Off Contract - Who to keep?

[Joker's Wild]

Interesting article in the paper suggesting guys like Taylor are being run out of the game (literally) by the new rules making the game faster

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/dave-taylor-has-to-lose-weight-or-he-will-be-forced-out-of-the-nrl/story-fniabrr8-1226855771627

I agree with it too. The bloke is a shit trainer with a shit attitude and will be useless in a season or 2. I think it would be a huge mistake signing him

 

[Yosh]

Harris is the Storm lad right? I'm always very skeptical about recruiting Storm players... They always seem to play above their weight at the Storm then go on to be average players on inflated contracts. There are exceptions but risk is there.

Tim Mannah I would have here in a heartbeat.

I think we really need to look for ways to release Gidley and Aku... They are getting paid way too much for what they actually offer the team.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Mullen won't leave. We have the money to compete against any offers for him, and he's one of the few who I would say will stay for less.

If he does, we're done for another 5-10 years. The club isn't geniused enough to let Mullen go.

There is little doubt he'll stay lets just hope some other club doesn't try to be a smart arse and up his value by putting in an offer for him.

Agree with everyone else massive clean out needed.

 

[perverse]

Harris is the Storm lad right? I'm always very skeptical about recruiting Storm players... They always seem to play above their weight at the Storm then go on to be average players on inflated contracts. There are exceptions but risk is there.

Tim Mannah I would have here in a heartbeat.

I think we really need to look for ways to release Gidley and Aku... They are getting paid way too much for what they actually offer the team.

I've omitted Proctor from my list for that reason - I think he's the type of player you're talking about. Good in the Storm system, but would prove very average elsewhere.

Harris is on another level for mine.. and has a very high ceiling in terms of ability.

JW - the game is definitely much quicker this year and getting quicker and quicker all the time. The blokes who can't keep up their cardio fitness are going to struggle if it keeps going this way, for sure. The question is - how fast is fast enough for the people that run the game?

 

[Johns Magic]

I would love to see Taylor swallow some cement and play up front. Short bursts in the middle of the field would suit him I think.

 

[Johns Magic]

I've omitted Proctor from my list for that reason - I think he's the type of player you're talking about. Good in the Storm system, but would prove very average elsewhere.

Harris is on another level for mine.. and has a very high ceiling in terms of ability.

Agreed on this. Proctor is a system player, Harris could be special.

 

[perverse]

If Taylor could find some ticker he'd be one of the best players in the game. Too much talent for someone so lazy.

 

[Swarzey]

Cuthbertson, Leilua, Toka, Mamo, Mantellato, Chanel, McKinnon, Minto, Mullen, Redman and Vaivai. At least half these blokes will improve with time, some will provide cover and make our NSW Cup side somewhat competitive and the no-brainers in Mullen, Mamo and Leilua. I'd hardly call it a clean out and it amazes me how we're jumping on this idea the club needs one. Of course, we won't retain them all but there's a large number that we should be looking to retain.

Guys like Mason, Newton and Fa'alogo are better off departing to free up space on the cap to join the other 500k and whatever Quinn was on. Buhrer would be the player I'd chase and chase hard. Manly are having salary cap issues and he wants to remain there for a lengthy period, would be the perfect opportunity to try and sway him up to Newcastle. Mannah is a close second and would be massive for the club to get both, but I feel Buhrer should be our target.

But a "clean out" is certainly not needed. We have a decent pool waiting to be used, it will grow if Mason retires this year and perhaps Gidley if he sustains another long-term injury. A 0-2 start to the season without our leading man and we're losing our f**king minds.

 

[aqua_duck]

Mullo, BJ and Mamo are priorities, rest are cattle IMO and should either be let go or given take it or leave it type deals. One bloke I wouldn't mind at the club is Tom Symonds, atleast offers abit of ball playing ability being an ex 5/8th, and would bring abit of variety to our vanilla forward pack. Definitely need a prop or 3, not many established guys off contract but I'd take the punt on 4 or 5 youngsters and hope 2 or 3 of them come good. The guys I'd go for are Lloyd Perrett, Francis Molo, Kane Evans, and Matt Lodge, I'd also target Kody Nikorima from the broncos as a bench utility/impact hooker in the James Segeyaro mould and Samisoni Langi from the roosters who's a 5/8th but will end up a backrower, has excellent footwork and decent kicking and passing game all wrapped up in a backrower body

 

[Johns Magic]

Mullo, BJ and Mamo are priorities, rest are cattle IMO and should either be let go or given take it or leave it type deals.

