As part of a series profiling the expected Round 1 sides for all 17 NRL clubs in 2023, the Knights are a team in need of a shake-up.
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien recognises there needs to be change to get the Knights firing again and that will revolve around getting marquee star Kalyn Ponga more involved.
That has taken a backwards step, however, as his captain was revealed to have suffered a calf injury that will rule him out of the All Stars game – where he has previously represented his Maori heritage – and potentially both trials, leaving him in a race to gain sharpness before Round 1.
Ponga is shifting into the halves for 2023, with a training plan adapted to suit the demands of front-line defence having been agreed as early as last year, as soon as Ponga was ruled out for the season due to repeat concussions.
Newcastle have sealed a deal for Sharks speedster Lachie Miller to make an immediate switch so he is likely to start the season at fullback.
The Knights were one of the NRL’s biggest underachievers last year and O’Brien enters the season under pressure after the team took a massive step backwards following back-to-back finals campaigns.
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Ponga and co-captain Jayden Brailey were injured for large portions of last season and the Knights can’t afford lengthy absences among their main players as they lack depth in the spine.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
Who’s new?
There are five new faces and all have the potential to make an impact.
Experienced forward Adam Elliott has made the switch after a season restoring his reputation on and off the field at the Raiders while Jack Hetherington has headed north from the Bulldogs where his stint was marred by suspensions and injury.
After pursuing Luke Brooks to solve their halfback dilemma, the Knights landed his Wests Tigers teammate Jackson Hastings, who can be the on-field organiser they lacked last season following Mitchell Pearce’s departure to the Super League.
Brisbane’s Tyson Gamble will likely end up as a bench utility while Titans winger Greg Marzhew should deliver plenty of metres out of the backfield and attacking strikepower out wide.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Who’s gone?
David Klemmer’s switch to the Wests Tigers as part of the trade for Hastings leaves a big hole in terms of experience and go-forward up front.
The departure of fellow forwards Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Jirah Momoisea (Eels), Pasami Saulo (Raiders) and Sauaso Sue (Hull KR) has also reduced Newcastle’s depth in the pack.
Starting halves Anthony Milford (Dolphins) and Jake Clifford (Hull FC), back-up hooker Chris Randall (Titans) and utility Tex Hoy (Hull FC) round out an exodus of NRL-level talent even if many of them failed to cement regular spots.
Key spots to unlock
Kalyn Ponga is set to make his return from concussions in this weekend’s trial with Parra at five-eighth.
Lachlan Miller has been brought in to shore up the fullback spot ahead of injury-plagued English fullback Bailey Hodgson as there are no other specialist fullbacks in the squad.
The Saifiti twins will likely be the starting props with David Klemmer gone with new recruits Jack Hetherington and Adam Elliott potentially starting off as one of the bench options for the middle-forward rotation.
Round 1 predicted team
1 Lachlan Miller
2 Dominic Young
3 Dane Gagai
4 Bradman Best
5 Greg Marzhew
6 Kalyn Ponga
7 Jackson Hastings
8 Daniel Saifiti
9 Jayden Brailey
10 Jacob Saifiti
11 Tyson Frizell
12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13 Kurt Mann
Interchange
14 Tyson Gamble
15 Jack Hetherington
16 Brodie Jones
17 Adam Elliott
Other squad members: Mat Croker (suspended until Round 3), Bailey Hodgson, Adam Clune, Dylan Lucas, Enari Tuala, Hymel Hunt, Jack Johns, Krystian Mapapalangi, Leo Thompson, Phoenix Crossland, Simi Sasagi.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Knights should go okay. Won't be in the bottom 4. Adam E definitely to start at 13. Tyson Gamble also to play a lot more than some people think. When will the Raiders' analysis/article come out?! Have i missed it? Suspect that is the real article that all NRL fans are waiting to read.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
If correlation of Tyson Frizell’s role as second rower is equal to causation of Newcastle Knights’ poor results is a ‘well researched fact’ please direct me to the source of that research. I would dearly love to read it. As would a few others on this site. Again, so sorry my comment didn’t amuse you. I look forward to your Netflix special.
Chris
Guest
I guess that depends on if you view Gardner as being a good second rower in the first place ? That’s purely a personal point of view . Was what you said amusing ? You must have given yourself a good laugh. Use as many ‘dude’s’ in your long explanation as you like? It’s also pretty hard to ridicule a well researched fact, no matter how hard you try. Especially given what you just messaged in . Which proves that you must have looked up the actual meaning of ‘ironic’ yourself , to see if I was correct . :thumbup: It’s always good to want to try harder in the future. Something for us all in that .
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Would Ponga missing out surprise anyone?
