The pre-season 2026 thread

I think cautious optimism is justified. With the proviso that we understand that we had the worst, shallowest middle forward depth in the NRL this season, so it's not hard to improve on it.

D Saf frustrated us and was a big reason the cap was so poorly balanced, but losing him absolutely did hurt. Honestly think Friz moving to the middle this year was more about D Saf going than anything else. If they didn't do that, with a starting middle of J Saf, Leo and Elliott, you are one injury away from asking A LOT of guys behind them in the pecking order. I suspect the plan this year was that Elliott would come on after 20 minutes and play the rest of the game out, papering over the depth issues, but he wasn't ever fit. So instead Mat Croker became the week to week answer to these problems and you can go look at his stats page to get a glimpse at how badly it wore him down as the year went on.

Mooney has the attributes to replace D Saf's yardage game and Elliott's complimentary ball playing. Saulo is more ready to be a week to week big minute starter than a lot of people may think (I know this is just Cup footage, but this is a more physically impressive player than the one who left:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1119012816962074
). And they are essentially replacing players who we didn't have this year (Saulo is a work rate/dirty work middle, at his best, think of him as replacing that aspect of Elliott. Raiders just don't need that).

Obviously these are guys who weren't getting a run at Canberra so we're not going to have an *elite* pack, but "not the worst in the NRL by a mile" is a very reasonable projection.

No obvious Leo replacement as it stands right now though. 2023 Leo made it smart to let Klemmer walk. But Leo is a guy we pulled out of NSW Cup, no real hype around him. POS has punched his ticket on a lot of guys who were in a similar position to Leo when we signed him. Just need to hope one pans out.
 
I’m just really excited to see some dynamic players in the backline play for the Knights again. However Holbrook decides to run with Brown/Smith/Sharpe, it’ll be the most dynamic pairing we’ve had since Mullen and Roberts. Think any forward that played this year will benefit from the exposure and another NRL preseason should mean they all improve. Finally, it can’t possibly be worse than the last 9 weeks so put me in the excited camp.
 
Billy Slater with a ringing endorsement ““The roster at the Knights I think is one of the lowest in the competition.” 😅
 
My Knights team w/ reasons

I honestly think this team gets top 8 pretty easily (barring injury)

  1. Kalyn Ponga
  2. Dom Young
  3. Dane Gagai
  4. Bradman Best
  5. Fletcher Sharpe
  6. Dylan Brown
  7. Sandon Smith (gk)
  8. Jacob Saifiti
  9. Phoenix Crossland
  10. Trey Mooney
  11. Dylan Lucas (c)
  12. Tyson Frizell
  13. Mat Croker
Bench
14. Harrison Graham
15. Pasami Saulo
16. Lachlan Crouch
17. Jermaine McEwen/Manu/ESL


Forward rotation plan:
Crossland to play 25-30 minutes at hooker than switch to lock with Croker coming off and Harrison replacing at hooker for the remainder of the game or until break is needed.

Frizell to play 50-60 minutes than to be replaced by McEwen for the reminder of the game, until McEwen gets used to NRL and his defence gets better

Croker can come in at the 60 minute mark to relieve Crossland at 13 for the rest of the game.

Saifiti & Mooney I’d be asking them to go for 25 minutes before the first stint comes to an end instead of the normal 20-23.

Crouch - I think people are looking past Crouch, he is 100% ready for a bench spot in the 17, he is a player Melbourne love, he is a Josh king, decent metres, solid defensively and safe with the ball, he should’ve debuted last year but AOB sucks so… having him in means we have a solid prop rotation, we won’t be relying heavily on young guys like Hopwood, it would allow us to play Frizz on his edge and bring McEwen on the bench



Rough sketch of the time frame

Subs allowed total: (Max 8.)

(First 25-30)
Harrison —-> On

Saulo ——> On

Crouch ——-> On

Croker ——-> Off

Mooney ——-> Off

Saifiti ——-> Off
(Total used so far: 3)

(Last 35-30)
Mooney ——> On

Saifiti ——> On

McEwen ———> On

Croker ———> On

Crossland ———-> Off

Saulo ———> Off

Crouch ——-> Off

Frizell ——-> Off
(Total used so far: 7)


Obviously if injury strikes a prop, Croker will join the prop rotation with Crossland staying at lock and Harrison at 9
 
Guys I don't think reached their potential under O'Brien.

