Matautia contract updates

[Joker's Wild]

Pretty sure Sione had played some fullback in U20s. might have only been this year though

 

[perverse]

Pretty sure Sione had played some fullback in U20s. might have only been this year though

Maybe filling in for Mamo? Still, it's not like he has a track record in the position. It's a huge step up for a centre filling in at fullback in NYC to play fullback in the NRL.

 

[Allstar Knights]

He played fullback for NSW U16's as well, I'm pretty sure. Definitely hasn't played a lot of footy there, though

 

[Noname36]

If all of this comes to pass and these boys end up at the Dogs, the biggest question we need to ask and resolve is why on earth did a group of boys that we've developed and nurtured for 10 odd years not feel any will to resign with us? I mean, I can speculate on a dozen reasons - and would probably be on the money with some of them - but the club needs to look at itself long and hard if this all pans out the way it's going.

To be honest as angry as I am about the whole process of this too, I'm not sure their decision is a representation of complete unattractiveness of the club. I mean sure their first action wasn't to re-sign, but Scott approached the club about an extension, BJ pretty much laughed at the suggestion he'd want to leave the Knights this year with his get-out clause, and we signed Tariq...all players that wouldn't have any difficulty finding another club. Their decision could have been to do with a number of things but I don't think it really says anything about the club as a whole.

Like you said though, it may highlight an issue we've yet to see with our juniors through the years...and that's that they don't automatically want to play FG with the Knights after coming up through the system. Then again, this might just be a once off with these guys (I'm hoping so anyway).

Is this what's causing the issue for you possibly? You really only want to keep Sione and are happy to let the other two go, but the Bulldogs are happy to sign all 3 to keep the boys together and also possibly Peter.

WTF? No, that's just my opinion. If the club didn't rate all the boys and see them as part of the plans they wouldn't have invested heaps of time and resources into developing all of them. They also wouldn't have offered them all contracts. They would have saved money on Chanel, Pat and Pete (whom I believe we also offered a contract) and thrown it all at Sione on an offer he couldn't refuse.

Our opinions as fans don't indicate what the club thinks. Hell I've seen one Knights fan say that Tyler f**king Randell has more skills as a 5/8 than Mullen. Doesn't mean the club is actually considering sacking Mullo and have Randell as our first choice #6 moving forward :lol:

I've watched them in 1st grade but not with the same eye you guys have. What makes Sione so much better than the other 3? Partciularly Chanel?

For me with Sione, it's not only that he has some freakish individual skills but he also has incredible composure for someone his age. That's a very rare find in a rookie. He's consistently been playing in much higher age categories, and he was our NYC captain this season despite being 17 years old.

We have other young players with fantastic skills like Sione. Jake Mamo would be one example. He can think out of the box and put on a game-changing play that nobody expected, however he doesn't yet have the composure Sione does despite being 2 years older. That's not a criticism of Mamo at all (he's an incredibly talented and exciting young player and most rookies are shaky when they come into grade) but it's more to highlight how mature and composed Sione is for his age. He has the skills of a boom rookie but the composure of a seasoned vet.

Chanel is a bit different. He always had some nice skills when he was in the lower grades, but he had no composure and always made a lot of mistakes. He's shown a lot of improvement the past year or so on his errors and has been awarded a FG start. He's a solid player that won't let you down and can pull off some nice plays (his finishing is excellent). He'd easily get a run in a lot of FG sides but he wouldn't be the star attraction if that makes any sense. Sione's skills are probably in a different class. He can finish like Chanel but he can also set up plays.

 

[TheViking]

Well I'm not going to sneeze at 50K but to me 250K a season is a long way off 450K.

1.8mil is 450k per season.

1.4mil is 350k per season?

 

[Spot On]

1.8mil is 450k per season.

1.4mil is 350k per season?

I was saying that I consider 250K a long way from 450K where as you see 400K a long way from 450K.

I still believe he's been offered approx 1.4mill over 4 years which is 35OK as you've pointed out above. And, for the record, if that's true then it's not too far away from the 1.8mill reported for Sione (when you look at it over 4 years). But that's just my opinion. He's just turned 18. It's a truck load.

 

[TheViking]

Lafai is potentially better than all of them - Mata's and Morris'. He's a cracking good player that one. I'd have him at the club over almost any other centre in the comp.

If the Dogs have offered Sione 330K plus then Lafai will be on an absolute bundle next contract he signs.

Peter Mullholland was the bloke who spotted Lafai and brought him to the Dogs.

Lafai re-signed this year for 3 years.

I doubt they are promising them all first grade.

Sione would obviously get fullback. Channel would fight it out with Rona on one wing. Perhaps a sure thing if we didn't get Brett Morris. We have not signed Peter and may not.

If we do sign Brett Morris him and Josh would only have a handful of years left. Sione, Chanel, Lafai, Rona would still be young. Perrett will likely retire for 2016 and Mitch Brown is gone for 2015.

Chase Stanley, Jacob Loko and Thompson are all off contract for 2016 too.

 

[TheViking]

So the dogs will have lafai, bmoz, jmoz, leaving 2 spots for 3-4 matas (which rumour has it they have all been told they will play together in FG)

So if joe blow knights fans can do the simple maths and figure out that they all won't be playing together why can't they? Do they just blindly agree with whatever their manager says?

Because there is absolutely no way they are guaranteed to play first grade. No one is. We are talking about Des Hasler. He doesn't just promise a first grade spot to anyone.

 

[perverse]

Lafai re-signed this year for 3 years.

I doubt they are promising them all first grade.

