Rumoured Targets 3

[Mr_Knightside]

I'd be happy with Tolman, one of the most professional players in the game and would be great to mentor our younger guys. Eastwood can stay at Belmore imo, he's not the kind of player we need.

 

[knightsarmy]

Anyone see Eastwoods kick yesterday? Not the sharpest player going around.

on the plus side,... his asking rate would have dropped because of that kick

 

[Hardcore_Fan]

Yeah, that's a no from me for Eastwood.

 

[perverse]

Surely Eastwood is a bargain pickup, the bloke is approaching morbidly obese. I still think he'd have a roll in our pack, he's an angry sort of guy and we need angry people, because Barnett clearly can't do it on his own and already went off the boil this year pre-injury anyway.

He's not exactly a desirable signing, though. If he's expensive you'd obviously rather say no.

Tolman would be our best prop, probably best forward in general if he came, regardless of his size and lack of impact. Just a cornerstone grinder that chews through a mountain of work, and would take a lot of hitups the rest of our forwards shirk at the moment.

 

[Johns Magic]

I would take both with Bulldogs paying half their freight.

I like Yates but Barnett needs some help in the middle and Eastwood is decent impact for 40 mins a game.

 

[Pedge1971]

Yep. Definitely keen but only if the Bulldogs are paying their fair share. Otherwise say no and make them sweat.

 

[macavity]

Not prepared to bail out the dogs. We pick who we want or we don't take anyone. It's not like there are other clubs lining up to help them find cap space.

If Graham is who we want, that is who we hold out for.

 

[Seage]

Excellent point Mac. We shouldn't be the solution to the problems of other clubs. Clubs like the Dogs would be laughing if they can sign top tier players and push dregs to sucker bottom feeders like the Knights.

 

[Spot On]

So will we ever be in the driver's seat. I can see us causing all sorts of headaches for other clubs if Gids keeps pushing the TPA/ market value issue with the NRL and we make some big offers to players we need at the 3 big clubs. We know their positions now. We should be making big plays for players they have that we want and need.

 

[slotmachine]

Push out third best middle forward, replace them with current NSW/Aus prop. That is the type of level playing field the NRL is well known for.

 

[Seage]

Not sold on Tolman. We're not exactly lacking a forward that just hits it up. It doesnt offer us any point of difference or intimidation factor to our forward pack. An upgrade on Starling and Stockwell? Absolutely. But it's not like other teams will be worried that that's how we've bolstered our pack.

 

[Pedge1971]

I dont rate Woods so not fussed on where he goes. The question is do the other 2 (1 or both) help us win more games if we can get them on a cheap deal that is short term (something akin to Souths and Farah.

If the answer is no, leave it alone. If yes, do the deal. We will not get elite players if we continually run last with 1 win.

 

[Knight76]

So will we ever be in the driver's seat. I can see us causing all sorts of headaches for other clubs if Gids keeps pushing the TPA/ market value issue with the NRL and we make some big offers to players we need at the 3 big clubs. We know their positions now. We should be making big plays for players they have that we want and need.

Gids can push the TPA/market value all he likes but there is no chance the NRL give a crap about Newcastle not having TPA's to take advantage of. I doubt any one involved in league is naive enough to think certain clubs are not paying players under the table with TPA's. Not at the NRL, not in clubs, not the fans.

The NRL turns a blind eye to it as in my opinion, they have let the clubs get away with it too long now to change it. I can only imagine the turmoil at certain clubs if the NRL suddenly introduced a player value based cap. They can't even work out the salary cap for next year after months of negotiations, how are they going to value every player in the NRL!

It will never change, unless the media starts augmenting for it long enough. Then maybe. But we have had several salary cap scandals with no change from the NRL. In my opinion as long as all looks good on the surface at NRL HQ, play on!

 

[slotmachine]

They can't even work out the salary cap for next year after months of negotiations, how are they going to value every player in the NRL!

Well said.

Tigers are making some moves. Matulino, big offer for Josh Reynolds.

 

[Hardcore_Fan]

Tigers also will have temare Martin by June 30

 

[Sydney Knight]

Shows the risk with young halves. Te Maire Martin has gone from better than Greg Alexander to on the verge of being released in about 4 weeks.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I was reading somewhere (possibly smh) a few days ago that Lolohea is trying to get out of his Warriors contract again. We made enquiries about him last year from memory so maybe we could have another crack at him. We wouldn't necessarily need to pay big money for him and we could give him first crack at a spot in the halves. He's a freak of a talent and just needs a sustained run in his preferred position in order to prove it imo.

 

[cb4]

He was a Knights fan growing up aswell

So was Jack Bird.

 

[Yosh]

I was reading somewhere (possibly smh) a few days ago that Lolohea is trying to get out of his Warriors contract again. We made enquiries about him last year from memory so maybe we could have another crack at him. We wouldn't necessarily need to pay big money for him and we could give him first crack at a spot in the halves. He's a freak of a talent and just needs a sustained run in his preferred position in order to prove it imo.

Can you provide a short summary of what kinda player he is? Thanks

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Can you provide a short summary of what kinda player he is? Thanks

Broke into first grade at the Warriors about 2-3 years ago. I don't know what position he was playing in the juniors or under 20s but was playing in the halves early on for the Warriors, since then has been shifted around and played at FB and in the outside backs. He's a super talented player with a brilliant running game, very instinctive and plays what's in front of him. He seems like a decent ball player as well given he was playing at halfback at one stage. I don't think he's a great defender but in our current situation I don't think we can pass up the opportunity to grab a player like this if we can. Main issue is he's never been selected consistently in the same position, he was even playing on the wing for a bit and hasn't really had an opportunity to show what he can do for a long time. With the right coaching could be a superstar.

As I said we'd be silly not to have a chat to his manager.