The Knights were already the premiership favourites after they won the first two rounds of the 2020 season very convincingly, and that makes rookie coach Adam O’Brien flawless.
The Knights finished the suspended season in second place and scoring a total of 62 points and 11 tries, with experienced halfback Mitchell Pearce assisting in five of those.
Mitchell Pearce leads the suspended comp in try assists, with the next player in Brodie Croft from the Broncos having three try assists, so Pearce was really on a roll in the assists column.
New recruit Jayden Brailey had two try assists before he did his ACL against the Tigers, where he played the full 80 minutes and still managed to make 36 tackles, so the suspension in the competition will be a good thing for Brailey.
Kalyn Ponga is tied with Eels halfback Mitchell Moses in the point-scoring list with 26 and Ponga has scored two tries and had a conversion rate of 64.3 per cent, or 9/14.
The Knights beat the Warriors in Round 1 20-0 and beat the Tigers 24-42 where they absolutely dominated and proved they can be the premiership favourites, and we will see if this long break will halt their form from the first two rounds.
The Knights lead the point-scoring list with 62, the next best is eight points behind and that’s the Parramatta Eels with 54. They lead the competition in tries with 11 and the next best is the Broncos with nine and Kotoni Staggs scoring four of those.
As we all know, the backend of 2019 was very disappointing for the Knights and they didn’t make the eight after finishing 11th with a negative win/loss ratio of 10-0-14 to end the season. In their preseason trial game against a very young and poor Roosters side that they beat 58-0, everyone still doubted they could beat a full-on team with the likes of James Tedesco, but after the first two rounds they proved they can take on pretty much any team.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
If the competition was still going, their next match would be against the Sharks that started off 2020 with a 0-2 record after losing 22-18 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs and a narrow loss to the Melbourne Storm 10-12, where Tui Kamikamica scored the match-winning try in the 70th minute with Cameron Smith having a try assist and making 42 tackles.
Connor Watson coming off the bench was really good against the Wests Tigers after playing 49 minutes, scoring one try, 16 runs for 159 metres, nine tackle-breaks, one line-break and 16 tackles.
This long break can really benefit the Knights because players like David Klemmer and Mitchell Pearce can rest their bodies and when the season returns, they can play like they did in the first two rounds – or maybe even better. The Knights will be boosted by Tyson Frizell who hasn’t been registered yet by the NRL because of how the financial costs could look when the game returns, but I think this year or next year we will see him playing for the Knights.
Mark Scarfe
Roar Guru
They were favourites in 2019 and look what happened. This year though the coach seems to have the backing of the players so in a shortened season they may go well.
Dayer
Roar Rookie
haha it should read Are the Broncos the current premiership favourites? go the BronX
Kevin
Roar Rookie
While I couldnt go as far as to claim them premiership favourites, I do rate Newcastle this year and I think they could be a sneaky chance at the top 4. I mean, who predicted Canberra to be within a stupid referees call from winning a premiership last year. And Newcastle has showed glimpses of being a strong team. I mean we only have to look at their middle stretch last year where they won six straight games, including wins to the Raiders, Roosters and Bunnies. The biggest concern is whether Newcastle could sustain it for a full season, which is probably where they fall on the ladder. While I think its a bit far fetched to call them premiership favourites just yet, I wouldnt be surprised if they make the top 8 or even the top 4.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
They beat three of them in succession last year, and I genuinely thought Newcastle would make a run for the top four, which made their back end of the season all the wrose.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
After two rounds? No.
Officer59
Roar Rookie
Not really coz it's been the same ole same ole for the past few years...... buying players galore & announcing themselves as premiership contenders & achieving what? Zero! Premierships are not won in the first two rounds mate! Like others have said let's see how well they're doing at the pointy end of the season......well "a season".
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I watched season 2 of the Netflix thing on Sunderland soccer club. Desperate optimism might be an apt description of the owners.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
OMG I'd have them as favourites for the bottom 4 but most important thing is you probably won't see anymore footy this year so probably won't find out anyway
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
That's what I like to see, ignoring facts in favour of blind optimism, anyone would think you followed the Sharks. Remember- a positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
Nat
Roar Guru
I had both Cowboys and Souths in my 8. The Broncos beat them both. Give them the trophy now!! :happy:
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
If the Knights manage to make the eight they are in huge trouble if Ponga is still kicking goals like he has this season. He's lost the plot. Before the season I believed that a fair number of teams could win the title and anyone could make the eight. Knights are a chance at the eight I believe but a title is possible but very unlikely. Braily looked the goods but he's cactus and it's not good for the club. Unless the Storm supply another club with a top hooker , the wheels could fall off.
Randy
Roar Rookie
I thought Adrian Meagle...
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Are they favorites ? One board has them on the 10th line at 20-1..seems a bit stingy to me..the Warriors were awful and that Tigers game was in the balance for an hour before they finally put them away. Eels at 10’s looks better.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Strewth Anton ! They only beat the two teams who will likely be battling out the wooded spoon , lost their key number 9 with an ACL , and have a recent proven record of poor form in the 2nd half of the season. You are obviously a very optimistic fan.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Souths?
Anton Taylor
Roar Guru
Yeah alright but imagine if they do.. you’ll look like an idiot ????????????
Officer59
Roar Rookie
LOLOLOLOL..........no chance mate. They will NOT make the 8 this year & for years to come.
Walter White
Guest
Dream On Once they have beaten the heavyweights - Melbourne, Roosters, Canberra and Souths then I might start to take notice. Until then, they are making up the numbers.
Chuck
Guest
Joey Johns is that you?