Pre-season 2024

A few of the profiles have been changed - or corrected might be a better word.

Jed Cartwright - was centre - now second row
Jack Cogger - was 5/8 - now halfback
Will Pryce - was halfback - now fullback
Tom Jenkins - was centre - now wing
Pheonix Crossland - was halfback - now hooker
 
Crossland on NBN news earlier saying very clearly that he wants the 9 jersey in 2024.
He says he proved in 2023 that he can do it - then added that Brailey has proved himself as well and he will play where the team needed - then said again that he is going for the 9 jersey.
He pretty much said his pre-season aim is to out train Brailey.
 
Crossland has all the tools to be a far better 9 than Brailey, but he isn't there yet. Imo Crossland has zero craft from dummy half, doesn't meaningfully engage the markers, he lacks a read on when and how to inject himself out of the ruck and while defenders seem to know what he's going to do, his team mates kinda don't. All that'll come with time. He's only really been doing it for a year, arguably two.

Last season we had a very capable footballer playing in that position but he wasn't a hooker.
When he develops that aspect to his game he'll probably play those 300 games for the Knights. Hoping to see more growth from him in 24'.
 
another season and he'll be on his way. His kicking adds another dimension top the team. If he can develop the art of deception out of dummy half he has a very long career ahead and I'd be happy to wish Brailey farewell.
 
Happy to have either play 9 and 14, hope both stay fit and well and put pressure on each other for the 9.
Agree Brailey is better now but Crossland has improved heaps and will likely get better with further experience.
 
mullenmagic said:
Don’t disagree that Crossland has a lot to improve on but the little grubbers on the try line is already more creativity than Brailey has ever shown out of dummy half. Gives another long kicking option as well.
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Don’t think that’s true about Brailey at all. Wouldn’t quite go as far as Les Mis, but Crossland does still have a lot of areas to improve on before he’s at Brailey’s level.
 
I don't know if a playmaking hooker or a hooker who moves the ball quickly to his halves is better - the only real unforgivable trait in hookers is being a ball hog or having a bad passing game - but I do know our best attacking form in years was with Crossland at hooker in the backend of last year.
While that's working, I wouldn't want to see them change much.
 
www.newcastleknights.com.au

Gallery: NRL squad return to pre-season

The nib Newcastle Knights NRL squad made their return to pre-season training to begin preparations for the 2024 campaign.
www.newcastleknights.com.au www.newcastleknights.com.au

Gallery from day 1 for the full squad. Think Leo & Marzhew are the only 2 not back yet.

Edit: and Frizell

Double edit: maybe Cogger as well
 
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The interview with Matt Croker was very encouraging.
Says most guys ran their personal best in testing - he said 90% - even if that's hyperbole - it's still a sign the boys want to carry on with what they started last year.
If the guys are all close to full fitness already, the coaching staff can totally re-write the schedule for the pre-season and spend much less time on fitness and much more time on skills and combinations.
From the photos, I don't know what's happening with Brodie Jones - last year he bulked up a lot and played in the middle - this year he looks like he's been running marathons and is as skinny as he's been since under 18s.
 
Billy said:
From the photos, I don't know what's happening with Brodie Jones - last year he bulked up a lot and played in the middle - this year he looks like he's been running marathons and is as skinny as he's been since under 18s.
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Possibly moving him to centre? He's played some of his best football filling in there.
 
Billy said:
From the photos, I don't know what's happening with Brodie Jones - last year he bulked up a lot and played in the middle - this year he looks like he's been running marathons and is as skinny as he's been since under 18s.
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The guy can't stop running. Every other day he is running up and down the hill at mums joint in East Maitland. He clearly wants to make footy his life but I can't get through to him he needs to play like he did when younger. He doesn't back himself near enough.
 
danknights said:
The guy can't stop running. Every other day he is running up and down the hill at mums joint in East Maitland. He clearly wants to make footy his life but I can't get through to him he needs to play like he did when younger. He doesn't back himself near enough.
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He also needs to be on an edge.
 
If my memory isn't completely gone, I think it was the first photos last year where Gagai had a belly, Bradman looked like he'd been drinking beer in Bali for a month and we had Kiah Cooper looking like he was ready to play prop for Wangi training at centre.
 
Les Misérables said:
He also needs to be on an edge.
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Yeah either bench middle or bench edge. He needs to bring that second phase to his own game rather then being the man that's there waiting for that option. He seems to take a back seat sometimes but I see him as an impact but needs to grab hold of the reins.
 
Make or break for him, he only just got a contract for 2024 by the skin of his teeth. Could have easily been on the scrap heap. He's okay as a squad filler, but those guys are the ones that have to make room the next year for the young ones coming through.
 
I don't think (in fact I'm sure) I've never seen Brailey play as good footy as Crossland played in the back half of last season. Imo Crossland is already a better hooker than Brailey. Don't get me wrong I like Brailey and was glad we signed him, but Crossland is better.
Sometimes people seem to talk about Brailey like he's a world beating rep player when really he was second fiddle to his brother at the sharks who also let him go because his brother was better..
The only special thing I can remember him doing ( I am getting old and the memory isn't great) was when he made that excellent chase and tackle on the runaway winger.
I also would not move Gamble from six for anyone I reckon he was close to the best player we had and showed skills I don't think anyone thought he had and his aggression is great.
 
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