1 Best - the fact that he has played his best football at SOO level says he has a lot more to give. A new coach can find a plan to get him into the game.

2 Tom Cant - his best game would be as a starting lock playing long minutes and doing a lot of work. We have never used him for that.

3 Fletcher Hunt - He has an odd skillset. O'Brien never got the chance to work out a role for him, but I think a new coach will find a way to use him.

4 Mat Croker - he has some vision and skills. The only time he got to use them was when we were desperate and trying anything. A new coach might make some plans that involve him.

5 Crossland - he has a lot of skills. He's only ever been allowed to use them as our plan C when everything else has failed.
 
KPGreatness said:
My Knights team w/ reasons

I honestly think this team gets top 8 pretty easily (barring injury)

  1. Kalyn Ponga
  2. Dom Young
  3. Dane Gagai
  4. Bradman Best
  5. Fletcher Sharpe
  6. Dylan Brown
  7. Sandon Smith (gk)
  8. Jacob Saifiti
  9. Phoenix Crossland
  10. Trey Mooney
  11. Dylan Lucas (c)
  12. Tyson Frizell
  13. Mat Croker
Bench
14. Harrison Graham
15. Pasami Saulo
16. Lachlan Crouch
17. Jermaine McEwen/Manu/ESL


Forward rotation plan:
Crossland to play 25-30 minutes at hooker than switch to lock with Croker coming off and Harrison replacing at hooker for the remainder of the game or until break is needed.

Frizell to play 50-60 minutes than to be replaced by McEwen for the reminder of the game, until McEwen gets used to NRL and his defence gets better

Croker can come in at the 60 minute mark to relieve Crossland at 13 for the rest of the game.

Saifiti & Mooney I’d be asking them to go for 25 minutes before the first stint comes to an end instead of the normal 20-23.

Crouch - I think people are looking past Crouch, he is 100% ready for a bench spot in the 17, he is a player Melbourne love, he is a Josh king, decent metres, solid defensively and safe with the ball, he should’ve debuted last year but AOB sucks so… having him in means we have a solid prop rotation, we won’t be relying heavily on young guys like Hopwood, it would allow us to play Frizz on his edge and bring McEwen on the bench



Rough sketch of the time frame

Subs allowed total: (Max 8.)

(First 25-30)
Harrison —-> On

Saulo ——> On

Crouch ——-> On

Croker ——-> Off

Mooney ——-> Off

Saifiti ——-> Off
(Total used so far: 3)

(Last 35-30)
Mooney ——> On

Saifiti ——> On

McEwen ———> On

Croker ———> On

Crossland ———-> Off

Saulo ———> Off

Crouch ——-> Off

Frizell ——-> Off
(Total used so far: 7)


Obviously if injury strikes a prop, Croker will join the prop rotation with Crossland staying at lock and Harrison at 9
Click to expand...
Only thing I'd say about this is that I reckon being a week to week starter in the NRL is asking a bit much of Crokes.

Also in the back of my head with Phoenix I always think - the dude can play 80 minutes at 9 no drama. He churned out a 90 minutes/60 tackles finals game. He can do this with no drop off in service - he can throw 30 metre cut out passes in both directions under fatigue. We played our best footy in years with one hooker, him. Do we need to overthink it? I know a lot of fans are off him but I've just honestly never accepted that the failure point of what we try to do in attack is his work at 9.
 
Last edited:
KPGreatness said:
My Knights team w/ reasons

I honestly think this team gets top 8 pretty easily (barring injury)

  1. Kalyn Ponga
  2. Dom Young
  3. Dane Gagai
  4. Bradman Best
  5. Fletcher Sharpe
  6. Dylan Brown
  7. Sandon Smith (gk)
  8. Jacob Saifiti
  9. Phoenix Crossland
  10. Trey Mooney
  11. Dylan Lucas (c)
  12. Tyson Frizell
  13. Mat Croker
Bench
14. Harrison Graham
15. Pasami Saulo
16. Lachlan Crouch
17. Jermaine McEwen/Manu/ESL


Forward rotation plan:
Crossland to play 25-30 minutes at hooker than switch to lock with Croker coming off and Harrison replacing at hooker for the remainder of the game or until break is needed.

