Revealed: The full extent of the Knights salary cap woes

[Glendale]

Good stuff Browny.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Knights coach Nathan Brown has said that the days of the Knights being a retirement home are over, calling on players to set up on the field and not just let money do the talking. Listen to the full interview.

"We need more people that want to play for Newcastle because they want to play for us, not because the money's good," Brown said.

"I've had a number of conversations with a number of people and Newcastle has just become a place where players come for a stop-over to earn some good money."


f**king nailed it.

 

[Spot On]

As we've been saying for a looong time. So good to hear it from the head coach.

Cue the player managers crying into their glass of expensive wine. The free ride is well and truly over.

Players jumping ship and being moved on simply look like those Brown has described.

 

[Knight76]

I really hope Browny is given his full tenure at the club to see where he takes us, and beyond if he gets our cap in order and we start improving.

Hopefully, given our year, and a likely repeat performance next year we don't get calls for Browns head.

I think he is exactly the right coach for us at the moment.

I am hopeful his comment in the presser about something being in the works with the salary cap situation could be a sign Uate is in negotiations and is about to leave the club. A $500,000 boost to the cap would really help about now.

 

[Allstar Knights]

Seriously, can we make a 'thanks for screwing us Hagan' banner at games. Can't believe he had digs at club and Brown 'because we need to offer top players like Tariq their market value' lol.

Let him know he's not as well liked in Newcastle as he probably thinks.

 

[Knight76]

Not a good look putting the boot in to a premiership winning coach. Just let those bygones be bygones and be happy we are digging ourselves out of the shit now I reckon.

I'd support a sign that reads "It is time to go....Uate!"

 

[Jono078]

What's Uate done wrong? He didn't write himself the massive contract.

I wish there was a way to express to the Knights how bad Hagan has been for us. IMO we win more premierships if he was never in charge during the Johns era.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

What's Uate done wrong? He didn't write himself the massive contract.

I wish there was a way to express to the Knights how bad Hagan has been for us. IMO we win more premierships if he was never in charge during the Johns era.

I can't agree regarding the Knights winning more premierships in the johns/Hagan era.

2001 we win the gf. 2002 johns receives a knee in the back in the first semi ruling him out for the year. 2003 johns suffers neck injury late in the season ruling him out for the rest of the year. 2004 johns does his knee in round three and is ruled out for the season. 2005 johns misses a lot of the first half of the season ruling us out of contention of making the finals. 2006 johns doesn't get injured late and plays out the year.

 

[voltron]

What's Uate done wrong? He didn't write himself the massive contract.

I wish there was a way to express to the Knights how bad Hagan has been for us. IMO we win more premierships if he was never in charge during the Johns era.

What did he do wrong?
He didnt live up to his paycheck
He's worth what? $300 - $350K?
So he's become at $150K - $200K deficit for our club.
Now also we know he could be worth $500K but there just doesnt seem to be any effort on his half to get better.
and so to manage our team properly, that means this cannot be. We have to move him on.

If Uate had McManus' work ethic he would be hitting that highest tries scorers list.
He would be a staple on the rep teams.
but he just fell off and went into the same hole that Mullen falls into

 

[Knight76]

What did he do wrong?
He didnt live up to his paycheck
He's worth what? $300 - $350K?
So he's become at $150K - $200K deficit for our club.
Now also we know he could be worth $500K but there just doesnt seem to be any effort on his half to get better.
and so to manage our team properly, that means this cannot be. We have to move him on.

If Uate had McManus' work ethic he would be hitting that highest tries scorers list.
He would be a staple on the rep teams.
but he just fell off and went into the same hole that Mullen falls into

Have to agree. It's one thing to take a contract, another to live up to it.

Watch him in the reserves, he should be ripping and tearing in there to get back to firsts. He isn't. In fact if there were a lower grade to go to, Uate would be finding it hard to hold his spot in reserves imho.

 

[Spot On]

I don't think his true value is anywhere near 300K. In fact a lot, lot less.

He can not tackle. Very poor technique and commitment.

