Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
How mate? Legit interested, Wahs have let in 24 points so far this season against Roosters and Raiders.
Us without Brown, Ponga and potentially Sharpe wouldn't we really struggle against them?
NRL Round 3 - Knights Vs Warriors - 3:00pm Saturday, 21st March - McDonald Jones Stadium
- Thread starter Lefty
- Start date
How mate? Legit interested, Wahs have let in 24 points so far this season against Roosters and Raiders.
Us without Brown, Ponga and potentially Sharpe wouldn't we really struggle against them?
mullenmagic
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Even the most minor of hamstring twinges is generally given a couple of weeks because it’s not something you can risk playing with. It will get worse. Would be shocked if he plays this week or next.
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
They seem confident Fletch will be back.
Sandon has been the key man for two tries in both games and we still have strike weapons like Young, Best and Lucas.
frankLauda
Matthew Gidley
I saw he had ice strapped to him after the game. If it’s only 2 weeks great! But I would not be rushing him back in 6 days time.
More I’ve thought about it, I would have Sharpe at FB and bring in Gamble. Gamble is a bigger body, doesn’t overplay his hand should do a job. Sharpe is our x-factor to cause an upset.
If I’ve got my tipping hat on, I would be backing the Wahs in this game. If we had a full strength side. I would pick us.
There's no way you muck around with a Hamstring injury. minimum 2 weeks if just a strain, but dare say it'll be longer.
I was going to suggest Gamble, but he also looks like he did a twinge of the hammy late too in Cup.
If thats the case i'd say Sharpe stays 6 and we back in Hunt.
This obviously minimises the attack output a bit, but Hunt just needs to focus on defusing bombs and catching them close to their try line or bat back to create opportunities. The less ball we give Wahs, the better, if they get multiple 6 agains or our ball control is poor, then we wont be able to hold out.
I was going to suggest Gamble, but he also looks like he did a twinge of the hammy late too in Cup.
If thats the case i'd say Sharpe stays 6 and we back in Hunt.
This obviously minimises the attack output a bit, but Hunt just needs to focus on defusing bombs and catching them close to their try line or bat back to create opportunities. The less ball we give Wahs, the better, if they get multiple 6 agains or our ball control is poor, then we wont be able to hold out.
MullosLefttoRight
Tim Maddison
As HVG noted our 2-5 still has as much individual strike as any side in the comp. Across those games the Wahs have faced centre pairings of Billy Smith + Junior Pauga and Seb Kris + Simi Sasagi, neither are particularly formidable attacking combinations (in fairness I do think they are all decent players but Best/Gagai with Marz/Young outside is a different prospect.
Ali Leiataua really struggled against Billy Smith so will have his hands more than full with Bradman. Sasagi and Ethan Strange both had plenty of joy running through Pompey's channel as well despite not turning those chances into points.
Earning the right to get those one-on-one opportunities will be more difficult. I'm very nervous about the battle between our middle forwards, and Tanah Boyd is in sublime form leading that pack around the park. If we begin to lose that battle Leka Halasima will become a nightmare to defend as well.
slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Really hope my boy Gamblor is fit and in the mix.
I’ve done a few hammies sprinting after the ball in cricket that have settled down by the end of the day and been fine a few days later. Hopefully it was an over abundance of caution taking him off in the first place and he is a chance next week. 
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Vagabond89
Willie Mason
6-8 weeks for Ponga, 4 weeks for Brown. Might be a tough month ahead.
The NRL physio guy on the magic sponge pod cast said he thinks;I’ve done a few hammies sprinting after the ball in cricket that have settled down by the end of the day and been fine a few days later. Hopefully it was an over abundance of caution taking him off in the first place and he is a chance next week.
Ponga will be out for 3 - 4 weeks. The way he did his hammy by pushing off and overextending is similar mechanism to how Nathan Lyon did his in the cricket
Brown will be out for 3 - 6 weeks. He was concerned about Brown having the knee brace on as it’s usually only put on for instability in the knee. It’s also the same knee Brown particularly did his ACL on in 2024, which he was also concerned about
I haven’t seen anything official from the club or media. So it sounds like we will be without both for around a month
Alex
Tony Butterfield
Rehab Report: Update on Kalyn Ponga & Dylan Brown
The nib Newcastle Knights can confirm the following injury updates following yesterday’s NRL Telstra Premiership Round 2 victory over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, at 4 Pines Park.
www.newcastleknights.com.au
6-8 weeks for KP
Estimated 4 weeks for Brown
frankLauda
Matthew Gidley
Yeah NRL physio analysis was last night before scans today. Absolutely gutted, our two superstars are out for an extended period. Knights just can’t get a trick.
Sharpe has to play FB IMO. Bring in Gamble. It’s Smiths team now, goodluck to him. I hope we are still competitive. I have more faith in Smith then Cogger.
**** can’t believe we didn’t even get two weeks into the comp before significant injury. Hopefully they both rehab well and come back early.
Sharpe has to play FB IMO. Bring in Gamble. It’s Smiths team now, goodluck to him. I hope we are still competitive. I have more faith in Smith then Cogger.
**** can’t believe we didn’t even get two weeks into the comp before significant injury. Hopefully they both rehab well and come back early.
Newygirl
Adam Woolnough
Yeah that’s what’s so frustrating. We only got 20 mins in the first game with all 3 and honestly wouldn’t be shocked if we go the full season without seeing it again. Seems to be the luck. Would just love to see them get a decent block of games together just to see what they’re capable of.
When you look at the luck we’ve had with spine players it really makes all the more impressive that Penrith somehow managed to go five seasons in a row without any significant injuries to their most important players (what are the odds on that)
I know the opposition haven’t been great but it’s really impressive how well all 3 plus Smith have been playing together considering KP didn’t train with them at all really over the Summer.
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Brown & Ponga in particular look like they grew up together. I thought they’d combine well with time but you would have been optimistic to predict this level of synergy this quickly. Probably shouldn’t be that surprised as this is the first guy we’ve found for him who’s in the same ballpark for that full suite of pass/run/kick ability but still. Two guys being good doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll sync up quite like this.
KPGreatness
Todd Bates
I can’t wait to see what Sandon can do, he has been terrific every-time he has come on, creative and clearly backs himself, it’s great to have a back up that you can fully support and have the drop in talent not be so dramatic
I think Holbrook will go Smith and Sharpe in the halves with Hunt fullback
He went with Sharpe at 5/8 to start the season, so I’d assume he would want to continue that plan.
Hunt played well at fullback when he came on, so he would be more than capable filling in there for the next few weeks