NRL Round 25 - Knights Vs Sea Eagles - 3:00pm Saturday, 22nd of August - McDonald Jones Stadium

[jamesgould]

Our second to last game of the regular season, and it's a huge one in terms of our final position on the table! The Sea Eagles went down in a big way to the Dolphins at home this round, and that all but rules them out of the top eight. We should be desperate to hold onto the 5/6 spot for a home final in week one ... how do you see it going?

 

[Lefty]

It’s also Old Boys Day, which should help motivate the boys.

 

[Lynchyknight]

Crossland and McEwen off late.. any worries there?

 

[Macca89]

Crossland was probably receiving a well earned rest. I’d say the same for McEwen as they both have come back from tightness/injuries

 

[ImissVuna]

Be nice to see closer to full strength next week. I think we looked a little tired today, don’t get me wrong great win but be great to have experience back in Best and J Saf

 

[Frank McWilliams]

Changes to starting 17, Gags inj or rested Hunt or Winter in, Best in, Graham in Cant to ext bench, JSaf in Crouch to Cup.
Worries re Manu and McEwen, injuries?

 

[101k]

Still a slight chance for a top 4 if we win our last two games, dolphins lose one by a big margin or they lose two and sharks lose one.

 

[R_A]

Hopefully we can get through one game against Manly without a brutal injury toll please, and thank you.

 

[Junior]

Can’t wait to have JSaf return, would love to see it off the bench… Also think that Crouch is starting to look better than Hopwood and provide more of an impact, my team would be as follows if all fit:
1 Ponga
2 Marz
3 Best
4 Gags (Hunt if not fit)
5 Young
6 Sharpe
7 Smith
8 Friz
9 Crossy
10 Mooney
11 Manu
12 McEwen
13 Crokes

14 Graham
15 J Saf
16 Crouch
17 ESL (think he deserves a call back and will only be more determined after being leapfrogged by Manu & Cant… Also has a higher ceiling than Cant)
18 Saulo
19 Hunt (Winter if Gags isn’t fit)

 

[Hugh]

I feel like Hopwood needs to stay in the team now. His ability to ball play and get quick play the balls is pretty good and I would have to think he will get better at making metres as time goes on. No knock on Crouch but I just think Hopwood has a higher skill ceiling.

 

[Billy]

Don't like to dump on Saulo because he has always given everything, but fully fit Crouch and Hopwood are both better than Saulo who is coming back from a long injury layoff and hasn't got on the field yet.
Saulo would benefit from at least one game of reserve grade for long minutes if we need him for the the finals as well.

 

[mullenmagic]

I’d say Saifiti will be eased back off the bench for at least this week, possibly next, but should be starting again by the finals.

Full strength at this stage is probably:

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

14. Graham
15. Frizell
16. Hopwood
17. Cant
18. Hunt
19. Crouch / Saulo

 

[Treadly]

Yep Saulo gave the young bucks a chance while he was injured. He is great at the little things, especially keeping the ruck tidy, but he needs to show better form than Crouch to get back in.
I would only rotate Hops out if he really needs a week off, but with 2 games to go then the bye, i dont think we can afford to.

 

[EASBay17]

Heard this morning that tommy T will be named for manly also

 

[frankLauda]

Still not concerned. Having Best and Jsaf back a big in’s for us.

 

[R_A]

They need a lot of luck to go their way to make the 8 (if they lose this weekend they're out) but surprised they're not shutting down Tommy with his injuries and the potential risk of another one.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Heard this morning that tommy T will be named for manly also

Advantage us

 

[KPGreatness]

Yeah I’d have Hopwood in the team still, his potential ceiling is still miles ahead of Crouch whilst being 3 years younger. Hopwood has been hitting 100 metres in a few games here and there and has successfully handled the likes of Whyte, Tapine, Haas and Tino. I like Crouch a lot and was campaigning for his debut last year and earlier this year and I see him as a bench prop next year. But Hopwood has to stay in the side at the moment

 

[nunnsy]

Don't like to dump on Saulo because he has always given everything, but fully fit Crouch and Hopwood are both better than Saulo who is coming back from a long injury layoff and hasn't got on the field yet.
Saulo would benefit from at least one game of reserve grade for long minutes if we need him for the the finals as well.

Saulo was sitting on the bench right in front of me at the game on the weekend. I was suprised how big he is he seems to get bent back a lot on the field for his size. Looking at him he looks like he should be our most intimidating forward .

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Yeah I’d have Hopwood in the team still, his potential ceiling is still miles ahead of Crouch whilst being 3 years younger. Hopwood has been hitting 100 metres in a few games here and there and has successfully handled the likes of Whyte, Tapine, Haas and Tino. I like Crouch a lot and was campaigning for his debut last year and earlier this year and I see him as a bench prop next year. But Hopwood has to stay in the side at the moment

Yeah I reckon Crouch is further along in terms of developing into the player he's going to be too, so I don't think it makes as much difference if he plays or not. He's gonna be a very solid Josh King style prop, and I know Josh has been a starter on two grand finalists, but low key I reckon Josh King being a starting prop on those sides had something to do with why they couldn't win.

Cody just has these natural tools which allow him to impact games more even if he's still very raw and his performances have been a bit up and down. Can't teach having that Tino-esque physique he has, which makes it so hard to get to grips with him.