We have seen the conclusion of the 2019 season, and the Sydney Roosters won back to back premierships. Congratulations.
Now as we move into the off-season, players are having fun after a long hard season and they deserve it.
As a Knights fan, I observe reports about players who may be leaving or getting hired. I don’t really believe in those reports until they are confirmed.
I also observe our young juniors making their strides and ready to burst on the scene. Phoenix Crossland, Bradman Best and Starford To’a all made their first-grade debuts in 2019. Sadly, they lost their debuts. Not to worry, Andrew Johns did as well and went on to become the greatest of all time.
Give or take a few years, they’ll be regular first-graders and they’ll be making an impact. We’ve got a whole lot of juniors bursting to make their first-grade debuts, like Tex Hoy and Brodie Jones to name only two.
When the time comes, I hope our players focus more on footy and less on partying. Jacob Saifiti, Tautau Moga and Mason Lino getting in strife wasn’t a good vibe for us. I’m not saying don’t have a good time, just when the time is right.
Think of bodybuilders. They spend months and months training for competition. They do their workouts, eat the right stuff and focus on the competition. Of course, in between work, they don’t party or muck around.
Back on the topic of Newcastle, some players will be gone to keep our juniors without going over the cap. We’re not over right now but some sacrifices will be made.
(Tony Feder/Getty Images)
We lost five juniors last year in Brock Lamb, Jack Cogger, Cory Denniss, Luke Yates and Nick Meaney plus Dylan Phythian sacked for his drug usage. Phythian is a talent but sadly, he thought his last name was Osbourne.
Sam Stone departed this year. He wasn’t exactly world class but he was highly underrated. I understand plenty of clubs lose juniors but a great mix of local talent and great buys usually pays off.
Next year will be different for the Knights. A new year, a new logo and a new era.
I won’t make any predictions but Adam O’Brien telling Mitchell Pearce we have a top-four team is a positive sign, but our players needs to pull it off.
Plenty of teams made huge leaps in 2019.
The Parramatta Eels went from wooden-spooners in 2018 to the second week of the finals in 2019. Let’s not forget the record-breaking finals win against Brisbane.
The Manly Sea Eagles were the worst defensive team in 2018, then went to the second week of the finals in 2019.
And the Canberra Raiders finished tenth in 2018 before being runners-up in 2019.
That being said, I don’t know what will happen next year and I won’t make any more predictions. All of mine about Newcastle failed this year and came back to haunt me.
One day when we finally win the big one again, us Knights will look back and say “It was all worth it.”
concerned supporter
Roar Rookie
K.Ponga needs a good talking to,after his childish comment about N.Brown,Newcastle needs senior players.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The Raiders had the comps worst spine according to a Roar article before kick off in 19 but were nearly premiers, Manly had no useful backs bar Turbo and DCE and no depth according to most but ran all over the Sharks in the finals. It only goes to prove that opinions before kick off don't count for that much and you won't know which Knights players emerge and improve until the season is well under way. Get a cracking 5/8 and one or two other unknowns to really crank it up and almost anything is possible.
Mr T
Roar Rookie
Jayden Brailey will be a crucial signing for the Knights as their instability in the spine was a major problem this year. They also need to settle on a halves partner for Pearce and stick with it. Whether its Watson, Lino or Mann remains to be seen as none of them made a solid claim to the no.6 this year. Adam O'Brien has proved this year at the Roosters that he has a great attacking coach; and with a strike weapon like Ponga at his disposal, there is a lot to look forward to in 2019 for Knights fans. However, I still feel there are weaknesses in this squad in particular their depth and outside backs. Time will also tell whether Adam O'Brien can run a first grade as head coach and not just as an assistant.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
They string a few wins together, only to let everyone down yet again and finish 11th
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
And panthers
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Bounce back? They havent bounced anywhere since 2014
Greg
Roar Pro
When have tigers ever had a good team on paper?
mushi
Roar Guru
We're saying the knights have a good administration?
mushi
Roar Guru
Yeah but naming a lump of concrete Gold doesn't increase it's value, just shows desperation.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Yep they will join Souths, bye bye Sam , bye bye Souths, 2020 will be EPIC
Insider
Roar Rookie
The Knights will battle it out with WT again for the “On Paper Premiers “ these two sides have dominated the last 10 years!
paulie
Guest
I don't think they will make the 8 next season. I think the back end of newcastles season tells you why the roosters were happy to let MP go to get Cronk. but I think there biggest problem is they don't have a decent centre pairing and a 5/8.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Yes but.... A Phoenix dies then rises from the ashes, Stanford has smarts (University smarts), Bradman has a history of scoring (admittedly runs not tries but it's still scoring) and Tex as too big for everyone else. The only odd one out is Brodie. It's not even a boys name is it??
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
The Knights can bounce back in 2020 No they can't. Not with their current roster and a new rookie coach who is unproven in the NRL.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Adrian, as I wrote elsewhere, IMO there are 4 things any team needs to make the finals and be genuine premiership contenders; 1) sound administration - this seems to be the case at New castle 2) a good coach - the jury's well and truly out 3) a decent squad - you've got some quality players, but I'm not sure you have a decent squad 4) good leaders - on paper that's Mitchell Pierce, but he's only on for a few rounds then goes off the boil. That rarely happens to a Smith, Cordner or Hodgson, for example. Yes, you might make the finals, but you need lots from an inexperienced coach, you need your leaders to step up for 25 rounds and you need to get a stable core group that others can help make into a strong squad. Best of luck in 2020.
Paul
Roar Guru
Maybe they have cool nicknames like "Crusher" or Mad Dog".
a
Roar Rookie
Next year they will make the finals
The Barry
Roar Guru
The thing holding the Knights back in the future might be the names of their emerging players. As good as they may be I can’t see a team made up of Phoenix, Stanford, Bradman, Tex and Brodie winning a competition
max power
Guest
the players getting in trouble early had no influence the new logo means nothing the juniors who left arent good
madmax
Guest
Top 8 a possibility. Top 4........highly unlikely. Who will they knock off to get there? Roosters, Storm, Raiders, Sea Eagles, Souths?? They'll also need to get thru Panthers, Eels, Tigers, Bulldogs just to get into the 8. Like I said highly unlikely.