2015 NYC Holden Cup

NYC Knights trounce Titans

Sat 18th July, 04:55PM
The NYC Knights beat the Gold Coast Titans 38-10 at Hunter Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

In a game full of positives for the young red and blues, Fuaimamao Uta scored a record-equalling five tries and 2015 SG Ball Player of the Year Tom Starling made his NYC debut from the bench.

An early penalty to the Titans gave them the opportunity to score first points, winger Zac Spring finding far too much space down the right side to score in the 4th minute. Shaun Hudson did well to convert from the sideline, extending the lead to 6-0.

For the next 15 minutes the Knights soaked up plenty of pressure on their own line, until Uta found some space to dive over against the run of play in the 21st minute.

Lamb kicked from the sideline to even the scores and from there on in the young red and blues steadily grew in confidence with the ball in hand.

15 minutes later Uta crossed over for his second, racing through the line to get a hand to a Lamb kick moments before it went dead.

Lamb wasn't able to convert from the sideline this time, but four minutes later Uta made a powerful 50 metre break that led to a Bradie Smith try in the following play.

Lamb again found himself converting from the sideline and did well to find the target as the half-time siren sounded.

The Knights took to the field in the second half with the score 16-6, but they saw that lead reduced to six points in the 47th minute when Brian Kelly found acres of space on the left wing.

Hudson's attempted conversion veered wide, and six minutes later Uta rounded out his hat-trick.

Lamb missed his conversion, but six minutes later Uta scored yet again following some great build-up play from fullback Bryce Donovan.

From the the next kick-off the Titans put the ball dead to give the Knights a restart from the halfway line.

It was no surprise when Uta made his way over the line at the end of the set to bag his fifth and equal the record for tries scored in an NYC game. Lamb again missed his conversion, but the score remained 32-10.

With eight minutes to play the Knights grabbed another try, halfback Jack Kelly latching onto a grubber to score left of the uprights.

Donovan assumed kicking duties this time and was on target, pushing the final score to 38-10.

SUMMARY

Newcastle Knights - 38 (T: Uta 5, Smith, Kelly; G: Lamb 4/6, Donovan 1/1)
Gold Coast Titans - 10

TEAM

Donovan, Uta, Birch, Gagai, Tofilau, Lamb, Kelly, King (c), McNamara, D Saifiti, Smith, B Stone, Butterfield. Bench: Amey, Fepuleai, S Stone, Starling.


http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2015/07/18/nyc_knights_trounce_.html




 
Starling lights up NYC Knights on debut

Mon 20th July, 03:44PM

Things just keep getting better for young Newcastle Knight Tom Starling.

After taking out the prestigious Andrew Johns Brian Carlson Medal at the Club’s Junior Presentation Awards last month, the 17-year-old made his debut in the Under 20s NYC competition on Saturday afternoon.

The year before, the Harold Matthews hooker swept the 16s awards, picking up both the Player of the Year and the Players' Player.

“It was awesome and something I’ve been looking forward to for ages now and since I started with the Knights,” he said in the sheds after the match at Hunter Stadium.

“It was an honour to receive that award, and to get called up by Pez (coach Troy Pezet) to just train a couple of nights a week for the first couple of weeks, it was awesome.

“Then to just to get mentioned to maybe have a run, before on Friday night for Pez to say I had the green light, it was an awesome feeling.

“All my friends and family were wishing me luck.”

The dynamic dummy half held his own in the Knights side which was missing many of its experienced heads.

“It was good to get out there in the first half and rip in,” he said.

“It was a good win for the boys as well.”

Facing stiff opposition in the Gold Coast Titans, some of whom were three years his senior, was a challenge Starling handled with aplomb.

“It was the pace of the game and the fitness and the physicality of it,” he explained as the main differences to the SG Ball competition.

“The boys really helped me out during the week to get me prepared and the Knights have been really helpful leading me into this.

