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Rumoured Targets 3

ryan.a87

Juniors
Messages
807
For what it’s worth, Matt Arthur has been added to the knights team page on the official website without an announcement

seems like someone in the website team stuffed up and added him early
 

slotmachine

First Grade
Messages
7,411
Apparently we are no longer prepared to release Brails, indicating we will run Peen out at 7 again.

Maybe I'm huffing copium but I don't think keeping Brailey means crossland at 7.

A full season of that would have me looking for a new winter sport to follow, anyone know anything about curling?
 
Messages
1,233
Parra would be looking to punt on a possible bargain, paying not much more than 1/2 of Brailey's salary would be too much of a risk on a proven net loss to the cap.

Interview with Leo doesn't exactly sound optimistic -

The Knights have also signed brother Tyrone Thompson, but Leo said that doesn’t guarantee he will stay in Newcastle.

“Hopefully he debuts at the Knights and we can get some games together,” Thompson said.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/eb7d5e5c0c1a40969f34f2ee77029d26
 

Knight Tales

Bench
Messages
3,009
Leo does not sound very bright if I am being completely honest. He is just projecting his ignorance really. Sully will reach the point where he will say best of luck to you mate. The bloke has proper tickets on himself. Delusional is probably an understatement. The bit that gets me is we let D Saf leave in order to have the money to keep him, and the first reason his gives for leaving is allegedly he thinks he lacks mentors! You’re 24 mate. Get a grip!
 

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,693
Leo does not sound very bright if I am being completely honest. He is just projecting his ignorance really. Sully will reach the point where he will say best of luck to you mate. The bloke has proper tickets on himself. Delusional is probably an understatement.
I'm getting to the point where I just don't care if he walks at all honestly. He ain't Payne Haas. If someone wants to pay him huge money good luck to them, he ain't there yet and might not even get there.
 
Messages
1,233

Tuala to Dogs finally official. Was a good clubman and reliable backup.
much under-rated player. Given a chance at the dogs he'll prove a great pick-up and regular starter for them.

Leo does not sound very bright if I am being completely honest. He is just projecting his ignorance really. Sully will reach the point where he will say best of luck to you mate. The bloke has proper tickets on himself. Delusional is probably an understatement. The bit that gets me is we let D Saf leave in order to have the money to keep him, and the first reason his gives for leaving is allegedly he thinks he lacks mentors! You’re 24 mate. Get a grip!
yeh I don't buy into the media hype about the bloke. He's hardly a sure thing to be anything, and at the moment he's not much more than average. Looks alpha plays beta.
 

PhilGould

Bench
Messages
3,461
I’ll be happy if the Knights are able to retain Leo on their terms and I can understand why fans are on edge about losing another younger, promising player. I can also completely understand why O’Sullivan might not be interested in getting into a bidding war for him and would tend to agree with that stance.

He’s a very strong defender but average at best in all other areas IMO, and yet to even really show signs that he’s developing into anything more than that. Genuinely think a significant part of the hype around him comes from just looking like a big, mean, intimidating enforcer of a prop but his play on the field has never really backed that up.
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,923
If Leo goes, he goes. But, we should have locked him up ages ago. Should have bumped him up a little when we had the chance.

He is only 24 and new to League. Could play at a high level for another decade.

We are going to have some massive cap space and free slots in the top 30 come 2026.
 

macavity

Referee
Messages
20,643
I’ll be happy if the Knights are able to retain Leo on their terms and I can understand why fans are on edge about losing another younger, promising player. I can also completely understand why O’Sullivan might not be interested in getting into a bidding war for him and would tend to agree with that stance.

He’s a very strong defender but average at best in all other areas IMO, and yet to even really show signs that he’s developing into anything more than that. Genuinely think a significant part of the hype around him comes from just looking like a big, mean, intimidating enforcer of a prop but his play on the field has never really backed that up.

He isn't that big, that was one of the reasons we recruited him to improve mobility.

I don't want to lose another starting prop, but I also don't want to over-pay because he is chasing maximum coin. Also a bit off-putting that he has put absolutely nothing out there about wanting to stay in any way, but that might be his agent. Guess we need to just accept where the cards fall.
 

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,693
He isn't that big, that was one of the reasons we recruited him to improve mobility.

I don't want to lose another starting prop, but I also don't want to over-pay because he is chasing maximum coin. Also a bit off-putting that he has put absolutely nothing out there about wanting to stay in any way, but that might be his agent. Guess we need to just accept where the cards fall.
Honestly, all the talk thus far - not to mention the drawn out nature of the negotiations - all point towards he's got one foot out the door already to me. My position on him at this stage is I'll be surprised if he stays.

And I just don't really care either way. I'm not saying he's a shit player, he's just not a player you bend your club over backwards for. I'd absolutely be willing to say to him "this is the offer, sign by x time or it's pulled and we're spending the money elsewhere". We're very good at getting dragged along in negotiations and having the market pass us by. Sick of being the last one standing in recruitment musical chairs.
 

Woody90

Juniors
Messages
2,224

Tuala to Dogs finally official. Was a good clubman and reliable backup.

Always liked him even when everyone was calling him shit. Tbh he was probably a bit unlucky that he was at the club the same time as a pretty talented backline as he’d probably be a solid week in-week out first grader in a lot of sides.

It’s amazing he managed to play so many games as a backup. Probably says just as much about our injury woes as his ability but he’s certainly reliable.
 

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,923
Always liked him even when everyone was calling him shit. Tbh he was probably a bit unlucky that he was at the club the same time as a pretty talented backline as he’d probably be a solid week in-week out first grader in a lot of sides.

It’s amazing he managed to play so many games as a backup. Probably says just as much about our injury woes as his ability but he’s certainly reliable.
I think Tuala is a great finishing winger. Safe defender but doesn't offer enough yardage out of our end and is pretty weak at centre.

Was great having him as our first cover but don't think he is good enough to be a starting player in a top 4-6 squad.

Best of luck to him though!
 

Mr_Knightside

Juniors
Messages
2,360
We have to stand our ground on this one with Leo. He’s a guy playing in a non-key position who has some potential but isn’t the finished product. $650K is the max I’d be offering him tbh. If another club wants to pay $800K for him then good luck to them.

Gone are the days where we are held over a barrel by players & player managers.
 

Rod

Bench
Messages
3,732
Not great timing for Leo to try to up his price with us if that is indeed what is happening, when we're literally in the middle of sorting out several overpaid contracts, including another front rower lol. A couple of years ago and we probably would have panicked and offered him overs.
 
Messages
1,233
A couple of years ago and we probably would have panicked and offered him overs.
"couple of years ago " is being very generous. The Knights MO has been in recent memory to offer mediocre players over valued multi-year contracts when no other club is in the bidding. I'd imagine the club has quite the reputation among agents.

Always liked him even when everyone was calling him shit. Tbh he was probably a bit unlucky that he was at the club the same time as a pretty talented backline as he’d probably be a solid week in-week out first grader in a lot of sides.

It’s amazing he managed to play so many games as a backup. Probably says just as much about our injury woes as his ability but he’s certainly reliable.
The Knights cap wouldn't be pear shaped if it had more Tuala and less certain other type of players as mentioned above.
 

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