Agreed. We need to get good at what Manly do...identifying their core players they work hard to keep and then making the rest expendable.

One bloke I wouldn't mind at the club is Tom Symonds, atleast offers abit of ball playing ability being an ex 5/8th, and would bring abit of variety to our vanilla forward pack.

Symonds would be good too but I can't see him leaving Sydney.

 

[Johns Magic]

Also has anyone kept an eye on Korbin lately? How is he going?

 

[aqua_duck]

Not sure but long term I think he takes House's spot on the bench next year and then he takes Smithy's spot the year after

 

[Noname36]

It'll be hard for us to keep Mamo if other clubs start to identify his talent. Boyd, McManus and Uate all have a few years left on their contracts and Mamo might want to go to a club where he's guaranteed a first grade spot each week.

I'd be extremely surprised if Mullo left. We should just give him a blank cheque and let him write whatever number he wants on it. Also I just couldn't see him ever wanting to play for anyone bar the Knights. It'd be a severe f**k up if we managed to lose him.

 

[Frederick]

Isn't Boyd's contract up at the end of next year? Sign Mamo up for a long term contract, then groom him to take over from Boyd. Keeps us good at fullback for a long time, and will free up heaps of cash to spend where we need it

 

[The Showstopper]

I think in regards to Boyd it is hard to say whether he will leave or not. He seems to have settled here in spite of himself. As far his Qld options go he would be nuts to join the GC which i see as his only option. Broncs and Cowboys i doubt will chase him with his price tag and they have already signed fullbacks. Broncs will have Barba, Milford and possibly Hoffman to choose from there.

 

[The Showstopper]

Bj will be the biggest weapon in the game once he grows up a bit. I still think he is the best centre in the game in waiting.

 

[Nuffy]

Chris Adams
Adam Cuthbertson
Michael Dobson
David Fa'alogo
Mitchell Frei
Matt Hilder
Chris Houston
Joey Leilua
Toka Likiliki
Jake Mamo
Josh Mantellato
Willie Mason
Chanel Mata'utia
Alex McKinnon
Matt Minto
Jarrod Mullen
Clint Newton
Chad Redman
Timana Tahu
Paterika Vaivai
Travis Waddell

Mullo - name his own price.
Joey L - must sign, could be anything, preferably long term.
Alex - no bidding war though.
Cuthbo - no bidding war though.
House - no bidding war though.
Mamo - lock him in.
Josh M - low cost depth signing.
Chanel - one of them has to come good.

Can I add that I want to see Gagai on a long term deal also.

The rest, bye bye.

 

[aqua_duck]

Mullo - name his own price.
Joey L - must sign, could be anything, preferably long term.
Alex - no bidding war though.
Cuthbo - no bidding war though.
House - no bidding war though.
Mamo - lock him in.
Josh M - low cost depth signing.
Chanel - one of them has to come good.

Can I add that I want to see Gagai on a long term deal also.

The rest, bye bye.

Agree 100%, only bloke I'd to that list is Toka Likiliki on the proviso he gets himself fit and lifts his workrate

 

[Knight Vision]

Bj will be the biggest weapon in the game once he grows up a bit. I still think he is the best centre in the game in waiting.

I agree. I'm really becoming a big fan of this guy. He really is a handful for the opposition with and without the ball. He is a VERY strong boy. A future superstar.

 

[Knight Vision]

BJ is just about a done deal. The Warriors were after him.

"NEWCASTLE centre Joey Leilua is poised to re-sign with the Knights after rejecting a bid by the Warriors to entice him across the Tasman".

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...gns-with-knights/story-e6freuy9-1226857340428