“It was a really good experience to get out there and play.”


http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2015/07/20/starling_lights_up_n.html




 
NYC Holden Cup - Round 19 Results and Updated Ladder


PARRAMATTA EELS - 16
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS - 16


PENRITH PANTHERS - 28
MELBOURNE STORM - 14


CANBERRA RAIDERS - 24
CRONULLA SHARKS - 22


NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS - 38
GOLD COAST TITANS - 10


ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS - 26
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS - 18


NZ WARRIORS - 42
SYDNEY ROOSTERS - 20


BRISBANE BRONCOS - 40
WESTS TIGERS - 24


NORTH QLD COWBOYS - 34
MANLY SEA EAGLES - 16



POSTEAMPLAYEDWONDRAWNLOSTBYEFORAGAINST+/-POINTS
1PENRITH PANTHERS1714032514322+19232
2NORTH QLD COWBOYS1713132641328+31331
3BRISBANE BRONCOS1713132662370+29231
4CANBERRA RAIDERS1710072508493+1524
5NZ WARRIORS179172512396+11623
6MANLY SEA EAGLES177372458440+1821
7SYDNEY ROOSTERS178092549486+6320
8WESTS TIGERS178092476422+5420
9NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS178092399514-11520
10CANTERBURY BULLDOGS176292364448-8418
11PARRAMATTA EELS176292394514-12018
12MELBOURNE STORM1770102383561-17818
13CRONULLA SHARKS1761102341512-17117
14SOUTHS SYDNEY RABBITOHS1751112376474-9815
15GOLD COAST TITANS1750122388497-10914
16ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS1750122366534-16814
 
rhugh89 said:
Starling lights up NYC Knights on debut

Mon 20th July, 03:44PM

Things just keep getting better for young Newcastle Knight Tom Starling.

After taking out the prestigious Andrew Johns Brian Carlson Medal at the Club’s Junior Presentation Awards last month, the 17-year-old made his debut in the Under 20s NYC competition on Saturday afternoon.

The year before, the Harold Matthews hooker swept the 16s awards, picking up both the Player of the Year and the Players' Player.

“It was awesome and something I’ve been looking forward to for ages now and since I started with the Knights,” he said in the sheds after the match at Hunter Stadium.

“It was an honour to receive that award, and to get called up by Pez (coach Troy Pezet) to just train a couple of nights a week for the first couple of weeks, it was awesome.

“Then to just to get mentioned to maybe have a run, before on Friday night for Pez to say I had the green light, it was an awesome feeling.

“All my friends and family were wishing me luck.”

The dynamic dummy half held his own in the Knights side which was missing many of its experienced heads.

“It was good to get out there in the first half and rip in,” he said.

“It was a good win for the boys as well.”

Facing stiff opposition in the Gold Coast Titans, some of whom were three years his senior, was a challenge Starling handled with aplomb.

“It was the pace of the game and the fitness and the physicality of it,” he explained as the main differences to the SG Ball competition.

“The boys really helped me out during the week to get me prepared and the Knights have been really helpful leading me into this.

“It was a really good experience to get out there and play.”


http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2015/07/20/starling_lights_up_n.html
Click to expand...
The highlights in that clip were good to see. Starling already looks like a threat whenever he has the ball.
When we have Cogger back the combination of 9 Starling, 7 Cogger, 6 Lamb could be the best junior spine we have seen in a generation.
 
NYC Round 20 preview

Fri 24th July, 09:47AM


SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS V NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

2015 Holden Cup
Date: Saturday July 25, 5.15pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium

Teams:

RABBITOHS

1. Irae Simone, 2. Devon Makoare-Boyce, 3. Siosifa Talakai, 4. Tevita Cottrell, 5. Josh Ellison, 6. Jordie Hedges, 7. Eli Levido, 8. Clayton Williams, 9. Aaron Booth, 10. Brock Gray, 11. Haimona Hiroti, 12. Wallace Tangiiti, 13. Gabe Hamlin Interchange: 14. Joe Besgrove, 15. Tim Davis, 16. Joe Gardiner, 17. Hayden Preece, 18. Toby Rudolf.

KNIGHTS

1. Bryce Donovan, 2. Fuaimamao Uta, 3. Josh Birch, 4. Jacob Gagai, 5. Ken Tofilau, 6. Brock Lamb, 7. Jake McNamara, 8. Josh King, 9. Jack Kelly, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Bradie Smith, 12. Ben Stone, 13. Luke Yates. Interchange: 14. Jayden Butterfileld, 15. Tyrone Amey, 16. Roman Fepuleai. 17. Sam Apthorpe, 18. Sam Stone.

