2025 pre season thread

Defence wins games said:
Wow Billy, Hunt really looks like he has it all in attack. What is he like on the other side of the ball?
He needs to be a good defender like Ethan Strange(Raiders) who is a great package for a 19 year old.
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From what i saw Ethan Strange missed a million tackles and was constantly run over.
 
jamesgould said:
It's Marzhew, by the way.
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Another name that gets said wrong all the time is Crosslands with the “S” on the end. I let it slide but it’s really really hard… till now obviously. 🤣
 
MBQLD said:
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Another name that gets said wrong all the time is Crosslands with the “S” on the end. I let it slide but it’s really really hard… till now obviously. 🤣
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I remember Braith Anasta used to always say Jarrod Mullens on tv, we tagged him about it using the Marathon Stadium instagram at the time and he replied apologising mid-broadcast. 😅
 
www.newcastleherald.com.au

Regained confidence has Mitch Black open to 'exploring higher levels' again

Souths hooker was named NEWRL player of the year for 2024.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article about Mitch Black, saying the Newcastle player of the year has regained confidence and is keen to play at higher levels.
Says he had a top 30 Knights contract in 2021 but things happened and he lost confidence. He only played 1 reserve grade game I think - injured all year.
He made all the teams as a junior - NSW at every level - Aus schoolboys.
Mat Croker's cousin.
I don't know if we need another hooker, but he'd only be 22 or 23 and was easily the best hooker of his generation coming through the juniors.
Worth a train and trial deal.
 
Sheent14 said:
From what i saw Ethan Strange missed a million tackles and was constantly run over.
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Ethan Strange did miss a few tackles, but made more of the ones that counted. I think 87 percent effective tackles is a good result for a young guy playing in traffic like he did this year. He will only get better and will play SOO in the near future.
 
Defence wins games said:
Ethan Strange did miss a few tackles, but made more of the ones that counted. I think 87 percent effective tackles is a good result for a young guy playing in traffic like he did this year. He will only get better and will play SOO in the near future.
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Needs a good preseason to really judge him. Properly first year playing consistent first grade
 
So Penrith are still the team to beat in 2025. Once again they have worked the opposition in to submission turning the ball inside over and over again. I think that is something we can emulate, especially if we go for a more mobile 5/8 who can challenge the forwards with footwork. The other thing is dealing with Penrith when we play them. I think it calls for a selection specifically for that game of a lighter weight forward pack, maybe interchanging hookers if we aren't already and using a lighter, workhorse 13 like a Cant even if he hasn't been playing regularly.
 
Up to date squads according to NRL, Zero Tackle & Newcastle Herald:

Confirmed NRL Squad:
  1. Taj Annan
  2. Matt Arthur
  3. Bradman Best
  4. Jayden Brailey
  5. Paul Bryan
  6. Thomas Cant
  7. Jack Cogger
  8. Mat Croker
  9. Phoenix Crossland
  10. Adam Elliott
  11. Tyson Frizell
  12. Dane Gagai
  13. Tyson Gamble
  14. Jackson Hastings
  15. Jack Hetherington
  16. Cody Hopwood
  17. Riley Jones
  18. Dylan Lucas
  19. Francis Manuleleua
  20. Greg Marzhew
  21. Jermaine McEwen
  22. Kai Pearce-Paul
  23. Kalyn Ponga
  24. Will Pryce
  25. Jacob Saifiti
  26. James Schiller
  27. Fletcher Sharpe
  28. Sebastian Su’a
  29. Leo Thompson
Confirmed Development Players:
  1. Wilson De Courcey
  2. Tyrone Thompson
  3. Connor Votano


 
If Tyson Frizell stays as a front row rotation we'd have Jsaf/Leo starting. Frizell/Hethro bench with likes of Zeb Sua/Matt Croker/Tyrone Thompson/Paul Bryan as back ups.

To me we either need to re-signs Jones for 2 years/hope Tyrone thompson goes as good if not better than Leo. Or we sign an a beast junior to match it with Zeb.

No garauntees on Bryan and Thompson, but I have faith in them being able to do job if Frizz got called into Backrow/injuries to rotation. I'd be much comfier if we resigned Jones, but to do that we need to move on 1-2 players with still the hope of getting Pezet early.
 
alexwilliams said:
So all that **** he copped from Murdoch media, NRL officials and even the Australian coach was for absolutely nothing... Ridiculous.
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Don't you think Ponga and Mal might have had a chat about it after the blow up and Mal said he won't pick him?

The stuff he copped wasn't for nothing, Ponga would have likely been picked if he made himself available from the outset.
 
Think final spot is saved for a 7, though sounds like Pezet is unlikely.
I am a Jones fan, not a great player but a very good bench or Cup player, think his only chance of a signing is if the likes of Hastings or Brailey is moved on
 
I am fairly convinced they wouldn't have sorted the Crokes extension and got themselves down to 1 slot remaining if they weren't quite confident of moving someone else on. There's still a need for an outside back too, not enough depth.
 
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