The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Newcastle Knights 2008 season preview

Roar Guru
5th March, 2008
0
2458 Reads

You know times are tough when simply having every player training is considered a “revelation”.

But that is exactly how Knights coach Brian Smith described a session this week, putting into perspective just how tough his reign at Newcastle has been since arriving last season.

He lost champion halfback Andrew Johns to injury-forced retirement, while Danny Buderus, Jarrod Mullen and Kurt Gidley – easily the club’s next best three players – all spent significant time on the sidelines or unable to train in 2007.

If Smith was superstitious, you would think he’d smashed a mirror over a black cat while walking under a ladder such was Newcastle’s luck with injury.

And the curse continues into 2008.

Props Ben Cross (broken wrist) and Mitchell Sargent (pneumonia) will miss the start of the NRL season, while Mullen (shoulder), halfback Luke Walsh (ankle) and back-rower Cory Paterson (ankle) were among a long list of stars who had delayed starts to pre-season training following post-season surgery.

It’s been a less than ideal start to the 2008 campaign, but Smith knows the experience of last year’s 15th-place finish will help the Knights grow stronger this season.

“I’ve just come from training now and we had everybody except Crossy training today so that’s like a revelation for us,” said Smith, who used 37 players in first grade last year.

Advertisement

“Most of the time last season we had up to a dozen guys unable to train at a time so the more often we get that good turnout to happen the more likely we are to come together quickly.

“We were under-staffed and under-developed (last year) but that’s all behind us now.

“The guys get the opportunity this year to start with a fresh page and new look about our team. Those experiences can turn out to be good in the long term if they blend together and make this system work as a unit.”

While the young trio of Mullen, Walsh and Paterson had disrupted pre-seasons, Smith is still very optimistic they will help skipper Buderus, forward Steve Simpson and fullback Gidley form the core of his new-look side.

“(Paterson) is a very talented boy … I think he has got himself in a good position to show even more than what he showed for us last year,” said Smith of the rookie of the year-nominated back-rower.

“And (Mullen) has certainly shown a lot of confidence at training. He has really grown in leadership and is showing the way.

“I think (Buderus) is in the right frame of mind and I think his body is in pretty good shape for a big season.”

Advertisement

Smith completed a highly publicised and controversial clean out after his first year in charge resulting in 14 players released or retired and nine new recruits brought into the club.

The impact such an upheaval can have on a football side is hard to gauge, but pre-season trial results have been flattering to the Knights with two late wins over Cronulla and New Zealand Warriors.

Sceptics will point to the fact that the Knights over-ran second-rate sides in both victories, and while Smith agrees the results can be misleading, he knows they’re on the path to regaining their position among the competition’s top eight.

“It’s a bit hard to gain anything really out of our trials,” said Smith.

“We haven’t had our best team out at this point in time and we’ve had quite a few guys who have been held back with injury and recovery.

“So while we might have won them both, I don’t think we’ve really hit our straps at this point in time.

“All I can say is we’ll be doing our absolute best to start well and get better as the season goes on.

Advertisement

“(We’re focused on) getting our team to blend together and build combinations and develop into a competitive unit and then we’ll find out what we can do.

“How far we can go after that will be determined as the season goes on.”

Newcastle Knights

Year entered premiership: 1988

Home grounds: EnergyAustralia Stadium

Premierships: 2 – 1997, 2001.

Finishes over the past three years: 2007 – 15th; 2006 – semi-final; 2005 – last

Coach: Brian Smith

Captain: Danny Buderus

Gains: Danny Wicks, Chris Houston, Wes Naiqama, Keith Lulia (all Dragons), Richard Fa’aoso (Eels), Matt Hilder (Titans), Cameron Ciraldo (Sharks), Ben Cross (Storm), Sione Finefeuiaki (Sea Eagles)

Losses: Andrew Johns (retired), Luke Davico (retired), Adam Woolnough (Panthers), Josh Perry (Sea Eagles), Kirk Reynoldson (Dragons), Brad Tighe (Panthers), Kade Snowden (Sharks), David Seage (Wynnum Manly), Milton Thaiday (Central Charlestown), Riley Brown (Roosters), Daniel Abraham (Central Coast), Reegan Tanner, George Carmont, Trent Salkeld (all released)

Money Man: Kurt Gidley. Rocketed into the NSW Origin and Australian Test teams last year with his starring performances at the Knights. Can change the game with his turn of speed and has developed into a dangerous fullback.

One to watch: Wes Naiqama. Reformed bad boy trying to make a fresh start at the Knights after three turbulent years with the Dragons. Coming off a knee reconstruction, and with his periodic jail sentence complete, the Fijian international has the potential to become one of the game’s more damaging centres.

Best team: Kurt Gidley, James McManus, Adam MacDougall, Wes Naiqama, Cooper Vuna, Jarrod Mullen, Luke Walsh, Ben Cross, Danny Buderus (capt), Danny Wicks, Chris Houston, Steve Simpson, Cory Paterson. Interchange: Mitchell Sargent, Michael Young, Daniel Tolar, Zeb Taia

Premiership odds: Centrebet $41, SportsBet $34

Don’t forget to sign-up to our NRL tipping comp. Starts news week.

close