What is happening to the Knights?

Question

This is not a personal attack on the Knights

But I think the Knights are going down the shitter, Rick Stone was the wrong man to take the job, they haven't really got a good halfback and their forward pack is mud at the moment. Ben Rogers is great 1 game and **** the next and Scott Dureau is plain pathetic.

I reckon what you guys need is an experienced 5/8. Perfect example is Brett Finch, he could mentor Jarrod Mullen. Jarrod has struggled badly this year and I'm not sure if he is really a good player. A guy like Finch or another experienced half would do him a world of good

Play the young guys next year. A good example is Simon Williams. A young centre with plenty of promise and potential. He is the type of player you need. Naiqama and Lulia are mud.

Another thing is a prop, your forwards always look like they are being dominated and have no leg drive, I'm not sure if Evarn Tuimavave is good enough to be starting when fit. 

On the positives, Con Mika has been explosive on the bench and he is what you need, with more gametime he will only get fitter and can do it for longer periods of time.

This is what your team should be next year

1. Kurt Gidley (c)
2. Akuila Uate
3. Junior Sau
4. Simon Williams
5. James McManus
6. Brett Finch
7. Jarrod Mullen
8. Ben Cross
9. Isaac De Gois
10. (prop), maybe Brett White?
11. Zeb Taia
12. Cory Paterson
13. Steve Simpson

14. Matt Hilder
15. Con Mika
16. Joel Edwards
17. Evarn Tuimavave

18. Shannon McDonnell
19. Richard Fa'aoso
20. Beau Henry

Guys like Taufua, Fa'aoso etc would also be in the mix but I think its time to send them to park footy and let them earn their bench spot, as they have just not shown their 2009 form. I have no idea what has happened to Richie over the off-season but he is a different player this year. All that aggression = gone.

What do you guys reckon needs to change?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I'm actually surprised I'm agreeing with you for once, usually its all hate towards the Knights with you but this time it seems like you're actually being positive lol

You're spot on with everything you've said. We're in need of a good, consistent centre because Maddog continues to get injured at the last minute which disrupts the team and our only replacement is Lulia which isn't the worst replacement but far from great. Once MacDougall retires, we will need a permanent centre & I just cant see Lulia being that man so hopefully we can sign someone good. 

Also you're right about Mullen to a certain extent. He is a good player, we've seen what he can do and I have all the faith in the world with him but it's only him that the team seems to rely on since his partner is always so sh!t. Also switching between 5/8 and halfback every single week cant be doing him any good. We were in talks with Finch but he was asking for too much so he's no longer an option for us but I do agree we need someone who can not only take the pressure of Jarrod but be the kind of player that can win a game single handedly because Rogers and Scotty just arent up for it. 

Another issue, which you pointed out is our props. We lost our two best in Wicks and Houston, so we sign Tui and he becomes our best but then we lose him, we just cant cut a break. Richie isn't the same player as last year and Tolar and Cross have never really been top class props for the Kinghts (as much as I love them, its the truth). We need to throw any cash we have at some high quality props or big versatile second rowers because what we have now isn't good enough and isn't getting the job done. 

Us Knights fans have been grilling the recruitment staff for months now, I dont know why they haven't been able to get the signatures of any player. We've missed out on so many players, the only ones that I know we have a half chance of signing is O'Donnell and Thurling which would be great but after seeing all of our missed opportunities so far, I'm not holding my breath. 

One more thing, I know it may be a poor excuse but we have been the unluckiest team in the comp with injuries this year. Just three, THREE players from our entire first grade roster has played every game so far and its only round 14! We've had 20 something injuries already. WTF lol 

Anyway thanks for the good discussion. You've raised some very good points which I totally agree with. I'm preying we make some crucial signings for next year and Stone has learnt something this year to make 2011 a successful season for the Knights.

Anonymous · Answer

The knights have barely won a game since I left

Anonymous · Answer

The Newcastle Knights are like a big box of tissues

Trending News

What is happening to the Knights?

3 Answers