Lachlan Crouch discussion

Celticman98

Celticman98

Mark Hughes
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Knight #372
Knights debut: vs Dolphins Round 18
 
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He isn't a Cody Hopwood level prospect.
He's 3 years older than Hopwood and doesn't have the offloading skills, speed etc of Hopwood.
But all through the grades he has had a big motor, has put his hand up for the hard runs, made very few mistakes and gives away very few penalties.
If our starting middles in a few years are 3 guys from Maitland, Hopwood, Crouch and Cant, Hopwood will be the star, but the other 2 won't let anyone down.
 
He found his front near every carry. 2 of which resulted in quick play the balls that lead to linebreaks on the next play from memory. One was the one where friz went through and gave the horrible offload and another one in the second half. if we are fully fit bar Psami later in the year id be tempted to play him ahead of hopwood, one game is probably abit quick to really say that but i thought he was fantastic.
 
He looked good! Didn't look like a first gamer at all and I can see from his NSW Cup games, that statistically at least he was beating down the door like Mooney at Canberra. Looks like a more athletic Josh King.

All of a sudden it looks like there's a strong prop rotation emerging. JSaf - Mooney - Hopwood - Crouch.
 
EASBay17 said:
He found his front near every carry. 2 of which resulted in quick play the balls that lead to linebreaks on the next play from memory. One was the one where friz went through and gave the horrible offload and another one in the second half. if we are fully fit bar Psami later in the year id be tempted to play him ahead of hopwood, one game is probably abit quick to really say that but i thought he was fantastic.
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I’d play Crouch and Hopwood over Saulo, just don’t see what he offers that Hopwood doesn’t. Hopwood is tall, big and can get offloads away, he is a very good defender with a big motor, he also adds more metres.

Saulo can be depth with Hola
 
He does have some ballplaying skills too, more before the line then through it, but definitely there.
 
KPGreatness said:
I’d play Crouch and Hopwood over Saulo, just don’t see what he offers that Hopwood doesn’t. Hopwood is tall, big and can get offloads away, he is a very good defender with a big motor, he also adds more metres.

Saulo can be depth with Hola
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They both have an opportunity now to demand not to be dropped. I can see them both taking it.
 
Crouch is a few months older than Mooney, he looked very solid. That's the benefit of plying his trade against men in reserve grade for a few years. Looks like he could step up and put himself in the conversation of being a team regular.
 
KPGreatness said:
I’d play Crouch and Hopwood over Saulo, just don’t see what he offers that Hopwood doesn’t. Hopwood is tall, big and can get offloads away, he is a very good defender with a big motor, he also adds more metres.

Saulo can be depth with Hola
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Saulo has had alot of effort plays. Still think he's solid depth for the middle rotation.
 
frankLauda said:
Loved this. Could these two be our future Fish and Leota? Things are looking rosey for the foreseeable future of the Knights. Finally!
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I really think we should include Jack Hilliar in our future prop mix.

People forget that Hilliar was generally rated ahead of Hopwood at under 16s level. Both of them made rep sides right up to NSW under 19s in 2025.

Hilliar was supposed to be on a development deal with us in 2026, but something happened mid last year and he suddenly left to join Canterbury. I don't know if POS didn't rate him, or if Canterbury made him a better offer, or something else, but I think injuries ended his time at Canterbury.

He didn't do a pre-season with us this year, and maybe injuries meant he didn't do any pre-season, because he joined Flegg well into the season, looking pretty unfit.

He has since got a lot of fitness back and is our main prop in Flegg and is probably not far off reserve grade.

He is a very different type of prop or lock to Hopwood and Crouch. He is a genuine playmaking forward with vision and passing skills that he uses to pass at the line for regular try assists - most often in Matts and Ball for Votano to score.
 
Billy said:
I really think we should include Jack Hilliar in our future prop mix.

People forget that Hilliar was generally rated ahead of Hopwood at under 16s level. Both of them made rep sides right up to NSW under 19s in 2025.

Hilliar was supposed to be on a development deal with us in 2026, but something happened mid last year and he suddenly left to join Canterbury. I don't know if POS didn't rate him, or if Canterbury made him a better offer, or something else, but I think injuries ended his time at Canterbury.

He didn't do a pre-season with us this year, and maybe injuries meant he didn't do any pre-season, because he joined Flegg well into the season, looking pretty unfit.

He has since got a lot of fitness back and is our main prop in Flegg and is probably not far off reserve grade.

He is a very different type of prop or lock to Hopwood and Crouch. He is a genuine playmaking forward with vision and passing skills that he uses to pass at the line for regular try assists - most often in Matts and Ball for Votano to score.
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Agreed with Hiller, though I’d like to see him in Cup soon because he is a monster in flegg
 
Thought he showed some balls on the weekend.
Head to head with Keon in his second game and didn't take a backward step. Was targeted after that also.
16mins, 44m, 16tks, 0 missed.
IMO he will be an important player for us in the future.

Hopefully we can keep Frizz for next year and then the year after Crouch will hopefully be able to replace his input.
 
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