Pre-season 2024

The Gardner interview today says the new centre means they got an extra month of training in.
He says all the players have used the centre over the off season voluntarily.
He also says we have 18 and 19 year olds training with firstgrade and they "haven't looked out of place".
Only Marzhew is not back yet. Cogger has been there this week. He didn't mention Frizz or Thompson.

I can't remember when and where, but early in the pre-season I did a post, wondering if our first full off-season with the new centre available would make any difference, and I think the answer is clearly yes. The players don't have to book into a gym somewhere to do a bit of training - they just need to nip down to the centre and train whenever they feel like it.

www.newcastleknights.com.au

Gardner: 'You build the connection, you build the culture'

nib Newcastle Knights CEO, Mr Philip Gardner, addresses the media following the official ribbon cutting on the Newcastle Permanent Centre of Excellence.
www.newcastleknights.com.au www.newcastleknights.com.au
 
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bremsstrahlung said:
Agree with the sentiment that this could be Ponga’s best year. He seems to have come back from that trip to Canada a new man and player. I think he is understanding his role and influence and backing his potential and ability.
He definitely has potential to go down as one of the greats and be uttered in the same sentence as Johns and Buderus (to name a few). Very excited to see what he can do this season.

I think Brailey gets the 9 back and has first go at it to prove what he’s capable of now. He’s got heart but those injuries have to take their toll somehow be it mentally or physically. He’s not played a great deal over the years, the game has changed a bit so may take him a while to adapt. Agree his service and distribution is a step above Crossland, but imo, Crossland seemed to improve very quickly and there’s nothing to say that with a preseason and a few more games and guidance from the likes of Buderus or even Brailey (he strikes me as a guy happy to help) he can’t improve even more.
Big

I’m excited for 2024.
I can’t help but think what could have been if we started last season the way we finished with the team firing.
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I was just on youtube and a random recommended video of our highlights against Raiders in Rd 4 popped up. Brailey's service is really crisp, the forwards were charging onto the ball, and our halves were getting the ball quickly. He def should be our 9 to start. But give Crossland a full preseason as hooker and i think he will be much improved in that area.
 
Sheent14 said:
I was just on youtube and a random recommended video of our highlights against Raiders in Rd 4 popped up. Brailey's service is really crisp, the forwards were charging onto the ball, and our halves were getting the ball quickly. He def should be our 9 to start. But give Crossland a full preseason as hooker and i think he will be much improved in that area.
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i just watched it, you forgot to mention the 2 poor defensive efforts in trys from Brailey though.
 
Beatell said:
i just watched it, you forgot to mention the 2 poor defensive efforts in trys from Brailey though.
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You mean where Mann failed to wrap the ball up (Brailey late to arrive because he slipped - how is that effort related?) and D Saf missed a basic one on one tackle on Wighton?

Brailey’s tackle efficiency in 2023 was 98.5%, there’s not many better than that. Crossland 92.6% in comparison, and people rave about his defence. Both always easily over 90% though and no concerns from me in that area for either.
 
jamesgould said:
You mean where Mann failed to wrap the ball up (Brailey late to arrive because he slipped - how is that effort related?) and D Saf missed a basic one on one tackle on Wighton?

Brailey’s tackle efficiency in 2023 was 98.5%, there’s not many better than that. Crossland 92.6% in comparison, and people rave about his defence. Both always easily over 90% though and no concerns from me in that area for either.
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The first one he rushed up past the ball player and slipped the second one he was the man inside and just watched him run past.

"Effort" was probably a poor use of the word. He tries his heart out i dont argue that
 
jamesgould said:
You mean where Mann failed to wrap the ball up (Brailey late to arrive because he slipped - how is that effort related?) and D Saf missed a basic one on one tackle on Wighton?

Brailey’s tackle efficiency in 2023 was 98.5%, there’s not many better than that. Crossland 92.6% in comparison, and people rave about his defence. Both always easily over 90% though and no concerns from me in that area for either.
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Bradley is a very good defender, but as the season went on, Crossland seemed to be hitting hard and sticking. There was real sting in his defence.
 
Wing is the only spot I can see him getting a run at but even then he’s got to get past Tuala and Jenkins.
Billy said:
The bit about Pryce looking physical enough for NRL in training is good news - but I still can't think of a spot for him.
KPP would nearly be favourite for Fitz's spot if he is half decent.
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I’d be happy to see both have at least a game or two in Cup to adjust and establish requirements, pace etc. Both of them are likely vying for what seems strong position, Young and Fitz, that are well covered barring injuries
 
So Tom Cant.
He's been put on a development contract for 2024, so he could play from round 1 if needed.
Last year he trained the house down and made his firstgrade debut, but only played 10 games of reserve grade with the last being round 13 where he only played 17 minutes.
He is training again.
We have heard that the young guys are training really well, but no word on who.
Tom Cant is a natural leader and if I was to have a guess, I'd say Tom Cant is smashing it and is leading the other young players as well.
At 185 cm and 96kg he is about the same size as other hardworking small forwards like Cam Murray and Victor Radley.

I don't think we'll change much for round 1 next year, but i there is a surprise selection, based on training form, I'll go for Tom Cant.
 
Billy said:
So Tom Cant.
He's been put on a development contract for 2024, so he could play from round 1 if needed.
Last year he trained the house down and made his firstgrade debut, but only played 10 games of reserve grade with the last being round 13 where he only played 17 minutes.
He is training again.
We have heard that the young guys are training really well, but no word on who.
Tom Cant is a natural leader and if I was to have a guess, I'd say Tom Cant is smashing it and is leading the other young players as well.
At 185 cm and 96kg he is about the same size as other hardworking small forwards like Cam Murray and Victor Radley.

I don't think we'll change much for round 1 next year, but i there is a surprise selection, based on training form, I'll go for Tom Cant.
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i don't remember his debut. How did he go?
 
Thieves Like Us said:
Is he a 6? We seem to have an abundance of halves atm.
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He only plays 6 or 7, but I don't know of another half like him. He's 6'4" but only 84kg and is as fast as most wingers.
If he put on 10kg I suppose he'd be a similar build to Matt Burton, but he's the only 6 I can think of to compare him to.
Pretty decent goal kicker, which would be useful for us.
 
It would be pleasing to see a halves player that's come through from 17's to develop into a genuine half, with potential to play 1st or at minimum lead NCW Cup side to a premiership. Been too long to have produced a player like that all the way through.
 
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