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

I think all of our top 6 props, JSaf, Mooney, Frizell, Hopwood, Crouch and Saulo could be rotated/rested every so often.
Not every week as the top 2 need to play against the top sides if fit and uninjured it’s more to do with keeping them fresh but fit.
The likes of Hopwood, Crouch and Saulo could be rotated between Bench, ext Bench and Cup or rested, injuries of course would mean it had to be random.
 
Les Misérables said:
Hopwood is brilliant but if we want him playing beyond the age of 28 we should really be resting him at every opportunity at this age.

He's already locked in for infinity games as of next season moving forward.
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True but it’s hard because in my opinion our best team has Hopwood in it right now and that’s probably because of the lack of depth in the position but I’d say both Cody and Lachlan have jumped Saulo and if we go into games thinking “we have to win” than Saulo isn’t apart of that, so do we roll out a strong squad or deliberately weaken it just so burn out doesn’t take effect.

Unless you’re thinking Crouch stays in Hopwoods spot for the remainder of the year to which I’d be open to it

Moments like this I’m glad I’m not the coach.
 
I would have thought they wouldn't be starting him right now if they thought it likely it could seriously jeopardise his longevity. Sports science is pretty good these days.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
I would have thought they wouldn't be starting him right now if they thought it likely it could seriously jeopardise his longevity. Sports science is pretty good these days.
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Id keep playing him starting also, when he starts to get banged up rest him. But hes in the best place to be learning his craft, in a winning team with high spirits and others sharing the load, something the Saf's never had.
 
Hoppy to start as he hasn’t missed a beat since Saf went down. Potentially give Saf the start from NZ onwards though. Keep Hoppy on bench and a toss up for Saulo and Crouch. On has to miss presumably if everyone stays fit, both have also been brilliant for us which is a nice change.

Cup hanging for one of them to come back for finals.
 
Frank McWilliams said:
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?
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Fairly certain Best is out till finals isn’t he? Resting him to be ready for finals series. Can’t mess with calf injuries and his history.

Be surprised the play Gags this weekend with a tight hammy.
Hunt and Winter centres with McCarthy on interchange.
 
Kyle McCarthy is getting no love, but he is in career best form by a long way and should replace Best if he is out IMO.

McCarthy is averaging 46.6 fantasy points - he has averaged about 100 run metres a game in his previous 3 years in reserves and 140 metres this year - his tackle efficiency has been high 80s, this year low 90s (good for a centre).
He has had as many try assists and linebreaks this year in his 17 games as he had in his previous 41 games over 3 years combined.

McCarthy has activated his option to stay next year and is probably the form player in reserve grade at left centre.
Winter and Hunt should both be aiming for right centre and we should choose one of them, and give McCarthy his shot at left centre.
 
Winter showed more in 40 minutes as a 19 yo than McCarthy has showed since his debute in 2024, as a 20 yo.

He's now 22 yo and a fringe FG prospect. If we're crippled by injury and need to play him he will probably do a decent job for us. But if the club is serious, they don't waste a minute of FG on McCarthy when Winter and Hunt are 19 & 20 respectively and are both capable fill ins
 
Yes, McCarthy seems to be forgotten and at this stage you would think his experience over the last few years would have him slightly ahead of Winter and Hunt as backup for injured Best.
Yes Winter and Hunt will likely outdo him during 2027
 
Frank McWilliams said:
Yes, McCarthy seems to be forgotten and at this stage you would think his experience over the last few years would have him slightly ahead of Winter and Hunt as backup for injured Best.
Yes Winter and Hunt will likely outdo him during 2027
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How is McCarthy more experienced? Hunt has played 28 first grade games now and McCarthy’s played 6 - aren’t first grade games ultimately what matters?
 
Frank McWilliams said:
Yes, McCarthy seems to be forgotten and at this stage you would think his experience over the last few years would have him slightly ahead of Winter and Hunt as backup for injured Best.
Yes Winter and Hunt will likely outdo him during 2027
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Why would you think he would be ahead of the 2 players who are consistently picked ahead of him? Hunt has played 28 games to McCarthy's 6 so don't really understand the experience point either.
 
Billy said:
Kyle McCarthy is getting no love, but he is in career best form by a long way and should replace Best if he is out IMO.

McCarthy is averaging 46.6 fantasy points - he has averaged about 100 run metres a game in his previous 3 years in reserves and 140 metres this year - his tackle efficiency has been high 80s, this year low 90s (good for a centre).
He has had as many try assists and linebreaks this year in his 17 games as he had in his previous 41 games over 3 years combined.

McCarthy has activated his option to stay next year and is probably the form player in reserve grade at left centre.
Winter and Hunt should both be aiming for right centre and we should choose one of them, and give McCarthy his shot at left centre.
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Why would the club do that when they have made it very clear that he is not in their plans for next season. POS is the best judge of talent in this country and obviously doesn’t rate him and it appears Holbrook has the same view. They obviously want McCarthy’s top 30 spot for Frizell. Hunt and Winter are well ahead of him.
 
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