The pre-season thread - 2022

A sixth.

6 Jirah Momoisea - after spending a season and a half just training, when he finally got on the field he was completely different player to the front row robot he was in the juniors. I expect the coaches were very excited by the range of skills he showed when he got his chance last year, and will be seeing what else he can do. I'm thinking they'll revisit the second row idea again.
 
Billy said:
So the 5 players I think will improve most this off season;

1 Dom Young - He has all the natural gifts and he learnt a lot in his first off season. By all reports he has been ripping into training.

2 Jake Clifford - In his first year he was a lot better in a lot of areas than I thought he'd be - defence, fitness, running game - but there was little sign of the inspired playmaking we thought he would bring. I think that was because he hadn't trained or played with the side. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he goes after a full offseason with the spine and with Johns working on his skills.

3 Simi Sasagi - Everyone wants to see what he can do. We've seen glimpses and he looks to be a exciting prospect.

4 Kalyn Ponga - He changed his game a lot last year and I think Johns will have massive plans for him. I really can't think how he will change up his game, but I know he will.

5 Controversial one - Enari Tuala - He's pretty young still and he's been steadily improving since he joined us. He was one of our best last year - which seemed a bit lucky - but you make your own luck. I think he will step up again.
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Cool list. I would replace Tuala with Momosea as my top 5. You make a good point that Tuala does keep improving though.
 
Billy said:
I notice Josh Ralph has a train and trial with Canterbury and Gould is talking him up.
Seems like a long time ago that Hayden Loughrey was keeping him out of the Knights under 20s.
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Just reading that Josh Ralph will be at the Bulldogs for the season according to Gould.
 
Billy said:
So the 5 players I think will improve most this off season;

1 Dom Young - He has all the natural gifts and he learnt a lot in his first off season. By all reports he has been ripping into training.

2 Jake Clifford - In his first year he was a lot better in a lot of areas than I thought he'd be - defence, fitness, running game - but there was little sign of the inspired playmaking we thought he would bring. I think that was because he hadn't trained or played with the side. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he goes after a full offseason with the spine and with Johns working on his skills.

3 Simi Sasagi - Everyone wants to see what he can do. We've seen glimpses and he looks to be a exciting prospect.

4 Kalyn Ponga - He changed his game a lot last year and I think Johns will have massive plans for him. I really can't think how he will change up his game, but I know he will.

5 Controversial one - Enari Tuala - He's pretty young still and he's been steadily improving since he joined us. He was one of our best last year - which seemed a bit lucky - but you make your own luck. I think he will step up again.
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Just on what Billy says here about Clifford and playmaking. What does everyone see the definition of playmaker being? To me, the sides chief playmaker should be the one guiding the team about, getting to the right positions on the field to put a play on, following the game plan and getting the ball into the hands of the sides most dangerous players, against the opposition weaknesses, more often than not. I saw plenty of this from Clifford last year. Where he lacked maybe, was that he didn't ballplay a lot, didn't give the money ball too often. Is this a fair differential between a playmaker and a ballplayer? And often players cam be both?
 
I guess the best example I can give is Adam Reynolds being the chief playmaker at the bunnies, guiding them around the park, before handing over to Cody and Latrell to do the ballplaying.
 
Owey said:
Just on what Billy says here about Clifford and playmaking. What does everyone see the definition of playmaker being? To me, the sides chief playmaker should be the one guiding the team about, getting to the right positions on the field to put a play on, following the game plan and getting the ball into the hands of the sides most dangerous players, against the opposition weaknesses, more often than not. I saw plenty of this from Clifford last year. Where he lacked maybe, was that he didn't ballplay a lot, didn't give the money ball too often. Is this a fair differential between a playmaker and a ballplayer? And often players cam be both?
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The Clifford who played against us for the Cowboys produced some real quality plays that led to well crafted tries.
I had my worries about his defence, fitness and running game, and he has been much better in all those areas than I thought - but I think we bought him for that X factor he had when playing against us, and it's only happened a handful of times so far.
I put it down to him playing with the same group for years at the Cowboys and effortlessly linking up with them, and him needing time to develop those relationships with us.
It was most obvious in his first 2 or 3 games for us - he really looked like he had a different playbook to the rest of the team - he kept kicking for no one and throwing passes to guys who weren't expecting it.
 
Billy said:
www.newcastleherald.com.au

Newcastle Knights concerned 36-man squad might not be enough to combat COVID

"It'll be very much a case of next man up."
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article says we will probably have to use a lot of lower grade players.
Unconfirmed reports that the number of infected players is in "double digits", but club only saying "substantial".
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I know you mentioned Dan Ticehurst as a potential to debut. He has just had shoulder surgery so I'm guessing he will be on the back burner a bit. Says his getting frustrated at the lack of game time and the knights aren't showing much toward him but is training what he can.
 
