Foxsport story on Brown

[Nuffy]

I will preface my comment by stating clear that I didn't think Stone was the answer but it amazes me that Brown has been given miles more latitude than Stone ever was.

Generally the fans have accepted everything he has said, and the club, at face value this year, something we've never done before.

I am amazed that we are happy to write off years on the assumption that somehow he will get it right.

Somehow we've reached a point where we have to wait another 2-10 yrs before we can avoid the spoon.

Sure he's done some things we've agreed with and show underperformers the door, but the junior experiment is ongoing and his recruitment thus far is cast offs from other clubs or doing the media polka with old players still under contract.

The good times are still just a haze in the distance and does anyone really think players, sponsors and fans will flock to a club that is odds on to win three spoons in a row.

I refuse to drink the koolaid, the club hasn't earnt that right, as we've suffer through 10 plus years of mediocrity, excuse me if I hold judgement until I see meaningful improvement. I haven't seen it yet as we are on target to be the worst ARL / NRL club in 16 yrs.

And let's be realistic about the future, we've never been a club that attract name players easily, after collecting possibly 3 spoons in a row, how will we break the status quo. Also do we actually think that young players will stay long term to be cannon fodder, we have to show them we are building a team and the evidence thus far is limited.

I'm still skeptical about the cap situation as we've let go so many name players and signed no one of note beyond Trent. Is it a convenient excuse that can't be verified but gives unlimited cover to the current hierarchy.

Are we running below the cap deliberately, because we have to due to the NRL turning off the money tap?

Make no mistake, just about every club is making their roster better for 2017, what have we done and who have we signed? Right now it looks highly likely that we'll have a weaker roster than 2016 as we've added no one.

And after we win 2-4 games in 2017, will we all be satisfied with the results?

 

[perverse]

The only reason I'm giving the benefit of the doubt is that this period reminds me of the early Smithy days, and they ended up heading in the right direction. Brown has an advantage that Smith didn't have - the town aren't as attached to this group of underperformers. No Judas Newtons in the press and walking out, no uproar. He can sack any of them and the supporters, by and large, accept it.

Another thing I'm think I'm seeing from Brown is that he's not doing what Bennett did in spending big on already established stars to bring experience into the team. Brown looks to want Kostjaysn (i.e - cheap) type experience in the team, and seems willing to spend larger amounts of dough on young potential stars of tomorrow. I think both coaches have the right idea of needing some old heads in the team, but I think Brown recognizes that he can't spend all his big money on that experience, the big money needs to go into the team of tomorrow, the old blokes mainly serve to bring them through - not to win us games.

I am skeptical of anything this club does. The main thing that worries me is that Brown is definitely looking for a young marquee like a Valentine Holmes to come in and complete his spine. I don't think he'll get one. Mamo could still be a bit of a wildcard for us... but he really needs to get and keep his shit together.

 

[Frederick]

I'm still skeptical about the cap situation as we've let go so many name players and signed no one of note beyond Trent. Is it a convenient excuse that can't be verified but gives unlimited cover to the current hierarchy.

Are we running below the cap deliberately, because we have to due to the NRL turning off the money tap?

I'd say we're close to cap because the players we let go were still under contract, meaning we're still paying a lot of money for players to play for other clubs.

We're still paying for Hagan, Bennetts and Stones stupidity, and until those contracts expire and Brown gets the full cap to spend, we're going to be stuck with cut price signings

 

[Jono078]

We're not paying for anyone that's not at the club next year though.

So I do question why we aren't able to bring more players in for 2017.

 

[Frederick]

We're not paying for anyone that's not at the club next year though.

So I do question why we aren't able to bring more players in for 2017.

Still got Aku and Stockwells contracts on board. At least $800k right there

Plus Snowden, who still hasn't been told wether he qualifies for medical retirement

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

I read an article that said we are running under the cap to pay back money that we owe to the NRL. Thats why we have offloaded heaps of players. Next season we wont owe the NRL anything and can use our full cap.

 

[macavity]

I read an article that said we are running under the cap to pay back money that we owe to the NRL. Thats why we have offloaded heaps of players. Next season we wont owe the NRL anything and can use our full cap.

We are going to lose $600k this year, has to come from somewhere - so we will be in debt again.

 

[Caped Crusader]

There are plenty of athletes, particularly in the US, with the right skills. A season or two in the Real NRL and they could be gems.

But lets keep doing what hasn't been working for the past 10 years - picking up dregs. It will work any day now.

lol so if I've read this right, your plan to fix the Knights is as such

1. Scout athletes in America
2. Give them 2 years in the Newcastle RL comp
3. ???????
4. Premiership!

 

[Still Nutty]

The only reason I'm giving the benefit of the doubt is that this period reminds me of the early Smithy days, and they ended up heading in the right direction. Brown has an advantage that Smith didn't have - the town aren't as attached to this group of underperformers. No Judas Newtons in the press and walking out, no uproar. He can sack any of them and the supporters, by and large, accept it.

Another thing I'm think I'm seeing from Brown is that he's not doing what Bennett did in spending big on already established stars to bring experience into the team. Brown looks to want Kostjaysn (i.e - cheap) type experience in the team, and seems willing to spend larger amounts of dough on young potential stars of tomorrow. I think both coaches have the right idea of needing some old heads in the team, but I think Brown recognizes that he can't spend all his big money on that experience, the big money needs to go into the team of tomorrow, the old blokes mainly serve to bring them through - not to win us games.

