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Warrick Nicolson | 07/02/08
AUDIO - Danny Buderus talks about the Knights' prospects in 2008
STATE OF PLAY
A year that began full of optimism was over by Round 4 when the game’s best player Andrew Johns was forced to retire with a serious neck injury.
Brian Smith’s first campaign at the helm saw him attacked over his retention policy but his job was to rebuild the Knights in the post-Johns era and, quite rightly, he’s gone about doing it his way.
Last 3 Finishes:
2005: 15th
2006: 5th
2007: 15th
ROSTER ROUND-UP
Newcastle has signed some decent talent in Wes Naiqama, Danny Wicks, Matt Hilder and Ben Cross to cover for the loss of Adam Woolnough, Josh Perry, Clint Newton and of course Johns.
Added to the mid-season transfers of Zeb Taia, Cooper Vuna and Luke MacDougall, the roster has certainly been padded with players Smith believes can stablilise the side.
The club’s future success depends on the continued development of young halves Jarrod Mullen and Luke Walsh.
A big plus for the team is both players already have 48 first grade games between them, and as a result the full transition to life without Joey will be that much easier.
Scott Dureau, Marvin Karawana and utility Chris Bailey will backup the starters.
Kurt Gidley made his State of Origin debut in 2007 (as did Mullen) and thrived in the freedom of the fullback position. His versatility also allows him to play five-eighth or hooker in a pinch.
Gidley will be joined in the backs by old timer Adam MacDougall and his brother Luke, James McManus, Naiqama, Vuna, Keith Lulia and speedster Akuila Uate.
As always, Steve Simpson was a consistent performer and will be the senior member of what could be a strong backrow.
Second year forward Corey Paterson was a revelation in his rookie season and Parramatta recruit Zeb Taia blossomed with the opportunity Smith gave him in the top grade.
While up front the youth movement continues with Wicks, Richard Fa’aoso, Matthew White and Tim Natusch set to feature in the prop rotation alongside Cross, Jesse Royal, Mitchell Sargent and Daniel Tolar. The rest of the roster is filled out with Chris Houston, Cameron Ciraldo, Hilder, Lui Toimoana and local junior Jacob Ling.
Champion hooker Danny Buderus enters the final year of his contract with the club, but there should be no doubting his commitment to helping the team win. His likely successor is 20-year-old Terence Seu Seu but supersub Michael Young is also in the mix.
STRONGEST LINE-UP
1. GIDLEY, Kurt
2. MacDOUGALL, Luke
3. NAIQAMA, Wes
4. MacDOUGALL, Adam
5. VUNA, Cooper
6. MULLEN, Jarrod
7. WALSH, Luke
8. CROSS, Ben
9. BUDERUS, Danny
10. SARGENT, Mitchell
11. SIMPSON, Steve
12. PATERSON, Corey
13. TAIA, Zeb
14. TOLAR, Daniel
15. WICKS, Danny
16. HOUSTON, Chris
17. HILDER, Matt
FEARLESS FORECAST
No Andrew Johns for the first time since the 1992 season (he debuted in 1993) gives the club little hope of a title run.
In fact it is hard to imagine the Knights can leapfrog even a couple of sides on the ladder in 2008.
Could make a bold run for the finals if they have a strong start, but 2009-2010 seems a more realistic timeframe for Brian Smith’s roster.
PREDICTED RECORD: 7-17
PREDICTED FINISH: 15th
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