He can not make defensive reads. Makes the same mistake time after time.

He has poor handling skills. Doesn't matter how high or low the kick he makes too many handling errors.

He's no good under pressure.

And the one I hate most of all - he's a confidence player. And that's been missing for years now. Make one error, the head goes down and then it all perpetuates over and over.

It's amazing he got to run in firsts for so long.

Congrats to him for the 500K X 4 yrs contract. He really should be set up financially for life.

I'm just hopeful Brown has genuinely put an end to the millionaires factory. From what he's been saying, it sounds like the party is over.

 

[Spot On]

I should add that I do hope he gets a gig somewhere if he really wants it.

 

[Knight76]

Sure, I don't begrudge him a spot somewhere else either. Maybe thats exactly what he needs to rekindle the fire.

But given our salary cap situation, we just can't afford to pay someone 500k to sit in reserve grade. Tyrone may have been the 5th highest paid player by the knights on the field last weekend, but brown didn't say "and we have 500k sitting in reserves". He no doubt has told Aku he isn't going to be getting a spot in 1st grade any longer and should be considering his options.

 

[Spot On]

Well we are and will continue to because no other club will go near the asking price.

 

[Caped Crusader]

ESL is his only option at his current rate

 

[Knight76]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...hts-for-manly-sea-eagles-20160823-gqzh3p.html

Apparently Uate knocked back a deal with Warrington and is looking possible for a move to Manly. Manly won't be keen to pay him near 500k per season, which would mean the Knights paying another player some wage at another club.

Given Brown said he was keen to avoid that, it will be interesting to see what happens. If Manly will pay $400k per year and we are left paying 85k, I could live with that. Though, I think we are in a strong position with Uate to say no, if you want to leave to play for Manly you will be doing so without further payment from the Knights, or you can play the whole next year in reserves. I doubt Uate is going to want to play reserves all next year when he could play firsts for Manly.

 

[Glendale]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...hts-for-manly-sea-eagles-20160823-gqzh3p.html

Apparently Uate knocked back a deal with Warrington and is looking possible for a move to Manly. Manly won't be keen to pay him near 500k per season, which would mean the Knights paying another player some wage at another club.

Given Brown said he was keen to avoid that, it will be interesting to see what happens. If Manly will pay $400k per year and we are left paying 85k, I could live with that. Though, I think we are in a strong position with Uate to say no, if you want to leave to play for Manly you will be doing so without further payment from the Knights, or you can play the whole next year in reserves. I doubt Uate is going to want to play reserves all next year when he could play firsts for Manly.

No I think you're wrong with that assumption. Uate's quite comfortable in Newcastle and as shown by the fact he turned down the England offer, it's clear he doesn't want to move from Australia, let alone Newcastle. He's stated in the past that he didn't care if he played reserve grade. And that could be exactly what will happen.

Worst case scenario: Manly only offer him his market value so we'll end up having to pay some of it and Brown doesn't want that. So then he stays, draining our salary cap for another year in reserve grade. If he does that whilst legitimate offers were on the table then I'll find it hard to think of him fondly anymore. I hope that doesn't eventuate though.

 

[Knight76]

When did he say he was happy to stay and play reserves? I've watch him in reserves weekly and he appears disinterested.

Not wanting to move to England is one thing, but a move to another NRL club and a shot at first grade again is another. The man is a past Australian rep, surely he has some Ego.

And he is already turning down legitimate contracts that by turning down the ESL deal.

 

[Glendale]

The comment about being happy to play reserve grade was from a few years ago. I've taken it out of context here and it doesn't relate to this situation, and I could be making the wrong assumptions about Aku, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him stay in Newcastle just because he's comfortable here.

 

[perverse]

Why does anyone blame Aku for staying? He signed a contract that we put forward to him. He's entitled to collect, he loves the town and has made a home. It's shit, but it is what it is, and the onus isn't on Aku to move on, it's on us to not offer him a stupid contract 4 years ago.

This one is squarely on the Tinkler/Bennett show.