 2 years after they have done well in pre-season (Fletcher Sharpe, Tom Cant, Will Pryce, Oryn Keeley, Krystian Mapapalangi, Riley Jones, Kyle McCarthy, Ryan Rivett and Sebastian Su'a) and also 22 year old Lucas and 23 year old Armstrong.
Quotes Malachi Smith about his future hopes etc and names many of the SG Ball players who are doing their first pre-season.
 
Will Pryce, Riley Jones, Jackson Hastings, Tom Cant among the new (returning) faces at training this week, so presumably this group is the players who finished the season in reserve grade. First thought was Paul Bryan in the background of this but on closer look I think it's Matt Arthur.

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I love how Bloke podcast has been praising Gutho for playing through injuries simply just to avoid the spoon (they came 3rd last anyway). Zero criticism of Parra or coaching staff for playing him through it, yet they ripped AOB apart for playing Best. I understand that they are different injuries, but Gutho apparently played with broken ribs and a torn quad.
 
I love how Bloke podcast has been praising Gutho for playing through injuries simply just to avoid the spoon (they came 3rd last anyway). Zero criticism of Parra or coaching staff for playing him through it, yet they ripped AOB apart for playing Best. I understand that they are different injuries, but Gutho apparently played with broken ribs and a torn quad.
Yeah bloke poddy was going to be my readeres digest this off season, but can already earmark them as writing off Newie and if we lose Leo, the'y be sprouting what's going on up there, no-one wants to play as you don't know if you'll have spot". "serious issue up in Newcastle right now".

Can hear it all now.
 
Yeah bloke poddy was going to be my readeres digest this off season, but can already earmark them as writing off Newie and if we lose Leo, the'y be sprouting what's going on up there, no-one wants to play as you don't know if you'll have spot". "serious issue up in Newcastle right now".

Can hear it all now.
haha they've already been saying that before we've even lost Leo.
 
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