Rumoured Targets 3

[K-Man]

I haven't seen the guy play, but a couple of weeks back he said his preference is to play backrow rather than centre, "but happy to play wherever Browny wants". My guess is that means the plan is to play backrow.

One thing that hasn't been floated is the chance of Levi playing 80 mins now that Kostjasyn looks out for a fair while? I don't think he has done it at NRL level yet but he's a year older and apparently injury-free so I guess it's an option. Buhrer as cover if an injury happens mid-game.

In that case you could scratch Randell from your bench for Wardle. It would be a forward-heavy bench but Sharks and Storm both ran with four forwards on the bench most of last year.

A bloke like Starling doesn't have to play many minutes.

Yeah that's in the realms of possibility for sure. The big difference is that Levi is not Smith or Ennis. It would be a bold move.

I guess we don't know enough about where Levi is at and if he could actually handle it, but I suspect Brown would rather not pick Randell unless he really has to. No reason he couldn't actually plan to use Buhrer for 15 minutes at dummy half to rest Levi, since we would have carried the extra forward on the bench already.

I don't think it's likely, but it could happen.

 

[Johns Magic]

but I suspect Brown would rather not pick Randell unless he really has to.

^^^ My thinking too.

And yes Levi is not Smith or Ennis, agreed. But if he is fit enough to play 80 and considered a better hooker than the backup I don't see why its not a possibility when we have cover in Buhrer if required.

Will be a very interesting season coming up, I can't wait.

 

[K-Man]

^^^ My thinking too.

And yes Levi is not Smith or Ennis, agreed. But if he is fit enough to play 80 and considered a better hooker than the backup I don't see why its not a possibility when we have cover in Buhrer if required.

Will be a very interesting season coming up, I can't wait.

It sure will. Suddenly there are a lot of exciting reasons to watch us, even if we do pick up another spoon. I was just comparing in my head to the Bennett days where a lot of individual players had very little potential upside moving forward, and this squad is the complete opposite. Regardless of results, there are so many individuals who you could argue will improve their own performances or improve the team in some way from last year. In fact it's about 90% of the squad I would put in one of those two categories.

How often can you say you're genuinely interested to see how a list of players like the one below will perform in the red and blue (because for one reason or another they are not same old same old like, say, Mullen)?

Phythian, Sio, Ross (as a full-time centre), Gagan, Lamb, Buhrer, Barnett (as a middle forward), Sione (as a permanent 2nd rower and injury free), Levi (can he step up?), the Saifitis (how much better will they be?), Starling, Tupou (has he still got it?), Stockwell (can his career be revived?), Kostjasyn (how will he be used and what influence will have around the group?), Cogger (more improvement to come?).

That is a crazy amount of players to "watch closely". I can remember times that list had about one name on it, and the name was probably Sione.

 

[Johns Magic]

100%.

Chuck in the potential signings we will be making this year and it beats knowing you'll finish 12th and no hope of improvement on the horizon.

 

[Caped Crusader]

Interestingly Tom Starling played hooker in the Seagulls trial. I'm betting hell be our nyc hooker but he could get a run in firsts

Why is Randall on the nose? I know he was on an inflated contract and we wanted to offload him but I wasn't aware Brown didn't want to use him

 

[Johns Magic]

Why is Randall on the nose? I know he was on an inflated contract and we wanted to offload him but I wasn't aware Brown didn't want to use him

I'm not sure he is on the nose, just think it's possible given he seemingly won't have a future here.

 

[K-Man]

Yeah I was only reading between the lines given how badly Brown wanted Kostjasyn to come knowing full well it would shift Randell to 3rd choice. And the fact Mullen was training at hooker. It feels like Randell won't be with us long term and it would make sense if Brown wanted to squeeze a bit more class onto his bench rather than leave out someone like Tupou because he needs Randell for a short stint. Basically as JM said if he can manufacture an 80 minute dummy half solution out of Levi and perhaps Buhrer he could get another big body on his bench.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

I'd like to know what the plan for Wardle is because it impacts a lot of other positions / players.

If Brown sees him as mostly a 2nd rower then surely he's behind Buhrer (left), Sione (right) and Barnett (middle it seems, but could swap with Buhrer). Despite being versatile, Wardle doesn't seem like a bench player because he's not a middle forward and you'd think we would carry three of those (2 props and whoever gives Barnett a spell) plus Randell / Kostjasyn. A wide 2nd rower / centre is a bit of a luxury on the bench we already have Sione to cover the backs if there's an injury.

And if Brown sees Wardle as a defensive left centre then has a big impact on all the other outside backs, of which have plenty. Ross would go to wing and (assuming Phythian is fullback) there would be no place for Pete Mat, Elliot, Gagan, Chanel, Denniss ... which is an awful lot of depth in genuine outside backs to be sitting behind Wardle, who I can only guess is not very fast or creative but is reliable and defensively strong. We need all the help we can get in defence out wide, it's true, but is this the type of player you want inside Ross? Personally I don't want any centre inside Ross because Ross should be the centre.

