BigBlog

Please be advised that i’m no longer blogging here but you can find my new, improved and “very exciting” blog at http://kurtgidley.beinvolved.com.au/ Hope to see you there soon...!!

It’s been a good couple of weeks at the Knights as we pulled off two very good home wins against Manly and then the Warriors.

As I mentioned in my last post we badly wanted to win upon returning home to EnergyAustralia Stadium and it couldn’t have been a better feeling than beating one of our biggest rivals the Sea Eagles. On a personal note it was also rewarding to get one over my old team mate Chris Bailey.

Gids 1 – Bails 0.

The game against the Warriors was also important for us. New Zealand are a strong side and we were certainly lucky to be able to face them minus Steve Price and Brent Tate, although Tatey looks like he is gone for the season. Having said that we have a few injuries of our own and have been doing well minus the likes of Cooper Vuna and Steve Simpson.

The four points from those games are four points other sides may not get and we’ll take them every day of the week.

The last ten minutes against the Warriors wasn’t great footy on our part. We let them score ten points in ten minutes and it could have cost us the game.

That’s all in the past now and our focus has turned squarely on the table topping Dragons for what looms as a huge match at WIN Jubilee Oval.

First of all I can’t wait to play at Kogarah. It’s been a while and I know from training there with rep teams that the playing surface is always in good knick.

The match has been built up wonderfully well by ‘Mad dog’ MacDougall and ‘The Dell’, Wendell Sailor. I know I’ve loved every second of it!

Reading the banter between them in each day’s paper, I honestly reckon those two will still be throwing barbs at each other when they’re old and grey. Having said that the way they’re bagging each other they probably both think it’s not too far away for the other.

The game needs characters like those two and I for one am all for a bit more banter.

Unfortunately I don’t think either will get their wish. I can’t see Dougs or Dell swapping sides of the field so they’ll have to shout at each other from opposing flanks.

Looking at what we have to do to beat the Dragons and I’d say it’s going to come down to being able to stop their forwards making the metres they have in other games. We’ll also need to control their excellent kicking game. Jamie Soward and Ben Hornby have been dynamic with their kicking this year and I’m going to have to be right on my toes looking to get to the kicks on the full.

I’ll also need a bit of protection under the deluge of high balls I feel sure will be raining down.

There was an article written this week which stated I would “sack myself” from the goal kicking duties if I didn’t perform better with the boot. I didn’t say that. I have hit them better in the past and am feeling a bit more confident after working with Andrew Johns this week. I went through a similar patch last year and came out of it fine.

The truth is I enjoy the kicking. If I need a rest because I’m fatigued I might hand one or two shots over to someone else, but I won’t be stepping down.

My name has also been bandied around when it comes to Origin this year and I’ll state again that while I’d like to start I’m happy to simply be in the NSW side. Brett Stewart has received a lot of press this week and it’s hard to argue with what was written after a very good performance upon his return.

Off the field I’ve actually had the chance to surf a bit this week with Chris Houston, Scott Dureau and Jarrod Mullen, though I’m not sure Mullo was actually surfing. In fact I don’t know what you’d call it.

Gids

Finally the Knights have come back to Newcastle! After three away games we are going to be home at EnergyAustralia Stadium this Sunday afternoon as we take on Manly and I encourage all the Knights fans to get to the ground and support us.

It should be a good game with both teams needing a win. We are 1-2 and Manly are 0-3 Let’s hope we can make the reigning Premiers go 0-4. I believe we can!

I suppose it’s a bit of a shock to see Manly one rung from the bottom of the NRL ladder, given how dominating they were last year, but injuries and outside factors have conspired against them. Looking even more at that, this week they will be without Jamie Lyon who is out with a knee injury.

Whilst we aren’t far above them in 13th spot I feel like we really could be equal with the Broncos at the top of the ladder. We have led two of our three games and looked the goods before stumbling. We need to focus on not just retaining a lead when we have it but extending it and putting sides away.

I’m sure plenty of teams who have won one and lost two would say the same thing, but I really believe we could be heading into this game equal top of the ladder.

This Sunday will also mark the return to Newcastle of my former teammate and housemate, Chris Bailey. I’m not too sure Bails paid the last of his rent so I might have to give him a bit of a reception.

The phone calls have already begun and I’m sure the text messages will be flying thick and fast later in the week.

I felt like we should have won the South Sydney game last weekend and really should have put them to the sword rather than being just eight points ahead at the 60 minute mark and then allowing a rampant Craig Wing to get them back in the game.

Wingy has always been a great impact player and even though I’m sure he would rather be starting the game he did one hell of a job last Sunday.

On an aside I’m not too bothered by the current club dramas being played out in the media. Our CEO, Steve Burraston, has addressed the issues and the players are here to play footy, which needs to be our focus.

Mine is leading the boys out onto the park and doing the best job I can as captain. It’s a role I am enjoying but I’m still having a bit of trouble communicating with the referees. After round one I felt they were being dismissive and I don’t think that has changed too much. In round one I wanted clarification on why we were being penalised and wasn’t trying to slow the play down yet was waved away.