Match analysis:

Spirits are high among the Under 20s Knights after a convincing win against the Gold Coast Titans last Round.

Team manager and development coach Craig Smith believes this will put the team in good stead as it prepares to take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday.

The nine places Knights will take the trip down the M1 to meet their 14th placed opponent that trails off three losses.

The Knights lapped up their hard earned win at Hunter Stadium and plan to capitalise on the added confidence it’s brought.

“They have been bubbling. Knowing NYC, It doesn’t take much for their confidence to get up,” Smith said.

“The pleasing this with the team last weekend against the Titans is the fact three guys from the Under 18s Knights were playing up.

“Tom Starling, Sam Stone and Jayden Butterfield all three boys handled themselves really well.

“We are trying to progress some of our local young talent and there are three on show."

But Smith believes South Sydney on their home turf this weekend will be another tough game for the players.

A positive is the likely return of players Luke Yates as well as Jacob Saifiti, a Fijian representative who has spent almost eight weeks on the sidelines due to injury.

“If we can build on the way we played last weekend that will be a good stepping stone for the second part of the season,” he said.

“We have strong aspirations of playing in the semi finals."

Where it will be won: The forwards

The Knights will need to control the Rabbitohs down the middle from the outset.

“If we can manage to complete out sets and kick to our corner and defend strong, that’ll go a long way in winning the game for us," Smith concluded.


http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2015/07/24/nyc_round_20_preview.html




 
Good to hear Jacob Saifiti could finally be back.
I see Daniel made a game high 182 metres last week, which was his best numbers since about round 5.
With a pack including King, Yates and the Saifiti twins we will have a lot of grunt you would think.
 
Game in underway - Jacob Saifiti starting at centre - and Starling is on the bench.

- - - Updated - - -

Donovan
Uta
J Saifiti
Gagai
Nott
Lamb
McNamara
King
Kelly
D Saifiti
Smith
B Stone
Yates


Butterfield, Amey, S Stone, Starling


- - - Updated - - -

6-0 to the knights after 15
try to Yates goal to Lamb

- - - Updated - - -

12-0 after 25
Uta scores in the corner and Lamb kicks it from the sideline.

- - - Updated - - -

18-0 after 32
70 metre intercept try to Jacob Gagai - Lamb converts

- - - Updated - - -

18-6 at halftime

- - - Updated - - -

18-10 after 48

- - - Updated - - -

24-10 after 60 minutes
try to Josh King - goal by Lamb

- - - Updated - - -

24-16 after 73

- - - Updated - - -

24-22 with 2 minutes to go.

- - - Updated - - -

fulltime
Knights 24 (T: Yates, Uta, Gagai, King, G: Lamb 4/4) defeat Souths 22

- - - Updated - - -

Lamb kicking 2 from the sidelines was the difference in the end
 
NYC Knights edge Rabbitohs

Sat 25th July, 06:55PM

The NYC Newcastle Knights beat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 24-22 at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night to force their way back into the top-eight.

The spine of the side saw another re-shuffle with Jack Kelly moving to hooker and Jake McNamara accompanying Brock Lamb in the halves.

That particular combination performed well, dominating the match at the key moments despite a late resurgence from the home side.

The opening minutes of the game were a real arm-wrestle between the two sides as the opposing forward packs fought for dominance, until a botched penalty kick from Rabbitohs half Eli Levedo gave the Knights an early chance.

It wasn't until the 15th minute that the red and blues found their points though, Luke Yates marking his return from injury by charging over the line with three markers clinging on.

Ten minutes later a penalty just off the Rabbitohs' line saw the Knights score again, halfback Jake McNamara placing a tricky grubber for Fuaimamao Uta to ground in the corner.

In only his second game back at the Knights, centre Jacob Gagai scored a spectacular 70-metre try when he intercepted a pass in the 32nd minute.

He was far too quick down the left touchline for any Souths defender, and Lamb converted to push the score to 18-0.

