NRL Round 9 - Knights Vs Rabbitohs - 2:00pm Sunday, 3rd of May - McDonald Jones Stadium

Need to tighten up that left edge, need Best and dare I say Marzhew back, Lucas would be a huge bonus and if so Latrell could very well be quietened.
Ponga and Frizell will make a huge difference
 
Can’t wait to see how our right edge goes against their left edge, I think aside from the cows game they have defended really well against some strong edges and when they have conceded, the tries have been off some very flukey plays (dogs game and roosters game) and man gags has been really underrated he has nullified some of the best centres in the comp this year like Koula, Critta, Purdue and Mclean jeez, Will have another massive assignment against Trell.
 
Can we address the elephant in the room… Fletcher Sharpe. He hasn’t been playing well lately. I don’t think you can leave Sandon Smith out of the team for him when Kalyn returns. I know everyone loves him on the forum and gets upset when you say anything negative about him. But he’s just not up to it. Go have a rest or go back to cup.
 
Henry01 said:
Can we address the elephant in the room… Fletcher Sharpe. He hasn’t been playing well lately. I don’t think you can leave Sandon Smith out of the team for him when Kalyn returns. I know everyone loves him on the forum and gets upset when you say anything negative about him. But he’s just not up to it. Go have a rest or go back to cup.
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He'll be given the benefit of the doubt, if for no other reason than Sharpe himself would be devastated if the coach wanted to rest him. And Sharpe would likely be excited to have his troops back, so he may have a blinder himself.

But do agree. His form has been inexplicably poor. Yes he did his knee, but sheesh his form is getting worse each week.
 
I'm not a physio but if the recovery would be expedited by him having some time off, then yes they should absolutely rest him now if Kalyn's back.

It's not clear to me how much it is or isn't bothering him as of the last couple of games though tbh.

I don't know about "inexplicably poor" though, he's very young and he still has a lot of areas he needs to work on. I got called a hater in that "who are our best players" thread for rating him sixth on our roster, but I stand by it. He's has some blinders in games where we've been on the front foot a lot and has struggled badly in others, both last season and this season. He's 21.
 
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I reckon the work rate at fullback combined with the knee injury is why he’s struggled more than anything else the last few weeks. He was fine in the halves against the Raiders and Dogs. Reckon he’ll fire as soon as he goes back to 6.

It’s unlucky for Smith because he’s done well in attack but I just think a Ponga/Sharpe/Brown spine is more potent.
 
What I gather from what that NRL physio guy said, it’s just a time thing. He’s fine playing through it like Walsh did last year, but it’s going to take a while to get back to normal. Until then, any whacks he cops are really going to hurt but he’s not doing any further damage to it being out there

There was a run he took yesterday where he almost looked like he’s speed off the mark had returned, so maybe he’s getting closer. I think yesterday was just one of the days for him he which he’s never really had so I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt

If it would be beneficial physically for him to be rested then maybe they should with everyone else back and we have Smith but I wouldn’t unless he really needs it.
 
mozza said:
I reckon the work rate at fullback combined with the knee injury is why he’s struggled more than anything else the last few weeks. He was fine in the halves against the Raiders and Dogs. Reckon he’ll fire as soon as he goes back to 6.

It’s unlucky for Smith because he’s done well in attack but I just think a Ponga/Sharpe/Brown spine is more potent.
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Smith is also a bit of liability defensively. So there's even more to be gained by having Sharpe start ahead of him.
 
Kurriboy said:
If we get those 4-5 back I think this is a winnable contest.

Just need those sweet 6 against to get on a roll. So the focus should be on hitting the line and getting quick play the balls to generate 6 agains from Souths trying to slow the ruck.

But no reason we can't compete with Souths.

Mission number one, smash Latrell a few times and put him back in his box somewhat.
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He’s up against Gagai right?
 
Newygirl said:
What I gather from what that NRL physio guy said, it’s just a time thing. He’s fine playing through it like Walsh did last year, but it’s going to take a while to get back to normal. Until then, any whacks he cops are really going to hurt but he’s not doing any further damage to it being out there

There was a run he took yesterday where he almost looked like he’s speed off the mark had returned, so maybe he’s getting closer. I think yesterday was just one of the days for him he which he’s never really had so I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt

If it would be beneficial physically for him to be rested then maybe they should with everyone else back and we have Smith but I wouldn’t unless he really needs it.
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We really need a bye
 
www.newcastleherald.com.au

Ponga and Best 'on track' as battered Knights sweat on player returns

There could be up to five players back as Newcastle prepare to host the Bunnies.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article where Dylan Brown says he went back to the centre of excellence after the Penrith game to see Ponga playing halfback and putting Lucas, Best and Marzhew through a slick training session for the left side.

"We met up at the Centre of Excellence and the whole left edge was actually training and it was pretty funny.
"KP [Ponga] was playing half and then there was Braddie, Dyl Lucas and Greg Marzhew, so it was weird to see but it just shows that there's a lot of talent still to come back."
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