While the NRL team didn’t quite get over the line against the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday, earlier in the day the Club’s Under 20s team posted a comprehensive win.
The young red and blues posted a classy 48-10 win over the Warriors, and coach Todd Lowrie said he essentially fielded a new team for the season opener.
“We had a few blokes that played a lot last year, but we also had quite a few new players as well,” the former Knights and Warriors player said.
“And a lot of the guys that were here last year are playing in completely different positions now, so it’s a new team.”
The Warriors are always a difficult proposition at home, but new halves pairing Hayden Loughrey and Jack Johns put on a clinic through the middle and other debutants such as Sam McIntyre and Mitch Andrews impressed further out wide.
“A few of the guys that debuted I thought were very good,” Lowrie said.
“Hayden Loughrey was very good coming into the squad, Sam McIntyre in his first game and in a new position as well was very good.
“They did what they’ve trained to do, and they got the result.”
While the young Knights sit on the top of the table at the conclusion of Round 1, Lowrie was quick to point out that there is still a lot of football to be played.
“It’s only Round 1, but we’d certainly rather be on the winning side of that sort of score line,” he said.
“To our boys’ credit, we got over here fairly late last night and played pretty early this morning.
“It’s a good reward for them after a long pre-season, and hopefully their hard work will continue to pay off.”
All three grades will be in action this Saturday at McDonald Jones Stadium, with the NYC Knights kicking off the day at 10.45am.
