Brown right smith left is interesting. I sort of assumed the opposite.
The pre-season 2026 thread
- Thread starter Billy
- Start date
bremsstrahlung
Dairi Kovae
This preseason is messing with my head. Annoyingly, it’s probably not crossing the mind of any other club coaches…nobody probably cares what team we put out.
It’s my opinion that the bulk of preseason should be preparing for the season as a whole, not just round 1. Eg. If Brown was suspended for round 1-3, he’s still doing most of the reps at 6…
Sharpe doing majority of his training (allegedly) at 1, makes me curious though. Seems to me, you’d use the preseason to hone down specific roles in plays and tactics. Eg. Would he not be better training at 7 or centre or prop or wherever we plan to play him, instead of “filling in” at fullback…for “when Ponga is fit he comes back into the 1 jersey”. Where does Sharpe go then? 14? Wing? If they need somebody to plug a gap, put Votano there and train Sharpe where he’s going to play.
Makes me think either:
A) Ponga is definitely a non starter for Vegas and perhaps a little longer.
B) Holbrook prefers what Sharpe brings at fullback and it may be Ponga that finds a new role.
C) Sharpe will be 14 when Ponga is back.
D) Sharpe will slot into wing/centre and Holbrook doesn’t think it requires much work there.
It’s my opinion that the bulk of preseason should be preparing for the season as a whole, not just round 1. Eg. If Brown was suspended for round 1-3, he’s still doing most of the reps at 6…
Sharpe doing majority of his training (allegedly) at 1, makes me curious though. Seems to me, you’d use the preseason to hone down specific roles in plays and tactics. Eg. Would he not be better training at 7 or centre or prop or wherever we plan to play him, instead of “filling in” at fullback…for “when Ponga is fit he comes back into the 1 jersey”. Where does Sharpe go then? 14? Wing? If they need somebody to plug a gap, put Votano there and train Sharpe where he’s going to play.
Makes me think either:
A) Ponga is definitely a non starter for Vegas and perhaps a little longer.
B) Holbrook prefers what Sharpe brings at fullback and it may be Ponga that finds a new role.
C) Sharpe will be 14 when Ponga is back.
D) Sharpe will slot into wing/centre and Holbrook doesn’t think it requires much work there.
frankLauda
Timana Tahu
He did do it in the all stars game and this hybrid we all saw at the start of 25. But after the first two games it all went down hill for there.
frankLauda
Timana Tahu
Once/if Ponga is back to full training which was supposedly soon. Then we will start seeing reps of who they think is the best spine. It’s so up the air! lol. The only lock I would say is Brown at 6. Crossy - hooker. Ponga - FB if fit and playing? Or is he the 7! Haha
Les Misérables
Adam Woolnough
Honestly reckon Ponga could do a job at 7 if that was his only task. But you wouldn't get $1.4m worth of halfback, which is the fundamental issue.
Frank McWilliams
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Rather pay him $1.4m to play 7 than $1.4m to sit out injured.
But seriously if fit Ponga is f/b and Sharpe is likely Centre, with Gagai to wing, Wing or Bench
But seriously if fit Ponga is f/b and Sharpe is likely Centre, with Gagai to wing, Wing or Bench
Les Misérables
Adam Woolnough
If it were up to me I'd be starting him at 7, simplifying his role, leaving Sharpe at 1 and seeing what the first month looks like
You have the ball about 50% of the time. Which means you don't about 50% of the time. Dylan Brown has shown he is one of the best defensive halves in the game. Fletcher Sharpe showed he is a very good defender in the front line last year. Ponga does a decent impression of road kill if he has to make a tackle in the front line. Why would we even be contemplating this?
mozza
Game on broheim
Sharpe training at fullback today and didn’t do anything in the halves. Ponga, Best and later Saifiti off training by themselves. Best was running fine so he should be ok, Saf might’ve picked something up but still looked ok. Ponga was doing a lot of sideways movement and footwork stuff but barely broke out of a jog. Reckon he’s next to no chance for Vegas.
slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Disrespectful to road kill.
Was KPs last game in the halves the one where Moses clowned him for 80 minutes and he missed 11 tackles?
frankLauda
Timana Tahu
This seems the most logical to me.
frankLauda
Timana Tahu
If we want to pick and stick with a view to the future, I think we should go with Sandon at 7. We have signed him for 4 years. He seems more suited to a halves position than hooker.
I think Sharpe plays Centre/wing and bides his time until Ponga leaves or when injured. I honestly feel given Ponga’s injury history Sharpe will be playing a lot of FB the next two seasons.
