NRL Round 5 - Knights Vs Raiders - 4:05pm Sunday, 5th April - McDonald Jones Stadium

CornChippy said:
Raiders beat Sea Eagles by 1, We won by 18
Raiders lost to Warriors by 34, We lost by 26
Raiders lost to Bulldogs by 4, We won by 8
Raiders are 1-3, We are 3-1
We are the home team.

Why are Raiders favourites?
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Because they were minor premiers last year with essentially the same team and we were wooden spooners with essentially the same team.
 
All this talk about what do we do with Smith and Sharpe when Brown and Ponga are back makes me laugh.
There is no hope we will have Smith, Brown, Ponga, Crossland, Hunt and Sharpe all fit at the same time.
Thats just not the Knights way.
We finally have good coverage when the inevitable lost of 50% of the spine continues to roll through the entire season.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Still want Sharpe 1, Gamble 6, Smith 7.

Cant I'm agnostic on, if he's working harder on the training paddock it's up to others to take the spot off him.
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Another reason this makes sense is the fact that Brown will likely be back 2-3 weeks before Ponga and he will surely come in to partner Smith in the halves. Get Sharpe at FB sooner if it’s around the corner (and should be during Origin too if KP stays well).

I’m a big fan of Hunt and would have him take WDC spot on the extended bench.

EDIT: posted this before reading another 2x pages of everyone shuffling our spine…..lols. Each to their own. I think Sharpe is natural FB and best there and having Brown and Smith at 6 &7 with Crossy and Graham sharing 9 would be frickin deadly!
 
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Ok Ponga is number 1 but Sharpe is pretty close behind.
It’s a matter of do we prefer Hunt or Sharpe at 1 or Sharpe or Gamble at 6.
Not talking long term Sharpe at 6 but what’s best while Ponga and Brown are out.
When Brown and Ponga are back, fully fit we will likely see 1 Ponga, 6 Sharpe and 7 Brown.
Think if Brown and Ponga stay fit long term then Sharpe is 6 and Gamble is bench or Cup
Not throwing Hunt out, think he has his place in 14-19 until other options open such as Gagai retiring
It’s like other options such as Frizell retiring where we have many keen and eager players coming through to replace.
If we lose Gagai and Frizell for 2027 and don’t sign any new players we will be strong with the players coming through any additional signing will be a bonus
 
Frank McWilliams said:
Bit concerned with limited time on field for Saulo, played a bit over 20m starting then only came on for about 5m towards end, like to see him play strong for 30-40mins a game.
Hopefully see Gamble play 6 if Sharpe is fit he can play 1 with Hunt to 18/19 and have Mooney back for Hopwood, Graham 14 for Cant back to Cup with Manuleleau 17
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Saulo will be lacking fitness. He came to us injured and had an interrupted pre season so I understand him struggling a little out there.
 
The Artist Formerly Known as Aku'd said:
Anyone know why Timiko is on their bench? Has he been injured? Think he’s a weapon and one of their post potent attacking weapons. And why are the odds still stacked against us….?
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Sasagi has been better then him in attack and defence

Timoko has been told he is free to leave, so it seems like Simi has won the right centre spot permanently
 
Frank McWilliams said:
Ok Ponga is number 1 but Sharpe is pretty close behind.
It’s a matter of do we prefer Hunt or Sharpe at 1 or Sharpe or Gamble at 6.
Not talking long term Sharpe at 6 but what’s best while Ponga and Brown are out.
When Brown and Ponga are back, fully fit we will likely see 1 Ponga, 6 Sharpe and 7 Brown.
Think if Brown and Ponga stay fit long term then Sharpe is 6 and Gamble is bench or Cup
Not throwing Hunt out, think he has his place in 14-19 until other options open such as Gagai retiring
It’s like other options such as Frizell retiring where we have many keen and eager players coming through to replace.
If we lose Gagai and Frizell for 2027 and don’t sign any new players we will be strong with the players coming through any additional signing will be a bonus
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I'm not really understanding this one.

Ponga is going to play number 1 for the rest of his days at this club. We have tried him in the halves several times and that isn't going to happen again.

Long term Sharpe at 6 appears to be the plan, we trialed both Sharpe and Smith for the 6 spot and Sharpe got the nod. So 6 is Sharpes position long term. Brown has a lock on the 7 when fit.

While Ponga and Brown are out, and Sharpe is fit I expect Holbrook will do what he has done and play Sharpe at 6 and hunt in the 1. Rightly so.

Brown and Ponga fit long term, Ponga will be 1, Brown will be 7, Sharpe will be 6 and Hunt will go back to reggies. Smith on the bench.

We are finally in a position to have players in reggies good enough to step up to NRL when we need them. I don't see any point if Sharpe is to be the 6 long term, in throwing him back to the 1 until Ponga returns then put him back to 6 again anyway. Not when we have Hunt going ok in the fullback role and we are winning games.
 
Kurriboy said:
I'm not really understanding this one.

Ponga is going to play number 1 for the rest of his days at this club. We have tried him in the halves several times and that isn't going to happen again.

Long term Sharpe at 6 appears to be the plan, we trialed both Sharpe and Smith for the 6 spot and Sharpe got the nod. So 6 is Sharpes position long term. Brown has a lock on the 7 when fit.

While Ponga and Brown are out, and Sharpe is fit I expect Holbrook will do what he has done and play Sharpe at 6 and hunt in the 1. Rightly so.

Brown and Ponga fit long term, Ponga will be 1, Brown will be 7, Sharpe will be 6 and Hunt will go back to reggies. Smith on the bench.

We are finally in a position to have players in reggies good enough to step up to NRL when we need them. I don't see any point if Sharpe is to be the 6 long term, in throwing him back to the 1 until Ponga returns then put him back to 6 again anyway. Not when we have Hunt going ok in the fullback role and we are winning games.
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Agreed. There’s a lot of non believers here for Sharpe’s prospects as a five eight. A lot of it is warranted, he’s started about 15 games there and is still learning the position. Why not give him as much time as possible at five eight to help him learn the ins and outs of the position?
 
Holbrook has a long term plan for the spine. Some players involved in that plan are playing a position they may not be in the position we think they should be in. With the injuries we currently have I still think that the players when available should play in the positions that Holbrook has them playing in when he has his best team on paper where possible.
Jumping Brown between 6 and 7 won’t help. Sharpe bouncing between 1, 6 and centre won’t help, etc, etc. We have plenty of depth.
 
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