Owey said:
Just on what Billy says here about Clifford and playmaking. What does everyone see the definition of playmaker being? To me, the sides chief playmaker should be the one guiding the team about, getting to the right positions on the field to put a play on, following the game plan and getting the ball into the hands of the sides most dangerous players, against the opposition weaknesses, more often than not. I saw plenty of this from Clifford last year. Where he lacked maybe, was that he didn't ballplay a lot, didn't give the money ball too often. Is this a fair differential between a playmaker and a ballplayer? And often players cam be both?
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I think it will depend a fair bit on who and what the other halves partner brings to the table this year - Clune and Crossland are quite different players with different skill sets and you can throw Ponga in as a third half into that mix. I think your overall assessment of Clifford is pretty spot on and he can bring a range of options to compliment the other halves partner(s), whoever that may be.

But I'd add that one of his underutilised strengths is his ball running ability - I actually think Clifford has the size, strength and evasion ability to beat players one on one when he picks the right moments to do what Pearce used to attempt on occasion and generally too often. He showed last year that this is a point of difference that I'd like to see him develop, if for no other reason than to keep the defence in two minds and give more space to the rest of the spine players.
 
I think cliffy is in for a big year. Finished the season with I think the third or fourth most forced line drop outs (something we have been atrocious at for years).
One of the biggest halves in the comp which he should learn to use with his running game. And also has a great boot.
His main weakness is his selective passing which you could see with the lack of involvement from our outside back's. Joey was amazing at this and is the perfect player to train a half that lacks in this area.
Sky is the limit for him in my opinion. People keep saying he won't be a super star. But I disagree, if Taylor went from 1m man to train and trial and Corey Norman played origin, I don't see why clifford can't do the same, especially if he and ponga can create a dynamic combination. This will be their first preseason together since juniors and with the keys to the city, I feel optimistic that we will be unpredictable and hopefully be a highlight reel attaching team barring injury.
 
www.newcastleknights.com.au

Gallery: Return to training after Christmas break

The men's side made their return to pre-season training after a break over Christmas and New Years.
www.newcastleknights.com.au www.newcastleknights.com.au

Latest photos of training - impossible to work out who is training and who isn't because it just seems a small group in the photos - but Mac Baker, Mat Croker, and Dylan Lucas are there.
Dylan Lucas looks huge. He looks to have Bradman Best type bulk about him. I'd say at least 10kg bigger than this time last year.
 
Visible in the photos

Best
Clune
Crossland
Jones
Barnett
Lucas
Baker
Gagai
Musgrove
Hoy
Tuala
saulo
Hodgson
Croker
Mann

not in the photos
DSaf
Jsaf
Ponga
Fitz
Friz
Klemm
Simi
Brails
Young
Clifford
Randall
Momo
Johns
Lee
Sue
etc
 
Billy said:
So the 5 players I think will improve most this off season;

1 Dom Young - He has all the natural gifts and he learnt a lot in his first off season. By all reports he has been ripping into training.

2 Jake Clifford - In his first year he was a lot better in a lot of areas than I thought he'd be - defence, fitness, running game - but there was little sign of the inspired playmaking we thought he would bring. I think that was because he hadn't trained or played with the side. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he goes after a full offseason with the spine and with Johns working on his skills.

3 Simi Sasagi - Everyone wants to see what he can do. We've seen glimpses and he looks to be a exciting prospect.

4 Kalyn Ponga - He changed his game a lot last year and I think Johns will have massive plans for him. I really can't think how he will change up his game, but I know he will.

5 Controversial one - Enari Tuala - He's pretty young still and he's been steadily improving since he joined us. He was one of our best last year - which seemed a bit lucky - but you make your own luck. I think he will step up again.
Click to expand...

I can’t wait for Sasagi to get his opportunity, he’s explosive and got some pace/deceptive strength through the middle. I hope he trains well and gets given his shot.
 
Might be a throwback to 2016. Just looking at the list, that year we had David Bhana, Jaelen Feeney, Pat Mata'utia, Daniel Saifiti, Jacob Saifiti, Cory Denniss, Will Pearsall, Josh King, Brock Lamb, Jack Cogger & Dylan Phythian all play their first games of NRL. Unfortunate side effect of that was essentially tanking the year & automatically grabbing the spoon. This year everyone will be in the same boat so it's a toss up.
 
Joshhh said:
Might be a throwback to 2016. Just looking at the list, that year we had David Bhana, Jaelen Feeney, Pat Mata'utia, Daniel Saifiti, Jacob Saifiti, Cory Denniss, Will Pearsall, Josh King, Brock Lamb, Jack Cogger & Dylan Phythian all play their first games of NRL. Unfortunate side effect of that was essentially tanking the year & automatically grabbing the spoon. This year everyone will be in the same boat so it's a toss up.
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Also might have ruined a few careers debuting blokes too early
 
Dylan Lucas looks huge in this photo.
In that game where he scored 4 tries last year he looked like a genuine speedster - totally burning the opposition with a few long range tries - one of them near length of the field.
You have to wonder if all this bulk will affect his speed.

1641498639087.png
 
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