Current forward pack next year

Billy said:
The forwards I'd like us to name for the grandfinal next year.

8 Mooney
9 Crossland
10 Hopwood
11 Lucas
12 Manuleleua
13 Croker

14 Hagan
15 JSaf
16 McEwen
17 Frizzel
18 Crouch
19 ESL
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Yeah I think Manulelua starting with McEwen coming on in the middle then moving to an edge to play the game out is likely the cleanest solution to how to fit them all in.

Starting a guy on the edge then moving him middle to bring on an impact edge is one of those things that sounds good in theory but in practice can be hard... and also one of the easiest ways to be an impact player in footy is as a middle forward. Plus Manu has shown himself very capable of imposing himself on a game in the early going.

Only thing I'd quibble with is that it might be asking a lot for Cody to start over Jacob in big games.

Also don't know how we keep Friz, it'll likely be Niukore in that spot.
 
Yeah if McEwen moves into the middle it’ll be tough to justify keeping Frizell.

8. Saifiti
9. Crossland
10. Mooney
11. Manuleleua
12. Lucas
13. Croker

14. Graham
15. Hopwood
16. McEwen
17. Niukore
18 & 19 halves/outside back cover

8. Crouch
9. Arthur/Hagan
10. Saulo
11. Salesa-Leaumoana
12. Kepaoa
13. Cant

14. Hola

Pretty good depth already, meanwhile assuming Hunt and Winter are both in the 19 we’ve got 3 depth outside backs and all have been tapped on the shoulder (McCarthy, Schiller and dev player Latu). Think that’s the area to look at for signings.
 
I can justify the Niukore thing because injuries are a constant in this game and he can cover prop, second row, lock and centre if needed. So he'll likely be in the team every week even if he's not in the best 17.

But yeah Friz also still looks like exactly the same player he was in 2024 let alone this season.
 
It will be an exciting pre-season for those young forwards.
We have White and Blair on staff to work with Hopwood, McEwen, Manuleleua, Crouch, ESL possibly Hilliar, Bates, Mulherin, Seuseu, maybe Kane Graham or Tom Perkins or Cooper Townsend and really, Mooney and Cant are still young and emerging.

That's the best pool of young forwards the club has ever had at one time, and White and Blair are still young enough to relate to them and even train alongside them.

Poor old JSaf and Friz - having that lot all trying to one up them every day for 3 months.
 
FWIW Zero Tackle * has Friz as our player the club should let walk at the end of the season.

www.zerotackle.com

The player every club should let walk at the end of 2026

If every club could send a player packing, who would it be?
www.zerotackle.com www.zerotackle.com

Agree with Harv that Marata adds versatility; he also adds a bit of mongrel. I also think that he'll have more opportunity here than at the Wahs currently, so hopefully he'll rise to that.

As to Friz, great player, great bloke, would love to see him stay involved with the Knights, but as to keeping him next year I'm of the same opinion I was with Gags...depends on who we have to miss out on/let go to keep him. Remember a couple of months ago Gags was a must sign for many...now it's bon voyage mate we've got Hunt.

Time catches everyone, and club > player always.

* I know Zero Tackle...*something*...*something*....shoot the messenger....
 
Seano said:
Agree with Harv that Marata adds versatility; he also adds a bit of mongrel. I also think that he'll have more opportunity here than at the Wahs currently, so hopefully he'll rise to that.
Click to expand...
My hope with this is that POS has identified him as in some way under-utilised & believes he can get way more out of him. Wouldn't be the first time he's looked at a guy and said he's playing the wrong position, and been right. It's possible he thinks Marata has a lot more to give if he transitions to lock forward or something.

But yeah based on the rationale given for the signing it kind of sounds like how clubs kept signing Kurt Capewell. Great culture guy who can play a bit.
 
Gagai turned 35 in Jan. Frizell will turn 35 this coming October and will playout next season as a 35 year old middle forward. If he is anything like Gagai, this current season may be the last of his form.

However, for a premiership push next year keeping Frizell is somewhat necessary, for depth, but also for leadership. And frankly, if he somehow maintains his form into next year then he is still in the top 3 best middles at the club imo. He is a first class middle forward.

Make no mistake the club loses a lot if it loses Frizell.
 
No doubt, but it's not a zero-sum decision.

We know we have limited room in the cap and few spots in the 30-man roster left. We will lose if he leaves, but we'll likely also lose if he stays. The club in the past has constantly got these decisions wrong; the worst example I can recall was letting Ben Kennedy go to sign Kurt Reynoldsen from Melbourne. Great bloke but no BK. Oh, and who can forget blowing our cap on the Trent Hodgkinson signing, another great bloke, but one no Sydney club would touch because of his knee.

But recently, I think because of Parr & POS (and now hopefully Holbrook), the club has been getting these calls right; IDK that we're really missing anyone we let go last season. So I'll support whatever they decide.

Edit: OH, another one I just remembered: re-signing Kade Snowen and him saying in the media straight after the signing something to the effect of that he was pleased to get the deal done despite his two clapped-out knees.
 
Reading the latest in this discussion and catching up what's been said, I think a lot of us are on the money. Now that Wil Sullivan has been medically retired, does that mean we still have a middle forward spot open in our top 30 for next year? If so that has to be Friz's, at the end of the day we need depth in the middle. We are going on a good run but those 3 close losses in the past month wouldn't be so close if we dint have the experience of Friz still in our pack IMO. I would even be open to releasing Hola if it meant we kept Friz for just 1 more year.

I think next year is our best chance at a prem window, and that will take a squad. Losing one 300 gamer in Gagai is one thing but losing a 2nd who is still in NRL level form and doing a job off the bench for us wouldn't be the move.

My 8-13 and forward depth: (Name Age|NRL Games)

8. J Saf 30|190
9. Crossland 26|127
10. Mooney 24|43
11. Manuleleau 22|8
12. Lucas 26|57
13. Croker 26|102

Forwards depth left (in order of NRL experience):
Friz 34|299
Niukore 30|166
Saulo 28|70
Kepaoa 26|42
Cant 24|34
McEwen 21|32
Hola 27|17
Hopwood 20|10
ESL 22|9
Crouch 23|4
 
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