I am skeptical of anything this club does. The main thing that worries me is that Brown is definitely looking for a young marquee like a Valentine Holmes to come in and complete his spine. I don't think he'll get one. Mamo could still be a bit of a wildcard for us... but he really needs to get and keep his shit together.

I'm mostly the same way at present....the other thing I give a tick to is Brown looking to bring Mooney on board - sure we have a different position in the finances department but the man who helped put that Sharks roster together obviously has an eye, some negotiation skills and capability that leaves Hagan and co for dead.

 

[macavity]

lol so if I've read this right, your plan to fix the Knights is as such

1. Scout athletes in America
2. Give them 2 years in the Newcastle RL comp
3. ???????
4. Premiership!

My plan is to consider "outside the box" options. Your comprehension skills are lacking, as per usual.

 

[Caped Crusader]

Oh I can read and comprehend just fine

Your ideas are just not very good

 

[Frederick]

My plan is to consider "outside the box" options. Your comprehension skills are lacking, as per usual.

Uhh no. He perfectly summed up your hair brained scheme.

There are plenty of athletes, particularly in the US, with the right skills. A season or two in the Real NRL and they could be gems.

But lets keep doing what hasn't been working for the past 10 years - picking up dregs. It will work any day now.

lol so if I've read this right, your plan to fix the Knights is as such

1. Scout athletes in America
2. Give them 2 years in the Newcastle RL comp
3. ???????
4. Premiership!

Doesn't look like any comprehension issue to me. Just a poor deluded soul who thinks he's had a genius idea, when in reality it's probably the stupidest thing any of us have ever heard

 

[Sydney Knight]

I'd like to see the outside box ideas start with some scouts on the ground in places like PNG and Fiji

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

I'd like to see the outside box ideas start with some scouts on the ground in places like PNG and Fiji

Scouts anywhere outside of the Newcastle Rugby League would be a start. We should be trying to raid the QLD cup, not recruiting guys like f**king Chris Adams.

 

[Glendale]

By far the most successful rugby league club over the last 10 years has been the Melbourne Storm. Yes I know, they cheated the cap, blah blah blah. But what Macavity was saying about recruiting out of the box is exactly what they heave been doing. They've taken guys like NAS from Union, Bromwich, Harris and Proctor from NZ, Vunivalu from Fiji etc and because they are based in Victoria which is not going to give them many rugby league juniors, they pick the eyes out of the best young talent in QLD and stock their under 20s and pathway teams with talent. They're then very quick to pounce on young up and coming players at different clubs who have talent e.g. Koribete, Addo Carr etc. I'm not sure who will be their replacements for Smith and Cronk... But what's the betting they are as good as Munster is for Slater? I may have gone a little off track but my point is I understand where Macavity is coming from. The Knights have always been very centrally looking, we can see the things that are right in front of our face but we don't often think outside the square.

 

[Alex28]

I'm astounded given how close Groups 10 and 11 are to the Hunter that we have no presence there. Look at the quality of the players coming out of there - James Maloney, Josh Jackson, Issah Yeo, Jack Wighton. All went to different clubs so it isn't as though one club is picking the cream of the crop.

Where are we?

 

[macavity]

By far the most successful rugby league club over the last 10 years has been the Melbourne Storm. Yes I know, they cheated the cap, blah blah blah. But what Macavity was saying about recruiting out of the box is exactly what they heave been doing. They've taken guys like NAS from Union, Bromwich, Harris and Proctor from NZ, Vunivalu from Fiji etc and because they are based in Victoria which is not going to give them many rugby league juniors, they pick the eyes out of the best young talent in QLD and stock their under 20s and pathway teams with talent. They're then very quick to pounce on young up and coming players at different clubs who have talent e.g. Koribete, Addo Carr etc. I'm not sure who will be their replacements for Smith and Cronk... But what's the betting they are as good as Munster is for Slater? I may have gone a little off track but my point is I understand where Macavity is coming from. The Knights have always been very centrally looking, we can see the things that are right in front of our face but we don't often think outside the square.

No no, Dumb and Dumber up there said we can't possibly do anything other than what has been failing the past 10 years.

 

[Caped Crusader]

No no, Dumb and Dumber up there said we can't possibly do anything other than what has been failing the past 10 years.

Haha I'm guessing this in reference to Fred and myself. Christ you really are a bitter, sad little man aren't you

Perhaps it's your comprehension skills that are lacking. Neither of us suggested that looking for actual RL players outside of the Hunter was a bad idea.
Scouting in RL territory is exactly what we should be doing, nor is it anything "out if the box" unlike the pure fantasy bs you were suggesting.

Get a grip mate. You are losing touch with reality

 

[macavity]

Haha I'm guessing this in reference to Fred and myself. Christ you really are a bitter, sad little man aren't you

Not bitter, sad or little.

]Perhaps it's your comprehension skills that are lacking. Neither of us suggested that looking for actual RL players outside of the Hunter was a bad idea.

Scouting in RL territory is exactly what we should be doing, nor is it anything "out if the box" unlike the pure fantasy bs you were suggesting.

So your view is we should just do what everyone else does, which hasn't worked for us in 10 years because we don't have the resources (in every conceivable and comparable way) to make it work.

But then you and Lloyd want to bag me for pointing out that we don't have those resources.

You want to bag me out for having ideas, even if they are "out there", and dismiss them without any critical thought given to the angle I am taking, but you are incapable of having an original idea yourself.

Thank you for your contribution to the discussion.

Get a grip mate.

You seem the expert on grip.

 

[Seage]

Well this has taken a rather petulent turn..