Pre-Game Knights v Manly [Round 5, 2022]

[Class of 96]

Idk if Parker will come in, if he contracted covid last Tuesday or Wednesday then that will only give him 1 day to train with the team. Hopefully, the backline sticks as we haven't seen much from Christian and will be good for him to finally get his opportunity.

Just a head cold if the same as me. Should be good to go.

 

[Class of 96]

Koula is the same height as Papy, Laurie & a few others….FB is & has always been his preferred position. He’ll be fine!

And I might add, is built like granite and has speed to burn.

 

[Shoe1]

Koula is the same height as Papy, Laurie & a few others….FB is & has always been his preferred position. He’ll be fine!

He just looks short because he hangs around Saab and Tom and Parker. And Garrick

 

[Snake]

I was sure she made his NRL debut with us as well but can't find anything to confirm that.

Never played FG for us...was a shame when I saw him pop up for the Sharks because he was second only to Turbo in that u/20s side for bonafide talent.

 

[MW66]

Its been said already but I would like to see Koula play FB. Similar to Papy and is lightening quick. Thought he ran the ball hard against Raiders and I would like to see him running it back. Garrick, with the exception of 1 game last year was 'meh' at FB. Knowing Des it will be Garrick at FB, Tui on the wing and Koula back to FB. However we simply need a long term Plan B for Tom given his consistent injury issues. Start now.

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

Koula is the same height as Papy, Laurie & a few others….FB is & has always been his preferred position. He’ll be fine!

Everyone forgets there is a lot more to FB than just running the ball back. Plus as he came through the system he spent a lot of time at wing and centre - so not sure he was always the number 1 fullback. But in any case playing FB is more challenging around the requirements defensively for him to be positioned in the right spot on every play and to have the fitness to cover the enormous amount of ground. Now he is super fit but running across behind the defense play after play will require a strong mental approach as well as fitness. But the biggest challenge he will face is organising an NRL defence. He needs to boss senior players around and tell them where to go and to identify our defensive weaknesses and get someone to plug those holes. He needs the skill to identify our holes/short numbers and then the confidence to marshall the troops. The attacking part is a bit easier and yet he still has to know how to run the right lines and the right plays. Then he has to diffuse bombs against much taller players and be in place and on the right side and with the right angle to manage their kicking game. A huge huge ask for a second gamer who hasn't just been a specialist fullback.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

The other side is just as important and if Morgan Harper doesn’t keep Brandon Best quiet we will be in strife.

 

[Budgie]

Everyone forgets there is a lot more to FB than just running the ball back. Plus as he came through the system he spent a lot of time at wing and centre - so not sure he was always the number 1 fullback. But in any case playing FB is more challenging around the requirements defensively for him to be positioned in the right spot on every play and to have the fitness to cover the enormous amount of ground. Now he is super fit but running across behind the defense play after play will require a strong mental approach as well as fitness. But the biggest challenge he will face is organising an NRL defence. He needs to boss senior players around and tell them where to go and to identify our defensive weaknesses and get someone to plug those holes. He needs the skill to identify our holes/short numbers and then the confidence to marshall the troops. The attacking part is a bit easier and yet he still has to know how to run the right lines and the right plays. Then he has to diffuse bombs against much taller players and be in place and on the right side and with the right angle to manage their kicking game. A huge huge ask for a second gamer who hasn't just been a specialist fullback.

If I recall, it took Tommy quite some time to get the defensive reads right. I think Snake's help was invaluable in all this. He'll have both Tommy and Snake in his ear. The rest can only be achieved through experience. Gotta start somewhere.

 

[40 nil]

A huge huge ask for a second gamer who hasn't just been a specialist fullback.

Our last regular fullback in the last four years, apart from Tom, was Elliot (a stop gap). He was fast, made the extra man in attack and was sound under the high ball. His head on tacking was effective, but he was often out of position defensively, especially for grubbers. We made the finals with him at the back. Let's see if Koula (or Weekes at some time) matches or surpasses him.

