NSW Cup 2025

So last year McEwen had done a firstgrade preseason as an 18 year old and got 5 games of reserve grade where he averaged 43 run metres and 17 tackles a game as a bench forward.

This year Hopwood did a firstgrade preseason as an 18 year old and has been starting prop in his first 2 games of reserve grade and is averaging 57 run metres and 25.5 tackles a game.

McEwen didn't play till late in the season, when he was very match fit, after playing very well for NSW under 19s.

Hopwood is starting prop from game 1 of the season.

They aren't like for like players, but Hopwood seems to be ahead at the same stage of their careers IMO.

I'm too lazy to find Hopwood's 1 game of reserve grade last year, but I remember he did a lot of tackles in a short stint off the bench, but I don't think he got a run.
 
Last edited:
He’ll improve as this season goes on too. You just watch. It can be a shock to the system coming up against men & the only way to build that real footy fitness up is to play.

2025 debut will probably be a bridge too far but I predict he’ll be a bench player in 2026.
 
Didn’t realise Hopwood was so young, too young to be playing Cup regular against the big boys, maybe alternate between Flegg and Cup during this season would allow him to adjust.
It’s a rare talent that makes 1sts younger than 21 and they are usually backs, let him develop and we will reap the rewards
 
Billy said:
So last year McEwen had done a firstgrade preseason as an 18 year old and got 5 games of reserve grade where he averaged 43 run metres and 17 tackles a game as a bench forward.

This year Hopwood did a firstgrade preseason as an 18 year old and has been starting prop in his first 2 games of reserve grade and is averaging 57 run metres and 25.5 tackles a game.

McEwen didn't play till late in the season, when he was very match fit, after playing very well for NSW under 19s.

Hopwood is starting prop from game 1 of the season.

They aren't like for like players, but Hopwood seems to be ahead at the same stage of their careers IMO.

I'm too lazy to find Hopwood's 1 game of reserve grade last year, but I remember he did a lot of tackles in a short stint off the bench, but I don't think he got a run.
Click to expand...
So talking to some blokes up the valley who work with Hopwoods father, apparently he has been full time since the schoolboy carnival finished last July. Extra 10 weeks on McEwen & ESL
 
coalfieldcountry said:
So talking to some blokes up the valley who work with Hopwoods father, apparently he has been full time since the schoolboy carnival finished last July. Extra 10 weeks on McEwen & ESL
Click to expand...
Yet how many games of NSW Cup do ESL and McEwen have on Hopwood? It’s gonna take some time, his body is still developing and he’s only just started playing against bigger bodies. Patience is needed for the young guy.
 
Hunt had some great touches but also some not so great ones to, he will learn every game and get much better for it
With Votano back next week think Hunt will shift back to the wing in Cup with Tauk getting injured
McCarthy was great definitely our best back up centre
Pryce once again did some fantastic things but some absolutely horrible plays like the 2 kick dead’s when we had the momentum, looking forward to Gamble coming back to hopefully partner Pryce in the halves to see how we go then
The forwards where absolutely outstanding with the ball, Greacen was the best every run had the defence going backwards. Hopwood, McEwen, Elijah, Burgess and Bryan all had good impact as well
Arthur had couple bad passes early in the game but rest he was very good especially in defence
Credit to him going for that 40/20 had it of paid off we kick our own field goal to win
Shouldn’t have gotten to that stage however with jets final try off a 2 metre forward pass
 
Lynchyknight said:
Hunt had some great touches but also some not so great ones to, he will learn every game and get much better for it
With Votano back next week think Hunt will shift back to the wing in Cup with Tauk getting injured
McCarthy was great definitely our best back up centre
Pryce once again did some fantastic things but some absolutely horrible plays like the 2 kick dead’s when we had the momentum, looking forward to Gamble coming back to hopefully partner Pryce in the halves to see how we go then
The forwards where absolutely outstanding with the ball, Greacen was the best every run had the defence going backwards. Hopwood, McEwen, Elijah, Burgess and Bryan all had good impact as well
Arthur had couple bad passes early in the game but rest he was very good especially in defence
Credit to him going for that 40/20 had it of paid off we kick our own field goal to win
Shouldn’t have gotten to that stage however with jets final try off a 2 metre forward pass
Click to expand...
Agree, except when gamble is back he should partner Sutton in the halves. Pryce should be at fullback if anywhere. Get out of the way and stop overplaying everything.
 
