Red88_Tiger
Well-known member
Once you get over 20 games in my experience most players are on the wane mentally. And kids are softer these days 😂😂😂😂😂
Buttface
Well-known member
For NSW RL they sure enjoyed banging on about Melbourne.NSW Cup draw released for 2026 ...
NSWRL Major Competitions draws released for 2026
Major Competitions draws have been confirmed for 2026www.nswrl.com.au
Bus 2 Terrigal Lagoon
Member
Good to see Kurt Falls getting a start at Norths.
He’ll be back at Lidcombe Oval for Rd2 after playing his other former club Penrith in Rd1.
He’ll be back at Lidcombe Oval for Rd2 after playing his other former club Penrith in Rd1.
Bus 2 Terrigal Lagoon
Member
We got flogged, going by the lack of score
Lost 26-16
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
Haywood will be a very good player, we let the right one go with TDS
Tiger_Yoshi
Well-known member
Looks like another dismal
Season ahead for the Cup side
Tiger_Yoshi
Well-known member
D still an issue... sheez
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
It was actually a good hitout by the boys. I just re-watched to look at structures & effort. It was 4 tries apiece with 10 to go. In the 2nd half, we played a number of our 2nd tier Cup players and moved players around a bit so the loss is no concern. Will do a wrap tomorrow with some interesting observations & opinions.
I wasn’t disappointed, lots of positives signs.
We have showed a bit of loyalty to a lot of players who have showed signs of talent coming through the grades and I think we could see it pay off with a few of them who might have breakout seasons.
I thought Bunty played well. Not the normal rampaging charges we expect from him, but he played with good energy and should be a great leader for our emerging middles when he is not playing NRL.
I’ve worked out the 10 was Harry Delaney, nothing overly special about him, but he was accelerating well with his ball carries and is generally a reliable defender.
I think we under rate Max Liles, he has more quality than what he gets credit and I hope he gets his fair share of opportunity in 2026.
Attard showed glimpses of his speed and class and I was also impressed with Logan Deininger despite a couple of uncharacteristic errors.
I’m happy to see Bailey Hodges is still at the club and Luke Jack is a hard one to gauge as he is definately on the small side for a forward, but no doubt he has a big engine and is all heart. He should be playing 13 / 9 not on an edge and I think he has more upside than Charlie Murray.
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Tigerstigerstigers
Well-known member
I get the feeling the competition for spots is going to be very tight. We clearly have a heap of future first graders across the pathway ranks which augurs well for performance in firsts,
Example in the backs at this point it’s hard to think that at least 2 of these players won’t be crying out for first grade selection at some point
Liles, Tavana, Attard, Javron Andrews
Example in the backs at this point it’s hard to think that at least 2 of these players won’t be crying out for first grade selection at some point
Liles, Tavana, Attard, Javron Andrews
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Harry Delaney! I can see the resemblance, looks much bigger than in Flegg last season.
Yes that’s why I didn’t recognise him when watching the game live and flicking between the Balmain SG Ball game.
LeichhardtTiger
Well-known member
I'm not too fussed about this trial form - BUT - Newcastle played the Dragons in a Pre season match yesterday and they had 10 players on a reserves bench (all KOE or Flegg players) plus at least another 3 or 4 in the actual 17. They were missing Best, Ponga and Brown. So we were up against a depleted Newcastle KOE squad is what I'm saying. https://www.nrl.com/draw/pre-season-trials/2026/round-1/dragons-v-knights/
True the opposition was.practically 3rd tier, but we had a decent percentage of players that were 3rd tier also.
Personally I was just hoping to see if any of our new recruits looked decent in their first hit out and if any young players appear to have improved from last season.
As I stated above, I thought Bunty played a role we need from him without setting the world on fire, Attard has some nice touches including a line break and some glimpses of his ability.
Haywood was looking as confident as always, but I do want to see him get out of dummy half and run the ball a lot more which is his strength.
Logan Deininger interests me as he has not got any taller, but is strongly built and seems to bust tackles with ease.
The Taotua brothers looked ok, but like a fair chunk of last season they are frustrating in not being as dominant as what they are capable of.
Both of them have the size, athleticism and aggression to be superstars, but are not reaching top speed with their ball carries often enough to best utilise their imposing physique.
They both have definite NRL quality, but are currently a fair way off it until they realise how big, strong and fast they are and start utilising it much more regularly.
