WT v Knights round 1 ‘25 predictions

Tiger Tarl said:
Assuming injuries to Olam, Naden and Api's suspension. Here's my team for Round 1.

View attachment 20614

TWAL to defend in the middle for 15/20 mins then replaced by BIRD for remaining.

MAY to play 60mins replaced by TWAL. HUNT on for POLE after 20/25 mins. Reverse in second half.

SIONE FAINU as backup in the Back Row but could easily be replaced with another mobile forward.

LATU FAINU to cover Hooker or halves (dubious about his service from the ruck tho).
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does seem pretty cut and dried. Mason in for Bula if not fit. Seyfarth to me is the real weak link. He has no impact whatsoever on an edge. As long as he defends well he will have to do.
 
Speed2burn said:
Fatigue and inexperience for sure, but the tackle he fell off for the first try was a concern .. realistically he should have made that cover tackle.

He did do some good things, but still plenty to work on
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Again another KID playing first grade so he has plenty of time to improve in all of the facets of his game.
Api is our main hooker for at least 2 years which will help TDS immensely.
 
jrtiger said:
agreed. I thought the Fainu/Galvin conundrum would come to a head at the end of this year at the absolute earliest.

but the speed and straightness in which Latu plays his footy is going to bring this debate to the fore within the first six weeks of the season.

the more I see of Galvin, who tends to drift sideways at a slow pace and utilises his elite ballplaying, the more I think he’s suited to the back row. I just hope the club is prepared for an almighty tantrum if Marshall opts to move him to the edge.
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We all recognise the need for a half to play straight in order to create space & strip numbers in defence. We've needed that for years. We never seem able to construct tries in the same way other teams do against us. I'd prefer to rip the band-aid off & have Latu in the 6 or 7. Obviously, Luai will be the shot caller. Shift Lachie to an edge or at 13. He doesn't have to be a bash & barge guy. Use his energy & vision to pick up runners & gain yardage & territory before Luai & Latu ice the cake. Just how I see it.
 
mikey said:
Like to see how TDS goes with Luai there. 14 = Latu. Can cover many bases if need be.
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I agree Latu probs could make a go of it as a centre or 9 at a pinch. However, I think he really could be a generational talent at 6 or 7. We shouldn't mess around with his development by moving him around too much; even considering the experiences of Daley, Littler, Lyon, etc.
Galvin's played plenty of back row at junior level & we could play a style that makes use of his talents whilst accounting for his lack of weight at the moment.
 
jrtiger said:
agreed. I thought the Fainu/Galvin conundrum would come to a head at the end of this year at the absolute earliest.

but the speed and straightness in which Latu plays his footy is going to bring this debate to the fore within the first six weeks of the season.

the more I see of Galvin, who tends to drift sideways at a slow pace and utilises his elite ballplaying, the more I think he’s suited to the back row. I just hope the club is prepared for an almighty tantrum if Marshall opts to move him to the edge.
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Galvin is 2 light for back row ATM. Would get smashed, and want to leave tomorrow.
10kg less than Bird who looked smallish against Parra.
That is not the solution to keep Galvin.
Negotiations between Latu and Galvin on who is willing to bide their time or try another position.
I think Latu would be OK at centre and bide his time....injuries, SOO etc. to get back into halves and kill it.
 
Tiger Stripes said:
Galvin is 2 light for back row ATM. Would get smashed, and want to leave tomorrow.
10kg less than Bird who looked smallish against Parra.
That is not the solution to keep Galvin.
Negotiations between Latu and Galvin on who is willing to bide their time or try another position.
I think Latu would be OK at centre and bide his time....injuries, SOO etc. to get back into halves and kill it.
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If for now Latu doesn't mind playing at centre for the good of the team so be it, he can always return to the halves later when we know what Galvan is going to do.
 