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Dude says Knights poor form is due to one back rower. I pointed out that Luke Garner got increasing minutes that coincided with Tigers increasing poor form, and therefore (according to logic of aforementioned dude) must be a crap back rower. But ...(twist!)... Luke Garner is actually a very good back rower, which everyone knows - including the best team in the comp who just poached him from Tigers. That's the bit that is 'contrary to what one expects'.... The intent of the statement was to communicate the exact opposite of the literal meaning of the words used. The intent of this ironic statement was to ridicule the patently illogical assertion by said dude that Newcastle's poor form can be sourced to one back rower. While my actually words conveyed the sense "Luke Garner's stint at Tigers coincided with their demise, therefore he's hopeless and will sink the Panthers", the ironic subtext was actually saying "Dude, you are being a silly sausage, and your theory makes zero sense". I am mortified that my use of this rhetorical trope was insufficiently blatant for you to read. I stupidly thought it was obvious. Mea culpa. I am so very sorry. This ridicule was, as your online dictionary definition helpfully points out, intended to be amusing. I am deeply saddened that you did not find it so. I will work much harder on my future posts to ensure they meet your exacting standards for humour and readily readable rhetorical tropes.
Gus O
Guest
Oh come on! How is it clever to move Ponga with his history of concussions into the halves and have opposition forwards running directly at him every game? What could possibly go wrong… BUT if Newcastle have signed Lachlan Miller as backup fullback for Ponga’s frequent concussion absences, and maybe this makes Newcastle more competitive when fullback Ponga is injured.
Chris
Guest
It didn’t read as being ironic. As your statement didn’t really read as being ‘ deliberately contrary to what one expects & it wasn’t wryly amusing ‘either .
mushi
Roar Guru
He's Winona Ryder'ed that
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Erm... my comment about Garner's impact on Panthers was ironic.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Adam Elliott to start at #13. He was superb for the Raiders last year. Ponga might need to play #1 with Gamble at 6. TBC. I don't mind the Knights. But see them coming maybe 10th or 11th.
Chris
Guest
You’re assuming that Garner will be in & stay in the first grade side? Given that he’ll have plenty of competition from younger players, I’m not so sure about that?
Panthers
Guest
Doesn’t matter how many times you say the same thing. It still doesn’t make you correct. Miller isn’t a first grade player. He’s a NSW Cup player. So by your theory, he doesn’t count! How many years early was Moylan also released early, from his contract. For Cronulla to sign him? If you’re going to go with any player. Worse luck for Cronulla, as he just keeps getting slower .
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
“If Cronulla does the right thing, as has been done for them with other players …..” Who do you have in mind? Their only signings for this season have been: Oregon Kaufussi (signed in Feb 2022) Sam Stonestreet (a guy who has never played first grade, and that no-one has heard of) Siteni Taukamo (another guy who that no-one has heard of) Miller has ten games in first grade – there’s no comparison. Puru doesn’t count – he’s not a top 30 player.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
If the Knights can get Lachie Miller then they might be advised considering him at 6 and putting KP back to 1. Either way, Lachie would give them options.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Considering he's dissing the Danny Buderus 2022 Club Player of the Year it's a mighty odd analysis.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Interesting analysis. And admittedly one I’ve never heard before. One backrower responsible for entire team’s (well, multiple teams) results. Not sure what this bodes for Penrith… Luke Garner came into the Tigers’ squad in 2018. Every year he has had more game time, and every year the team has finished further down the ladder. Or could it be possible for a good back rower to be stuck in a weak squad that is poorly coached….?
Conelius
Guest
Ponga started the season at 5/8 a few years ago under Nathan Brown and was a complete failure. He lasted about 7 or 8 weeks until it was clear for all League fans to see he was wasted in that position. His best position is Fullback where he can pick and choose when to participate in attack.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Worse than that he seems to break easily - let's see how many games he actually plays
Panthers
Guest
He’s over 18, so he is eligible to play first grade. If Cronulla had the room in their squad. They obviously didn’t, so they bought him to put him into their development squad. However, their plan is to have him in their top 30 squad & have already given him a full contract. What you’re saying makes no sense? Clearly they got him to Cronulla a year before his contract at Penrith ended, no matter how you try to talk around it. Given that Miller only has a year to go on his contract at Cronulla & won’t be a permanent first grader there, but can be at Newcastle. Plus, doesn’t want to be at Cronulla. Do the same for Miller & let him go. Just as Penrith did for Cronulla. Otherwise it’s just double standards .
JennyFromPenny
Guest
For Frizzell, will be his 13th season, and is yet to play in a team that has finished higher than 7th. More and more, it would appear to be, because he is in it.