Newcastle Knights coach Nathan Brown looks forward to witnessing the culmination of more than three months of pre-season training on the football paddock when the Club lines up for a trial match against Wentworthville on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a good first hit out for a lot of the guys,” he said on Friday as the side underwent its final training run before the match.
“Apart from one or two of them, none of them played in the Nines so it’s their first game of the year and they will be looking to try some new things they’ve tried to adapt into their game and a change of structure.
“There were a couple of guys who played in the Nines who would benefit from playing a little bit more football. There’s a number of guys who play in this trial will put their hand up to go to Orange."
Meanwhile Brown answered questions about forward Joe Tapine who announced his future this week.
“We’re comfortable with what’s happened to Joe...Joe knows where he’s at, we know where he’s at and everyone is comfortable at the minute.
“We’re disappointed, but on the other hand we’re very happy the Club has played a part in a kid moving forward in his life.
“We would have loved Joe to stay and are disappointed, but the situation has happened and you just move on.”
Brown said a major positive at the Club is the number of young, emerging, local players who will receive an opportunity to develop further.
“We have Jacob Saifiti, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Bradie Smith, three other young kids who are young local kids who have come through the system who are all desperate to play for the Newcastle Knights.
“Lets give them a shot and see what they do.”
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