Max Liles another player who has plenty of talent and not getting anywhere near his ceiling just yet,
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BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
NSW Cup trial v Newcastle – 7 February
1st half line-up
FB - Attard
LW - Brookes
LC - Herbert
RC - Max Taotua
RW - Tavana
5/8 – Andrews (left side)
HB – Matai (right side)
Lk - Murray
R2R – Jack, Laupepa
L2R - Mitch Taotua
FR - Broederlow
Hk - Haywood
FR Aho, Afoa
Observations:
-Only 2 interchanges all 1st half half for the WM. Afoa replaced Aho who went off after 10 mins with a HIA. Laupepa came on for Luke Jack with about 5 to go in the half.
-Was 2 tries apiece at half time. Thought we had the better of it.
-Best in 1st half: Broederlow, Matai, Afoa, Tavana, Jack.
- Attard, Max Taotua, Tavana, Andrews, Murray, Broederlow & Haywood only played the 1st half, possible pointer to getting NRL trial time next week.
2nd half line-up
FB - Brookes
LW - Herbert (10 mins), #12 whoever that was (remainder)
LC - Mitch Taotua
RC - #11 whoever that was (a mini Royce Hunt)
RW - #24 whoever that was
5/8 - Liles
HB - Matai
Lk - Jack, Bailey Hodges, Lanyon (final 10 mins)
R2R - Afoa, Jack (final 5 mins)
L2R – Laupepa
FR - #10 who Vicious has identified as Flegg player Harry Delaney
Hk – Lanyon & then Heith Pritchard I think it was (final 10 mins)
Prop - Duncombe
Observations:
-it was 4 tries all after 70 mins then we started to shuffle our edges & Newy scored 2 late tries.
-our right centre & wing in this half look Ron Massey types.
-Yes Bunty Afoa played right edge for most of this half & looked very good!
-Best in 2nd half: Afoa, Matai, Jack, Delaney, Brookes, Mitch Taotua
Tries against us:
Jared Haywood & Charlie Murray were responsible for 2 tries against in our 20. Haywood 1st man in either being stepped for being too fast up out of the line & Murray coming across as 2nd man not strong enough to stop the ball carrier. Attard a bit passive too.
Next try was a contested cross field kick which our #24 winger lost the contest.
Another try our #12 left wing was caught too far in & was beaten on his outside, then the winger simply drew the fullback to pass into tryscorer.
Knights scored in last minute finding a hole between Max Liles & our big centre #11.
Note: The last 3 tries were simply due to trialing players currently at a level below Cup standard.
Player notes:
Iverson Matai – was my MOM, I thought provided good direction, long & short kicking game was good, set up Attard for a line break with a beautiful inside ball, grubber kick for Max Liles to score, defence was solid even strong in contact.
Afoa – played 70 mins, full of energy & effort, strong runs on both sides of the ball without being blockbusting, 30 mins on an edge interesting.
Luke Jack – wow. His new nickname has to be Luke ‘The Axe’ Jack. Not overly big but boy he can tackle & tackle with venom every time. Nothing flash with ball in hand but he will make attackers look out for him in the D line. Our 1st try was the result of Jack forcing a handling error in the previous set with a strong tackle. Very impressed!
Broederlow – Would have been my MOM if he played the 2nd half. I had written this guy off after last season but if yesterday is anything to go by, he will cement a spot in the middle in NSW Cup and be very damaging with his runs & defence. Had a lot of lateral defensive frailties last season but wasn’t found out in the middle yesterday. Looks heaps fitter this year.
Tavana – some very nice effort plays in defence in 1st half, a last tackle ankle tap on the kicker forced a mistake, took a smooth as you like one-handed intercept for a 50m run when Newy were on the attack.
Haywood – apart from some poor defensive decisions to cost 2 tries, he scored one & set up another in the 1st half, didn’t do any darts from dummy half but provided mostly good service. Can tell he will be a player as his strength & body develops.
Attard – lively & pacey in attack, good positional play, broke the line off a nice inside Matai ball at speed to set up Haywood for a try was a highlight.
Logan Brookes was impressive too both at left wing & then fullback. Very elusive with his runs & strong in his tackles. Did knock-on a contested bomb only fault.
Also thought the Taotua twins were both strong for 20yos. Max looks a very progressive right centre, solid in attack & defence. Mitch is more blockbusting and scored in the 2nd half with a powerful run off Liles though is prone to an error.
Laupepa was powerful in his runs with a nice offload in his game, Duncombe was workmanlike and strong in contact & Delaney has put on some size and is now quite the lumbering middle with a motor.
Andrews – quiet 1st half, depending on our depth by Round 2 and Matai’s form he may start the season in Flegg to develop his game. No harm in that.