Bulldogs’ captain Andrew Ryan and Titans’ captain Scott Prince have both echoed my sentiment since then.

As for the two referee system I’m not an overwhelming fan as there seems to be a lot of penalties being blown.

Off the field I had the chance to head to John Hunter Hospital and try and put a smile on the face of some sick kids. It’s always an enjoyable experience and the kids often put as big a smile on my face.

Come cheer us on this weekend - Gids

It’s been an up and down start to the season for us, there’s no doubt about that. After leading 14-0 in the first round against the Titans we were hammered and, whilst I don’t blame the heat, I do wonder just what the NRL were thinking scheduling the game in the day time.

You have to wonder why they would risk the welfare of the players by having them play in Queensland, where it’s very hot during the day.

As Brian Smith said I thought they were supposed to play matches in Queensland at night early in the comp. If the NRL can’t get that sort of scheduling right then we’re in trouble.

Anyway, after that match we had a pretty good and long recovery and trained very lightly early in the week in preparation for the Sharks game on Monday night.

The game against Cronulla was almost the exact opposite of the Titans game. We didn’t start well and Cronulla had control of the game for the first 20 minutes, but we were able to hang on and turn it around despite a huge injury count leaving us with only one reserve.

I was a bit disappointed I didn’t get over the line in the first half when Paul Gallen and the post conspired to stop me after collecting a kick. It was actually more the thick padding on the upright than Gal’s tackle, although I’m sure he thinks differently!

My best wishes go to my mate Cam Ciraldo, who has endured a horrific injury. Cam dislocated his ankle, broke his fibula and probably has ligament damage to boot. You hate seeing any player get badly hurt, but when it’s one of your mates, it’s even worse.

I haven’t watched the replay and will not be doing so.

The injuries we had to key players made the win even better. Steve Simpson, Jarrod Mullen and Cam were all gone from the game and we held on and overcame the odds. It was a huge effort and I couldn’t have been prouder of the boys on Monday night!

Isaac de Gois was outstanding against his former club and I hope he continues to show that form all season, but in my book Scott Dureau shaded him and got my vote for player’s player.

Scotty missed round one but turned in a blinder on Monday night and will be looking to do so again this week against the Rabbitohs with the number 7 on his back, as Mullo has broken ribs.

As I mentioned this week we are away again, but moving closer to our return to EnergyAustralia as we take on the Rabbitohs at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford.

I quite like playing at Bluetongue. It’s not too far for us to go and we get a lot of Knights fans there. Despite it being an away fixture it’s actually more like a home game for us.

I expect we will run a lot of traffic at Rabbitohs’ halfback Chris Sandow. It’s not just because Chris is short in stature but something that happens every week. Halfbacks cop the big boys running at them. Hopefully we can have success and come back to Newcastle having won two on the trot.

One other issue from this week is the Bulldogs having two competition points stripped from them.

I think it’s a massive call from the NRL as the extra man wasn’t a factor at all and I don’t think the penalty fits the crime. In a competition this close losing two points can be the difference between finals or no finals. I know if it was us I would be filthy.

Gids

Knights fans I hope you’re ready for the 2009 season. I know I am and I know the rest of the boys are as we get ready to kick off our season on Sunday as we take on the Gold Coast away from home.

Most of the squad are fit and ready to fire with the exceptions of Wes Naiqama, Danny Wicks and Cooper Vuna.

I know a lot of you would have been looking forward to watching Cooper in action, but the good news is we have another exciting flyer in for him – Akuila Uate.

As we prepare to start the season with three away games against the Titans, Sharks and Rabbitohs, due to EnergyAustralia Stadium having the lower concourse completed, we know if we can get two or three victories from those games before we can come home we will be feeling good.

Over the pre-season we have had some new players come to the club and make their mark including Ben Rogers and Isaac de Gois.

Both of those guys have been impressive, especially Isaac who knows he is stepping into some pretty big shoes after Danny Buderus left the club.

Without wanting to put pressure on anyone I think Jarrod Mullen is ready to have a big year.

Mullo has been training really well and is probably the best I have seen him. His commitment has been exceptional as he has continually been working on his skills.

Those skills will have to be at their best this weekend against a Titans side containing the attacking dynamo that is Scott Prince.

Princey is one of the very best in the game and I think the percentage of the Titans winning when he plays are off the charts compared to them winning when he doesn’t.

As for me I am looking to continue to improve this season and with the captaincy I know I have to lead.

I don’t feel any extra pressure with the captaincy though. Newcastle fans are very loyal and if everyone is putting in 100% every week then they respect that. I just hope I can do a good job.

There have been some great captains who have gone before me in Paul Harragon, Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus. I was fortunate to play under the latter two.

As for ‘Chief’ well he was an inspirational leader who not only led on the field but was a symbol of Newcastle off it. I want to lead the team as passionately as they did.

On the club front there have been reports about Nathan Tinkler (the owner of Patinack Farm) buying into the club and if that is the case and it helps the club financially I am all for it. Nathan was one of our sponsors last year and seems like a top bloke.

Keen for this weekend - Gids