2018 Pre-Season and Trials

Young guns dominate early fitness testing


Thu 2nd November, 09:27AM


The squad was welcomed back to Knights HQ with a two kilometre time trial on Wednesday, as performance staff aimed to judge where everyone stands ahead of a big pre-season.

It was no surprise that Nick Meaney took first place, as the super fit young fullback clinched that place last year as well.

Half Jack Cogger came in at second, while Nathan Ross was a big improver from last year to grab third.

It was a top five dominated by young guns though, as NRL pre-season newcomer Zac Hosking registered fourth and Brayden Musgrove and Sam Stone shared fifth.

Outside of the top five, the biggest improvers from last year's testing were Jamie Buhrer and Chanel Mata'utia.


http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2017/11/02/top_results_in_early.html

 

Brown welcomes team back for pre-season


Wed 1st November, 05:37PM


There’s one thing on coach Nathan Brown’s mind as the nib Newcastle Knights kick off their 2018 pre-season, and that’s improvement.

With the Club’s younger players all showing plenty of improvement over the last two seasons, the challenge now is to keep that development going.

On top of that, Brown says he will be looking for his new signings to add plenty of quality across the park.

“Our young players showed a lot of growth both physically and mentally from year one to year two, and we’ll be hopeful that in eight weeks’ time they’re making the same progress this time around,” the coach said after Wednesday morning’s fitness session.

“The staff’s expectations for this year are a lot higher, and we’d certainly hope that the players have much higher expectations as well.

“Players like (Lachlan) Fitzgibbon, (Mitch) Barnett and the (Jacob and Daniel) Saifitis all showed good improvement this year, and they’ve got to challenge themselves to improve a lot more next year.

“We’ve had 21 players leave the squad from this day last year, and I would think no other squad in the history of the NRL has had a turnover of that size.

“With what we’ve brought in, we’d like to think that the pressure on our existing players to make the team will be a lot harder.”

There’s more experience across the squad now, and several high profile signings in different positions means everyone will be fighting hard for a spot in Round 1.

“We’ve gone through a very different stage where we’ve lost a lot of players, and we’d like to think that the players we’ve signed will help us improve,” Brown explained.

“The squad is a little light at the moment with the World Cup and with a lot of our new players not being here yet, so I’d like to think that when we’re fully assembled there will be that extra pressure.”

Connor Watson, Kalyn Ponga, Tautau Moga, Slade Griffin and Aidan Guerra will link with the squad in the coming weeks, while World Cup participants such as Herman Ese’ese and Chris Heighington will arrive further down the track.


http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2017/11/01/brown_welcomes_team_.html

 

Lillyman knows what makes Newcastle tick


Wed 1st November, 03:33PM


He was the Club’s first 2018 signing to make an appearance at pre-season training on Wednesday morning, and Jacob Lillyman says he can’t wait to get stuck in.on Wednesday morning, and Jacob Lillyman says he can’t wait to get stuck in.

After a challenging first up session, the 33-year-old prop fronted the media and held his new Club and town in high order.

“This town loves its footy team and I want to play a part in getting it back where it belongs,” he explained.

“If you look at that last game (in season 2017), around 20,000 people showed up.”

Lillyman, who joins the Club from the Zealand Warriors, has been keeping a close eye on his new club since signing on.

“When I was playing for the Warriors, we only just beat the Knights at home when they probably should have won,” he said.

“And then they beat us back here (in Newcastle), so I can see there’s the makings of a good young side.

“If we can give things a real red hot crack, it would be good to reward the loyal supporters and give them something to hold on to.”

Lillyman ended his 2017 season early with a torn bicep, and had surgery soon after. It meant he could do little to maintain his fitness during the off-season.

“It was a tough little session today and there was a bit of testing,” Lillyman said.

“The lungs and legs really felt it, but I’m certainly looking forward to getting out there and ripping in with the boys.

“I’m only a week or two away from full contact again.”

Connor Watson is the next 2018 signing reporting for duty, as he’s set to start pre-season training on Tuesday November 7.


http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2017/11/01/lillyman_knows_what_.html

 

2018 rookies get first taste of pre-season


Wed 1st November, 06:20PM


A number of players that featured in the Club's 2017 Under 20s campaign made the step up to NRL training on Wednesday morning, as they got their first taste of a full-time pre-season.

Knights TV spoke to Pasami Saulo, Zac Hosking, Matt Cooper and Brayden Musgrove, to find out how they handled the session.

Brayden Musgrove admits he was a bit nervous for day one.

“It was a tough session back but it’s good to be training,” the outside back said.

“It is good to be training with the bigger boys, with the experience and where the contact is going to be a lot harder.”

2017 NYC captain Zac Hosking said it was a good first hit out.

“It was a lot more professional than what I'm used to, it was tough, short and sharp so it was good,” he said.

“I did plenty of work in the off-season because playing in the forwards, I need to step up with the big fellas.

“I have to put on some size and I’ve been really working hard in the gym.”

Pacey fullback Matt Cooper agreed it was a big step up.

“Being around the boys makes you a bit nervous but also the running, it is never easy in pre-season,” explained Cooper.

“It will be great what they can teach me.”

Musgrove is confident full-time training will help develop his game.

“It is a good opportunity… I feel very privileged.

“It's going to be a good opportunity to build as a player and I’m going to learn a lot of things from the older boys and I’m looking forward to that.”


http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2017/11/01/_2018_rookies_get_fi.html