Knights NRL 2021 preview: Tyson Frizell, Bailey Hodgson give plenty to dream on
Injuries and inconsistencies plagued Newcastle last season. The arrival of an Origin veteran and an English teen should change that in 2021.
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Rookie coach Adam O’Brien created such a favourable impression at Newcastle last season that there is talk of his contract being extended.
For such a ringing endorsement, the Knights are obviously aiming even higher than last season’s seventh place finish. The arrival of an Origin veteran and an English teen will certainly help their cause.
Nick Walshaw takes a look at the key questions facing the Knights next season.
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2020 ladder position: 7th, beaten in the qualifying finals by South Sydney
Ins: Dominic Young (Huddersfield), Tyson Frizell (Dragons), Bailey Hodgson (Castleford), Jack Johns (Rabbitohs), Sauaso Sue (Bulldogs)
Outs: Herman Ese’ese (Titans), Andrew McCullough (loan back to Broncos), Aidan Guerra, Tim Glasby (retired), Sione Mata’utia (St Helens), Tautau Moga (Rabbitohs)
Players in the 2020 Rich 100: 5 — 18. Kalyn Ponga ($850,000), 23. David Klemmer ($800,000), 25. Mitchell Pearce ($800,000), -- 74. Andrew McCullough ($600,000), 99. Aidan Guerra ($500,000)
Coach status: Considered one of rugby league’s best young minds, Adam O’Brien enjoyed instant success in his debut NRL season, taking Newcastle to the finals for the first time in seven years.
Better, he got there despite a horror run with injuries that included losing more hookers than you would find in an Underbelly casting call.
Unlike many rookie coaches, O’Brien is only now in the big show after serving an apprenticeship of 12 years, all but one of which came working as an assistant to Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy.
Like Bellyache, the Goulburn product boasts a similar no-nonsense approach, is big on defence and also enjoys a strong rapport with the playing group.
Moving into his second season of a three-year deal, the early mail is that he will be extended throughout 2021 having already impressed those that matter within the club.
What is their game plan, and how do they need to tweak: When reviewing season 2020, what concerned O’Brien was the way his side’s formline resembled a Coney Island coaster, full of peaks and troughs.
When the Knights were on, they beat the likes of South Sydney, Canberra and drew with Penrith. But when they weren’t ... put simply, their performances were unacceptable.
With both the Cowboys and Titans scoring more than 40 points against them, while the Bunnies and Roosters both broke 40.
As a result, the football department is looking at ways to bring consistency to both defensive efforts and their season more generally. Certainly there will also be a lot of pressure on the Knights to start well with both fullback Kalyn Ponga and five-eighth Blake Green missing the opening weeks while still overcoming injury.
Tex Hoy is tipped to start the year at fullback with Kurt Mann the early favourite for the No.6 jersey.
How did they go in free agency: Two words: Tyson Frizell. The NSW Origin incumbent looms as a huge addition to the Knights forward pack in 2021, especially working alongside fellow Blue Daniel Saifiti and the man many thought was unlucky to miss out in the previous two campaigns, Dave Klemmer.
It has taken some time, and cash, but the Novocastrians finally have a forward pack to set a platform for the likes of Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga.
Elsewhere, Bulldogs recruit Sauaso Sue adds some depth to their forward roster, as does Jack Johns, who will obviously make huge headlines if he can earn a start in first grade at the club where his old man and uncle starred. But as for the signing that has Knights types really talking ... read on.
Will development contract upgraded kids make an impact: Forget the kids coming off development contracts, the one teenager every Knights fan should get to know is English sensation Bailey Hodgson. Still only 18, the young centre has a running style that has been likened by more than one insider to Kalyn Ponga.
The nephew of Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson arrived Down Under in late November where he had to undergo two weeks of quarantine before joining his new Knights teammates in pre-season.
Despite his age, there is a strong chance the Castleford recruit, who debuted in the English Super League just 10 days after his 18th birthday, will also get a crack in the NRL at some stage this year.
What players can they re-invent: OK, so he isn’t exactly a player, but the big story out of Newcastle next season could be the revival of axed Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold.
After enduring the toughest of 2020s in Brisvegas, Seibold joins the Knights football department for the upcoming season as a coaching consultant. Despite a horrendous year with the Broncos, not to mention a horrid and highly-publicised spate of online abuse, coach Adam O’Brien is a huge fan of Seibold’s coaching nous from the days they spent working together at Melbourne Storm.
Could prove to be a big recruit. Elsewhere, the Knights coach has also brought retired Kangaroos Andrew Ryan and Mark O’Meley into key development roles at the club.
Who takes the next step: Once again, Tex Hoy will be asked to step up for an injured Ponga, who could miss up to five competition rounds as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
After enjoying a solid debut season, the Knights will need the 21-year-old to go to another level again while Ponga is sidelined.
While many see Hoy as a five-eighth, it is understood Blake Green will wear the No.6 jersey once he returns from rehabilitation. Once Ponga returns, Hoy will be locked in a battle with Connor Watson for that one bench utility role.
The best 17 for 2021:
1 Kalyn Ponga
2 Edrick Lee
3 Star To’a
4 Bradman Best
5 Hymel Hunt
6 Blake Green
7 Mitchell Pearce
8 David Klemmer
9 Jayden Brailey
10 Daniel Saifiti
11 Tyson Frizell
12 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13 Mitch Barnett
14 Jacob Saifiti
15 Josh King
16 Kurt Mann
17 Connor Watson/Tex Hoy
2021 squad: Bradman Best, Jayden Brailey, Phoenix Crossland, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Tyson Frizell, Blake Green, Bailey Hodgson, Tex Hoy, Hymel Hunt, Jack Johns, Josh King, David Klemmer, Edrick Lee, Kurt Mann, Jirah Momoisea, Mitchell Pearce, Kalyn Ponga, Daniel Saifiti, Jacob Saifiti, Pasami Saulo, Gehamat Shibasaki, Star To’a, Enari Tuala, Connor Watson, Dom Young, Mitchell Barnett, Sauaso Sue
Fox Sports Lab’s Aaron Wallace says: Defence was the key for the Knights playing finals football for the first time since 2013. Their 20 points per game conceded was their best season since 2013 and this figure was as low as 15.5 per game after 15 rounds.
Their finish to the season is certainly cause for concern with four losses of 26 points or worse in their last six games.
Past five seasons: Last, Last, 11th, 11th, 7th.
Odds are: Premiership $21, Top Four $6, Top Eight $2.15, Most Losses $21.
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