I thought TDS has been solid in the trials . Sure he fell off a tackle that he was covering for others , namely Naden ; to have made . Which was a little bit baffling because he had the guy wrapped and was driving him towards the sideline only to loosen his grip to change positions for some reason , and fell off completely .
He had a couple of try assists , and generally got through his work .
The knee jerk reaction to compare a guy who’s been pencilled in for round 1 , to another guy who’s 27 and playing for an nrl contract , is a little weird .
Of course Tristan hope is going balls to wall in the trials . He’s 27 with 2 kids , and yet to make his nrl debut .
I hope he’s a late bloomer and can fill a void as third man up in the 9 spot for relatively cheap . Especially as Api moves into the twilight of his career and TDS moves more into a starting role . To have a quality next man up can only better serve the team as a whole .
Then in a couple of years hopefully he’s made enough nrl starts as third man up to get himself a 2-3 year deal in SL to set his family and himself up for the future .
At that point Hayward has come on , and it’s TDS and Hayward taking up the 9 and 14 , at 22/23 and 20 years old respectively .
 
WOw our test comes in Round 1.

Knights should be a beatable team.
doing a positional advantage:
fullback -> Ponga, Knights.
Wings -> Marzhew is dangerous but we have Jaral and Staines, Tigers.
Centers -> Best + Gagai even with walking frame have an advantage, Knights.
5/8 -> Galvin/Tigers
Halfback -> Luai -> Tigers.

Hooker -> Api Tigers.

With Frizzel out. Our forward pack stands a chance. I hope we can put Klemmer up, because we are going to need him. Ofcourse that assumes that Klem would bother and put in, with a contract on the line. Thomson, Jacob Saififi, Hetherington... vs May, Seyfarth and Pole.... The advantage is with the Knights up front...

If we can win the wressle, Luai + Galvin should be able to set up our backs and cross the line.

Lets see if Galvin + Luai gells. Ponga will run riot on our defense if allowed too. But the knights halves look really poor. This game will be a test of how 2025 will go, it's a wipeout ill see you in 2026!
 
Lestronge said:
I thought TDS has been solid in the trials . Sure he fell off a tackle that he was covering for others , namely Naden ; to have made . Which was a little bit baffling because he had the guy wrapped and was driving him towards the sideline only to loosen his grip to change positions for some reason , and fell off completely .
He had a couple of try assists , and generally got through his work .
The knee jerk reaction to compare a guy who’s been pencilled in for round 1 , to another guy who’s 27 and playing for an nrl contract , is a little weird .
Of course Tristan hope is going balls to wall in the trials . He’s 27 with 2 kids , and yet to make his nrl debut .
I hope he’s a late bloomer and can fill a void as third man up in the 9 spot for relatively cheap . Especially as Api moves into the twilight of his career and TDS moves more into a starting role . To have a quality next man up can only better serve the team as a whole .
Then in a couple of years hopefully he’s made enough nrl starts as third man up to get himself a 2-3 year deal in SL to set his family and himself up for the future .
At that point Hayward has come on , and it’s TDS and Hayward taking up the 9 and 14 , at 22/23 and 20 years old respectively .
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Sorry, but TDS hasn't shown anything. Hope is better than him. Just the way it is.
 
crazycat said:
With Frizzel out. Our forward pack stands a chance. I hope we can put Klemmer up, because we are going to need him. Ofcourse that assumes that Klem would bother and put in, with a contract on the line. Thomson, Jacob Saififi, Hetherington... vs May, Seyfarth and Pole.... The advantage is with the Knights up front...
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We're more then a chance of competing with their pack.
 
Best, Ponga and Sharpe are players who always carve us up.... try to limit them and we can win. Our pack can definitely roll over theirs.
 
Jeez how rubbish are the Roosters.

Hard to tell how well the Knights are going. Still think there halves will struggle. Decent backline though
 
SeanT said:
Jeez how rubbish are the Roosters.

Hard to tell how well the Knights are going. Still think there halves will struggle. Decent backline though
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They don't have a proper halfback - if they aren't dominating field position I can't see them being able to kick their way out of trouble. Edges are good but middle is weak
 
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