jamesgould
02-03-2006, 10:34 AM
I suppose the big news is the Knights have enquired about Chris Anderson's availability, but I don't want to think about the possibility of Mrs Kimmorley at the club, so this optimism-fuelled piece is first up! :)
Why Knights can rewrite history
By Brent Read
March 2, 2006
IN nearly 100 years, only one club has gone from wooden spoon recipient to premier within the space of 12 months - and that was more than 70 years ago when Wests won the competition in 1934 after finishing last in 1933.
That remarkable stat gives you some idea of the task confronting Newcastle coach Michael Hagan and his charges in 2006 as they attempt to rebound from the worst season in the club's history.
The Knights finished 2005 with six wins in their final seven games but even that couldn't mask the disappointment of a season gone bad in rugby league-mad Newcastle. History would dictate the Knights are little chance of claiming their third premiership this season.
Then again, there's only one Andrew Johns.
Talk to anyone about Newcastle at this time of year and the conversation inevitably turns to Johns.
What happens if Joey's troublesome knee doesn't hold out? Will he play a full season? If he does, can Newcastle win a premiership?
The pre-season portents have been promising.
Johns played in one trial, albeit in a limited capacity, and tore Cronulla to shreds. But Newcastle's sense of optimism doesn't start and end with Johns.
Injuries permitting, the Knights squad is as good as any in the NRL.
Last season Hagan was forced to use 35 players as injuries savaged the club.
The victims included Daniel Abraham (five appearances), Riley Brown (7), Kurt Gidley (10), Josh Perry (7), Matt Gidley (12) and Kirk Reynoldson (7).
All but Abraham are expected to be fit for the club's opening game against Parramatta on March 11.
"It's probably the first time for a little while that I can recall having something like our best 17 available for round one," Hagan said.
The Knights have also made some canny signings.
Former Canberra prop Luke Davico, who sat out last season with injury, adds experience to the pack while Britain winger Brian Carney gives extra strike power to an already potent backline.
The Irishman has watched the NRL from afar for some time and that distant view has only fuelled his belief in the competition's unpredictability.
"What I will say is, I think, over the last few years from following the competition a bit as I have done in England, the turnarounds have been unbelievable," Carney said. "Look what Penrith did. They went from bottom to premiers two years later (in 2003)."
Hagan, who will join Parramatta next season, adopts a similar stance. He insists there is no hangover from last year's bottom-placed finish, rather a positive vibe thanks to the Johns-inspired end to the season.
Which brings us to Johns. There's little doubt the Knights are a genuine premiership threat when the world's best player is fit and available. So important is Johns to the Knights, Hagan has foreshadowed resting his captain when the situation allows.
"There's nobody at the club who underestimates what he brings," Carney said.
From: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18316647-23214,00.html
Newcastle hope for Anderson
By Barry Toohey
March 2, 2006
NEWCASTLE has sounded out former Test and premiership-winning coach Chris Anderson for the first time about coaching the Knights in 2007.
A Knights official rang Anderson to ask if he was still interested in the position after leading contenders Tim Sheens and Matt Elliott both declined offers to replace Parramatta-bound Michael Hagan.
Sheens has re-signed with Wests Tigers while Elliott will quit Canberra to join Penrith next year.
Anderson revealed early last month that he had applied for the Knights job, but has not been a serious contender until now.
Over the past fortnight, he has been heavily linked to the position at Canberra, but he is refusing to comment on his coaching future.
His manager, George Mimis, confirmed the Knights approach.
"There was a telephone call to find out if Chris was still interested," Mimis said.
"Chris's answer was yes and that was the extent of it."
Mimis denied Anderson was on the verge of signing with the Raiders.
"I have spoken very informally with the Raiders about it, but there has been nothing more than that,"he said.
Knights chief executive Ken Conway maintained a stoney silence when asked about Anderson.
'I'm not going to discuss it,"he said. "We're not in a rush and we'll be making our own minds up on who we speak to and who we don't."
From: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18315475-23214,00.html
Why Knights can rewrite history
By Brent Read
March 2, 2006
IN nearly 100 years, only one club has gone from wooden spoon recipient to premier within the space of 12 months - and that was more than 70 years ago when Wests won the competition in 1934 after finishing last in 1933.
That remarkable stat gives you some idea of the task confronting Newcastle coach Michael Hagan and his charges in 2006 as they attempt to rebound from the worst season in the club's history.
The Knights finished 2005 with six wins in their final seven games but even that couldn't mask the disappointment of a season gone bad in rugby league-mad Newcastle. History would dictate the Knights are little chance of claiming their third premiership this season.
Then again, there's only one Andrew Johns.
Talk to anyone about Newcastle at this time of year and the conversation inevitably turns to Johns.
What happens if Joey's troublesome knee doesn't hold out? Will he play a full season? If he does, can Newcastle win a premiership?
The pre-season portents have been promising.
Johns played in one trial, albeit in a limited capacity, and tore Cronulla to shreds. But Newcastle's sense of optimism doesn't start and end with Johns.
Injuries permitting, the Knights squad is as good as any in the NRL.
Last season Hagan was forced to use 35 players as injuries savaged the club.
The victims included Daniel Abraham (five appearances), Riley Brown (7), Kurt Gidley (10), Josh Perry (7), Matt Gidley (12) and Kirk Reynoldson (7).
All but Abraham are expected to be fit for the club's opening game against Parramatta on March 11.
"It's probably the first time for a little while that I can recall having something like our best 17 available for round one," Hagan said.
The Knights have also made some canny signings.
Former Canberra prop Luke Davico, who sat out last season with injury, adds experience to the pack while Britain winger Brian Carney gives extra strike power to an already potent backline.
The Irishman has watched the NRL from afar for some time and that distant view has only fuelled his belief in the competition's unpredictability.
"What I will say is, I think, over the last few years from following the competition a bit as I have done in England, the turnarounds have been unbelievable," Carney said. "Look what Penrith did. They went from bottom to premiers two years later (in 2003)."
Hagan, who will join Parramatta next season, adopts a similar stance. He insists there is no hangover from last year's bottom-placed finish, rather a positive vibe thanks to the Johns-inspired end to the season.
Which brings us to Johns. There's little doubt the Knights are a genuine premiership threat when the world's best player is fit and available. So important is Johns to the Knights, Hagan has foreshadowed resting his captain when the situation allows.
"There's nobody at the club who underestimates what he brings," Carney said.
From: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18316647-23214,00.html
Newcastle hope for Anderson
By Barry Toohey
March 2, 2006
NEWCASTLE has sounded out former Test and premiership-winning coach Chris Anderson for the first time about coaching the Knights in 2007.
A Knights official rang Anderson to ask if he was still interested in the position after leading contenders Tim Sheens and Matt Elliott both declined offers to replace Parramatta-bound Michael Hagan.
Sheens has re-signed with Wests Tigers while Elliott will quit Canberra to join Penrith next year.
Anderson revealed early last month that he had applied for the Knights job, but has not been a serious contender until now.
Over the past fortnight, he has been heavily linked to the position at Canberra, but he is refusing to comment on his coaching future.
His manager, George Mimis, confirmed the Knights approach.
"There was a telephone call to find out if Chris was still interested," Mimis said.
"Chris's answer was yes and that was the extent of it."
Mimis denied Anderson was on the verge of signing with the Raiders.
"I have spoken very informally with the Raiders about it, but there has been nothing more than that,"he said.
Knights chief executive Ken Conway maintained a stoney silence when asked about Anderson.
'I'm not going to discuss it,"he said. "We're not in a rush and we'll be making our own minds up on who we speak to and who we don't."
From: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18315475-23214,00.html