Knights sign Keith Lulia

[B-dos]

Saints come marching in

Robert Dillon
July 12, 2007


THE Newcastle Knights have added a fifth St George Illawarra player to their roster for next season after clinching a deal yesterday with promising utility Keith Lulia yesterday.

Knights officials would not comment last night, but Lulia's manager, Steve Gillis, confirmed the 20-year-old centre or back-rower had agreed to a two-year contract.

``We've informed the Dragons that he'll be moving and it's up to the Knights when they announce it,'' Gillis said last night.

Lulia has played seven NRL games this season, scoring a try on debut against the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium in round one.

He followed that up a week later with a 50-metre try for the Dragons in their 16-12 loss against the Knights at OKI Jubilee Stadium.

http://www.theherald.com.au/articles/2007/07/11/1183833600869.html

Yet another signing from the dragons and yet another young, potentially up-and-coming player.

Many here have already mentioned we've got enough of these type players and i fully agree.

Thoughts?

 

[CJKnight]

He sounds promising, try on debut and a 50-meter try the following week.

Don't be too concerned about him jumping right into the FG team and taking the place of local juniors behind him. It took Sargent ages of hard work to break into the FG side, not to mention he had to consistently perform for weeks in PL. Lulia will have to show that same dedication before Smith will shove him onto the big stage.

 

[aqua_duck]

I think its a decent signing. From what I've seen of him he's an athletic centre more with abit of size who can play backrow if required but I think his position of choice would be centre. He's also young

 

[Coastbloke]

Surely there's players in the Hunter region with his abilities...

Why aren't we looking in our own backyard for up and comers and maybe just buy a marquee player...

 

[cram]

The article in the Newcastle paper mentions that Carmont is likely to heading to England, Perry Manly, Abes is under negotiation.

 

[jhonny bravo]

Why aren't we looking in our own backyard for up and comers and maybe just buy a marquee player...

We do not need a marquee player as we already have a marquee player in Danny Buderus. Throw into the mix Gidley, Simpson and Mullo who next year will be taking atleast half our salary cap. Agreed we need a centre but a marquee type... I think not. The thing about smiths sides over the years he has not had that one player who has dominated his sides and looks for player right across the field to share the workload (very similar to melbourne atm). We showed from years playing with Johns as our prominant player when he was out we had nothing (alot to do with the coach to).

 

[cram]

There is also mention in the paper of Adam Mogg being on the radar.

 

[aqua_duck]

Surely there's players in the Hunter region with his abilities...

Why aren't we looking in our own backyard for up and comers and maybe just buy a marquee player...

There might be players in the hunter with his abilities but they probably aren't ready yet, especially centres, and they haven't got 1st grade expereince either. We signed him for 2 years which I think is good, it either means if he performs he'll he an upgraded contract, if he doesn't than by that time guys like Callan Richardson and in particular Simon WIlliams will be ready for 1st grade, and he won't be re-signed.
He's an athletic young islander with abit of size, Smith obviously has a fetish for that type

 

[Serc]

Definitely would trade between two and four (yes 4, we have so many!) of these backrower/centre types for 1-2 marquee players, particularly in the centres. Our backline for next year looks good but there is a lot of good potential, but not proven results. Given the depth we have had across the board with all our signings by the end of June, our own juniors would easily plug any gaps and even then there would have to be an injury crisis of 05 proportions to require that.

I can see (but hope not) that a number of our best juniors will be going to other clubs - either that or a lot of these FG quality/fringe FG quality signings will be spending their entire time here in PL.

 

[macavity]

I can see (but hope not) that a number of our best juniors will be going to other clubs - either that or a lot of these FG quality/fringe FG quality signings will be spending their entire time here in PL.

most of our very best juniors are already signed.

this is an excellent signing, I rate the guy - and he wouldn't be commanding much, it sounds like he came here for the right reasons.

I dont want Mogg.

 

[roopy]

The good news is that the off season will be brutal.
Smith has shown that reputations count for nothing and he will give anyone who puts in the work a shot at firstgrade.
We know guys like Michael Young and Chris Bailey will work the house down to get a shot - and guys like this fella and Houston and Taia will have Hanan Laban and Timmy Natusch and the Tuafua brothers to deal with in the gym. Poor old Kade - no pies for him this off season.
And the real bad news for all those guys, Jacob Ling and Joel Edwards will be a year older and will probably outmuscle all of them.

 

[Kazaf]

Just how much money DO we have?
And I thought we were near our cap?

 

[Deleted member 10972]

He has a lot of Soliola about him. Big & strong, but his speed & hands often fail him, don't make the same mistake we did, get him into the forwards before its too late, otherwise he'll just stifle ball out wide.

 

[God-King Dean]

I don't rate Lulia too highly.

Wicks will be s solid player, who will ocasionally go missing.

You'll love Naiqama (although I hope she shows more respect to your club than he did ours), & Housten has great potential.

 

[bluesbreaker]

My biggest concern with all these signings is what Uate is thinking about it all. I'll be seriously pissed if we lose our great hope in the backs because we used all our money and first grade opportunities on Dragons juniors.

Seriously, the guy must be wondering what's going on, having nuffies just waltz into the side ahead of him (like Polglase). I know he's green, but could he have possibly let in more tries than the brad tighe/adam macdougal partnership? Somehow I think not.

 

[Jono078]

I always confused Lulia for Stanley in the earlier rounds.

But Chase looked good on the weekend, hopefully Keith is similar.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

My biggest concern with all these signings is what Uate is thinking about it all. I'll be seriously pissed if we lose our great hope in the backs because we used all our money and first grade opportunities on Dragons juniors.

Seriously, the guy must be wondering what's going on, having nuffies just waltz into the side ahead of him (like Polglase). I know he's green, but could he have possibly let in more tries than the brad tighe/adam macdougal partnership? Somehow I think not.

Agreed. Other clubs must be wondering where we got all this money from. I will bet early we get fined for a salary cap breach.

 

[Burwood]

Agreed. Other clubs must be wondering where we got all this money from. I will bet early we get fined for a salary cap breach.

Are you suggesting that Newcastle is rorting the salary cap? If so then we'll do a lot worse than a fine.

And I don't necessarily see all of these new signings as having to fit under the top-tier salary cap. We are easily going to have 30+ players next year with first grade experience- doesn't mean that we have to include them in our top 25.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Are you suggesting that Newcastle is rorting the salary cap? If so then we'll do a lot worse than a fine.

And I don't necessarily see all of these new signings as having to fit under the top-tier salary cap. We are easily going to have 30+ players next year with first grade experience- doesn't mean that we have to include them in our top 25.

Time will tell. You have a good point though. What I should have said is that we will come under close scrutiny given some of our signings have great potential. The risk of a breach is there is what I meant. We have been done before for overspending. My bad!

 

[Serc]

I can see (but hope not) that a number of our best juniors will be going to other clubs - either that or a lot of these FG quality/fringe FG quality signings will be spending their entire time here in PL.

I should rephrase Mac - it should've said over the next 2 or so years, and replace 'best' with 'better'.

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.