NRL Round 11 - Knights Vs Eels - 6:00pm Friday 16 May - McDonald Jones Stadium

POS wouldn’t be panicking now. He’ll be panicking if DylBro stinks it up for us.

The club kind of knows we had a roster that can’t do much better than sneak into the finals then lose, we’re clinging on to players one injury from retirement to get there, and in 2025 we have an absolutely ****ed cap.

He was signed on massive money to diagnose what’s holding us back and change things accordingly, as well as - tinfoil hat time - be the face & pain sponge for any tough decisions they think may need to be made around good and bad cultural pieces at the club.

He thinks we’re not athletic & talented enough.

He thinks our halves suck.

He thinks we’ve over-invested in certain middling/low impact players.

He thinks we’re failing to find opportunities to save money in the cap which can then be re-invested in difference-making talent.

Every move he’s made reflects this IMO.
 
What’re the rules of NSW Cup? Theoretically, with Cogger no longer named, could we swap Gamble and Cogger closer to match day?

Curious if Cogger appearing on the Cup team list was an NSWRL admin error, if we submitted our draft teamsheet by accident or if the plan is to last minute Gamble into FG and Cogger to NSW Cup.
 
Yes, one day Can’t May be able to do what Billy Pedan did for the Knights.

The game isn’t the same as when Pedan played though. Not even close. Crossland also has the “hard working but lacking talent” position locked up.

In the modern game it’s almost essential for a 13 to be able to ball play now. If Cant has any hope of being a consistent first grader he really needs to work on his ball playing in hopes of becoming a ball playing lock in say the Kurt Mann role. Unfortunately for him I think it’s that or nothing. He’s simply too small for any other position.
 
Compared to the Dragons they've had a decent crop of young forwards debut this year and actually look ready for NRL in Egan, Stewart and that big prop debuted on the weekend along with Toby Couchman has been good this year. Finau Latu another handy youngster but off to Canterbury next year.

I'm not convinced with Cant as a first grader still while he tries hard, there's limitations with him.

McEwen talented but raw and needs more time in reggies.

Hopwood I have no doubt will eventually make his debut in the NRL but not yet. Needs more time to develop in reggies.

Tyrone was brought in too soon due to injuries and haven't seen enough of Bryan to comment.

Lucas and Leo are the only younger forwards who have stepped here in recent years.

That’s a good point about the young Dragons forwards, I’d throw the Roosters in there too.

Seems like the club has overrated a lot of our young forwards though. Realistically of those lingering around the first grade squad, if we’re lucky maybe 1-2 will push on and be genuine consistent first graders. Realistically though we need about 4 to do it yesterday and I don’t see how we fill that gap unless POS has something up his sleeve .
 
What’re the rules of NSW Cup? Theoretically, with Cogger no longer named, could we swap Gamble and Cogger closer to match day?

Curious if Cogger appearing on the Cup team list was an NSWRL admin error, if we submitted our draft teamsheet by accident or if the plan is to last minute Gamble into FG and Cogger to NSW Cup.

AFAIK if they are not named in the NRL squad on Tuesday, have to get special permission from the NRL to bring them in.
 
Gamble is in the 22 man squad - he can play if we want
was more curious if Cogger would be able to play NSW Cup?

Edit: as in, with NRL, you must be in the named squad or get special dispensation from NRL.

If Cogger isn’t in the 18 man squad named in cup, is he eligible to play this week.

To the point - is there a chance we get Gamble into NRL (he’s named in squad so sweet) and push Cogger back to Cup (he’s not named in cup, so curious if he’d be able to play)
 
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AOB promising changes and then only making forced changes are very AOB areas. Surprised he's put Fletcher Hunt on debut up against Zac Lomax auditioning for an Origin win spot. Not that he has a lot of options, but a big ask for any kid.

How Jack Cogger is in the side is beyond me.
 
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AOB promising changes and then only making forced changes are very AOB areas. Surprised he's put Fletcher Hunt on debut up against Zac Lomax audition for an Origin win spot. Not that he has a lot of options, but a big ask for any kid.

How Jack Cogger is in the side is beyond me.
This was probably my biggest disappointment.

Talked big about ringing in the changes. Only
Changes are forced by injury. You could argue he may have been referencing Marzhew as a player likely to be dropped.

At least we’ve played 2.5 games of good footy, I guess.
 
It is two-fold. I imagine the reserve grade guys were told perform and there’s a spot for you in first grade next week and they were pretty underwhelming. The game hasn’t kicked off yet, I bet if Hetherington gets through training he will come in and also imagine Gamble will play.
 
Yeah, I can't see Hetherington as a good choice for 18th man as he only really covers prop, so I did wonder if that was the plan.
 
It is two-fold. I imagine the reserve grade guys were told perform and there’s a spot for you in first grade next week and they were pretty underwhelming. The game hasn’t kicked off yet, I bet if Hetherington gets through training he will come in and also imagine Gamble will play.

Perhaps the cup players know AOB is zero chance of making a change so lack motivation.
 
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