Rumoured Targets 3

[Sydney Knight]

Some people on this thread must have watched a lot of South's games over the last few years to have such strong opinions on Hunt. TBH I've hardly seen him play bit he did manage to start 21 games in 2018 in a team that came 3rd on the ladder so he can't be the worst player ever to lace on a boot.

 

[Pedge1971]

Some people on this thread must have watched a lot of South's games over the last few years to have such strong opinions on Hunt. TBH I've hardly seen him play bit he did manage to start 21 games in 2018 in a team that came 3rd on the ladder so he can't be the worst player ever to lace on a boot.

Yeah I have seen plenty of Souffs games. Hunt is solid and un-spectacular. Wont be in fg ahead of Ramien and Moga.

 

[SamSepi0l]

Definitely came off on the wrong side of the Denniss / Hunt trade. Obviously price is a factor though. Talent wise we lost that one.

I saw Hunt play almost all his games last year for Souths. For starters he only played so many games due to the Rabbitohs losing a back line player to injury every week.

He refuses to pass or just doesn't know how to. Whoever is outside of him will be very bored. Best played on the wing but had a low work rate.

Break glass in case of emergency type of player.

Some people on this thread must have watched a lot of South's games over the last few years to have such strong opinions on Hunt. TBH I've hardly seen him play bit he did manage to start 21 games in 2018 in a team that came 3rd on the ladder so he can't be the worst player ever to lace on a boot.

 

[Mullo is the greatest]

Definitely came off on the wrong side of the Denniss / Hunt trade. Obviously price is a factor though. Talent wise we lost that one.

I saw Hunt play almost all his games last year for Souths. For starters he only played so many games due to the Rabbitohs losing a back line player to injury every week.

He refuses to pass or just doesn't know how to. Whoever is outside of him will be very bored. Best played on the wing but had a low work rate.

Break glass in case of emergency type of player.

Cory Dennis was rubbish

 

[Old dog]

Cory Dennis was rubbish

Seems knocking is in fashion, sure Dennis's wasn't great but showed possibilities, Hunt played a lot of games without starring, Ross showed his ability with 2018 a bit injury restricted but do we have to knock them to promote our favoured player, couldn't one of them just be better than the other without down grading the others. Better to be best of a good group rather than best because the rest were hopeless. All three are fringe players trying there best.

 

[mozza91]

Anyone who’s local or has been here for more than 18 months becomes a whipping boy. Sione, Ross, Buhrer, Barnett. Still not sure why for most of these blokes.

I’m predicting Guerra will be next. He’ll go from a hard working defensive machine to vanilla and one dimensional by season’s end.

 

[aqua_duck]

Anyone who’s local or has been here for more than 18 months becomes a whipping boy. Sione, Ross, Buhrer, Barnett. Still not sure why for most of these blokes.

I’m predicting Guerra will be next. He’ll go from a hard working defensive machine to vanilla and one dimensional by season’s end.

I think you'd be a fool not to realise all those players you named have some deficiencies, let's be honest we haven't been a very good team for a long time and there's obviously going to be a few reasons why we haven't been a good team.
Sione is a good player who I think most would admit hasn't quite lived up to his potential considering he played for Australia at 18.
Lets look at Ross, Buhrer, and Barnett, how many of those guys are making the best 17 of a top 4 side? Maybe Barnett on a team's bench depending on forward depth?

 

[aqua_duck]

Definitely came off on the wrong side of the Denniss / Hunt trade. Obviously price is a factor though. Talent wise we lost that one.

I saw Hunt play almost all his games last year for Souths. For starters he only played so many games due to the Rabbitohs losing a back line player to injury every week.

He refuses to pass or just doesn't know how to. Whoever is outside of him will be very bored. Best played on the wing but had a low work rate.

Break glass in case of emergency type of player.

Much of a muchness. If Hunt or Denniss are anything more than depth we'd be in some trouble

 

[Knight Vision]

Sione is a good player who I think most would admit hasn't quite lived up to his potential considering he played for Australia at 18.

Andrew Johns would of had difficulty living up to his potential in possibly the worst side in NRL history alternating between positions multiple times. Lets see how these young fellas go with some seasoned pro's around them.

 

[Knight Vision]

Maybe Barnett on a team's bench depending on forward depth?

I'm expecting ( hope) a break out season for young Barny. Playing in a decent pack I reckon he'll surprise a few. Dsaf playing with Klemmer is salivating and I cant wait to see Levi behind this pack.

As to Ross ? He was only ever a flash in the pan. Tries hard but lacks skill and size.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Ross is a solid first grade winger imo. Not overly big or powerful but has a high work rate out of dummy half and is a good finisher. He definitely gets shown up when he’s up against elite backs though. I think he’s a pretty decent backup winger though but the reality is he’s been overpaid as a product of being a standout in a crap team for a couple of years. Not his fault really but he should be on half of what he’s actually on.

