The Knights last 4 weeks.

[newyboy]

. All Brown currently offers is an inferior version of the exact some game plan every other team has. His currently philosophy seems to be "be patient it will take a few years for me to have us competitive playing exactly like everyone else".
What about if he was brave and said lets go another qay.

We has that opportunity and they were called the "WALKER" brothers. But whoever is calling the shots knew better.

 

[Frailty]

The fact of the matter is there are plenty of clubs in similar position as Newcastle in regard to the Salary Cap and TPAs, but only Newcastle are as awful as they are. This is due to awful business planning and management.

The Sharks were a basket case for years, and only now are we looking like we are out of that realm. I give Lyall Gorman ridiculous amount of credit and he has really galvanised the support around the club by identifying what made the Sharks what they are - what are they strong at, where can they improve.

However, there were important steps before Lyall came that set the scene.

 

[newyboy]

Working class miners on $150k per year and all the toys and flash house. Yes we are on struggle street.

 

[Caped Crusader]

lol there are not nearly as many of those "$150K miners" around like there used to be. Newcastles reliance on the mines is the reason the towns been up shit creek for years. Wollongong is in much the same position but its closer proximity to Sydney has somewhat lessened the blow.

The town and the club need to get better at business and diversifying the industries they have a finger in. There is no other way around it

 

[perverse]

The fact of the matter is there are plenty of clubs in similar position as Newcastle in regard to the Salary Cap and TPAs, but only Newcastle are as awful as they are. This is due to awful business planning and management.

The Sharks were a basket case for years, and only now are we looking like we are out of that realm. I give Lyall Gorman ridiculous amount of credit and he has really galvanised the support around the club by identifying what made the Sharks what they are - what are they strong at, where can they improve.

However, there were important steps before Lyall came that set the scene.

It's funny to see Sharks fans jumping on board with this line of thinking now that they're getting a bit of a taste of the good life. How long do you think your success will be sustained versus a team like the Broncos, the Roosters, Melbourne or the Dogs? Do you think your peaks are sustained as long as theirs? What about their troughs compared to yours, do they spend as long at the bottom as smaller market clubs? Does it take them as long to "rebuild"? In general, I would say no to all of the above.

That isn't to take anything away from the Sharkies, I hope they go all the way this year.

I believe, more than anything, the Knights need a well intentioned, deep pocketed owner that is willing to stick around for the long haul and turn the place around. Someone well connected that CAN attract some TPA money to the club. We've lost all of our community goodwill through being a basketcase for a decade, and having an owner that alienated local business. The Knights, at this point, have lost an entire generation of supporters. It is, or at least was when I left, deeply uncool to support the Knights in Newcastle. They are rightfully seen as losers, a joke. The 15-20k fans that fill the stadium on game day are about the only people in the region not too embarrassed to admit they attended. Hell, half of them probably tell their friends and loved ones they're going to do something else that day. I don't know how one undoes that damage. Winning would be a good start... but it needs to be fixed before we have a chance at that. The perception that we are in a well supported heartland is a total myth perpetrated by people haven't been there in 15 years, or never at all.

There is a lot of football played in the region, yes. It's all very disconnected from the Knights, though. Look at what a kid like Lattrell Mitchell recently said about us when queried about being turned down by us as a junior... it was something to the effect of "thank f**k they did, I don't like them anyway". This is a kid from Taree, the same place as Danny f**king Buderus. That sentiment flows certainly throughout the town, and wouldn't surprise me throughout the wider region. We're so unattractive that kids in our backyard want nothing to do with us.

Hmm, went off on a tangent there.

 

[Pete Cash]

Yeah that's something the raiders have to deal with too. Why would kids want to support the raiders. Even in Canberra.

I wouldn't wish supporting us on my worst enemy.

 

[Card Shark]

However, there were important steps before Lyall came that set the scene.

You mean the guy that got the development approved & then got ostracised from the club because someone else introduced "horse drugs"?

It has been a long process to get to where we are.

5 years I'd say since Damian Irvine & his hardworking board were elected. He made great personal sacrifices to get his club back on track & the development approved.

Should name a stand after him imo.....when we build 1.

 

[Frailty]

You mean the guy that got the development approved & then got ostracised from the club because someone else introduced "horse drugs"?

It has been a long process to get to where we are.

5 years I'd say since Damian Irvine & his hardworking board were elected. He made great personal sacrifices to get his club back on track & the development approved.

Should name a stand after him imo.....when we build 1.

Exactly. DI had an amazing passion and was the guy that got the development through - whilst taking no money from the club. He had his flaws, but did the best he could and got the club on the first step towards long term sustainability.

 

[Frailty]

It's funny to see Sharks fans jumping on board with this line of thinking now that they're getting a bit of a taste of the good life. How long do you think your success will be sustained versus a team like the Broncos, the Roosters, Melbourne or the Dogs? Do you think your peaks are sustained as long as theirs? What about their troughs compared to yours, do they spend as long at the bottom as smaller market clubs? Does it take them as long to "rebuild"? In general, I would say no to all of the above.

That isn't to take anything away from the Sharkies, I hope they go all the way this year.