So while I don't imagine Brown has brought Wardle here as a depth player, I actually can't see how he fits into the top 17 unless he's got skills we haven't heard about. However I try to fit him in, it seems to cause issues fitting in some of our better players in their best positions.

What do others think?

1. Phythian / Pete Mat
2. Sio
3. Gagai
4. Ross
5. Elliot / Gagan / Pete Mat / Chanel Mat
6. Lamb
7. Hodkinson
8. Mataora
9. Levi
10. D Saifiti
11. Sione
12. Buhrer
13. Barnett

14. Randell
15. J Saifiti (I can't see Wardle taking this spot)
16. Starling
17. Tupou / Stockwell / Pauli (when fit) / King

Maybe Brown is planning ahead to 2018. It wouldn't surprise me if Brown let's Gagai go after this year and he may want Wardle to replace him. In the meantime Wardle can get experience playing in the team this year, whether it's in the backs or forwards.

 

[K-Man]

Maybe Brown is planning ahead to 2018. It wouldn't surprise me if Brown let's Gagai go after this year and he may want Wardle to replace him. In the meantime Wardle can get experience playing in the team this year, whether it's in the backs or forwards.

That's possible but unlikely imo. Wardle has already indicated he sees himself as more of a 2nd rower, and you'd imagine if Brown had brought him over with the plan convert him into a proper centre, that he might have chosen his words differently.

Also Brown himself recently spoke about all the depth in the outside backs he has this year, and he rattled them off (whilst speaking specifically about Chanel's comeback from injury). He basically said Chanel is looking good but will have to compete with Elliot, Pete, Gagan (who I'm pretty sure is a centre/winger not just winger), Sio, Ross, Denniss. Even looking ahead to 2018 and Gagai perhaps leaving, would Brown be grooming a backrower who dabbles at centre at a pinch as his replacement when he has personally brought in a whole bunch of genuine outside backs?

I have no idea, and not having ever seen Wardle play is contributing to my uncertainty. But on the info available I just don't see where he fits. It will be interesting to find out anyway.

 

[Burwood]

Guys, the answer to Levi possibly not being an 80 minute hooker is pretty obvious.

9. Levi
14. Costigan


As for Wardle, there were several interviews with Brown last year where he referred to wanting a backrower that could cover in the centres in case of injury mid game. That player is clearly Wardle.

 

[K-Man]

Guys, the answer to Levi possibly not being an 80 minute hooker is pretty obvious.

9. Levi
14. Costigan


As for Wardle, there were several interviews with Brown last year where he referred to wanting a backrower that could cover in the centres in case of injury mid game. That player is clearly Wardle.

Of course it is. Doesn't really answer the question of where Wardle fits in a top 17? I highly doubt he is getting picked ahead of Sione, Buhrer or Barnett on an edge. So that leaves centre, bench, or NSW Cup. It's not about Wardle's skillset (we've been told that), it's about which job he's actually going to end up with.

 

[Burwood]

Bench.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I feel that Buhrer to play a bit of hooker to give Levi a spell would be the best short term solution to our hooker conundrum, then presumably Rory will come in as starting hooker when he's back from injury and Levi to the bench. As others have said that would give us the option of playing 4 forwards on the bench. I imagine our bench could be Starling, Toupou, J Saifiti & Wardle.

That's purely a guess though, it seems like there's a lot of competition for spots this year which is a big positive.

 

[slotmachine]

Costigan? Jesus, we that desperate...

 

[Pedge1971]

Pythian can play hooker as well. Brown has some decent utility options if lots of injuries on any given day...

 

[bad boy bubby]

In that case you could scratch Randell from your bench for Wardle. It would be a forward-heavy bench but Sharks and Storm both ran with four forwards on the bench most of last year.

Incorrect. Sharks only played 4 forwards in a few games. It was most of the time one back (Beale or Luetele) and three forwards.
Then again we had the advantage of having an 80min hooker in Ennis.

 

[Johns Magic]

Incorrect. Sharks only played 4 forwards in a few games. It was most of the time one back (Beale or Luetele) and three forwards.
Then again we had the advantage of having an 80min hooker in Ennis.

True, but the point is you didn't have anyone on the bench just to spell Ennis. Beale/Leutele would generally replace a back and get a sympathy run for 10 minutes or so from my memory.

 

[bad boy bubby]

True, but the point is you didn't have anyone on the bench just to spell Ennis. Beale/Leutele would generally replace a back and get a sympathy run for 10 minutes or so from my memory.

Pretty much. A few times it worked extremely well especially in the GF when Feki went off but it is a huge advantage to have an 80 min hooker no doubt.

 

[Johns Magic]

Interesting Browny said today in the interview on the Knights website that there are a number of players that are keen to come to the club for 2017, but want to sign for more than a year and we aren't willing to give them that.

He said Tupou was a great fit because he was keen for a 12 month deal.

 

[Johns Magic]

If we get Scott, what other positions do you think we'll be targeting with recruitment?

Bird is a bit ambiguous position-wise.