Squad, positions and rank 2026

frankLauda

frankLauda

Ben Kennedy
Super bored, is there an official shutdown!? haha. I have listed all the players in the squad (based off the Knights offical team list) and listed them in order of rank for that position. Just thought this is good to look at for the depth of the squad.

I’m being biased but I actually think we look pretty good overall. Much stronger in the halves. My only concern is mainly our forward pack. We seem to have depth but the quality is an unknown at this stage. Tell me what you think, your list, if you change the order.

Edit: I’ve added in the development players now also have *

Full Back
Kayln Ponga
Fletcher Sharpe
Conner Votanno*
Dane Gagai

Wingers
Dom Young
Fletcher Sharpe
Greg Marzhew
Fletcher Hunt*
James Schiller
Willson DeCoucey

Centres
Bradman Best
Dane Gagai
Fletcher Sharpe
Kyle McCarthy
Asu Kepaeo

Halves
Dylan Brown
Sandon Smith
Fletcher Sharpe
Tyson Gamble
Phoenix Crossland
Mathew Hunter*

Hooker
Phoenix Crossland
Matt Arthur
Sandon Smith
Harrison Graham*

Props
Jacob Safiti
Trey Mooney
Pasami Saulo
Tyson Frizell
Brodie Jones
Lachlan Crouch
Pete Hola
Cody Hopwood
Will Sullivan

Second Row
Dylan Lucus
Jamie McEwen
Tyson Frizell
ESL
Tom Cant
Fransis Manulelula

Lock
Trey Mooney
Tyson Frizell
Matt Crocker
Phoenix Crossland
Tyson Gamble
Tom Cant
 
Last edited:
This would be my starting 17 in Vegas based on above. I’d start with Tyson Frizell at 13, he gets subbed by Croker. But I would like to see Crossland play there at some point second half, Gamble come on for a stint at hooker and or lock, and cover for halves.

1. Kayln Ponga
2. Dom Young
3. Bradman Best
4. Dane Gagai
5. Fletcher Sharpe
6. Dylan Brown
7. Sandon Smith
8. Jacob Safiti
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Trey Mooney
11. Dylan Lucis
12. Jamie McEwen
13. Tyson Frizell

14. Tyson Gamble
15. Matt Croker
16. Brodie Jones
17. Pasami Sualo
 
Last edited:
frankLauda said:
Centres
Bradman Best
Dane Gagai
Fletcher Sharpe
Kyle McCarthy
Asu Kepaeo
Click to expand...
I think Sharpe would have to rank lower only because he hasn't done it and would be caught out positionaly so I would have him below McCarthy, but if it was on potential sure he could be higher.
 
frankLauda said:
Super bored, is there an official shutdown!? haha. I have listed all the players in the squad (based off the Knights offical team list) and listed them in order of rank for that position. Just thought this is good to look at for the depth of the squad.

I’m being biased but I actually think we look pretty good overall. Much stronger in the halves. My only concern is mainly our forward pack. We seem to have depth but the quality is an unknown at this stage. Tell me what you think, your list, if you change the order.

Full Back
Kayln Ponga
Fletcher Sharpe
Dane Gagai

Wingers
Dom Young
Fletcher Sharpe
Greg Marzhew
James Schiller
Willson DeCoucey

Centres
Bradman Best
Dane Gagai
Fletcher Sharpe
Kyle McCarthy
Asu Kepaeo

Halves
Dylan Brown
Sandon Smith
Fletcher Sharpe
Tyson Gamble
Phoenix Crossland

Hooker
Phoenix Crossland
Matt Arthur
Sandon Smith

Props
Jacob Safiti
Trey Mooney
Pasami Saulo
Tyson Frizell
Brodie Jones
Lachlan Crouch
Pete Hola
Cody Hopwood
Will Sullivan

Second Row
Dylan Lucus
Jamie McEwen
Tyson Frizell
ESL
Tom Cant
Fransis Manulelula

Lock
Trey Mooney
Tyson Frizell
Matt Crocker
Phoenix Crossland
Tyson Gamble
Tom Cant
Click to expand...
Just missing Harrison Graham he would be in contention for the hooker and lock position
 
frankLauda said:
Super bored, is there an official shutdown!? haha. I have listed all the players in the squad (based off the Knights offical team list) and listed them in order of rank for that position. Just thought this is good to look at for the depth of the squad.

