Knights sign Keith Lulia

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Lulia goes alright. Struggled to do anything more than required in FG this year IMO, but has the potential to be a good depth player for Newcastle, maybe better.

 

[Wobbygong]

Naiqama is easily the best out of 5 dragons signings.

You will not be disappointed by big Wes out wide.

The others Wicks is great when he's on, otherwise he bludges a bit, Lulia is a v good young centre/second rower. You have done very well to sign these guys, the only one I don't rate is Luke MacDougall he played a couple of good games for Souths two years ago apart from that he is a PL player and very injury prone to boot.

 

[macavity]

we are prob most excited about Wes - he is what we are missing, an out and out strike outside back.

to be fair mad dog has done that for us fairly well this year, but he is getting on and not so reliable anyway.

Houston looks similar to what we already have in Pato but not as good, and Wicks seems a direct swap for Perry.

I dont really rate Luke Mac that much either.

 

[Wobbygong]

p.s sorry I forgot about Houston, he is a big loss to the dragons- He's going great at the moment.

 

[Jono078]

IMO Wes is a pretty damn good winger, hasnt really impressed me much as a centre. But yeh I liked him as soon as he came onto the scene in 2005 and rated him highly by the end of the year.

Wicks is also good IMO and will be great next year.

Houston hasnt been as good as I thought... He seems to have really ineffective runs, gets stopped on the spot, similar to Tanner. But no doubt he'll improve and id probably rather him in the long run compared to Tanner.

 

[God-King Dean]

Question has to asked... Why aren't you guys putting your junior through the ranks ? I'd imagine a lot of reggie players are very disillusioned right now.

 

[darkness]

This must be disheartening for those knights players who haven't signed yet reading about more and more signings from a club that is going nowhere fast on the ladder. And yet this team of put togethers seems to be gaining more and more momentum. God knows how many times a team on paper never performs up to standard. Don't be so clucky about the next couple of years this one isn't over and it could possibly turn into a better one then next year.

 

[Stranger]

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the Newcastle Coal & Allied Dragons...

 

[Pumba]

Very Happy with this signing.

Very promising from what I have seen of him.

 

[macavity]

There are reasons all those dragons are coming here. and money isn't one of them.

we are going to have awesome depth next year - and its definately going to be a Smithy team.

 

[Stranger]

There are reasons all those dragons are coming here. and money isn't one of them.

Yeah, its to play under smith :sarcasm:, Or its the awesome depth :sarcasm:

 

[God-King Dean]

Can't wait to face you guys next year. It'll be a cracker.

 

[God-King Dean]

There are reasons all those dragons are coming here. and money isn't one of them.

Why are they going there ?

 

[Wobbygong]

They all have differing reasons: Wes for a fresh start away from Sydney (not money), Wicks and Houston purely money (both offered top tier money from the Knights) MacDoogs for his brother and he wasn't wanted by the dragons anyway becasuse Soward is a much better prospect. Lulia would be purely opportunity he was never going to ever get in front of the likes of Cooper, Gasnier and Big Chase Stanley.

 

[ashee9]

Brian Smith seems to know what he's doing in regards to signing this year. A few good recruits but I'm worries about the lack of wingers/centres we'll have left after this year

 

[Jono078]

Brian Smith seems to know what he's doing in regards to signing this year. A few good recruits but I'm worries about the lack of wingers/centres we'll have left after this year

Kurt Gidley
Wes Naiqama
Adam MacDougall
Cooper Vuna
James McManus
Akuila Uate
Luke MacDougall
Keith Lulia
Paul Franze
Todd Polglase
Stephon Gordon

All have First Grade experience except for Uate. And plus there are the rumours of Mogg and Phelps coming.

So I think we are doign ok, but still a lack of a good centre, most of them are wingers.

And welcome to the forum

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

I really think Mogg would be great an established centre so he could steady the ship with all the youngins there.

 

[bluesbreaker]

And Bluesbreaker - I'd love to see Uate get a crack too but I think we're having major problems with the 2nd tier cap currently with all the players we've had to use.

Sorry, I don't believe this is the case at all. This might be the excuse that's trotted out, but there's no doubt in my mind that we've already cracked the 2nd tier cap. We, and a fair chunk of other clubs, crack it just about every year, yet we've never been afraid to break it before by playing new guys.

Either Akuku's attitude isn't right or they're holding him back for a big off season and the debut of a monster (hopefully ) round 1 2008.

I very much doubt the figures tossed around for Wicks and Houston are anywhere near close to the money (so to speak). And it's a huge risk to sign Wes as our strike outside back when he'll be coming off a season ending knee injury. Don't think we'll see the best of Wes before mid next year.

 

[Wobbygong]

Trust me Wicks was offered very good coin to sign with the Knights.

 

[Stranger]

Wow, thanks for that, scoop.