1st half line-up
FB - Attard
LW - Brookes
LC - Herbert
RC - Max Taotua
RW - Tavana
5/8 – Andrews (left side)
HB – Matai (right side)
Lk - Murray
R2R – Jack, Laupepa
L2R - Mitch Taotua
FR - Broederlow
Hk - Haywood
FR Aho, Afoa
Observations:
-Only 2 interchanges all 1st half half for the WM. Afoa replaced Aho who went off after 10 mins with a HIA. Laupepa came on for Luke Jack with about 5 to go in the half.
-Was 2 tries apiece at half time. Thought we had the better of it.
-Best in 1st half: Broederlow, Matai, Afoa, Tavana, Jack.
- Attard, Max Taotua, Tavana, Andrews, Murray, Broederlow & Haywood only played the 1st half, possible pointer to getting NRL trial time next week.
2nd half line-up
FB - Brookes
LW - Herbert (10 mins), #12 whoever that was (remainder)
LC - Mitch Taotua
RC - #11 whoever that was (a mini Royce Hunt)
RW - #24 whoever that was
5/8 - Liles
HB - Matai
Lk - Jack, Bailey Hodges, Lanyon (final 10 mins)
R2R - Afoa, Jack (final 5 mins)
L2R – Laupepa
FR - #10 who Vicious has identified as Flegg player Harry Delaney
Hk – Lanyon & then Heith Pritchard I think it was (final 10 mins)
Prop - Duncombe
Observations:
-it was 4 tries all after 70 mins then we started to shuffle our edges & Newy scored 2 late tries.
-our right centre & wing in this half look Ron Massey types.
-Yes Bunty Afoa played right edge for most of this half & looked very good!
-Best in 2nd half: Afoa, Matai, Jack, Delaney, Brookes, Mitch Taotua
Tries against us:
Jared Haywood & Charlie Murray were responsible for 2 tries against in our 20. Haywood 1st man in either being stepped for being too fast up out of the line & Murray coming across as 2nd man not strong enough to stop the ball carrier. Attard a bit passive too.
Next try was a contested cross field kick which our #24 winger lost the contest.
Another try our #12 left wing was caught too far in & was beaten on his outside, then the winger simply drew the fullback to pass into tryscorer.
Knights scored in last minute finding a hole between Max Liles & our big centre #11.
Note: The last 3 tries were simply due to trialing players currently at a level below Cup standard.
Player notes:
Iverson Matai – was my MOM, I thought provided good direction, long & short kicking game was good, set up Attard for a line break with a beautiful inside ball, grubber kick for Max Liles to score, defence was solid even strong in contact.
Afoa – played 70 mins, full of energy & effort, strong runs on both sides of the ball without being blockbusting, 30 mins on an edge interesting.
Luke Jack – wow. His new nickname has to be Luke ‘The Axe’ Jack. Not overly big but boy he can tackle & tackle with venom every time. Nothing flash with ball in hand but he will make attackers look out for him in the D line. Our 1st try was the result of Jack forcing a handling error in the previous set with a strong tackle. Very impressed!
Broederlow – Would have been my MOM if he played the 2nd half. I had written this guy off after last season but if yesterday is anything to go by, he will cement a spot in the middle in NSW Cup and be very damaging with his runs & defence. Had a lot of lateral defensive frailties last season but wasn’t found out in the middle yesterday. Looks heaps fitter this year.
Tavana – some very nice effort plays in defence in 1st half, a last tackle ankle tap on the kicker forced a mistake, took a smooth as you like one-handed intercept for a 50m run when Newy were on the attack.
Haywood – apart from some poor defensive decisions to cost 2 tries, he scored one & set up another in the 1st half, didn’t do any darts from dummy half but provided mostly good service. Can tell he will be a player as his strength & body develops.
Attard – lively & pacey in attack, good positional play, broke the line off a nice inside Matai ball at speed to set up Haywood for a try was a highlight.
Logan Brookes was impressive too both at left wing & then fullback. Very elusive with his runs & strong in his tackles. Did knock-on a contested bomb only fault.
Also thought the Taotua twins were both strong for 20yos. Max looks a very progressive right centre, solid in attack & defence. Mitch is more blockbusting and scored in the 2nd half with a powerful run off Liles though is prone to an error.
Laupepa was powerful in his runs with a nice offload in his game, Duncombe was workmanlike and strong in contact & Delaney has put on some size and is now quite the lumbering middle with a motor.
Andrews – quiet 1st half, depending on our depth by Round 2 and Matai’s form he may start the season in Flegg to develop his game. No harm in that.
Great post.
I went and watched live.
I thought Bunty looked much smaller than last season and Jack Attard looked much bigger than his pictures, his frame is quite solid. Large legs.
Herbert & Matai are very vocal, barking a lot of orders, keeping everyone in check.
Broaderlow is a hitter and Heywood looks very slick across the field, elusive and very awkward. Think he'll become a handy player.
