The problem isn't Gagai's value in a vacuum, or even on the open market. If we lose him, we struggle to even get plodders to sign here. We'll struggle to get juniors to sign up ffs.
People have not paid my whinging about our unpopularity overly much concern over the years, but I reckon you can pull up threads from 7 or 8 years ago talking about how unfashionable Newcastle is to the outside world, or even to what feels like a majority of Novocastrians. Bennett and Tinkler temporarily thwarted that perception with reputation and cold hard cash, but now we've added years of sustained total failure to that perception and are constantly being knocked back by anyone we chase.
We need to keep Gags, we need the good news story. The fact that a story that would be considered a standard traffic bulletin to most supporters might be the best news we hear all year is f**king sad, but that's where we are at.
We won't convince a single player on the open market that we're headed in the right direction if we don't keep him, which restricts us to players who care about money over winning, which isn't where we want to be. It could add years to the "rebuild". We NEED something to go out way, to put one foot in front of the other, because we are not moving forward at the moment. We've got the biggest wallet of any club at the moment and yet we are dead in the water.
It's unfathomable to think that we haven't yet reached rock bottom. Losing Gagai would somehow take us deeper.
This sums it up. Gagai's market value isn't the main issue here. Hell, we could even afford to re-sign him on almost double what he's on at the moment and still have plenty of room left in the cap. If we lose him, we won't be signing anyone. No one will come within cooee of the joint. If Brown can't convince Gagai, who has stated many times his love for the town and the club, to stay, then no one is gonna want to come here for a few years.
And his plan (which I have supported) has definatley not worked.
So at what figure do you stop for Gagai?
Personally, I'd feel sick offering him too much more than the option he currently has on the table with us.
It is a tough situation. Because Brown/Mooney might have to go against their principles a little bit here. But IMO they just have to get it done. If he goes to Cows, Roosters, Storm then we can say fair enough, he wants to be in a competitive team. But if he goes somewhere like Rabbits then he's either deluded, or they've beaten us with what they're offering. So more then likely 2nd option. After all these players we've lost as part of Browns cleanout, supposedly leading to signing quality players, we're about to lose our only rep player because another club has outbid us... How are our fans who have been through so much shit meant to accept that?
Toanswer your question I would be easily comfortable giving him an upgrade to his current contract. Cap is going up, he has been extremely loyal and we can't afford to lose him. Obviously I don't know what Rabbits are offering but I would be comfortable with paying him 600 or even more.
Also, Gagai is coincendentally the oldest player in our starting lineup this weekend and the only player with 100 games. And he's only 26. Browns plan was all about getting experience around the kids... Worrying times if he leaves.
