Biggest improver in 2027 poll
- Thread starter Billy
- Start date
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Francis and it isn't even close, first crack gassed after 5 minutes, at peak dominating opposition forwards for 80 mins.
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Cody is the most likely to improve a lot on 2026 after another pre-season and more physical maturing. Francis was so good over the 10 or so games in a row he got to end the season that it'd be hard to go much better.
Matty James
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I’d say in order:
1. Hopwood
2. Crouch
3. Manuleleua (pending if he’s second row or switched to lock)
Cody played above his weight in a lot of games and he’s still growing into his body which is crazy. Crouch is that toiler type of forward who won’t ever be flashy but will always consistently do the job required of him and big Frank is only going to get better with another off-season and potential change of positions depending on Holbrook’s decision around Lucas/McEwen/Croker etc.
I’m very excited to see how our forwards progress once we’re back at full strength.
1. Hopwood
2. Crouch
3. Manuleleua (pending if he’s second row or switched to lock)
Cody played above his weight in a lot of games and he’s still growing into his body which is crazy. Crouch is that toiler type of forward who won’t ever be flashy but will always consistently do the job required of him and big Frank is only going to get better with another off-season and potential change of positions depending on Holbrook’s decision around Lucas/McEwen/Croker etc.
I’m very excited to see how our forwards progress once we’re back at full strength.
It makes sense it’s Hopwood Crouch and Manu but they’ve improved immensely in the second half of season so my expectation is that they continue that. To improve on that means Hopwood is Origin for example. On a statistical sense - it’s virtually impossible to be most improved over 2 straight years (see NBA). Was Manu this year’s? So on a technicality he can’t be next year.
Whereas Hunt, I think he has the chance to be MOST improved if he takes the 3 spot and plays each week.
Wouldn’t rule out Sandon too
Whereas Hunt, I think he has the chance to be MOST improved if he takes the 3 spot and plays each week.
Wouldn’t rule out Sandon too
slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Winter if he gets the centre spot.
frankLauda
Matthew Gidley
Yeah I miss-read also. I said Manu but for this year. I’m not sure if he will improve, as much as he did this year. I think Hopwood, maybe Winter bursts on to the scene.
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Billy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Hopwood - needs to improve his strength so he can get back to offloading. His stats say he only offloaded 5 times in 2026, although I'm sure he did more. In contrast, he probably averaged 5 a game in juniors and I think the Aus schoolboys game against PNG he would have done a dozen offloads or more. His offloads are not just dropping the ball out the back and hoping - he holds off defenders with one arm and delivers a good pass with the other one.
Manuleleua - he needs to just get fit enough to deliver his brand of footy for 80 minutes. The big hits, the quality passing, the barnstorming runs, I'd love to see the charge down happen in firstgrade - just get fit enough to do it all more often.
Crouch - You could say he's always been the big dog who won't take a backward step in the Josh King mould - nothing flashy - just keeps going forward - he just needs to add more minutes.
Winter - gets bigger every time I see him and has lost none of his speed or elusiveness - he's a kid who is growing before our eyes and has the natural skill you see in Aboriginal players from Anthony Mundine to the Ella brothers to Josh Addo-Carr and any number of others.
McEwen - Missed tackles is the stat that doesn't look good, but I think he's one of those guys who tries to make tackles that aren't his to make, so he gets a missed tackle while slowing someone down enough for someone else to tackle.
Graham - In 2026 I was very surprised by how well he went, possibly because I never saw him play juniors or lower grades. I hope he has more tricks to show us in 2027.
Hunt - we all know he has been on a steep learning curve and mixes outstanding games with a handful of shockers. He just needs to get a position and become consistent over the season and he might be one of our best.
McCarthy - If he can bulk up and get a spot in the forward rotation he could have a breakout year.
Hagan - a real student of the game and a livewire dummy half. Holbrook and Bedsy could turn him into an elite dummy half over the pre-season.
Nonu - Went from a guy who looked green as grass in the first game of SG Ball to steadily develop new skills every game and score a mass of tries in Ball, Flegg and Reserve Grade across the season. i think he was the top tryscorer across all grades for the Knights last year and was one of our best in reserve grade by the end of the year, without ever having a firstgrade pre-season. God knows what his ceiling is. He already looks better than Dom did at 19.
Manuleleua - he needs to just get fit enough to deliver his brand of footy for 80 minutes. The big hits, the quality passing, the barnstorming runs, I'd love to see the charge down happen in firstgrade - just get fit enough to do it all more often.
Crouch - You could say he's always been the big dog who won't take a backward step in the Josh King mould - nothing flashy - just keeps going forward - he just needs to add more minutes.
Winter - gets bigger every time I see him and has lost none of his speed or elusiveness - he's a kid who is growing before our eyes and has the natural skill you see in Aboriginal players from Anthony Mundine to the Ella brothers to Josh Addo-Carr and any number of others.
McEwen - Missed tackles is the stat that doesn't look good, but I think he's one of those guys who tries to make tackles that aren't his to make, so he gets a missed tackle while slowing someone down enough for someone else to tackle.
Graham - In 2026 I was very surprised by how well he went, possibly because I never saw him play juniors or lower grades. I hope he has more tricks to show us in 2027.
Hunt - we all know he has been on a steep learning curve and mixes outstanding games with a handful of shockers. He just needs to get a position and become consistent over the season and he might be one of our best.
McCarthy - If he can bulk up and get a spot in the forward rotation he could have a breakout year.
Hagan - a real student of the game and a livewire dummy half. Holbrook and Bedsy could turn him into an elite dummy half over the pre-season.
Nonu - Went from a guy who looked green as grass in the first game of SG Ball to steadily develop new skills every game and score a mass of tries in Ball, Flegg and Reserve Grade across the season. i think he was the top tryscorer across all grades for the Knights last year and was one of our best in reserve grade by the end of the year, without ever having a firstgrade pre-season. God knows what his ceiling is. He already looks better than Dom did at 19.
May not be the biggest improver IN the squad but could prove to be the biggest improver OF the squad