Naiqama looking to build on last year's form

[Joshhh]

Naiqama looking to build on last year’s form
www.newcastleknights.com.au
7/02/2012 5:17:37 PM




After tearing his tricep towards the end of last season, Wes Naiqama is eager to get back out on the field on Saturday when the Knights travel to to Port Macquarie for their first trial match against the Penrith Panthers.

“I haven’t played since Round 20 last year so it has been a while and I am ready to go,” Naiqama said after Knights training on Tuesday.

“The off-season allowed me to recover from surgery and I came back on the first day of the pre-season.

“Since Wayne (Bennett) has arrived the boys have all really jumped on board and the quality of training has picked up so while it has been tough we are really looking forward to getting out there this weekend.”

Before being struck down by injury, the 29-year-old centre was playing some of the best football of his career and is hoping to further build on that this year.

“My aim is to play consistently and be picked the 17 as a centre,” he explained.

“There is some tight competition amongst us centres with Junior (Sa’u), Likiliki (Siuatonga) and Timana (Tahu) all quality players.

“I have to focus on putting my best foot forward during our two trial games and putting my hand up to be picked for round 1.”

To purchase tickets for the Knights trial against Panthers on Saturday, click here.

http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/...=naiqama-looking-to-build-on-last-year’s-form
​

 

[Ms.Nobody]

He has gotten better as time has gone on here, and better with age. I think he has really matured.

Time will tell if he plays all year.

 

[jamesgould]

I'm expecting big things from him this year. He's truely developed into a centre since he's been here too ... remember at the Dragons he was always a winger. That transition even took MacDougall about 6 months to perfect.

 

[hunting140]

Notice how he didnt mention mckinnon as a contender, shame considering i dont think he will see time in the forwards.

 

[(.)(.)]

If Wes can build on his form from last year the guy will have a monster season! He was playing some quality football before his injury IMO.

---------- Post added at 11:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 PM ----------

Notice how he didnt mention mckinnon as a contender, shame considering i dont think he will see time in the forwards.

I disagree. I think the guy's future lies in the backrow somewhere, just as he played in NYC. Also he played second row in the 1st trial.

 

[Joshhh]

Notice how he didnt mention mckinnon as a contender, shame considering i dont think he will see time in the forwards.

Well in an article it said he had beefed up & was preparing to move to the second-row permanently. The fact that he's played under Bennett before i think would be a good thing in McKinnon's favour, means Bennett knows more about McKinnon than others & might get a run over other juniors at this point.

He's pretty big too, something like 190cms & 100kgs, so i wouldn't think he's too small for the forwards either.

 

[~knightsgirljess~]

wes looked great at oz tag He looks fit And firing, i didnt realise How big he was untill the other night. He is also a cheeky bugger my sister and him had a bit of a wipeout and i swear everyone held there breathe as he grabbed his knee, turned out he was joking. Em came off winded and noone really checked on her they just said dude be more careful next time lol

 

[laney]

Well in an article it said he had beefed up & was preparing to move to the second-row permanently. The fact that he's played under Bennett before i think would be a good thing in McKinnon's favour, means Bennett knows more about McKinnon than others & might get a run over other juniors at this point.

He's pretty big too, something like 190cms & 100kgs, so i wouldn't think he's too small for the forwards either.

I was standing next to McKinnon the other day at the trial at nelson bay and let me tell you he is a rather large lad and plenty big enough for the forwards ,but he would be a hard centre to contain .