Current forward pack next year
- Thread starter Grandpa Joe
- Start date
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Given Francis is both older than Jermaine and notably worse, yeah that’d be a big deal if he forced Jermaine to the bench.
Les Misérables
Sean Rudder
Haha this is the biggest rev up. I feel like im there on GF day
slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
X-Factor is a special for Clive Churchill
Les Misérables
Sean Rudder
Have a feeling this is a post that may not age well...
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Nice one to be wrong about though hahaha. Good problem to have.
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
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.
mullenmagic
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
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.
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.
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
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.
But yeah Friz also still looks like exactly the same player he was in 2024 let alone this season.
slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
By a fair bit (as a middle, anyway)
Billy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
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.
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
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....
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
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....
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
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.
Les Misérables
Sean Rudder
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.
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.
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.