2019 NIB Knights

Dip wrote:Ponga will potentially be a very good player, but from what I saw on Saturday night at fullback (which is the first time I've seen him play there), he seriously needs to spend some time in the gym. On kick returns once they caught him they just monstered him and your team is going to struggle when you're pushed back 5m in every first tackle. Fullback is littered with small guys throughout history, but he'll need to get stronger to permanently hold that position. Guys like Slater, Bowen etc are small but still have enough strength not to be rag dolled every time they get caught. He's only young though, so no reason he can't put on some muscle fairly quickly.

Yeah I noticed the same thing as well. Like you said though he's only young so he's got plenty of time to develop. You don't want to add too much muscle too early especially on a light frame like he's got. I see him in the Dugan model of player. Just hopefully with a lot less injuries.

Oz Sport Mad wrote:



Kurt Gidley wouldn't be a bad bloke to get back into the team.

Would love to have him back on a cheap deal.

Apparently Graham will be staying with the bulldogs, which makes no sense.
Graham, Kasiano, Tolman, Woods, Klemmer. What the actual fuck.

Yes, ponga is slight and gets bashed on kick returns. It use to happen to slater and has happened to every small fullback in the history of the game, especially early in their careers. He will put weight on over the next few years.

Apparently Newcastle are a very real chance of getting Foran. I'll believe it when it happens though.

Ozzy I dont think they are banking on ponga. He is more of an investment. They are baking on signing a few decent experienced props, a half, and building a good hard working culture. Ponga, if he develops well, will be the player that tips them over the edge in a few years time.

Tolman could be the one to go from the Dogs if they keep Graham. It pretty much guarantees Klemmer would be wearing the 13 for the next few seasons, not that there's much difference. Like everyone else that does seem like a lot of cap space taken up but props. I honestly can't see Tolman getting that big a salary either with the Dogs or elsewhere. Solid club player sure, but I don't know if he has much to sell himself with these days. That would also mean they probably don't gain much cap by releasing him either.

Maybe Graham will be their new organising halfback that they're looking for. Perhaps Des has seen what a good job Asiata did at the Cowboys and thought Graham could do the same job.

Just a thought, but is Hoppa a lock for 2018? If Mbye can catch a bomb you could do worse than have him at fullback.

Honeysett wrote:

Yeah I noticed the same thing as well. Like you said though he's only young so he's got plenty of time to develop. You don't want to add too much muscle too early especially on a light frame like he's got. I see him in the Dugan model of player. Just hopefully with a lot less injuries.

I would probably see him more as a Matt Bowen type of player. I don't think he'll ever be as big and strong as Dugan. If that does happen I reckon everyone in Newy would be happy with him having a career like Mango.

I reckon hes more of an RTS type, without the size.

Newcastle should really be targeting Tolman then.
If the roster stays as it is, its fucking stupid to have so many good props in your side IMO from a cap point of view.

With tedesco signing at the roosters, I would love if Newcastle went hard after Mitchell to try and bring him back.
Mitchell can play fullback and Ponga can play 6

Hokdinson has been dropped. Would be a good fit at the Warriors IMO.
The only thing is... Feeney is his replacement... far out. Deadset the worst first grader I have ever seen.

What happened to Cogger?

Pieman wrote:Hokdinson has been dropped. Would be a good fit at the Warriors IMO.
The only thing is... Feeney is his replacement... far out. Deadset the worst first grader I have ever seen.

What happened to Cogger?

Isn't Hodkinson the skipper? What's happening there, must be more to that story. I actually think he's gone alright the last 12 months.

Actually thought he was going better this year.
Yeah I duno hey. He is soaking up too much cash for what he is providing though. Maybe we are just trying to get rid of him and his 800k a season or what ever.

its odd move considering its feeney they bring in, he has looked dreadful


you've also gotta think even out of form, his experience is needed for that team


maybe brown is starting to feel some pressure

I guarantee you it was because of his defensive effort last week. He got stepped and make absolutely no attempt to tackle the man. Just put his head down .

In rumours, we're talking to SKD apparently. Yay. I'd much rather Michael Gordon playing on the wing rather than SKD. Get him in and get him to help Ponga out with his reads at FB

Totally agree, SKD is just not worth the cash he would be asking. Prob has committed the most errors in the history of the game that guy.
Yeah hodkinson got absolutely rekked last week .. was hard to watch

Sunday footy show was saying Hodko's knee is keeping him down. no lateral movement, and can't change directions?

would make sense coz he was getting absolutely dominated in defence last game he played.

Also apparently Tolman and eastwood are on their way to newcastle.
Tolman is a good signing if true, eastwood - meh. Has one good game every 10 weeks or so.

You would think Eastwood would be due for an ESL contract if he wants to play on.

I dont see why we would sign SKD...
I mean, yeah hes better than PatMat, Brendan Elliot and Kenny Sio - but fuck me dead hes got a mistake in him. If he is cheap then alright I guess......??

eastwood hated his time in the ESL when he first went, cut his contract short to come back to australia, he'd rather finish in australia

honestly, i think he and tolman would both be great gets for the knights, eastwood may only have 1 good game every month or so with the ball but his defense is always pretty consistent, his technique is pretty awesome, still rattles players all the time, he looks like this fat, slow guy but he doesn't really play like that.


Despite his stupidity costing us on sunday, if we could keep one of those 2 now, i'd keep eastwood. but alot of that is because our need for tolman is at an all time low with woods likely coming

With their salary cap now, aren't the days of test players going to the ESL few and far between?

ESL seems to get three groups of players from us these days

* the bad boys who have lost contracts here
* the solid ressies who can't break FG
* the over 30's looking for a last pay day


eastwood would fit the last point but i can't see him doing it, reports when he came back was that he and his family hated their time in england

Jarrod Mullen - 4 years has 2-3 weeks to contest