Minutes later the Rabbitohs struck back via Gabe Hamlin, the lock weaving his way through multiple defenders to ground the ball beneath the uprights. Levedo's kick was on target to push the half-time score to 18-6.

The Rabbitohs didn't miss a beat at the start of the second half, second-rower Haimona Hiroti finishing off a neat play down the left wing.

Levedo's attempted conversion from the sideline skewed wide though, leaving the Knights with an 8-point margin.

The margin was pushed back to 14 points in the 68th minute when forward Josh King made an unstoppable run to dive over left of the uprights.

The Rabbitohs came back with determination, and with 14 minutes to play winger Josh Ellison looked certain to score when he was played through a gap on the right edge.

Jared Nott and Gagai did brilliantly to force him out of play, but there was no stopping the Rabbitohs seven minutes later when Joe Gardiner slipped through the line to score.

Gardiner crossed over for his second try with only a minute left on the clock, Levedo converting to push the final score to 24-22.


http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2015/07/25/nyc_knights_edge_rab.html




 
NYC Holden Cup - Round 20 Results and Updated Ladder


GOLD COAST TITANS - 36
BRISBANE BRONCOS - 6


SYDNEY ROOSTERS - 28
WESTS TIGERS - 22


MANLY SEA EAGLES - 36
NZ WARRIORS - 16


MELBOURNE STORM - 40
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS - 18


NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS - 24
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS - 22


PENRITH PANTHERS - 64
CANBERRA RAIDERS - 8


CANTERBURY BULLDOGS - 38
CRONULLA SHARKS - 10


NORTH QLD COWBOYS - 50
PARRAMATTA EELS - 6



POSTEAMPLAYEDWONDRAWNLOSTBYEFORAGAINST+/-POINTS
1PENRITH PANTHERS1815032578330+24834
2NORTH QLD COWBOYS1814132691334+35733
3BRISBANE BRONCOS1813142668406+26231
4CANBERRA RAIDERS1810082516557-4124
5NZ WARRIORS189182528432+9623
6MANLY SEA EAGLES188372494456+3823
7SYDNEY ROOSTERS189092577508+6922
8NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS189092423536-11322
9WESTS TIGERS1880102498470+2820
10CANTERBURY BULLDOGS187292402458-5620
11MELBOURNE STORM1880102423579-15620
12PARRAMATTA EELS1862102400564-16418
13CRONULLA SHARKS1861112351550-19917
14GOLD COAST TITANS1860122424503-7916
15SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS1851122398498-10015
16ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS1850132384574-19014
 
NYC Round 21 preview

Wed 29th July, 12:31PM

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

2015 Holden Cup
Date: Sunday August 2, 11.45pm
Venue: Jubilee Stadium
Last time they met:
In what proved to be an end-to-end battle the Dragons beat the Knights 46-36 in Round 5 at Hunter Stadium.

Teams:

DRAGONS

1. Matt Dufty, 2. Dee Jay Harris, 3. Topiese Taufa, 4. Izaac Thompson, 5. Tom Carr, 6. Drew Hutchison, 7. Jack Payne, 8. Matt Jurd, 9. Ryan Fletcher, 10. Blake Lawrie, 11. Ryan James, 12. Jacob Host, 13. Thomas Freebairn. Interchange: 14. Kelly Tate, 15. Jay Gallagher, 16. PJ Lose, 17. Nathan Leatigaga, 18. Leigh Higgins, 19. Luciano Leilua, 20. Josh Daley.

KNIGHTS

1.Bryce Donovan, 2. Fuaimamao Uta, 3. Josh Birch, 4. Jacob Gagai, 5. Ken Tofilau, 6. Brock Lamb, 7. Jake McNamara, 8. Josh King, 9. Jack Kelly, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11, Jacob Saifiti, 12. Ben Stone, 13. Luke Yates. Interchange: 14. Jayden Butterfield, 15. Tyrone Amey, 16. Sam Stone, 17. Braden Robson.

Match analysis:

As the NYC Newcastle Knights roll into their Round 21 match against the St George Illawarra Dragons the team begins to zero in on a run to the finals.