I’m being biased but I actually think we look pretty good overall. Much stronger in the halves. My only concern is mainly our forward pack. We seem to have depth but the quality is an unknown at this stage. Tell me what you think, your list, if you change the order.

Full Back
Kayln Ponga
Fletcher Sharpe
Dane Gagai

Wingers
Dom Young
Fletcher Sharpe
Greg Marzhew
James Schiller
Willson DeCoucey

Centres
Bradman Best
Dane Gagai
Fletcher Sharpe
Kyle McCarthy
Asu Kepaeo

Halves
Dylan Brown
Sandon Smith
Fletcher Sharpe
Tyson Gamble
Phoenix Crossland

Hooker
Phoenix Crossland
Matt Arthur
Sandon Smith

Props
Jacob Safiti
Trey Mooney
Pasami Saulo
Tyson Frizell
Brodie Jones
Lachlan Crouch
Pete Hola
Cody Hopwood
Will Sullivan

Second Row
Dylan Lucus
Jamie McEwen
Tyson Frizell
ESL
Tom Cant
Fransis Manulelula

Lock
Trey Mooney
Tyson Frizell
Matt Crocker
Phoenix Crossland
Tyson Gamble
Tom Cant
Click to expand...
Fletch Hunt not on your radar?
 
I reckon Harrison Graham will definitely get the 14 spot round 1

Also from what I have seen in recent seasons Asu is either a winger or backrower definitely not a centre and he is a great winger
I would not be surprised at all if he is the number 1 backup behind Young and Sharpe
 
There’s 29 players on the Knights site, does say 2025 team list. Harrison Graham and Fletcher Hunt are the other players? Makes 31.
 
Lynchyknight said:
I reckon Harrison Graham will definitely get the 14 spot round 1

Also from what I have seen in recent seasons Asu is either a winger or backrower definitely not a centre and he is a great winger
I would not be surprised at all if he is the number 1 backup behind Young and Sharpe
Click to expand...
Ok, I haven’t seen him play. Says he a centre on the Knights website.
 
frankLauda said:
Ok, I haven’t seen him play. Says he a centre on the Knights website.
Click to expand...
That’s weird from them because he definitely isn’t a centre, used to be a backrower and still could be with his size but has turned into a Brian To’o type winger hence why he was the NSW cup winger of the year in 2025
Suppose no reason knights can’t try and turn him into a centre if that’s what there thinking.. but I think De Coursey is the one to take over Gagai for 2027 so i would keep him number 1 wing backup
 
Mclovin said:
I think Sharpe would have to rank lower only because he hasn't done it and would be caught out positionaly so I would have him below McCarthy, but if it was on potential sure he could be higher.
Click to expand...
We're assuming that by the early rounds Sharpe will have seen a few minutes at centre. Starting on the wing ofc.
 
Holbrook is not saying anything about who has impressed him or stood out at training, but I think at least one of the young players and new imports will be there in round 1.

The guys I think most likely to be bolters for round 1;

Pasami Saulo - He never got through a pre-season in his time at the Knights, so we never saw the best of him. I don't know how he trained at Canberra, but I do know he showed up healthy this year and is still in the training photos and looks as big and fit as he has ever looked. Even playing injured, i'd take him for bench impact over Hetherington, so fully fit, I think he'd be first choice for bench prop.

Wilson DeCourcey - He has been at the Knights for 2 years and has been improving steadily. He was our form player in reserve grade at the end of last season and made a great "target" for Hastings to kick to. He competes like a junk yard dog for the ball and comes down with it far more often than he should, and finds a way over the line with the ball too. I can see him being the guy Brown kicks for.

Cody Hopwood - He was in over his head in the early rounds of reserve grade last year as an 18 year old prop just out of school, but they kept picking him and giving him more and more time, and by the end of the year he was ready to debut in firstgrade and do a decent job. A young giant with a big motor is the dream. He was apparently the last forward standing in the fitness tests in early pre-season and made the best of the backs work hard too. If he has bulked up a bit and added some strength, it will be hard to leave him out.

