Get the cheque book out Sarge

[roopy]

Johns is gone (a big thanks to his manager for not taking the three year contract we were keen to get him to sign).

Sign up Tahu, Woolnough, Kidley, Ennis, Lowrie, Snowden, Briggs, Tilse, Carmont and I think it would be a good gesture by the club to give Perry a bonus for sticking with us.

We can afford the lot now - and maybe we can splash out on a new prop and a new halfback for next season.

 

[Danish Moo Cow]

Wait till Kennedy goes as well. There's a couple of announcments we should be preparing for over the coming weeks... if that long.

Perry got a pretty healthy contract in the first place. He'll be eating well for years to come already.

Firman appears to be on the outer with the Dragons, but even he's injured now. Luke Dorn deserves a go at first grade and he won't get one behind Wing and Finch at the Roosters. But to be honest, Kurt Gidley will make a good half-back. He's more suited to that spot than 5/8. I'd rather we look for a good pivot, we missed Michael Monaghan and I'm not even sure who'll be up for grabs this year.

 

[Razor]

I'm not even sure who'll be up for grabs this year.

Matthew Head, the back-up Dragons halfback, is off contract. He looked good last week, and he won't get ahead of Firman. But Firman is always injured - 4th year in a row he has sustained a season ending injury, so if he's also off contract the Dragons might cut him.

 

[next knights half]

i cant belive what iam hearing its was just one of those things i hope to god joey doesnot come to this forum because i would be ashmed if he read this thread

 

[Danish Moo Cow]

He's got more important things on his plate now. We're looking out for him. Both knees gone, groin stuffed, back weakened, neck is shot to bits and all some fans want to do is put him through more of it.

It has to come to an end and we all saw it last night.

 

[Jaime_Koeppe_Is_Hot]

If Joey is gone well I guess we have 2 search for a good quality halfback.

Matt Orford, a perfect replacement for Joey, can kick, pass, kick goals and dangerous with the footy.

Matthew Head, good up n comin player

Brett Firman, Top Player bar injuries

 

[Misanthrope]

I would hope that we go after Matt Orford. He's the only run on class halfback who is off contract this season, unless someone in England is off contract and keen to take a pay cut. Someone like Deacon or Horne would be great- but I think out of our reach.

Need to remember that Witt's favoured position is halfback too. He's got big wraps on him from Parra fans, and he could be a very astute buy should he find some form.

 

[Risa]

I really hope Witt stands up. I'm excited at the prospect of seeing him play halfback OR five-eighth. I honestly think leaving Kidley at halfback and having Witt at 5/8 would be the best way to go.

I hope we haven't seen the last of Johns, but he's seriously got to be thinking how he is going to be after all these injuries. Coming back from a knee reconstruction would be so hard for a guy who's going on 30 this year. We've all got to accept his decision if that is retirement.

 

[Matt23]

Matt Orford would be the perfect choice, but i dont like our chances of signing him ahead of the storm.

 

[keeney]

i see, orford on 2/3 of johns' money, firman or head whichever is relesed, an unhappy witt released from parra coming to newie to play wiht his brother.

but are we just specualting on what the board will do or is i tofficial johns wont be back next year?

 

[the_knights_rule]

but are we just specualting on what the board will do or is i tofficial johns wont be back next year?

its just spectulation

 

[keeney]

thought as much, wiht his pay we shoudlbe able to secure a strong young half

 

[Matt23]

We might be specualting, but at the same time we are being realistic and looking to the future...sad but true.

 

[Doctor]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Johns throw in the towel. I'm not saying that this is his nature, but that given the amount of season-ending injuries he has suffered I wouldn't blame him for getting sick of making comebacks.

I don't really care about replacements at the moment - Johns is a once-in-a-lifetime player who has never realised his potential. We've seen only small glimpses here and there of his talent, but never had the pleasure of seeing the mature Johns fit and steering the side around.

Deja vu all over again - I think I'll just wait for the cricket season to start again.

 

[roopy]

We got our monies worth out of Johns. He won us two titles and dragged half the team into rep sides in his wake.
Before Johns we were a try hard team who thought making the semis was a brilliant result. Now we are a team of locally bred champions who set our sights on the title every season.

We might never see another like him - but he has given the club a winning feel, and we can go on with that into the future.

 

[Anonymous]

Orford. :lol:

Back off :evil:

 

[keeney]

we should chase him down, offer him 400 of johns 500, and hell be our lap dog :lol:

 

[lucky7]

With all this going on couldnt we try and develop some of our juniors.
I dont know much about them but surely before we buy someone we could look at our own.
One of the things i love about Newcastle is their ability to use and develop young local talent, giving kids from the bush a go.

 

[roopy]

With all this going on couldnt we try and develop some of our juniors.
I dont know much about them but surely before we buy someone we could look at our own.
One of the things i love about Newcastle is their ability to use and develop young local talent, giving kids from the bush a go.

My take on our halfback talent;

Tyrie is the guy with the 7 on his back in Premier League. He was the best talent at the club coming up through the grades. He made a great combination with Kurt Gidley in the half dozen or so games they played together, and he has played with Woolnough, Kidley, Quinn, Lowrie, Tanner, Price, Hall, Matt Kennedy, Mueller, Ennis and maybe others I can't think of now. The thing against him is he is very small and has been over awed ever since he started playing seniors two years ago. He is a chunky 70 odd kg and 160cm.

Ryan Dickson is our new Flegg halfback. He comes from WA and has played seniors for his state. He scored three tries and 6 goals last week, but still didn't get players player. I think he must be a special talent because he is keeping out Duffy and Wallace, who are both former rep halfbacks (NSW U18 and Australian schoolboys).

Scott Dureau - Halfback in Ball - he has bulked up this year and looks like he has a big future, a couple of years and he will be very good.

Joel Burraston - Matthews - Probably the best 16 year old halfback in the country. The guy has everything.


Tyrie deserves a shot IMO, although his form in Premier League last year was ordinary to say the least.

 

[antonius]

So your suggesting leave Kidley at 5/8th and Tyrie at 7? No thoughts on the Kidley/Witt, or Kidley/Ennis combos? I still haven't seen Witt play, but they reckon at Parra he would make a fair first grade No7, I think the club got him here to cover the no Johns scenario during the rep games, so you wouild think the logical thing to do is give him a go at it, I still wouldn't be opposed to the Ennis idea, I think once Ennis settled in he could do a great job for us, just not sure about Tyrie, a couple of years ago I thought he was going to be the next First grade Half, but I'm not sure now, he definately hasn't stood out for the last couple of seasons.