I'm not under any delusions that we are in the same position as those clubs. But with the proper management, our sustained success off the field will remain because of a business plan suited to this club, in this area, in these conditions. It's not adapting a Broncos model because that would be foolish.

I believe, more than anything, the Knights need a well intentioned, deep pocketed owner that is willing to stick around for the long haul and turn the place around. Someone well connected that CAN attract some TPA money to the club. We've lost all of our community goodwill through being a basketcase for a decade, and having an owner that alienated local business.

I don't agree with this attitude. It's a pipe dream - hoping for a person willing to save the club and fork the money out. Last time you had the private owner, you willingly admit he alienated the locals - what would prevent that happening again?

The Knights, at this point, have lost an entire generation of supporters. It is, or at least was when I left, deeply uncool to support the Knights in Newcastle. They are rightfully seen as losers, a joke. The 15-20k fans that fill the stadium on game day are about the only people in the region not too embarrassed to admit they attended. Hell, half of them probably tell their friends and loved ones they're going to do something else that day. I don't know how one undoes that damage. Winning would be a good start... but it needs to be fixed before we have a chance at that. The perception that we are in a well supported heartland is a total myth perpetrated by people haven't been there in 15 years, or never at all.

There is a lot of football played in the region, yes. It's all very disconnected from the Knights, though. Look at what a kid like Lattrell Mitchell recently said about us when queried about being turned down by us as a junior... it was something to the effect of "thank f**k they did, I don't like them anyway". This is a kid from Taree, the same place as Danny f**king Buderus. That sentiment flows certainly throughout the town, and wouldn't surprise me throughout the wider region. We're so unattractive that kids in our backyard want nothing to do with us.

Hmm, went off on a tangent there.

The main sense I'm getting is there is a massive disconnection with the area itself - and that used to be it's strength. To a point, it's still there - just not as strong as what it was. A private owner won't bring that back, but there needs to management with a clear path that galvanises the strengths that the Knights possess.

 

[perverse]

The main sense I'm getting is there is a massive disconnection with the area itself - and that used to be it's strength. To a point, it's still there - just not as strong as what it was. A private owner won't bring that back, but there needs to management with a clear path that galvanises the strengths that the Knights possess.

You're talking in platitudes and buzz words. There's not an ounce of substance in any of this. Management with a clear path that galvanises the strengths we possess? You'd make a great politician. What strengths? We don't have a strong support base, we don't have a strong economy in the region, we don't have any rich benefactors putting their hands up. Our grassroots support is drying up.

We've turned over our management at least 3 or 4 times in the past 15 years. We've done the same with the coaching and the playing staff. Nothing changes. We're not hiring the right people, you say? We can't afford the right people. There's a reason why Gidley is still our CEO, similar reasons that Tinks had him there. He's cheap and he does what he's told. The fact that the NRL appointed board have chosen to stick with Gidley tells you all you need to know about how much the NRL give a shit about our success or failure.

Honestly, I agree more with the people that say "maybe Newcastle shouldn't have a club" more than I agree with your sentiments. They are closer to the truth, if the NRL is to be run how it is run, it's possible an NRL team isn't suitable or viable in Newcastle. I don't see where the money will come from.

 

[macavity]

IMO this is more of the issue at Newcastle rather than a lack of TPA opportunities.

Again, simple supply and demand economics says no, this is a TPA issue.

I know some seem to struggle with basic economics, so I will try to write a story. If this doesn't work I will see if I can put it in pictures for the very slow.

Lets suppose two teams are rebuilding. We will call them the Steelmen and the Donkeys.

The Steelmen play in a small, working class market. They have no TPA access and cannot spend more than the cap of $6million for their top 25.

The Donkeys have a huge and relatively wealthy RL market all to themselves. They have effectively unlimited TPA access and spend approximately $8.5million on player payments for their top 25.

The Steelmen and the Donkeys have needs at similar positions.

Lets say each team already has 10 "standard" first graders signed up at the "cap average" of $240k.

This leaves the Steelmen $3.6m in "discretionary" spending, and the Donkeys with $6.1m in discretionary spending.

Lets say the market has determined that the "maximum" that an "elite" talent will demand is $1m.

The Steelmen can't pay that for any one player without screwing their cap, so our free agent elite talent signs with the Donkeys, leaving them with $5.1m discretionary spending for 14 players.

There are 9 "quality" players on the market. The market value of these players is 5 x 600 (former rep), 2 x 700k (rep) and 2 x 800k (regular rep), depending on position.

The Donkeys quickly sign the 2 x 800k players, leaving them with $3.5m in discretionary spending for 12 players.

The Steelmen have targeted one of the $700k players as their centrepiece to build the club around and somehow convince him to sign. The Steelmen now have 2.9m left for 14 players.

The Donkeys sign the remaining 700k player and now have 2.8m to spend on 11 players.

The Donkeys then sign 3 of the remaining "former rep" players for 600k a piece, leaving them $1m for their final 8 "squad" players - 4 "development" players on the minimum of $80k, and 4 "contributors" on $170k.

The Steelmen sign the 2 remaining "former rep" players for 600k.

