Rumoured Targets 3

[perverse]

I don't want to deathride the kid at all, I hope he kills it and smashes first grade... but it's hard to get excited when you're just bracing for another kick in the teeth.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Ill put my house on him being a dud

 

[steven p white]

I would too, whats the fascination with Kiwis & Polynesians? We have had virtually no success with any so far 90% reserve graders at best. You can't tell me there aren't some decent kids in country NSW who are worth a shot, talent scouts are obviously talentless looking for brute strength, size & athleticism rather than footballers with a bit of guile, skills & mongrel. How about some players who can think & hang in when it gets tough rather than put their hand up for a rest.The current lot are clueless, no idea where to position themselves in defence & no instinct for what to do, previous coaches obviously have the cookie cutter approach to coaching lots of drills & no focusing on each individuals strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Spot On]

Here, here.

Give me a footballer over an 'athlete' everyday of the week.

And while we are at it, piss the interchange off and we'll see a big shift towards recruiting.

 

[steven p white]

How true, interchange was brought in supposedly for medical reasons, total load of crap, it was for your wealthy clubs( roosters & manly) who had 2 teams of virtual 1st grade standard in their clubs at their disposal, who they wanted to trot out in rotation to the detriment of others. This rubbish led to wrestling & holding down in the play the ball which is a joy to behold(not).Bring back the endurance, the heart , the skill & get rid of musclebound pea brains who need trainers on field to tell them what to do next. What happened to captains who directed their teams around the park & inspired by their actions, maybe 1 or 2 left of that rare breed & we certainly haven't had anyone that fits that description for an eternity. Don't waste money on plodders, wait until someone you can build a team around becomes available, make a decent offer & hope to Christ they take it !

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Kalyn Ponga on the cards ...
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4256175/knights-set-sights-on-cowboys-young-gun/

 

[macavity]

Kalyn Ponga on the cards ...
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4256175/knights-set-sights-on-cowboys-young-gun/

Hopes up

Dashed

24 hour Knights news cycle

 

[Knight76]

Knights coach Nathan Brown admitted on Thursday that signing outside backs was a priority, especially with doubt surrounding the future of incumbent No.1 Jake Mamo. The 22-year-old is nursing an ankle injury that will require surgery after an off-season accident in Bali, when he was struck by a moped.

Damn I hope that doesn't hinder his chances of signing with Huddersfield. We don't need another year of Mamo magic!

 

[steven p white]

Yes to the above, if Mamo had a brain he'd be dangerous ! Spends more pre match time talking about his hair than focusing on game(sure sign of genius footballer in the making) his efforts in 2016 were all mistakeathons, to put it in a nutshell," Oxygen Thief "

 

[Bring it home Knights]

I'm torn as to what positions the knights need to fill for next year. My initial thoughts are that we desperately need to spend cap space on a quality fullback and outside back.But then again imo part of the reason our outside backs appeared as poor as they did is due to the forwards not aiming up. It seemed pretty apparent that when the opposition started steamrolling our forwards and getting quick play the balls we'd be instructed to squeeze in to get more numbers in the tackles, but then that would leave us short out wide and simple back line plays would lead to overlaps resulting in trys. So this leads me to thinking that we need to sign forwards who can hold or dominate an opposition pack.

2016 may have been very different if we had Snowden playing out the season and Korbin Sims actually having a dig.

If I had my choice I'd definitely sign a fullback even though I'd be interested in seeing how Ross would perform there as well as signing a forward who is a leader, like we did with Ben Kennedy years ago.

 

[slotmachine]

Definitely think brown is correct in targeting outside backs / fullback.

You've got Saifiti x 2, Korbin and Mataora (just) who are of first grade standard to fill the four prop spots. Barnett can play lock if Ferris is at second row (which I think he is). Paea and Pauli are in NSW Cup if everyone is fit.

For FB and the four outside backs you've only got Gagai, RossDawg and Chanel (maybe, he's been injured so long). Then a pack of scrubs like Pete, Pat, Elliott and Denniss. So you're already playing scrubs before injuries/suspensions.

Halves have plenty of depth, even though Hodko and Mullen suck.

Have Levi/Randall/Kostjaysn to play hooker.

Sione and Buhrer second row, depth after that sucks (don't think Pauli worked there really) but at least you have first graders there for round 1.

 

[macavity]

Chanel is a scrub too.

A good fullback, or even Ken Sio, makes a difference.

Mullo will start at hooker.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Definitely think brown is correct in targeting outside backs / fullback.

He seems not totally committed though:
“We may add an outside back or two to the squad, which would certainly play a part in what we do,’’ Brown said.

“But we certainly won’t be bringing in a recognised player from another club with experience. There are a number of people within our squad that can probably train there in the pre-season and we’ll have a look at it. Suck it and see, I guess.’’
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4256175/knights-set-sights-on-cowboys-young-gun/

I reckon we will "suck it and see" with the fwds too. Wait until the season is underway and look at players off contract at possibly the end of 2018.

 

[slotmachine]

Brown indicated it was doubtful that former Cronulla prop David Fifita would be joining Newcastle.
“We haven’t got many spaces available in our top 25, and Dave is someone that commands that salary,’’ he said. “Our priorities are probably outside backs at the minute. But he’s certainly a player that we’d add to our squad if we could … it’s probably not likely.’’

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

^^^ Glad you bolded "probably". Statement I quoted follows in that same article.It raises doubt with no contradiction.

 

[Nuffy]

Dave Fifita has stayed in the UK.

 

[Knight76]

Probably a good idea from his perspective. 1 year deal so he can take advantage of the new TV deal and increased salary cap in 2018. Why come back now to the Knights, possibly run last in the comp in a struggling team which can only damage his value.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Looks like we have got ken sio. Adds some much needed depth to our backline.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

With all this off-contract at the end of 2017 buzz we are now linked to Valentine Holmes as a fullback for 2018. I doubt it.

For teams like the Knights, who are in a rebuilding phase, November marks the date they can get serious about the club’s transformation.

They have the bulk of their squad off-contract at the end of next season which essentially gives them a clean slate from the salary cap mess which has handcuffed them, resulting in just one win and a draw in 2016 to claim the wooden spoon.

I thought that our rebuilding phase was already serious. Longer term serious instead of short.
Should we chase any of these guys now for 2018:
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...y/news-story/1f72010f6114f5fb5ba5010abf00d78d

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Stockwell to start training with the squad.
Ideally club is looking for a trade.
If not:

Gidley said if that did not eventuate, Stockwell would be given every chance to state a case for selection.

“Jack and his management have looked at a whole range of options over the course of the year, but at the end of the day, none of those have come to fruition yet,’’ Gidley said.

“He’s a contracted player to us. He’ll be required to train and put his case forward for selection next year.’’

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4263040/stock-exchange-knights-keen-to-trade-prop/?cs=306
He's on $350,000 - too much but we can carry it next year.

He has ability. If he can knuckle down and get stuck into it then he deserves a go I reckon.