Not what we really wanted to hear ...

[shane1970]

Posted this on another forum but seems appropriate.

If Matt Gidley says there isn't a cleanout I'd hate to see what a real one looks like. The cheer girls and ball boys would be looking over their shoulders.

These are the players the Knights used in the final three games of 2011 and where they are now;

Akuila Uate – contracted for 2013
Neville Costigan – contracted for 2013
James McManus – contracted for 2013
Jarrod Mullen – contracted for 2013


Ryan Stig – contracted for 2013, season ending injury
Kurt Gidley – contracted for 2013, season ending injury


Chris Houston – un-contracted for 2013
Joel Edwards – un-contracted for 2013
Richard Fa'aoso – un-contracted for 2013, unlikely to be re-signed
Evarn Tuimavave – un-contracted for 2013, unlikely to be re-signed, playing NSW Cup


Peter Mata'utia – contracted for 2013, playing NSW Cup
Zane Tetavano – contracted for 2013, playing NSW Cup
Siuatonga Likiliki – contracted for 2013, playing NSW Cup
Matt Hilder – contracted for 2013, dropped to NSW Cup


Antonio Kaufusi – released mid-contract to ESL
Isaac De Gois – released mid-contract to Sharks
Mark Taufua – released mid-contract to Sharks
Junior Sa'u – trying to be released mid-contract
Wes Naiqama - trying to be released mid-contract

Marvin Karawana – wasn't re-signed, went to ?
Steve Southern – wasn't re-signed, went to ESL
Zeb Taia – not re-signed, going to ESL
Cameron Ciraldo – wasn't re-signed, went to Panthers
Keith Lulia – wasn't re-signed, went to ESL

Adam MacDougall – retired

.
4 of the 7 CONTRACTED I would keep - but f**k ME I would GLADLY get rid of the other NUFFIES out of 25 - No wander we are in the position we are now

 

[Nuffy]

You have to wonder where all the money goes.

Look at the Tigers for the sake of the argument:

Benji, Farah, Lawrence, Blair would all be on massive money particularly Benji and Farah yet they also have a team of talent around them.

Bennett needs to find a way of being competitive because writing off two years because he doesnt have the cattle isn't exactly bring the fans back.

Additionally, surely some due diligence should have been done last year, re-signing blokes like Wes and Sau only to get rid of them doesnt make a lot of sense.

Our salary cap management has been utterly inept for years, frankly we should be running well below the cap based on the quality we have on board.

 

[The Showstopper]

Nuff we are going to change all that cap overspending. Everyone knows if you play for Bennett you generally play for unders. It is a privilege. I am certain we will sign some quality players and 2014 will be a real force before he eventually goes. Who knows? The two years of waiting for the squad he wants may see him decide to stay on.

 

[Nuffy]

Show, I get all that, but I still wonder about the mentality involved in paying massive overs to a team of plodders, its almost like the on and off field teams were just fat and happy.

Didn't anyone in the club actually sit back and think that what they were doing was fundamentally wrong?

 

[IanG]

Pictionary now is it!

Well just a good way of illustrating our season.

 

[jonno_knights]

2013

Akuila Uate
Neville Costigan
James McManus
Chris Houston
Matt Hilder
Timana Tahu
Junior Sa'u
Peter Mata'utia
Zane Tetevano
Ryan Stig

Thats who we have off contract next year. There might be a bit of money there, but Costigan has been a favourite of Bennett for years, Bennett signed Tahu, Sa'u resigned after the Bennett announcement, as did Hilder, Stig and Mata'Utai.

Housten and McManus seem to be in the mold of players Bennett is looking for.

So either Bennett put faith in last years staff to evaluate who to sign/resign, or he made some massive errors in judgement. Could have put the re-build a year back by extending all those contracts if he plans to get rid of most of them.

Also Uate signed his contract back in 2009, so he'd most likely have had some bumper upgrades after his stellar 2010, and equally impressive 2011. Will be interesting to see if Bennett is willing to give him the money he might command from other clubs/codes though. A lot of money for a winger.

 

[Frances the Mute]

Willie.

If Knights don't re-sign Willie its retirement for him.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Could have done it with a smaller picture Ian