Rumoured Targets 3

[aqua_duck]

I don't see why we aren't already a super club. We have:

- great youth catchment area
- just outside of Sydney (appeals to players who want to be outside the spotlight, or close enough to enjoy what Sydney offers)
- no rival club nearby
- great fanbase

Our local comp is good too right?

Hopefully we build up the structure and systems we need for continual success.

Catchment areas are only as good as your scouts and junior development which I think has been not very good for about a decade. I think with the support of wests we now have financial stability, abit of commercial backing and with Zammit coming on board and his record of junior recruitment I think that's even more important than the fertility of our catchment area

 

[AusKnightRKO]

We have lost Jonah Pezet to Melbourne, so we are really going to need Zammit to find the next stud, as that was going to be Jnr’s replacement when the time came.

 

[Knight Vision]

We have lost Jonah Pezet to Melbourne, so we are really going to need Zammit to find the next stud, as that was going to be Jnr’s replacement when the time came.

The Rorters currently have 3 young to choose from, I'm all for stealing one of theirs.

How old is Pezet ? isnt he the son of the old recruitment dude who left after Brown? Maybe some bad blood there?.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

The Rorters currently have 3 young to choose from, I'm all for stealing one of theirs.

How old is Pezet ? isnt he the son of the old recruitment dude who left after Brown? Maybe some bad blood there?.

Flanagan will likely end up where ever his father is coaching, Sam Walker is their future so he will definitely stay.

Pezet was in Matts last year so i'd say 17 at the oldest, and yeah that's basically the reason why he was granted the release

 

[PhilGould]

Seen too many 'next big thing' teenagers fizzle out to be concerned about one leaving. Halves especially seem like a crapshoot at the best of times.

Would've been worse to keep his dad around just to appease the kid.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

Seen too many 'next big thing' teenagers fizzle out to be concerned about one leaving. Halves especially seem like a crapshoot at the best of times.

Would've been worse to keep his dad around just to appease the kid.

Watched a few games last year, the kid is probably the best talent in the halves to come through since mullen, might even keep Bellyache around a few more years.

but with that said, there will be enough talent out there to find, that is what zammit is for.

 

[Yosh]

Watched a few games last year, the kid is probably the best talent in the halves to come through since mullen, might even keep Bellyache around a few more years.

but with that said, there will be enough talent out there to find, that is what zammit is for.

We always seem to lose the good ones...

 

[Knight Vision]

We always seem to lose the good ones...

has there really been any that went on to greatness at other clubs?

Ennis, Bird, Mason, Kimmorley etc all had good careers and journeymen, but not more so than Joey or Bedsy who were far greater players and stayed at the club.

It will really hurt if this kid goes on to become the halfback of his generation.

 

[Yosh]

has there really been any that went on to greatness at other clubs?

Ennis, Bird, Mason, Kimmorley etc all had good careers and journeymen, but not more so than Joey or Bedsy who were far greater players and stayed at the club.

It will really hurt if this kid goes on to become the halfback of his generation.

I wouldn't say we lost them but Inglis and Cordner were all around for a while weren't they?

 

[Still Nutty]

Along with all the other elements this club has built up post Bennett, the other thing to reflect on from past to present is that we now seem to have in the coach who (I hope and expect) is going to be the next Robinson and Bellamy...that has been one of the last pieces of the puzzle that presents a couple of benefits on top of the other ducks we now seem to have in a row i.e. Wests backing, growing cultural base of standards and expectations, Centre of Excellence development, quality Talent and Recruitment structures, etc.

With Obi as one of the key final pieces of the puzzle, that also means;

1) As his ability and reputation grows, he will become the coach that attracts players (both established and up and comers) who want to play under him e.g. Dominic Young

2) We will have systems and coaching that gets our players to perform, as a team, above their perceived capabilities

3) We may well see more 3rd party sponsorship opportunities coming to the club as success builds, giving us better buying power in the future

4) We may still lose individual players to other clubs that have talent and ability (e.g. Pezet) BUT we do keep the ones that fit within Obi's plans for a successful team because we have good systems, are well coached, etc.

I know it is a longer term vision about the future success of this club and there will be ups and downs during the process but the contributions to the foundations starting with Brown and Wests has positioned us to be a genuinely sustainable league powerhouse well into the future (like the Storms and the Roosters)

The cautionary tale in all of this is where the Broncos find themselves at the moment and that seems to be that the back of house operations have had too much involvement in the football team operations - our potential weak link is Gardner and Wests not sticking to what they need to do.

Sorry, this ended up much longer than I intended

 

[Spot On]

Develop, develop, develop.

Repeat.

Develop your own players re Mlb. Beat the cap and continue to have the pick of the crop.

Develop, develop, develop.

Halves a massive priority for this club.

 

[Haffa]

I wouldn't say we lost them but Inglis and Cordner were all around for a while weren't they?

I know we like to claim the area north of Newcastle as our own but Old Bar is hardly an area we can consider "ours".

 

[PhilGould]

Cordner was signed by and played for the Knights though

 

[Knight Vision]

Anyone have an update on the Centre of Excellence ? Have they started it yet? Wasnt it supposed to be completed for the start of next season ?

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Anyone have an update on the Centre of Excellence ? Have they started it yet? Wasnt it supposed to be completed for the start of next season ?

I dare say COVID may have delayed it

 

[slotmachine]

has there really been any that went on to greatness at other clubs?

Other than Cordner, not in the last 10-15 years.

 

[Alex28]

Connor’s re-signing for 2021 - on Barry Toohey’s podcast this week. Not quite the cash he was after, playing for a bigger contract next year. Taking a cut for our cap next year.

 

[Burwood]

Anyone have an update on the Centre of Excellence ? Have they started it yet? Wasnt it supposed to be completed for the start of next season ?

https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/...-causes-more-turbulence-with-chopper-service/

It’s behind a paywall and I can’t read the article, but looks like it is a long way behind schedule and not any closer to getting started.

 

[Yosh]

Connor’s re-signing for 2021 - on Barry Toohey’s podcast this week. Not quite the cash he was after, playing for a bigger contract next year. Taking a cut for our cap next year.

I think that was a win win for everyone. If he was someone who was super fit and never injured, everyone would agree he was a must keep. Hopefully he gets past his injury problems and earns a good contract.

 

[Knight Vision]

Connor’s re-signing for 2021 - on Barry Toohey’s podcast this week. Not quite the cash he was after, playing for a bigger contract next year. Taking a cut for our cap next year.

Only 1 more year and a pay cut sounds about right.

Huge year for Conner, hope the poor bugger has some luck, he's another bad injury away from being released and would find it tough to get another gig anywhere.