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Rumoured Targets 3

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,686
I think playing Pryce in the centres long term is a waste of his ability. We'll see how he kicks on while he's here, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him in the 6 long term. I dunno if we keep him long term if we think Gamble is as good as it gets. Just a hunch.

It the plan long term is Pryce at centre then we lose him long term, I guess is my point. We're not the roosters that can convince a Joey Manu type to waste his career in the centres.
 
Messages
2,080
I think playing Pryce in the centres long term is a waste of his ability. We'll see how he kicks on while he's here, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him in the 6 long term. I dunno if we keep him long term if we think Gamble is as good as it gets. Just a hunch.

It the plan long term is Pryce at centre then we lose him long term, I guess is my point. We're not the roosters that can convince a Joey Manu type to waste his career in the centres.
I don't think playing in the centres is "wasting his career" at all. Playing in an NRL side, a successful one, is the goal for any player, especially an unproven one like Pryce.

Sure he may end up in the halves at some stage but he's gotta prove to be a consistent 1st grader before anything else and if he's not good enough to unseat Gamble then he's not good enough to be an NRL half, simple as that.

I'd not be getting too far down the track with Will just yet. We've seen plenty of English outside backs fail coming over to the NRL
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,916
I think spending a season or two on the wing or centres will be great for Pryce. Definitely think he will end up in the halves though.
 

Woody90

Juniors
Messages
2,216
To be honest I’m not convinced Pryce is going to be up to the NRL. He’s got some nice highlights but need to take into account the defence up against him. I really do hope he does so well that we can be debating about how to fit him into the side next year. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if he’s in the side come round 1 though.
 

Woosh

Head Moderator
Messages
1,088
To be honest I’m not convinced Pryce is going to be up to the NRL. He’s got some nice highlights but need to take into account the defence up against him. I really do hope he does so well that we can be debating about how to fit him into the side next year. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if he’s in the side come round 1 though.

Bevan French just won the Man of Steel playing 5/8th this season.
 

Old dog

Bench
Messages
2,657
I think the talk of both being early starters in firsts for 2024 is a bit premature, let’s get them here, get them training and acclimatising first and see how they go.
IF, again IF they push the likes of Lucas and Gamble out then we will then be very strong, give them time
 

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,686
Took Dom two pre-seasons here before he was a regular in the side.
Was also a few years younger. You're all acting like I think he should be in the round 1 team. I'm just sniffing about saying I think this kid has it if we nurture him properly, and it may throw a spanner in the works.

I don't think he'll take as long as Dom did, though. It'll be way sooner than that.
 

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,686
I think the talk of both being early starters in firsts for 2024 is a bit premature, let’s get them here, get them training and acclimatising first and see how they go.
IF, again IF they push the likes of Lucas and Gamble out then we will then be very strong, give them time
Literally no-one has said this. I'll be very surprised if either of them is in the round 1 team.
 

Woody90

Juniors
Messages
2,216
So was Dom. He's only 20... I think he's got a look about him, could be wrong though.

Dom was always odds on to be a success with his natural height and speed, and even he struggled initially. I like that Pryce can step off both feet but I’m not sure he’s fast or strong enough for those skills to come to light in the NRL.

Hope I’m wrong though, would be nice to produce another UK star for the Roosters to poach lmao *sigh*
 

Knight Tales

Bench
Messages
3,001
Will’s step is lethal and he can straighten a run and line once he has beaten his opponent almost immediately. He doesn’t need lighting pace cos his step gets him the space and time he needs. He has enough pace to create issues though. Happy to be very wrong but I am very confident this kid will rip it up after 12 months learning here.
 

Woosh

Head Moderator
Messages
1,088
KNIGHTS chief executive Philip Gardner expects Kai Pearce-Paul to emulate fellow Englishman Dominic Young and establish himself as a crowd favourite at Newcastle.

Pearce-Paul will play his final game for Wigan on Saturday when they meet Mitchell Pearce's Catalans Dragons in the Super League grand final at Old Trafford.

The towering forward has signed a two-year deal with the Knights, along with another recruit from the Old Dart, Huddersfield utility back Will Pryce.

While Pryce faces stiff competition to crack a start in a Newcastle backline that is largely established, Pearce-Paul shapes as a ready-made replacement for veteran back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon, who is joining Warrington.

And Gardner believes he will soon become a personality player along the lines of Young, who thrilled Newcastle fans by scoring 43 tries - including a club-record 25 this year - in a three-season stint, before accepting a deal with Sydney Roosters.

"We've got high hopes for Kai," Gardner told the Newcastle Herald.

"He's a big, tall guy with a lot of skill, and he's been playing really well for Wigan in their run into the grand final.

"I wouldn't be surprised at all if he becomes a bit of a cult hero, like Dominic was.

"We all loved watching Dom play, and we're disappointed that he chose to move on, but we're very confident Kai can have a similar impact.

"We're looking forward to getting him out here."

Standing 1.96 metres tall and weighing 101 kilograms, Pearce-Paul debuted in Super League as a 19-year-old and has earned comparisons to former dual international Sonny Bill Williams.

"He's very athletic, a tall guy and has good evasion and an off-load," Knights coach Adam O'Brien said. "He'll add a lot to our attack."

Pearce-Paul's estimated time of arrival in Newcastle will hinge on whether he is chosen in the England squad for their upcoming Test series against Tonga. The Lions will host the Mate Mate in Tests on October 23, October 29 and November 5.

While Newcastle's preference is to get him out here as early as possible, O'Brien said he would understand if Pearce-Paul wanted to play against a Tongan side that will feature his future Newcastle teammate Tyson Frizell.

"I'd never stand in the way of a kid playing for his country," O'Brien said.

Pearce-Paul has played in two Tests for England but, while he was a member of their World Cup squad last year, he could not get past their seasoned back-row trio of Elliott Whitehead, John Bateman and Victor Radley.

He is unlikely to walk into a starting spot at Newcastle next season, either, after the emergence of Dylan Lucas, who played seven NRL games in 2023 and showed genuine potential.

The Knights have also signed Jed Cartwright, who played 31 NRL games for Penrith and South Sydney.

 

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