Part of Zero Tackle Article
A halves battle, Young’s replacement and Cronulla’s errors: Five talking points from Knights vs Sharks NRL trial
Scott Pryde
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The Newcastle Knights have picked up where they left off at the end of the 2023 NRL season, crunching the Cronulla Sharks in their opening trial match by 44 points to 18.
In what was a performance where the Sharks will be concerned by a lack of fundemental skills on a scorching hot day in Newcastle, it was Newcastle players with plenty to prove who stole the spotlight in the big win.
Adam O'Brien's side, missing a handful of their likely starters in Round 1, but with enough playing to get a picture of their off-season, looked a solid outfit against an undermanned Sharks' team as they begin a season looking to back up the second half of 2023 which saw them surge from the bottom four to the top six.
Newcastle's halves battle no closer to being solved
The Knights had all three halves spend time on the field during the thumping of the Sharks on Saturday, and all three had nice moments, without doing a heap wrong.
Newcastle come into the new campaign without Adam Clune, but with a headache following the arrival of Jack Cogger on a long-term deal after he excelled as the back-up option at premiers the Penrith Panthers in 2023.
But mark the words - Cogger has not gone back to the Hunter to serve as a back-up option. Whether wearing the six or seven, he wants to be in the starting side.
What role will Kade Dykes play in 2024?
Kade Dykes comes into the 2024 campaign desperate to prove himself as an NRL level player after missing 2023 in its entirety thanks to an ACL injury sustained on the eve of the season.
The Sharks are yet to clarify if they have found a role at the top level for Dykes though. Able to play fullback and five-eighth, it appears on the surface that he is stuck behind William Kennedy and Braydon Trindall.
Trindall of course did his selection hopes no harm by playing an excellent game for the Indigenous All Stars alongside Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes on Friday night.
Dykes ran out at fullback for the Sharks on Saturday in Gosford though, putting on some nice touches. In what was effectively his return to competitive rugby league, he was strong and the signs are he will only get better.
There is little to no doubt coach Craig Fitzgibbon needs to begin filtering youngsters into first-grade this year if the Sharks hope to hold any of them. Whether that is Kayal Iro, Dykes, Sam Stonestreet or a handful of forwards, the time has come.
How much of a concern is Cronulla's discipline?
Results may not matter during the pre-season unless you have a team gunning for the $100,000 cash prize that comes with winning the challenge element of the trial matches, but other factors certainly do.
Coaches want to see effort in defence, the structures they spent the off-season working on coming to light, and more importantly, discipline, both with and without the ball.
In Cronulla's case, that was non-existent on Saturday afternoon.
The men from the Shire completed at just 66 per cent for a total of 24 out of 36 sets, all up giving away the football 13 times, while they also missed a ridiculous 46 tackles and had a team tackle efficiency of under 85 per cent.
It might have been hot, and they might have had the relatively more inexperienced teams, but those factors are attitude issues across the squad.
It's not a concern yet, but it will be if a similar trend repeats next week when Cronulla with the Canterbury Bulldogs at Belmore on Friday evening.
Knights young gun waiting in the wings for Ponga problems
It seems to be an ongoing "what if" question at the Knights. What if Kalyn Ponga gets injured? What if he has more issues with concussion?
In previous years, it has been such a blow to the Knights that they have simply struggled in Ponga's absence. His excellent form during the second half of the 2023 season that ultimately coincided with Newcastle's meteoric rise up the ladder was proof enough of the influence he has over this side.
But coming into 2024, Newcastle have two more options at the back, with David Armstrong handed a Top 30 deal, and Fletcher Sharpe continuing to improve as he joins the development squad.
Sharpe was excellent on Saturday, making nine tackle busts and running for 120 metres as he put his hand up to be Ponga's second in command.
The youngster was matched by Armstrong though who had a try assist, made six tackle busts and made the most of his minutes on the park.
The duo are both relative unknowns when it comes to NRL level, and granted, it was against an undermanned Sharks' side, but positive signs certainly exist.