The young Knights find themselves in eighth position on the ladder and come up against an opponent that will no doubt be eager to lift themselves off the bottom of the table.

But that’s no reason for the Knights to take their foot off the pedal, NYC Knights development coach Mick Reid said.

“They are always dangerous because the thing is a team that’s on the bottom is always going to be tough.

"They are playing to get off the bottom because no one wants to be there.”

Coupled with the home ground advantage he thinks the Knights must stay on their toes.

The Knights posted a two-point win against the South Sydney Rabbitohs to put themselves back in the top eight and displayed plenty of character in their performance on Saturday.

“What we need to do is take how we finished the game,” he said.

“That all starts with the side putting a microscope on areas of their game they need to clean up.

“We led by 18 points and we let in quite a few easy tries.

“If we are going to go further, we need to tidy up in defence.

“Our penalty count is also what we need to be aware of, it was near double what it should be.

“They are things that will bite us in any game whether you’re playing the top or the bottom.

“If you keep giving away penalties, it chews more juice up.

“We have talked about it yesterday so we have to really be on the money about giving away cheap penalties and giving the other teams a leg up.

The return of key personnel from injury will assist their finals ambition.

"Hopefully we get a few more players back from injury in the next week like Jack Cogger, Josh Birch and Braden Robson so the team is back to full strength and we start forming some better work ethics," he said.

Jacob Saifiti returned last week from injury and Reid is looking forward to a combination developing further between him and his twin brother Daniel.

“Them teaming up should help us with the run back into the semis.”

In what will be his third game since rejoining the Club, Reid expects the same type of energy and hunger from Jacob Gagai.

“He watches and waits and if there is an opportunity there, he’ll take it," he said.

“You have to be up there between the players to give yourself that chance.”

Reid says the team's back three have been playing well over the last few weeks with Bryce Donovan, Fuaimamao Uta and Ken Tofilau all contributing impressive form which has seen them recognised with recent Players’ Player Awards.

“They are doing what they have been asked to do and that’s a great relief for the forwards when they see the back three doing their job properly and takes a work load of them," he said.

Most of all, Reid sees the NYC Knights showing the right attitude and desire required to finish the season in a positive way.

“It’s good to see we have a lot of competition in the NYC team,” he said.

“That competition is giving us a lot more players to choose from.”

Where it will be won: The forwards

“With the forwards coming back to full strength, if they lay a good platform it will give the halves a lot more room to play their own game,” Reid said.

“Our back three will yet again be vital to helping us with our big forwards at the front and giving them a little bit of a rest.

“I think we are starting to work better as a team.

“The young guys are stepping up and playing some good football.”



http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2015/07/29/nyc_round_21_preview.html




 
mentioned in the members meeting today that 7 NYC players will join the senior squad next year.
I'd say Levi, Donovan, Birch, Gagai, Josh King, Yates and Bradie Smith.
Everyone else is good for another year of NYC.
 
Article in the Herald says Levi is fit and will play NYC, which should give us the strongest side for some time against the bottom placed Saints - which means nothing in NYC - Saints thrashed us last time we played them.
 
HALFTIME - NYC HOLDEN CUP

St George Illawarra Dragons - 30 (TRIES: Carr 3, Thompson, Fletcher GOALS: James 5/5)

Newcastle Knights - 6 ( TRIES: Yates GOALS: Lamb 1/1)
 
Getting thrashed by the team coming last - again.
Saints have a good gameplan. They are really targeting Gagai and Tofilau and getting easy metres and easy tries.
The only good news is they are also targeting Brock Lamb, and Lamb's defence has improved out of sight this season. He is one of our best defenders and simply looks a class above all our other players in this game.
Letting Carlos go looks like a good decision when you see how good Lamb is now. An off season with firstgrade and Lamb is ready for seniors next year i reckon.
 
FULLTIME - NYC HOLDEN CUP

St George Illawarra Dragons - 48 (TRIES: Carr 3, Thompson, Fletcher, Clune, Gallagher, Payne GOALS: James 8/8)

Newcastle Knights - 18 ( TRIES: Yates, King, Gagai GOALS: Lamb 3/3)
 
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