With the senior players that we have at the club and the environment that we’ve built I would be very surprised if guys like Sione and Barnett don’t improve dramatically this year.

 

[aqua_duck]

I'm expecting ( hope) a break out season for young Barny. Playing in a decent pack I reckon he'll surprise a few. Dsaf playing with Klemmer is salivating and I cant wait to see Levi behind this pack.

As to Ross ? He was only ever a flash in the pan. Tries hard but lacks skill and size.

Agreed with both. I think Barnett was a victim of 'trying too hard' as we did not have any forwards with any mongrel or aggression, Barnett tried to assume that role on his own which he's not really able to do. I think with guys like Glasby, Gavet and Klemmer around him he can play his natural game abit more.

With Ross as I've said earlier he'll never be a first choice player on a good side because if you look at good teams their wingers are generally safe and just do their job, Ross is the opposite, he has mistakes in him, can let in tries and sometimes has a tendency to try to hard and almost get in the way.

 

[Bartwah]

Thank god big Klem came to us and we didn’t chase Napa

 

[ryana87]

Thank god big Klem came to us and we didn’t chase Napa

You mean Big Papi?

 

[Bartwah]

You mean Big Papi?

Papa Napa

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Knights to lock Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce into long deals

Newcastle are preparing a bumper $7 million package to secure the long-term futures of superstar Kalyn Ponga and captain Mitchell Pearce.

Although he is just 12 months into a four-year deal, the Knights see Ponga as the new face of rugby league and are looking to kickstart negotiations on a deal that will keep him in Newcastle — and rugby league — until 2026.
Similarly, the Knights want to keep Pearce beyond when his current contract expires at the end of 2021 and are weighing up a two-year extension.
The resurgent Knights have not played finals football since 2013, but with Ponga, Pearce and the recruitment of representative forward David Klemmer, they are building a squad capable of a prolonged premiership challenge.
Newcastle are ready to stake their future on Pearce and Ponga. Photo: Brett Costello
Ponga, 20, is under contract until the end of 2021 — with an option in his favour for 2022. He has spoken previously of his desire to switch to rugby union and play for the All Blacks.
But the Knights will show the faith they have in the Queensland Origin star by making him the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
“We see Kalyn being the future face of not only the Knights, but the game,” Newcastle chief executive Phil Gardner said.
The Knights don’t want to let Ponga go, ever. Photo: Phil Hillyard
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Knights will begin negotiating a new deal spanning four or five years for Ponga at the back end of this season that would take him until he was 28.
With the retirements of Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater, and Cameron Smith’s career winding down, Ponga has emerged as one player to take the mantle as face of the game.
Once the season is over, the Knights will discuss a possible two-year extension that could put Pearce on track to play 400 NRL games.
The 29-year-old has already played 253 games, and the potential new million dollar a year deals would lock Pearce and Ponga in as Newcastle’s scrum base for the next five years.


 

[Knight Vision]

with Ponga, Pearce and the recruitment of representative forward David Klemmer, they are building a squad capable of a prolonged premiership challenge.

yeh baby yeh. The Pong is a no brainer, that kid cannot be allowed to leave Newy. A marketing wet dream for the Knights. Grandma's love him, girls want him and every young boy wants to be just like him.

Was just looking at the squad the other day and thinking the same. Add in young guys still to hit their peak like Ramien, Sione, Watson, Fitz, Saf boys ....if we can keep the bulk of our squad we could be a premiership threat for years to come.....so long as The Pong doesnt leave.

 

[Burwood]

Gee, they’re still pushing that “His desire to switch codes and play rugby union for the All Blacks” line.

 

[Johns Magic]

Early days I know, but...

Toohey saying Ross may try and medically retire. Would give us $350k extra this year and I guess pro-rata the same this year.

Otherwise this season we have off-contract:

Jamie Buhrer
SKD
Hymel Hunt
Woolford
Slade Griffin

I think Buhrer is likely gone.

My gut says Griffin is gone as well, particularly if Levi has a good year.

Hunt we will see how he goes.

Woolford see how he goes but realistically we probably don't want to lose both him and Griffin. Luke Huth has big wraps but I don't think they'll want to be relying on him just yet for 2020.

SKD is the interesting one for me. He'll probably be re-signed but is 31 now and we have Toa and Best coming through who would free up salary cap space. Wouldn't shock me if he isn't retained but I think he likely will be.

May leave a little room to sign a mid-tier player or two for 2020?

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

I reckon Buhrer is being weaned into retirement but still has a big impact off the field. We might see a new contract for him to lead the reserves and be on hold as a backup.
I've wondered about SKD. On form I'd give him another year or two..
It's a big ask for Griffin overcoming the injury. I reckon he deserves a chance to see if he can get into form (or at least back on the field ) regardless of where he ends up afterwards.