NRL Round 8 - Knights Vs Panthers - 2:00pm Sunday, 26st April - McDonald Jones Stadium

They did play on Friday night though so an extra day recovery there.

So dogs beat them by there quick line speed defence, and targeting there right side, Talangi and McLean in attack.

We definitely don’t have quick line speed defence. We have a style that holds a straight line. Teams seem to get an extra meter or two.

Brown, McEwen, Gags and Dom on that right. I think the game plan will be to attack that edge mainly.

Hopwood although short minutes held his own and Manu grew into that game. I actually don’t mind Can’t, but I can see Manu has more upside. Hopefully he can back up. Hunt was amazing in centre. Will he be the one to take over from Gags?
 
KPGreatness said:
I’m don’t think this is winnable to be fair, I hope I’m wrong but I just don’t see it.

That should be fine though because I do expect us to than go on a three game winning run before the bye, as we should be able to beat Souths, Dragons and Titans
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I'm in that same boat that I would take a decent performance in this one.

I would also be very disappointed if we don't go 3/3 across that Souths/Dragons/Titans - barring the current injury crisis getting catastrophically worse we need to be winning those games if we're a top 6 side. Souths obviously the biggest challenge but we should be beating them at home.

If we go 3/4 into the round 12 bye I'll have a lot of confidence that we've turned a corner.
 
frankLauda said:
They did play on Friday night though so an extra day recovery there.

So dogs beat them by there quick line speed defence, and targeting there right side, Talangi and McLean in attack.

We definitely don’t have quick line speed defence. We have a style that holds a straight line. Teams seem to get an extra meter or two.

Brown, McEwen, Gags and Dom on that right. I think the game plan will be to attack that edge mainly.

Hopwood although short minutes held his own and Manu grew into that game. I actually don’t mind Can’t, but I can see Manu has more upside. Hopefully he can back up. Hunt was amazing in centre. Will he be the one to take over from Gags?
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Francis gives me real X factor vibes as a forward and I wonder what we do with him long term with McEwen and Lucas being our edges for the future. Apparently back in school he played as a midfielder in union and was considered the number one ranked school boy in nz for his final year, obviously it was probably a couple years ago now but speaks to the upside and potential he has as a player.

Hunt right now is probably the clear front runner and would be my pick to takeover from gags so far
 
101k said:
Francis gives me real X factor vibes as a forward and I wonder what we do with him long term with McEwen and Lucas being our edges for the future. Apparently back in school he played as a midfielder in union and was considered the number one ranked school boy in nz for his final year, obviously it was probably a couple years ago now but speaks to the upside and potential he has as a player.

Hunt right now is probably the clear front runner and would be my pick to takeover from gags so far
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Francis is very good at putting his winger away with a face ball across his centre, either from a spread or playing down a short side. I've seen him do it about half a dozen times now so it is no fluke.
 
But yeah apart from injury duty, we have 2 80min backrowers. I don't wanna manufacture pleasure positions. But can he be a Spencer Leniu Type prop for us? Big impact either side of half time? Or a few mins @ lock / right 2nd row?
 
Treadly said:
But yeah apart from injury duty, we have 2 80min backrowers. I don't wanna manufacture pleasure positions. But can he be a Spencer Leniu Type prop for us? Big impact either side of half time? Or a few mins @ lock / right 2nd row?
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Francis can be our Kikau - terrorising centres and wings and scoring tries - but also drawing a lot of defenders and getting away a very good pass.
 
Treadly said:
So who makes way? Lucas or McKewen?
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Neither of them.

Francis coming off the bench and having a big impact for 20/30 minutes would be great for McEwen to have a quick rest or I could see Francis taking a lock position/edge and switch out with McEwen.

Unless you were taking about who makes way as a substitution? In that case it’s only be McEwen or McEwen moves to middle whilst he’s on.

But I do agree I think Francis jumps onto the bench full time for rest of year. Unless they want minutes and a run into the finals for Cup.
 
Neither Lucas nor McEwen will make way for him anytime soon. Maybe if he's going well enough when Lucas returns they look to get him 20 minutes off the bench and give McEwen a rest, but realistically he's not overtaking either of them this year. With the new bench most teams basically plan for a 3-man bench rotation and leave the 4th spot open based on how the game is going, so he could be in the squad and only used when necessary while still playing reserve grade when possible.

Don't see him being an explosive bench prop like Leniu either, that's not his game.
 
Looking forward to team selection but will likely be similar to last week against Roosters, expect Sharpe to be f/b and with Marzhew missing would like to see McCarthyin, wing or centre with Hunt who will likely remain centre after his hat trick but I think he will be a better winger and cover those bombs down our left.
Rest of top 13 same with Manuleleau retaining his spot and bench likely to stay but wouldn’t mind seeing ESL for Saulo or Hola and Gamble in at 18 with McCarthy starting.
Schiller might be unlucky but last week McCarthy was on bench indicating a preference by Coach.
 
mullenmagic said:
Neither Lucas nor McEwen will make way for him anytime soon. Maybe if he's going well enough when Lucas returns they look to get him 20 minutes off the bench and give McEwen a rest, but realistically he's not overtaking either of them this year. With the new bench most teams basically plan for a 3-man bench rotation and leave the 4th spot open based on how the game is going, so he could be in the squad and only used when necessary while still playing reserve grade when possible.

Don't see him being an explosive bench prop like Leniu either, that's not his game.
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At full strength I reckon Jacob, Trey, Pasami & Friz cover the prop minutes, Crokes and Crossland play all the lock minutes, that’s either five or six substitutions to churn through those changes depending on how the rotations happen. Plenty of scope to use a sub on a 30 minute impact edge forward.

Definitely something they should think about and I reckon if we have a game well in hand it’s Lucas who should get the breather. We need a fit Lucas more than any other forward besides J Saf to hold our own against the better teams.
 
Schiller in for Marz
Frank retains his spot in the second row
ESL replaces Hola in the 17
Kapaoa is in the 19
Hopwood keeps his spot
 
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