 

[Pete W]

Our last regular fullback in the last four years, apart from Tom, was Elliot (a stop gap). He was fast, made the extra man in attack and was sound under the high ball. His head on tacking was effective, but he was often out of position defensively, especially for grubbers. We made the finals with him at the back. Let's see if Koula (or Weekes at some time) matches or surpasses him.

Lol please. Elliot was certainly not fast, and most definitely did not make the extra man in attack. He tried his best, and was consistent within his athletic capabilities. I hope we never have to compare Koula with Elliot...

 

[JBW]

Thursday night, wet weather, 2 of our favourite things...

I hope the forwards turn up to play. Bad memories of the Knights trouncing us last year up there because we didn't turn up.

We should be focusing on defense, yards up the middle and a strong kicking game. The backline will be disjointed, we wont win it with razzle dazzle.

 

[The Indian]

Thursday night, wet weather, 2 of our favourite things...

I hope the forwards turn up to play. Bad memories of the Knights trouncing us last year up there because we didn't turn up.

We should be focusing on defense, yards up the middle and a strong kicking game. The backline will be disjointed, we wont win it with razzle dazzle.

I agree totally its going to be a wet slippery game where field position & ball control will be king. Knowing us we'll still try and play our game and pass around them in the rain with a makeshift backline....but if ever there was a game for a simple kick chase gameplan and to reign in some of the fancy stuff it's going to be tomorrow night.

Kick us to a win DCE

 

[40 nil]

Elliot was certainly not fast, and most definitely did not make the extra man in attack. I hope we never have to compare Koula with Elliot...

I didn't say very fast, but he was faster than everyone except Garrick in the 2019 backline & had enough speed to make 50 metre line breaks. Also, I certainly remember him chiming into the backline and scoring tries. My point was that Koula should at least match Elliot who was the fullback in the team that made the finals in 2019 (of course, we have expectations that Koula will be much better)

 

[jbb/james]

Lol please. Elliot was certainly not fast, and most definitely did not make the extra man in attack. He tried his best, and was consistent within his athletic capabilities. I hope we never have to compare Koula with Elliot...

Yeah safe and reliable at the back. Produced better attacking moments as a centre i thought.

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

If I recall, it took Tommy quite some time to get the defensive reads right. I think Snake's help was invaluable in all this. He'll have both Tommy and Snake in his ear. The rest can only be achieved through experience. Gotta start somewhere.

agreed... I suppose based on our two and two from the four games so far I want a win this week and Garrick is a stable option. But hey - who knows what the mad scientist thinks.

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

Our last regular fullback in the last four years, apart from Tom, was Elliot (a stop gap). He was fast, made the extra man in attack and was sound under the high ball. His head on tacking was effective, but he was often out of position defensively, especially for grubbers. We made the finals with him at the back. Let's see if Koula (or Weekes at some time) matches or surpasses him.

yes and I was certainly an Elliott fan as a back up - great clubman and all effort. The backline version of Davey in my mind... no great class but a true all effort player. Koula has all the skill that is for sure. I think Des might have a different view on the team to us all.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Koula has all the skill that is for sure. I think Des might have a different view on the team to us all.

Probably.
And no doubt he has a view of what the team will look like by August/September, and the development of some of our young guys will almost certainly be key to this as the season rolls on.
It's quite refreshing to think it's only Round 5 and already Koula, Bullemor, & Tuipulotu have been selected!

 

[The Royal Soup]

Koula is going to dominate this game if he stays at fullback IMO

The forwards need to lay the platform on a wet pitch and if we do that all our structure shouldn’t have to change given Koulas rare speed

 

[NYEagle]

I'm loving the team selections!
NYEagle

 

[Sheikheagle]

I'm loving the team selections!
NYEagle

Yeah agree. Des may not be a dinosaur like some on here call him.