Lachlan Crouch - I hardly recognise him in the photos. He has changed his body shape the most of anyone in the squad I think. He looks super fit, and even when he looked a bit chubby last year, he had a big motor, so he might be a big minutes prop now.

Fletcher Hunt - I feel he wasn't as fit and strong as he could have been last year, due to being a young guy in only his second year in an elite squad. He went well last year on pure natural talent IMO. He has had a great pre-season this year and has half a season of firstgrade under his belt and a PMs 13 game. Anything could happen with him.

Mat Arthur - hard to know if his improvement at the end of last season was because he combined really well with his brother, but he was one of our best in reserve grade for the last 6 weeks or so, and we have a vacancy for a bench hooker I think.
 
Billy said:
Holbrook is not saying anything about who has impressed him or stood out at training, but I think at least one of the young players and new imports will be there in round 1.

The guys I think most likely to be bolters for round 1;

Pasami Saulo - He never got through a pre-season in his time at the Knights, so we never saw the best of him. I don't know how he trained at Canberra, but I do know he showed up healthy this year and is still in the training photos and looks as big and fit as he has ever looked. Even playing injured, i'd take him for bench impact over Hetherington, so fully fit, I think he'd be first choice for bench prop.

Wilson DeCourcey - He has been at the Knights for 2 years and has been improving steadily. He was our form player in reserve grade at the end of last season and made a great "target" for Hastings to kick to. He competes like a junk yard dog for the ball and comes down with it far more often than he should, and finds a way over the line with the ball too. I can see him being the guy Brown kicks for.

Cody Hopwood - He was in over his head in the early rounds of reserve grade last year as an 18 year old prop just out of school, but they kept picking him and giving him more and more time, and by the end of the year he was ready to debut in firstgrade and do a decent job. A young giant with a big motor is the dream. He was apparently the last forward standing in the fitness tests in early pre-season and made the best of the backs work hard too. If he has bulked up a bit and added some strength, it will be hard to leave him out.

Lachlan Crouch - I hardly recognise him in the photos. He has changed his body shape the most of anyone in the squad I think. He looks super fit, and even when he looked a bit chubby last year, he had a big motor, so he might be a big minutes prop now.

Fletcher Hunt - I feel he wasn't as fit and strong as he could have been last year, due to being a young guy in only his second year in an elite squad. He went well last year on pure natural talent IMO. He has had a great pre-season this year and has half a season of firstgrade under his belt and a PMs 13 game. Anything could happen with him.

Mat Arthur - hard to know if his improvement at the end of last season was because he combined really well with his brother, but he was one of our best in reserve grade for the last 6 weeks or so, and we have a vacancy for a bench hooker I think.
Click to expand...
Chris James mentioned Cody Hopwood had been a standout so far in pre-season training. Still 19, turns 20 in May. He’s still very young but obviously a talent.
 
We basically got the two best forwards in Canberra’s reserve grade. And you would say these two would be in the top 17 at quite a few other clubs.
 
Warriors here, hope you are all having a great Christmass break.

I have a wuestuon, it isnt a rumour, just an undercurrent of stuff I have seen and heard. Have you heard anything about Ponga going to the Warriors.
 
Watcher said:
Warriors here, hope you are all having a great Christmass break.

I have a wuestuon, it isnt a rumour, just an undercurrent of stuff I have seen and heard. Have you heard anything about Ponga going to the Warriors.
Click to expand...
Like you said it’s a rumour.

Has been a rumour for years now. If he leaves for another NRL club, it will be a big pay cut and will be for a premiership tilt, could go close but I don’t see Warriors getting one in the next 2-3 seasons.
 
Watcher said:
I thought so. If he did come over it would be to go for the All Blacks in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Ponga is going to sign for the Warriors because he wants to play for the all blacks?

Seems an *** about way of going about it to me.

Or you mean come over to NZ at all, and play in NZ rugby comp to get in to the all blacks. Personally I can't ever see that happening.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top