I think Sharpe plays Centre/wing and bides his time until Ponga leaves or when injured. I honestly feel given Ponga’s injury history Sharpe will be playing a lot of FB the next two seasons.
mullenmagic
Paul the Chief Harragon
Brown not playing the first trial, Ponga already ruled out for both. Still says it's part of the plan to have him ready for round one.
On the halves battle:
"Dylan's definitely in the halves," Holbrook said. "He's the one spot that's locked in there and then it's up to Sandon and Sharpie to grab the other spot.
"Training's been easy at the moment because we're moving guys around because we haven't had Kalyn training with us. We've been able to move them all around and that's what we'll do in the trials. At the end of the trials our best options will pop out and we'll run with that."
www.nrl.com
On the halves battle:
"Dylan's definitely in the halves," Holbrook said. "He's the one spot that's locked in there and then it's up to Sandon and Sharpie to grab the other spot.
"Training's been easy at the moment because we're moving guys around because we haven't had Kalyn training with us. We've been able to move them all around and that's what we'll do in the trials. At the end of the trials our best options will pop out and we'll run with that."
'Play our best team': Dragons all-in as Knights halves set for shootout
Daniel Atkinson is set for his first appearance in the Red V as Knights duo Fletcher Sharpe and Sandon Smith battle it out for a place in the halves in a high-stakes start to the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge.
www.nrl.com
What if the plan is to play Ponga on the wing. He has missed all the preseason so bringing him in as fullback now will only destabilise the combinations that have been created and completely change the spine
Granted paying a winger $1.3/1.4 mil is not a good use of money, but neither is paying that to a player who is constantly injured cause his body isn’t up to the rigours of fullback, much like Latrell and Turbo
That would give us a spine of
1 Sharpe
6 Brown
7 S Smith
9 Crossland
They have, i assume, been trying in these positions all preseason
Granted paying a winger $1.3/1.4 mil is not a good use of money, but neither is paying that to a player who is constantly injured cause his body isn’t up to the rigours of fullback, much like Latrell and Turbo
That would give us a spine of
1 Sharpe
6 Brown
7 S Smith
9 Crossland
They have, i assume, been trying in these positions all preseason
Yep, that's the one
What happened to working it out very early, in the first few weeks of pre-season. It’s sounding like the same old chaos as usual!Brown not playing the first trial, Ponga already ruled out for both. Still says it's part of the plan to have him ready for round one.
On the halves battle:
"Dylan's definitely in the halves," Holbrook said. "He's the one spot that's locked in there and then it's up to Sandon and Sharpie to grab the other spot.
"Training's been easy at the moment because we're moving guys around because we haven't had Kalyn training with us. We've been able to move them all around and that's what we'll do in the trials. At the end of the trials our best options will pop out and we'll run with that."
'Play our best team': Dragons all-in as Knights halves set for shootout
Daniel Atkinson is set for his first appearance in the Red V as Knights duo Fletcher Sharpe and Sandon Smith battle it out for a place in the halves in a high-stakes start to the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge.
Les Misérables
Adam Woolnough
Starting to think the whole halfback charade is to create the illusion of competition to keep some pressure on Sandon Smith. Because lets be honest, Smith knows Gamble ain't a threat and below him is a teenager from Parra who's never seen FG.Brown not playing the first trial, Ponga already ruled out for both. Still says it's part of the plan to have him ready for round one.
On the halves battle:
"Dylan's definitely in the halves," Holbrook said. "He's the one spot that's locked in there and then it's up to Sandon and Sharpie to grab the other spot.
"Training's been easy at the moment because we're moving guys around because we haven't had Kalyn training with us. We've been able to move them all around and that's what we'll do in the trials. At the end of the trials our best options will pop out and we'll run with that."
'Play our best team': Dragons all-in as Knights halves set for shootout
Daniel Atkinson is set for his first appearance in the Red V as Knights duo Fletcher Sharpe and Sandon Smith battle it out for a place in the halves in a high-stakes start to the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge.
So if im the coach, Sharpe is my logical 'competition' for the 7 jersey
Kurriboy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
It's trials, I am sure we will be seeing Smith at 7 one half, and Sharpe at 7 second half.
If I were coach and wanted to foster competition in the position thats what I would be doing.
But come round 1 I am certain it will be Smith starting halfback. Brown in the 6. This decision will likely be made for coach if Ponga isn't ready to go for Vegas.
If I were coach and wanted to foster competition in the position thats what I would be doing.
But come round 1 I am certain it will be Smith starting halfback. Brown in the 6. This decision will likely be made for coach if Ponga isn't ready to go for Vegas.
frankLauda
Timana Tahu
This clip come up in my YouTube feed. Interview with Sandon and Freddy. Was just after his Anzac Day game against the Dragons.