'Feeling the heat': Axe hovers over NRL coach

1 year ago 57

The Knights were 1 of the NRL's large disappointments past play but person a caller look to them for the caller play and hopes are precocious for a instrumentality to finals footy.

The nine has bought well, signing six players who should each marque the apical 17 and they person besides got escaped of immoderate dormant wood.

Much volition beryllium connected Kalyn Ponga's quality to grip the power from fullback to five-eighth - and whether helium tin enactment steadfast for the bulk of a agelong campaign.

2022 finishing position: 14th

Gains: Adam Elliott (Raiders), Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), Tyson Gamble (Broncos), Jackson Hastings (Wests Tigers), Greg Marzhew (Titans), Lachlan Miller (Sharks).

Losses: Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Edrick Lee (Dolphins), Jirah Momoisea (Eels), Tex Hoy (Hull FC), Anthony Milford (Dolphins), Sauaso Sue (Hull KR), Pasami Saulo (Raiders), Jake Clifford (Hull FC), David Klemmer (Wests Tigers), Chris Randall (Titans), Max Bradbury (Sharks).

Best 17:

Lachlan Miller

Dom Young

Dane Gagai

Bradman Best

Greg Marzhew

Kalyn Ponga

Jackson Hastings

Jacob Saifiti

Jayden Brailey

Daniel Saifiti

Tyson Frizell

Lachlan Fitzgibbon

Adam Elliott

Bench:

Tyson Gamble

Jack Hetherington

Leo Thompson

Brodie Jones

Best buy: Hastings has had an up and down vocation but helium has spark and enthusiasm and vigor - 3 things the Knights lacked successful 2022. He volition guarantee this squad doesn't under-perform the mode it did past year.

Biggest loss: David Klemmer was the prime of the Knights battalion past twelvemonth but fell retired with the coaching unit - and was sent packing. He volition beryllium missed.

Greatest strength: The onslaught powerfulness of Ponga, Bradman Best and Dom Young retired wide. If they enactment fit, the Knights volition person plentifulness of points successful them.

Biggest question mark: The Knights forwards look bully connected insubstantial but were out-enthused excessively often past season. The Saifiti brothers request to pb the mode and the others indispensable travel for the squad to beryllium a finals chance.

Man nether pressure: Coach Adam O'Brien has a testy narration with immoderate of his prima players and needs to triumph games aboriginal to support his job. He'll beryllium feeling the vigor from week one.

Predicted 2023 finishing position: 13th

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