Needing to fill out their roster, and with only 13 players under contract, the Steelmen sign 4 more average first graders on $240k and 1 "contributor" on $170k. They have to fill their squad with 7 "development" players at the minimum of $80k.

Good news, the Steelmen are $10,000 under the cap!

Now the bad news for the Steelmen.

The Donkeys are going to run out for their first game with 4 "top shelf" players and 3 "former rep" players. The rest of their 17 will be "average" first graders. If they get some injuries, they have 4 "contributors" to call up.

The Steelmen are going to run out with 1 rep player, 2 former rep players, and 14 average first graders. If they get injuries, they have 1 contributor in their system before they are chucking kids out there. If any of these kids kick on, the Steelmen are unlikely to be able to afford to keep them, as they are close to the cap, and the Donkeys can better any offer they make by finding another TPA.

Even at their best, the Steelmen don't have the players to trouble the Donkeys.

Posters on LU will then tell the Steelmen they are uncompetitive because their management is shit.

 

[THE CHAMP]

About what???? That your club is a soulless cheating piece of shit that has had an uneven playing field since exception????

Post a pic it might make you feel better....

Shut the f**k up peasant.

 

[THE CHAMP]

Quit pretending to be some sort of club executive or salary cap auditor.

You know nothing about the Knights salary cap situation.

What you and I both know is that the roster is shit.

The dogs wanted to recruit Sione and extend Hodkinson, do you think they stayed / came for less? :roll:

You've obviously overpaid for sub standard players.

The sooner that you direct your anger towards your inexperienced executives, your sub standard practice / training / rehab facilities, your rookie coach (who was yet another sub standard player) and most importantly your inept recruitment instead of blaming those who do it right the sooner you'll be better off.

When my team missed the finals I didn't blame the rest of the world, I knew exactly who to direct my anger / dissatisfaction towards. What the hell is wrong with you supporters of bottom feeder clubs?

Your sense has no place in this forum.

Everything is the Broncos fault.
That's it.
Fmd they love it when we lose but the green saltybutt in here when we're on top is delicious.

 

[Noname36]

My God there's some crap in this thread.

To everyone throwing around the same line that the Knights are simply mismanaged: have you all failed to remember that it's actually the NRL that own and are meant to be running the Knights? If they're simply not being managed correctly then we have a far bigger issue because the NRL itself are responsible for it.

 

[Noname36]

Also to all the shit stains saying the Knights should die: don't go holding your breath.

There's no safer side in the competition. The NRL may not need them to be successful but they do need them to exist.

 

[Caped Crusader]

My God there's some crap in this thread.

To everyone throwing around the same line that the Knights are simply mismanaged: have you all failed to remember that it's actually the NRL that own and are meant to be running the Knights? If they're simply not being managed correctly then we have a far bigger issue because the NRL itself are responsible for it.

I have also questioned this however the reality is the damage has been done long before they took over and cleaning it up would likely take a fair bit of time. By the end of this season we should have a better understanding of what the NRL wants out of a Newcastle club imo

And Macca, I don't buy the fact that Newcastle "doesn't have access to any TPAs". A decent management team will find them if they are fair dinkum. The Cowboys seem to have no issue with them in Tville.

 

[Noname36]

I have also questioned this however the reality is the damage has been done long before they took over and cleaning it up would likely take a fair bit of time. By the end of this season we should have a better understanding of what the NRL wants out of a Newcastle club imo

And Macca, I don't buy the fact that Newcastle "doesn't have access to any TPAs". A decent management team will find them if they are fair dinkum. The Cowboys seem to have no issue with them in Tville.

How long are we supposed to go without not knowing what the NRL, the clubs owners and governing body "wants out of Newcastle as a club"? They've owned them for 2 years now - and other than appointing a specialist board to run the club we've seen nothing change, and we've heard nothing of their plans. Everyone likes to just slam Midley, but it's because he's the only one we ever actually see or here from.

The Cowboys are a different kettle of fish mate. I've said before but it's amazing what a player of JT's calibre can do for a club in terms of drawing in sponsorship, media interest, etc. Newcastle were in the same position with Johns. Once in a lifetime players can do a lot of a club.

 

[some11]

Warms my heart to know that anything posted on here means nothing to anyone who actually holds a position in rugby league, and will never have any impact on any actual decisions made.

Five years from now the Knights will have gotten out of this shit and no one will remember this thread.

 

[perverse]

Five years from now the Knights will have gotten out of this shit and no one will remember this thread.

I really hope that you are right, and that we are wrong. We said the same 5 years ago.

 

[perverse]

How long are we supposed to go without not knowing what the NRL, the clubs owners and governing body "wants out of Newcastle as a club"? They've owned them for 2 years now - and other than appointing a specialist board to run the club we've seen nothing change, and we've heard nothing of their plans. Everyone likes to just slam Midley, but it's because he's the only one we ever actually see or here from.

The Cowboys are a different kettle of fish mate. I've said before but it's amazing what a player of JT's calibre can do for a club in terms of drawing in sponsorship, media interest, etc. Newcastle were in the same position with Johns. Once in a lifetime players can do a lot of a club.

That's not entirely true. We know our chairmans plans for success - we just need some magic. :lol: