First Grade Knights vs Rabbitohs

[Jono078]

For next season I think we've only signed Isaac De Gois and Constantine Mika. And looks like Taumata will be here but from what i've seen he's not much good and a waste.

 

[perverse]

agree on all, except I seem to be the only person in the world that doesn't rate Ben Harris.

Tate and Petero would have transformed our team. whether we could have afforded them however, who knows.

I think something a lot of people aren't taking into account is that we are losing a lot of depth for next year.

Royal, White, Bailey, Taufua, Mad Dog likely wont be here, as well as bedsy. unless we are signing some un named superstar, there is a lot of money being saved, and none being spent. I refuse to believe upgrades have eaten all the money we are saving, particularly looking at some other rosters (and rumoured salaries) in the NRL.

Im with Karma on this one, I think we are going backwards for 2009 - but probably not for the reasons he thinks. I think some players will improve (im looking for big things from Wes, Houso, and a few of the NYC kids) but we are just losing too much depth - particuarly in the forwards. A few injuries and we will be playing backrowers in the front row, backrowers in the centres, hell, probably backrowers in the halves again....

i agree, we are looking a lot more swallow next year, however i think our top squad will improve a lot... it will just be a matter of injuries and suspension.

 

[Yosh]

In 2002 or 2003 Juventus sold Zindane for a record 67million euros to Real Madrid. He was the current best player in the world and everyone blamed the coach for selling their best player and only hope. In reality the team wasnt doing that great, Zidane was awesome but rest of team wasnt upto his standard so they hadnt won anything in a whlie, with that money Juventus bought 3 good players in Buffon, Nedved and forgot the other plus couple of small name signings. They went on to win the next 3 league Scuddtos or whatever it is called.

I think that is what we need to do with our Knights. However not exactly the same thing happen I guess. Couple of upgraded contracts bought Cross as our one non- cellar signing... Signed De Gois... Would of loved to have signed Cooper and Civo however definately Degois, Cross, Civo and Cooper would cost more then Joey, Bedsy

 

[Karmawave]

i agree, we are looking a lot more swallow next year, however i think our top squad will improve a lot... it will just be a matter of injuries and suspension.

We've been lucky mostly with injuries in 2008 until recent times, so expecting to stay injury free for 2009 is going to take some kind of minor miracle.

I really hope we don't have injuries next year, because I would hate to give anyone here yet another excuse for failure.

It's not like every other club stays injury free every year.

Brisbane have had a huge amount of big injuries this year yet are Top 8. The Tigers have lost their key players for large chunks of time yet are ahead of the Knights. Ditto Titans. Ditto Dragons.

I believe if everyone sitting here saying that our recruiting and player strength for next year is 100% fine, then we should all agree on that right now before a ball is kicked and come what may - there can be NO EXCUSES at all for our performance next year.

Other teams deal with injuries by using their Under 20 players, and seeing as though our juniors and recruitment is apparently A-OK, then so can we.

There is no reason why a Brisbane Bronco team who was missing Hodges, Lockyer, Wallace etc for big pieces of time can have enough depth to still be in the Top 8 while the Knights cannot.

If our recruitment and junior strength is as strong as everyone here thinks, we can cover the positions and still be Top 8. After all, we no longer rely on "ANDREW JOHNS" and everyone seems so happy we have signed so many solid players for our depth.

So from here on in, for 2009, no excuse - at all.

Deal?

 

[perverse]

We've been lucky mostly with injuries in 2008 until recent times, so expecting to stay injury free for 2009 is going to take some kind of minor miracle.

I really hope we don't have injuries next year, because I would hate to give anyone here yet another excuse for failure.

It's not like every other club stays injury free every year.

Brisbane have had a huge amount of big injuries this year yet are Top 8. The Tigers have lost their key players for large chunks of time yet are ahead of the Knights. Ditto Titans. Ditto Dragons.

I believe if everyone sitting here saying that our recruiting and player strength for next year is 100% fine, then we should all agree on that right now before a ball is kicked and come what may - there can be NO EXCUSES at all for our performance next year.

Other teams deal with injuries by using their Under 20 players, and seeing as though our juniors and recruitment is apparently A-OK, then so can we.

There is no reason why a Brisbane Bronco team who was missing Hodges, Lockyer, Wallace etc for big pieces of time can have enough depth to still be in the Top 8 while the Knights cannot.

If our recruitment and junior strength is as strong as everyone here thinks, we can cover the positions and still be Top 8. After all, we no longer rely on "ANDREW JOHNS" and everyone seems so happy we have signed so many solid players for our depth.

So from here on in, for 2009, no excuse - at all.

Deal?

no, i definitely agree with you on the points regarding our lower grades. i see loads of potential in the top squad... but for next year the talent tapers off rather quickly. i'm still left scratching my head about the royal situation. our depth could be a genuine issue next year, it worries me.

 

[Karmawave]

no, i definitely agree with you on the points regarding our lower grades. i see loads of potential in the top squad... but for next year the talent tapers off rather quickly. i'm still left scratching my head about the royal situation. our depth could be a genuine issue next year, it worries me.

But you said we are a Top 4 team.

Are we only a Top 4 team with ifs and buts?

What you just said is my whole entire gripe with our recruiting policy :lol:

 

[perverse]

But you said we are a Top 4 team.

Are we only a Top 4 team with ifs and buts?

What you just said is my whole entire gripe with our recruiting policy :lol:

lol, wtf are you talking about? i've always agreed with you regarding the lower grades. yes, our depth concerns me... but i don't think it will stop us being a genuine top 4 contender.

and to be fair - just about every team in the comp can be a top 4 team with ifs and buts... that's a direct result of the salary cap.

 

[Karmawave]

I guess when I weigh up if we are a genuine Top 4 contender, I simply weigh up our best line up ( and key possible key junior replacements for any injuries ) and compare it directly against rival NRL teams best line ups ( and key junior replacements ).

When I do that, I don't know what I am seeing that makes my opinion so different to so many other people in here - but I see at the very least 10 or 11 teams with stronger squads for 2009 than the Knights.

So after doing that, the only way I can see us being a " genuine " Top 4 contender is if we don't lose any players to injury - at all - and relying on injury plagued seasons for our rivals.

If our squad is lined up against every other team in the NRL , I maintain the belief that overall ( and including junior depth - and positional depth ) we have one of the weakest teams player strength wise in the entire NRL for 2009.

I would love to be optimistic about 2009 , but while that reality stares me in the face, I can't safely predict us being a Top 8 contender with any confidence whatsoever.

In fact, I would go as far to say that the odds are against us.

I believe we have overachieved beyond most peoples expectations on the field this year , yet still sit 12th on the ladder. We have improved in so many ways, yet still sit 12th on the ladder. Can we rely on overachieving again next year with what will be a weaker overall squad?

The last 2 or 3 pages of this thread probably belongs in the " Recruitment " thread anyway, but what can ya do...

 

[Aaron_sfas]

A wave is coming. Not from the sea, but from the South.

The wave has been building for some time, and now it is ready to break.

Those in blue and red will beg for mercy from this wave, but shall receive none. Indeed the tidal wave is epic and unstoppable.

Five have been left in its wake, with twenty supposedly powerful victims claimed so long ago.

The gods have awoken, and they scream to this wave "RISE UP ONCE MORE!"

Now it shall roll on an consume all in its path. An Energy Australia stadium Wipeout looms!!!

All that shall remain will be the tattered dreams of a mining town, and a painful memory.

Here come South Sydney. GLORY GLORY!!!

 

[African Monkey]

You guys are lucky Hegs is out.

 

[perverse]

A wave is coming. Not from the sea, but from the South.

The wave has been building for some time, and now it is ready to break.

Those in blue and red will beg for mercy from this wave, but shall receive none. Indeed the tidal wave is epic and unstoppable.

Five have been left in its wake, with twenty supposedly powerful victims claimed so long ago.

The gods have awoken, and they scream to this wave "RISE UP ONCE MORE!"

Now it shall roll on an consume all in its path. An Energy Australia stadium Wipeout looms!!!

All that shall remain will be the tattered dreams of a mining town, and a painful memory.

Here come South Sydney. GLORY GLORY!!!

:lol:

can you please hook me up with some of whatever you're smoking?

 

[Aaron_sfas]

:lol:

can you please hook me up with some of whatever you're smoking?

Its called oncoming glory. you wouldnt have heard of it

 

[perverse]

Its called oncoming glory. you wouldnt have heard of it

we've experienced far more of it in the last 20 years than you have. :lol:

 

[Jobdog]

:lol: @ a Souffs fan saying anything about oncoming glory

 

[Karmawave]

Ever checked out the South Sydney Rabbitohs online store?

They have some top class merchandise for sale, especially for the younger demographic. Pretty impressive. Their hoodies and tees are great.

I guess if you are going to lose, you might as well look good while you do it :lol:

 

[Tommax25]

I totally agree with Pers and I would definately make a play for Todd, will come cheap definately worth the gamble!!!

why would he come cheap? if he leaves the raiders he'll want a comparable salary, in he vicinity of 300-400K i would think. if he was on the market again there would be a bidding war with penrith, maybe manly (not sure how the situation has changed since then) and whatever new clubs enter the frame. definitely would not be cheap

 

[Yosh]

why would he come cheap? if he leaves the raiders he'll want a comparable salary, in he vicinity of 300-400K i would think. if he was on the market again there would be a bidding war with penrith, maybe manly (not sure how the situation has changed since then) and whatever new clubs enter the frame. definitely would not be cheap

I think he'd come very cheap...

HOWEVER problems:

1. he might not be allowed to play in NRL for a while
2. bidding war
3. newie might not even be on his mind

however, I dont think contract amount will really be on his mind if he wants to play footy. If he does all we have to offer is maybe even incentives based contract for a short period, like 1 maybe 2 years then upgrade it based on his performances on and off the field.

I am never sure how much money we have left in our kitty but surely its more than Manly, not too sure about Penrith though... Also being able to play with Mullen and Kidley to boost his chances of Origin selection could also be on his mind I think..

HOwever the chance of him coming to Newie is low, however we had one crazy bi polar halfback champion play for us I'm sure we can handle Carney too:sarcasm:

 

[sneaky_is_here]

You guys are lucky Hegs is out.

Just like your unlucky Mad Dog is playing;-)

 

[Karmawave]

HOwever the chance of him coming to Newie is low,

Chance of Todd Carney coming to play for Newie is ZERO. The chance of Todd Carney playing anywhere but Canberra in 2009 is zero.

On a more positive note, we can watch one of our gun juniors who got away - Greg Bird - play for Cronulla tomorrow night and think what mighta been. :lol:

Not selected by Ricky Stuart but he'll play.

I see Brian Smith's tactics rub off on other coaches. All becoming a bit predictable. I mean Sticky left open the number 18 jumper on the team sheet after all :lol:

 

[Tommax25]

I think he'd come very cheap...

HOWEVER problems:

1. he might not be allowed to play in NRL for a while
2. bidding war
3. newie might not even be on his mind

however, I dont think contract amount will really be on his mind if he wants to play footy. If he does all we have to offer is maybe even incentives based contract for a short period, like 1 maybe 2 years then upgrade it based on his performances on and off the field.

I am never sure how much money we have left in our kitty but surely its more than Manly, not too sure about Penrith though... Also being able to play with Mullen and Kidley to boost his chances of Origin selection could also be on his mind I think..

HOwever the chance of him coming to Newie is low, however we had one crazy bi polar halfback champion play for us I'm sure we can handle Carney too:sarcasm:

the bidding war alone would bump his price up i think, and penrith would be in the box seat salary cap wise, im not sure about the knights but manly must have something to spare, they did offer at least 400,000 for carney earlier in the year (was that for 2009 or 2010?) and they spent 120K (i think) on bailey and no other signings I can think of, but are probably losing bryant, ballin and williamson (at least 150-250K total there) and have lost bell and menzies, so manly should still be in a position for carney. for newcastle I guess it depends on how much buderus is on, and how much all these new players they bought this season are on