Rumoured Targets 3

[perverse]

Is Leo worth the big money being discussed?

His stats are on par with Dan.

No. I actually find the hype around him bizarre. He's good, not elite.

 

[ryan.a87]

Imagine if we somehow ditched Hastings and signed Hunt now he has left dragons

 

[Haffa]

No. I actually find the hype around him bizarre. He's good, not elite.

It screams signing on potential. Which is the scenario we need to run as far away from as possible.

 

[Knight Tales]

Is Leo worth the big money being discussed?

His stats are on par with Dan.

It may be a case of Sully feeling the same way.

 

[Zoidberg]

Imagine if we somehow ditched Hastings and signed Hunt now he has left dragons

When Hunt was mentioned earlier this year I said I think he is too old to sign. I’m now thinking if we can get a couple of good years out of him while we still have Ponga and worry about the future after that maybe it’s worth going for him.

 

[Knight Tales]

There is no rush. There are some big names OC in the next 18 months in the front row department. And they will be looking for upgrades.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Really? Is 400k average for a guy who is starting in a top 4 side in the NRL these days? Sounds very low for some reason. Some middles are on a million these days? Surely Josh King can get 500k plus somewhere?

Not saying we should pay 600k for the guy but doubt we would be the highest bidder at 400k.

King gives plenty more bang for his buck than some in our pack.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Is Leo worth the big money being discussed?

His stats are on par with Dan.

What's the "big money" ?

Leo is not an elite level or 2nd tier prop. He's a upper 3rd tier prop with potential. Young and just above average.

If anything he's overhyped by the media.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I think the thing with King is that he works so well in the Melbourne system with a superstar spine but I can’t see him being on big money elsewhere. I suppose the going rate for a starting front rower these days is probably $500K-$600K but I see King as more of a benchie in a lot of packs (including ours) so I wouldn’t be paying more than around $400K-$450K tops. He’d provide good value at that price imo.

 

[HarVeeGee]

Worth considering that a hooker like Harry Grant elevates his middle forwards in a way no other #9 can in the comp right now.

Even factoring that in, Kings plays in a side where their weakness is clearly through the middle & that team won a lot of games simply because they score points so easily. They’re mediocre defensively compared to a lot of other good Storm teams. These weaknesses were exploited ruthlessly in the grand final and honestly if the Chooks weren’t running on fumes their prelim vs Melbourne would have been very interesting (there were passages of that game where they gapped the Storm through the middle very easily).

Feel free to call me a homer, but I think Leo stands up to more physical forwards better than a guy like Josh King does. Josh gets through a lot of work but I don’t think he’s actively winning the majority of the physical contests he’s involved in.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Worth considering that a hooker like Harry Grant elevates his middle forwards in a way no other #9 can in the comp right now.

Even factoring that in, Kings plays in a side where their weakness is clearly through the middle & that team won a lot of games simply because they score points so easily. They’re mediocre defensively compared to a lot of other good Storm teams. These weaknesses were exploited ruthlessly in the grand final and honestly if the Chooks weren’t running on fumes their prelim vs Melbourne would have been very interesting (there were passages of that game where they gapped the Storm through the middle very easily).

Feel free to call me a homer, but I think Leo stands up to more physical forwards better than a guy like Josh King does. Josh gets through a lot of work but I don’t think he’s actively winning the majority of the physical contests he’s involved in.

That he is in the conversation to compare with Josh King is precisely why the Knights should not pay overs to retain him.

Young and with exciting potential, which makes him a just above average prop.

Every dollar spending overs on grunt roster positions is a dollar less we have for an elite halves pairing to win a Premiership with.

There are no halves presently in our roster that will lift the trophy on GF day. ( Pryce has potential)

 

[slotmachine]

Almost half the comp is going to have a crack at signing Leo, and it's not because he's ordinary.
It's because he is likely the next JFH / Moses Leota (two guys who don't blow up the stats sheet but contribute hugely to the Panthers being so good).

I will admit Leo did have some stinkers to end the year but if the alternative is letting him walk and replacing him with Josh King the club may as well fold.

 

[mozza91]

He was great for us in 23 but definitely regressed this season. He’s on peanuts so definitely deserves an upgrade but we can’t afford to overspend on him. I’d say 550-600 is reasonable. Anything north of 700K is overs.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Almost half the comp is going to have a crack at signing Leo, and it's not because he's ordinary.

We're a mid table club - desperate clubs below us might pay overs, clubs above not more than market value but offer challenging for a title.

How much of the cap would you spend on Leo?

 

[Old dog]

No doubt Leo deserves an increase but not on potential but because he deserves more than currently getting, upgrade 2025 and ext to end 2027 if not acceptable let him go and move on, we have some young talent coming through

 

[HarVeeGee]

That he is in the conversation to compare with Josh King is precisely why the Knights should not pay overs to retain him.

Young and with exciting potential, which makes him a just above average prop.

Every dollar spending overs on grunt roster positions is a dollar less we have for an elite halves pairing to win a Premiership with.

There are no halves presently in our roster that will lift the trophy on GF day. ( Pryce has potential)

He’s in the conversation because people on here originated it. Not because it’s reasonable.

You need elite props to win a comp. It’s hard to find teams who’ve won without an elite, big money middle. Leo is approaching being a top 10 prop right now and at 24 + being a late convert to league, there is a real chance he goes on to be one of the very best props in the sport. Also one with a playing style which should age well, as Fisher-Harris’ playing style has. That’s worth a lot of money. Inarguably.

Almost half the comp is going to have a crack at signing Leo, and it's not because he's ordinary.
It's because he is likely the next JFH / Moses Leota (two guys who don't blow up the stats sheet but contribute hugely to the Panthers being so good).

I will admit Leo did have some stinkers to end the year but if the alternative is letting him walk and replacing him with Josh King the club may as well fold.

Agree with all of this outside of the stinkers plural. He had a bad game vs the Sharkies but he was one of our best in those wins to secure finals + the finals game.

I’m genuinely perplexed by the take that he regressed in 2024. I can accept the argument that more improvement was expected than what he delivered, but regressed? In what way?

 

[HarVeeGee]

We're a mid table club - desperate clubs below us might pay overs, clubs above not more than market value but offer challenging for a title.

How much of the cap would you spend on Leo?

He’ll get offers of $700-800K per season, probably 3 year deal.

We can beat that going into the 600’s on a three year deal + a pay bump in 2025.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

He’s in the conversation because people on here originated it. Not because it’s reasonable.

You need elite props to win a comp. It’s hard to find teams who’ve won without an elite, big money middle. Leo is approaching being a top 10 prop right now and at 24 + being a late convert to league, there is a real chance he goes on to be one of the very best props in the sport. Also one with a playing style which should age well, as Fisher-Harris’ playing style has. That’s worth a lot of money. Inarguably.



Agree with all of this outside of the stinkers plural. He had a bad game vs the Sharkies but he was one of our best in those wins to secure finals + the finals game.

I’m genuinely perplexed by the take that he regressed in 2024. I can accept the argument that more improvement was expected than what he delivered, but regressed? In what way?

how much of the cap would you dedicate to retaining Leo?

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

He’ll get offers of $700-800K per season, probably 3 year deal.

We can beat that going into the 600’s on a three year deal + a pay bump in 2025.

600 for Leo is about right, I wouldnt allocate more than 650K.

Desperately need a quality halves pairing and that costs coin.

 

[slotmachine]

Agree with all of this outside of the stinkers plural. He had a bad game vs the Sharkies but he was one of our best in those wins to secure finals + the finals game.

He was ordinary when the Dogs smoked us too, although that was mid-season when I thought it was closer to the end.