Sione would obviously get fullback. Channel would fight it out with Rona on one wing. Perhaps a sure thing if we didn't get Brett Morris. We have not signed Peter and may not.

If we do sign Brett Morris him and Josh would only have a handful of years left. Sione, Chanel, Lafai, Rona would still be young. Perrett will likely retire for 2016 and Mitch Brown is gone for 2015.

Chase Stanley, Jacob Loko and Thompson are all off contract for 2016 too.

So what you're saying is that they have no better chance of playing first grade together at the Dogs? Agreed.

 

[TheViking]

So what you're saying is that they have no better chance of playing first grade together at the Dogs? Agreed.

I think if they all turned out to be guns possibly.

I think Rona is going to be something special. I think he will be on one wing next year with Morris if he comes if not Stanley (when he is not injured) or Thompson. Loko may force his way in if healthy.

Lafai & JMoz in the centres with Perrett in fullback.

In 2016 I would imagine it would be Sione, BMoz if he comes, JMoz, Lafai and either Rona or Chanel.

I honestly think Chanel looks more then capable of become a fulltime NRL winger.

I just don't believe for one second that they are promised a first grade spot for all 3.

 

[TheViking]

I was saying that I consider 250K a long way from 450K where as you see 400K a long way from 450K.

I still believe he's been offered approx 1.4mill over 4 years which is 35OK as you've pointed out above. And, for the record, if that's true then it's not too far away from the 1.8mill reported for Sione (when you look at it over 4 years). But that's just my opinion. He's just turned 18. It's a truck load.

I think 100k a year difference when talking 450k - 350k is quiet substancial.

I mean put it the other way an income of 200k a year is great. 350K? amazing. 450k? Almost half a mil a year? You are balling. :lol:

 

[perverse]

I think if they all turned out to be guns possibly.

I think Rona is going to be something special. I think he will be on one wing next year with Morris if he comes if not Stanley (when he is not injured) or Thompson. Loko may force his way in if healthy.

Lafai & JMoz in the centres with Perrett in fullback.

In 2016 I would imagine it would be Sione, BMoz if he comes, JMoz, Lafai and either Rona or Chanel.

I honestly think Chanel looks more then capable of become a fulltime NRL winger.

I just don't believe for one second that they are promised a first grade spot for all 3.

Sounds to me like it's a line ball for them as far as first grade opportunities goes between the 2 clubs really. It's all going to depend on who is willing to take a bigger chance on them in that regard.

The Knights will have Boyd and Gidley almost certainly gone by then (and don't start with the Gidley might stay shit, he'll be 34 in 2016 and has expressed on numerous occasions that he plans to finish in the ESL - next year is 90% to be his farewell, especially if we hang onto the Mata'utias), with McManus a slowing prospect and likely to end up in NSW Cup in a role similar to Tahu's the past couple of years. Then you have Gagai and Leilua... with Gagai reasonably likely to either move on in 2016 or take the vacant fullback position at the Knights. I'd say Uate and Leilua are the most likely Knights to still be in our backline come 2016... and if Uate doesn't perform big time next year, I can see us shipping him off too.

I can see us using Sione next year and probably Chanel too, pending McManus' and Uate's form. From 2016 I can actually imagine something like

1. Gagai
2. Chanel M
3. Sione M
4. Leilua
5. Uate

15. Pat M as a backrower

Pete would probably be the only one that would be hard to find a spot for, which was the case last time we had him, too.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Doubt Pat will ever make FG even with a switch to the back row, at any club

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Jesus Christ are u guys still at it!

 

[Allstar Knights]

Will be genuinely surprised if Pat makes it as well. I've never rated him and even if he makes the switch, I feel that Tapine will come on next year and become a mainstay in our 17 and Fitzgibbon is a chance of a debut too, imo. Pat would almost have to have an immediate impact to be in the running.

 

[perverse]

I read somewhere that Fitzgibbon is Broncos-bound, but have no source. I agree, Pat is a long shot in any position - but he's more likely in the back row than at centre. Yes no chance at centre for the Knights or the Dogs, zero chance at the Dogs for back row too. Slim chance for back row here, but realistically is unlikely to ever be a regular first grader. Pete can be a regular first grader, but probably only ever at a team running 9th-16th... which would usually include us, but I can't see where we would use him either.

 

[TheViking]

I have no doubt that Gidley will retire at the end of his contract in 2015, or head to the ESL.

The Dogs and Knights could have a completely different backline by 2016. Who knows what will happen.

All I was saying is that in no way shape or form is any up and coming player in these circumstances guaranteed a first grade spot at the Dogs. I doubt at many clubs at all to be honest.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Calm down guys they'll stay!

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Josh Hoffman on the market. Might be worth shifting focus and accept what is done is done. Time to look at where we need to stengthen rather than overpaying an 18 yr old who is still a speculative talent on a hot form streak. Yes he is brilliant but we are always going to be fending off other clubs.We could also look at Ben Matulino who is off contract in 2016. These are the players we need to plan offers for cos we have to be ready to at least be in the game for such players. We seem to stuff around offering players deals and sit waiting and hoping they agree to terms rather than turning the situation in our favour.

 

[Swarzey]

LOL. Hoffman is one of the most one dimensional fullbacks in the game. No thanks.

The club has nothing to lose. We've had at least a million bucks pissed away on players who aren't earning it so is it any worse that we pay massive overs to retain someone like Sione, even if it means having to keep Chanel and Pat?

I do think the boys will come around and remain in Newcastle. I can only take Midley's word and the word of the papers...which isn't much but still. I do think their manager is just a shit merkin and having him away from the negotiations will probably be for the best.