Rumoured & Confirmed Signings (2025 Season)

[Luke Bowden]

Is Tago really on that much coin?

He’s on Critter money

 

[Pjf04b]

Don’t think so!

 

[Chins]

He’s on Critter money

Finally sorts his defence but loses his attacking upside.
He'd be almost worth that sort of money if he put it all together consistently.

 

[Hooked]

Gone quiet, but could be a good 14 if he signs.

Would be a good 14. More hooking depth and wouldn't impede Scott either.

 

[Hooked]

Is Tago really on that much coin?

I read his deal staggers upwards, towards the back end of his contract

Truth is, no-one knows.

 

[Whino]

Gould is gone. We are usually pretty cautious with our contracts now.

 

[hindy111]

Summed it up very well.

Look at Kalyn Ponga at Newcastle. He alone can't get that team running. Has to have support from the rest of the 17.

Disagree. If Ponga was at Penrith or Brisbane I reckon he'd be unstoppable. Awesome player that carries Knights.

 

[hindy111]

I think they should release him too. But he can be their Walsh if he stays on the field.

I think Dbags is a fine signing but the price and length is monstrous. Their cap must be stuffed at this point.

Ponga if fit turns Newcastle into a finals team most years in an average side.
I just can't see Walsh or Edwards having that effect on them even though both are consistently better players. When Pongas on he is the king.
Dylan was horrid this year but will get back tk his 2022 form I think. 1.3 is overs but when they talk 600k for Pezet a rookie or 750k for Jayden Campbel I start to think its probably only 300k overs if he regains form. It isnt the end of the world
Pongas fitness is an issue

 

[hindy111]

Two dads and still no idea about football, that’s interesting.

Are you suggesting women dont know as much about footy as men?
What about JANE?

 

[Munky]

Tago's development curve was on an exponential trajectory in 2022 and 2023 until he did his pec.

Was the best backline weapon in the team during the Pantherball era.

His speed and power was carving teams up.

I can see why he could have been given a backloaded deal.

 

[betcats]

Tago's development curve was on an exponential trajectory in 2022 and 2023 until he did his pec.

Was the best backline weapon in the team during the Pantherball era.

His speed and power was carving teams up.

I can see why he could have been given a backloaded deal.

No doubt he was a great prospect in his early years, he had a run of form this year where he looked back to his best, and the difference between his best and his usual is fairly different. When he is playing well he is a handful on most of his runs, his hands are good and he is good defensively. But he does that in patches at best. He needs to put up consistently. If our caps bad now hows it going to look when Casey is due for an extension? He is not even 20 yet, he wouldnt on a big contract compared to what he will get offered in two years, especially with the two clubs coming in. I think there is a very good chance the need to keep Casey will push Tago out at some point.

 

[hindy111]

Tago's development curve was on an exponential trajectory in 2022 and 2023 until he did his pec.

Was the best backline weapon in the team during the Pantherball era.

His speed and power was carving teams up.

I can see why he could have been given a backloaded deal.

I have the feeling they thought he was better then he is. Whilst he is strong, fast and a great athlete he has average hands and skills and just not the brightest. Still a good player and his darts out of dummy half where exceptional the back half of season.

Blaizes development will be interesting. He shows glimpses but hasn't owned a game. Hands like feet and defens need to be addressed big time.

 

[hindy111]

No doubt he was a great prospect in his early years, he had a run of form this year where he looked back to his best, and the difference between his best and his usual is fairly different. When he is playing well he is a handful on most of his runs, his hands are good and he is good defensively. But he does that in patches at best. He needs to put up consistently. If our caps bad now hows it going to look when Casey is due for an extension? He is not even 20 yet, he wouldnt on a big contract compared to what he will get offered in two years, especially with the two clubs coming in. I think there is a very good chance the need to keep Casey will push Tago out at some point.

Edwards,Yeo,Martin,Leota wont be around forever right? Lot of big names on big money getting to that 30 age.

 

[betcats]

Edwards,Yeo,Martin,Leota wont be around forever right? Lot of big names on big money getting to that 30 age.

No but Nathan will still be one of the game highest paid for 5 years minimum, hopefully Blaize kicks on, if so he will be on a huge chunk, and the rest of those current guys once they start aging out will need to be replaced with good players who also need to be paid, it wont be easy.

 

[hindy111]

No but Nathan will still be one of the game highest paid for 5 years minimum, hopefully Blaize kicks on, if so he will be on a huge chunk, and the rest of those current guys once they start aging out will need to be replaced with good players who also need to be paid, it wont be easy.

How much? 1.4?
Plenty of clubs have a guy on 1.1+
Atleast Nathan is worth it . Remember clubs are paying 750k for guys like J.Cambpell or Hastings.

 

[betcats]

We will soon be dealing with the back end of a number of club legends careers. Id say across the board Yeo, Dyl, nath, Martin, Cleary, Edwards, Bizza Leota are earning more then they ever have next season, none of them are at the age where they would start earning less yet, so we need to figure that out over the next few years along with keeping the talent we do develop, if we want to remain competitive.

 

[betcats]

How much? 1.4?
Plenty of clubs have a guy on 1.1+
Atleast Nathan is worth it . Remember clubs are paying 750k for guys like J.Cambpell or Hastings.

Im not complaining about it but its just a fact for the club to maange. Luckily I dont think Nath will ever care about earning as much as he can.

Anyway im talking as if we will remain a top four side for the next 5-10 years, if we dothen we will have a tight salary cap. If we just fall back to what we were then yeah we can afford a few stars without much trouble if we just want to be another average side.

 

[The Realist]

Maybe 2026 is finally the year the 4 time premiership coach learns how to use a 14?

Don't count on it.

 

[The Realist]

Nothing crazy about that at all. Alamoti played centre through the 2024 finals. He was our best outside back in this finals series on the wing and last finals series in the centres, if he brings his finals form im taking him over tago every dayt of the week.

What has Tago got over him as a centre? Better defense? Not likely.

Yes, Tago has better defense than Alamoti, comfortably so, and that is even when Tago has his defensive wobbles.

 

[The Realist]

Regarding the Chad Debate and similar, I'd like to try to define categories;

10/10 Living Legend in peak form
9/10 Great
8/10 Elite
7/10 Good
6/10 Better than Average
5/10 Blog average
4/10 Ordinary
3/10 Limited (but functional)
2/10 Highly limited
1/10 Hopeless

I would say that for the vast majority of his Career Chad Townsend was somewhere between a 4.5-5.

The thing is players can have stretches of good or even great form where they play a point or two, or even sometimes 3 above their 'normal' level.

I think 2016 Chad probably played at somewhere around 6-6.5.