Frizell to play 50-60 minutes than to be replaced by McEwen for the reminder of the game, until McEwen gets used to NRL and his defence gets better

Croker can come in at the 60 minute mark to relieve Crossland at 13 for the rest of the game.

Saifiti & Mooney I’d be asking them to go for 25 minutes before the first stint comes to an end instead of the normal 20-23.

Crouch - I think people are looking past Crouch, he is 100% ready for a bench spot in the 17, he is a player Melbourne love, he is a Josh king, decent metres, solid defensively and safe with the ball, he should’ve debuted last year but AOB sucks so… having him in means we have a solid prop rotation, we won’t be relying heavily on young guys like Hopwood, it would allow us to play Frizz on his edge and bring McEwen on the bench



Rough sketch of the time frame

Subs allowed total: (Max 8.)

(First 25-30)
Harrison —-> On

Saulo ——> On

Crouch ——-> On

Croker ——-> Off

Mooney ——-> Off

Saifiti ——-> Off
(Total used so far: 3)

(Last 35-30)
Mooney ——> On

Saifiti ——> On

McEwen ———> On

Croker ———> On

Crossland ———-> Off

Saulo ———> Off

Crouch ——-> Off

Frizell ——-> Off
(Total used so far: 7)


Obviously if injury strikes a prop, Croker will join the prop rotation with Crossland staying at lock and Harrison at 9
Click to expand...
My concern is the lack of first grade experience on the bench for us. I like to have an experienced prop who can come on. Young guys can loose momentum and get dominated and not know how to get it back

IMO the only guys in our current squad who can fill that role are Frizell, Croker and Jones. If we were to use Frizell in the prop rotation, I feel it’s best for him to come off the bench. That then creates an issue for the right 2nd row position experience wise

We really need the likes of McEwen, Manuleleua and ESL to improve in the pre season so they can share the role

I don’t think we are far off if the young guys can develop over the pre season. There are definitely a few different combinations that we can currently go with depending on what Holbrook needs and thinks is best for the team
 
krustykraz said:
What injuries did Saulo and Brodie pick up?
Will they be right for pre-season and/or round 1?
Click to expand...
Saulo had a pec injury operated on about a month ago I think. He says he'll be good to go.
Jones apparently played with a shoulder injury for much of the season and had it operated on with a couple of rounds to go, so he can be ready for next year.
 
KPGreatness said:
My Knights team w/ reasons

I honestly think this team gets top 8 pretty easily (barring injury)

  1. Kalyn Ponga
  2. Dom Young
  3. Dane Gagai
  4. Bradman Best
  5. Fletcher Sharpe
  6. Dylan Brown
  7. Sandon Smith (gk)
  8. Jacob Saifiti
  9. Phoenix Crossland
  10. Trey Mooney
  11. Dylan Lucas (c)
  12. Tyson Frizell
  13. Mat Croker
Bench
14. Harrison Graham
15. Pasami Saulo
16. Lachlan Crouch
17. Jermaine McEwen/Manu/ESL


Forward rotation plan:
Crossland to play 25-30 minutes at hooker than switch to lock with Croker coming off and Harrison replacing at hooker for the remainder of the game or until break is needed.

Frizell to play 50-60 minutes than to be replaced by McEwen for the reminder of the game, until McEwen gets used to NRL and his defence gets better

Croker can come in at the 60 minute mark to relieve Crossland at 13 for the rest of the game.

Saifiti & Mooney I’d be asking them to go for 25 minutes before the first stint comes to an end instead of the normal 20-23.

Crouch - I think people are looking past Crouch, he is 100% ready for a bench spot in the 17, he is a player Melbourne love, he is a Josh king, decent metres, solid defensively and safe with the ball, he should’ve debuted last year but AOB sucks so… having him in means we have a solid prop rotation, we won’t be relying heavily on young guys like Hopwood, it would allow us to play Frizz on his edge and bring McEwen on the bench



Rough sketch of the time frame

Subs allowed total: (Max 8.)

(First 25-30)
Harrison —-> On

Saulo ——> On

Crouch ——-> On

Croker ——-> Off

Mooney ——-> Off

Saifiti ——-> Off
(Total used so far: 3)

(Last 35-30)
Mooney ——> On

Saifiti ——> On

McEwen ———> On

Croker ———> On

Crossland ———-> Off

Saulo ———> Off

Crouch ——-> Off

Frizell ——-> Off
(Total used so far: 7)


Obviously if injury strikes a prop, Croker will join the prop rotation with Crossland staying at lock and Harrison at 9
Click to expand...
But realistically we are one prop short here.
Either an older prop to show the young guys, or an aggressive, younger prop with plenty of tomorrows.
Forwards win games, but the back determine by how much.
 
Billy said:
Guys I don't think reached their potential under O'Brien.

1 Best - the fact that he has played his best football at SOO level says he has a lot more to give. A new coach can find a plan to get him into the game.

2 Tom Cant - his best game would be as a starting lock playing long minutes and doing a lot of work. We have never used him for that.

3 Fletcher Hunt - He has an odd skillset. O'Brien never got the chance to work out a role for him, but I think a new coach will find a way to use him.

4 Mat Croker - he has some vision and skills. The only time he got to use them was when we were desperate and trying anything. A new coach might make some plans that involve him.

5 Crossland - he has a lot of skills. He's only ever been allowed to use them as our plan C when everything else has failed.
Click to expand...
I particularly agree with the Bradman Best assessment Billy.
I would like to see Wilson De causey have a huge pre season and be transitioned into the team in 2026.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Only thing I'd say about this is that I reckon being a week to week starter in the NRL is asking a bit much of Crokes.

Also in the back of my head with Phoenix I always think - the dude can play 80 minutes at 9 no drama. He churned out a 90 minutes/60 tackles finals game. He can do this with no drop off in service - he can throw 30 metre cut out passes in both directions under fatigue. We played our best footy in years with one hooker, him. Do we need to overthink it? I know a lot of fans are off him but I've just honestly never accepted that the failure point of what we try to do in attack is his work at 9.
Click to expand...

I'm not off him I love the bloke.

All heart and effort.
Can do the 9 role competently without being Harry Grant, and doesn't need to be Harry Grant.

Get the ball to the right areas which I feel he does well.

Very solid defensively.
 
This forum is a more pro-Phoenix space, but other places have a lot of anti-Phoenix sentiment, or heresy, as I call it. They are crossing the Crossland. And that makes me cross.
 
Last year we didn't have any camps.
I don't think they are needed now that we have a private facility with everything you need on hand.

The one thing about camps is having the players all together for football training and socialising as a bonding thing.

I think they could just have them all spend a weekend at the centre using camp beds or something - leaving all their phones off.

They have all the toilets and showers and cooking facilities and gyms and footy fields, and it would cost nothing.
 
I’ve made comment before that I prefer us to start Rd1 2026 with a fully experienced side with the likes of McEwen, ESL etc starting on bench or Cup.
Realistically we failed to achieve much in Cup with all those potential improvers playing strong but few reaching the standard in 1sts and those that did, McEwen the best, failed to perform at peak level.
That will come, have been impressed with the little we have seen but McEwen was strong for a period as were others such as Hopwood and ESL but they ain’t quite there, give them time.
The likes of Croker and Jones along with Saulo and Mooney with Frizell playing prop is strong.
Your bench should be looking at playing up to 40mins each in case of injuries etc, Frizell, Croker, Jones and McEwen could/can give that the others need time, I’m sure that will happen as the season progresses.
 
Realistically, McEwen's defence deteriorated to a point where he was defending like an 18 year old fresh out of the Toyota Cup. The reads were really bad, the contact under pressure was arguably worse

He cannot be considered for the 13 and honestly probably shouldn't even be on the bench until he's proven beyond doubt that he is up to standard.

Part of me acknowledges that his defence after his debut was decent, and playing longer minutes was obviously too big an ask of him. So its not a criticism of the player, he's just so young and we should respect that and bring him along correctly.
 
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