I thought Pryce had his first game as main playmaker where he didn't overplay his hand too much.
We nearly beat the title favourites at their home ground and Pryce had some good involvement and only stuffed up a few times.
 
Fair point, and they fought back great. But when you are on $400k you’d be expecting to ice a game in cup in the position we were in and he made 2 really bad plays with over calls. On a positive the cup side look fantastic full of young blokes that will only get better during the year. At 18-6 down last year, they’d lose by 30,
 
The Mole said:
Agree, except when gamble is back he should partner Sutton in the halves. Pryce should be at fullback if anywhere. Get out of the way and stop overplaying everything.
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree! Watched the game on Bartv yesterday and Pryce is continually looking for the hero plays. Probably needs to look at his own footage and not his press! Mind you, I wasn’t impressed with Sutton on the weekend.

Thought Hunt handled things well and the kid shows heart.

McCarthy is a prospect - along with Aoake. Kyle moved to the wing after an injury and bought Davis off the bench to centre showing another string to his bow too! Handy to know! Didn’t know he could play centre - showed some spark there too!

I’m going to go against the grain and thought Arthur’s defence was ok but not great. I’ve watched him a few times and seems to find a blind side. Was ok but there was some missed tackles and bump offs exposing him. Seen it before from him in Cup last year. To his credit though he did have to stick it out the 80 min. Looking at hooker stats from last week, Davies offered some solid defence last week and shows energy when rotated, he showed it on the weekend even from centre. They need to be able to rest Arthur and use Davies to kick in when the spark is needed.

Hopwood needs time to develop and develop around senior players. He hasn’t had much of a chance to play his own age group yet! He’s a prospect I’m keen to see grow!

I’m sure there’s a great story on the 28 year old Jack Welsh! Never say never!!!

Lastly - Riley Jones? Is he the hardest done by player of our top 30?

All opinion only here!
 
Davis did really well at centre to defend against his old Mathews team mate Chris Veaila, who had a very quiet game.
I think Davis is just another natural footballer who could do OK in any position.
He got 71 fantasy points in 55 minutes at hooker in our win over Wests and ran for 111 metres from dummy half - he was cutting them to bits.

I think he was seen as one of the best young prospects in the game at Parra before he had a long recovery from a knee injury (I think it was knee). I think he's finally back to his best and we really should be thinking about him as a prospect. He left us after Mathews because he seemed stuck behind Noah Nailogolivia, but poor old Nagsy could never stay uninjured long enough to get fit, although they say he had a great stint in Qld cup last year.
 
Billy said:
Davis did really well at centre to defend against his old Mathews team mate Chris Veaila, who had a very quiet game.
I think Davis is just another natural footballer who could do OK in any position.
He got 71 fantasy points in 55 minutes at hooker in our win over Wests and ran for 111 metres from dummy half - he was cutting them to bits.

I think he was seen as one of the best young prospects in the game at Parra before he had a long recovery from a knee injury (I think it was knee). I think he's finally back to his best and we really should be thinking about him as a prospect. He left us after Mathews because he seemed stuck behind Noah Nailogolivia, but poor old Nagsy could never stay uninjured long enough to get fit, although they say he had a great stint in Qld cup last year.
Click to expand...
@Billy is there a chance we see an Arthur / Davis hooker combo in first grade in coming seasons with Phoenix moved to 13?
 
Billy said:
Davis did really well at centre to defend against his old Mathews team mate Chris Veaila, who had a very quiet game.
I think Davis is just another natural footballer who could do OK in any position.
He got 71 fantasy points in 55 minutes at hooker in our win over Wests and ran for 111 metres from dummy half - he was cutting them to bits.

I think he was seen as one of the best young prospects in the game at Parra before he had a long recovery from a knee injury (I think it was knee). I think he's finally back to his best and we really should be thinking about him as a prospect. He left us after Mathews because he seemed stuck behind Noah Nailogolivia, but poor old Nagsy could never stay uninjured long enough to get fit, although they say he had a great stint in Qld cup last year.
Click to expand...
I don’t believe he played QCup at all last year.
 
Yeah Nailagoliva was at Penrith, played a handful of Jersey Flegg games but spent most of the year playing for Brothers in the Sydney Shield
 
O'Brien said Tyrone Thompson was suspended last week.
I think he must have got that wrong because Tyrone only did 1 stint in the first game.
He also said he thought about naming him in firstgrade, but he has only had 1 game so far.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top