Rumoured Targets 3

[Alex28]

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.

I’m about half way through the podcast - he’s pretty realistic about things. He’s working on essentially realigning himself because of the nature of his injuries (groin > ankle > Achilles) and preventing them in the future.

He’d get a gig elsewhere - just a matter of how much. I really hope he is beyond here 2021. He seems like a good club guy. If we have two utilities that’s fine - both Kurt and Connor will get plenty of time on the field (we always have someone injured).

 

[Old dog]

He can’t replace anyone if he is injured, not happy as at this stage he isn’t fit so unknown factor, it’s a business can’t afford sentiment. Especially wouldn’t be happy if fit and well striving for a contract and missed out due to signing Watson, Mann and Crossland are better options for 14 due to fitness.

 

[Frederick]

He can’t replace anyone if he is injured, not happy as at this stage he isn’t fit so unknown factor, it’s a business can’t afford sentiment. Especially wouldn’t be happy if fit and well striving for a contract and missed out due to signing Watson, Mann and Crossland are better options for 14 due to fitness.

Mann and Crossland may be better options due to fitness at the moment, but you can't deny that (when fit) Connor is a better utility than both of them. He has the x factor that both Mann and Crossland lack. The club is doing the right thing for all parties - offering Connor a contract so he doesn't end up on the trashpile of broken down footballers, while only locking him in for one year so they're not lumbered with a huge contract if he continues to be injury prone. Conner has done with right thing by the club by taking less money, and from the article in the herald he's going to do everything he can to fix the issues in his game that are potentially causing these injuries, hopefully getting through next year unscathed and earning himself a new contract.

It's a win-win for everyone

 

[Loose Cannon]

Mann and Crossland may be better options due to fitness at the moment, but you can't deny that (when fit) Connor is a better utility than both of them. He has the x factor that both Mann and Crossland lack. The club is doing the right thing for all parties - offering Connor a contract so he doesn't end up on the trashpile of broken down footballers, while only locking him in for one year so they're not lumbered with a huge contract if he continues to be injury prone. Conner has done with right thing by the club by taking less money, and from the article in the herald he's going to do everything he can to fix the issues in his game that are potentially causing these injuries, hopefully getting through next year unscathed and earning himself a new contract.

It's a win-win for everyone

This.

Gospel.

 

[Alex28]

He can’t replace anyone if he is injured, not happy as at this stage he isn’t fit so unknown factor, it’s a business can’t afford sentiment. Especially wouldn’t be happy if fit and well striving for a contract and missed out due to signing Watson, Mann and Crossland are better options for 14 due to fitness.

Neither Mann or Crossland are better 14’s. Crossland should be positioning himself for 6, not 14 any way.

The guy does the right thing by the club with a contract that does himself no real favours and it still isn’t good enough...

 

[Old dog]

It’s not a case of Watson signing on for less it’s still about what he offers based on injuries and game participation, sure he is ok when fit and playing but so is Foran etc, if susceptible to injury then your value is diminished. If a fit, rarely injured player is available then he is better value. Mann is a better option at 14 based on game time and is a better 6 than Watson. We need a 6 to make this team a threat, if we find one then Mann moves to 14 and Watson is out. Ok we signed him but I don’t like it. Most on here think Moga at his best is very good but have gone off him due to injury, similar situation.

 

[Alex28]

It’s not a case of Watson signing on for less it’s still about what he offers based on injuries and game participation, sure he is ok when fit and playing but so is Foran etc, if susceptible to injury then your value is diminished. If a fit, rarely injured player is available then he is better value. Mann is a better option at 14 based on game time and is a better 6 than Watson. We need a 6 to make this team a threat, if we find one then Mann moves to 14 and Watson is out. Ok we signed him but I don’t like it. Most on here think Moga at his best is very good but have gone off him due to injury, similar situation.

Watson is a better centre than Moga. In fact, if Watson was told to be a centre next year (like Mann was told to be a 6), I’d suggest he’d be comfortably in our top two when fit.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

It’s a fantastic move, he has signed on for less, there has been players that have had issues with injuries in the start of their careers, if he gets it right he is potentially the best Utility in the comp.

Anyone remember the start of Tedesco’s career? Turned out alright in the end.

 

[Alex28]

If you have 40 minutes to listen to a podcast, listen to Connor’s talk with Baz. He’s a really impressive guy. I can understand why the club wants to keep him around - for what he gives off field as well as on.

 

[aqua_duck]

It’s a fantastic move, he has signed on for less, there has been players that have had issues with injuries in the start of their careers, if he gets it right he is potentially the best Utility in the comp.

Anyone remember the start of Tedesco’s career? Turned out alright in the end.

Depth is never a bad thing but I just hope we're not throwing all our eggs into the utility position ahead of a genuine 5/8th.

 

[Joel-22]

If we sign an actual 5/8, I don't think Watson makes the 17.

Kurt Mann is a far better utility

 

[AusKnightRKO]

If we sign an actual 5/8, I don't think Watson makes the 17.

Kurt Mann is a far better utility

No offence, i like Mann, and he has been an unsung hero for the team this year, but have you seen Watto play? even back to his Roosters Tenure.

 

[Alex28]

If we sign an actual 5/8, I don't think Watson makes the 17.

Kurt Mann is a far better utility

As an actual utility? Watson has it over Mann.

 

[Joel-22]

Watson is a far better runner of the ball.
Mann is superior in every other aspect of the game and is just a pure footballer.

 

[Joel-22]

As an actual utility? Watson has it over Mann.

To be a good utility you have to be able to pass and kick. Watson can do neither

 

[slotmachine]

To be a good utility you have to be able to pass and kick. Watson can do neither

Neither can Mann.

 

[slotmachine]

Depth is never a bad thing but I just hope we're not throwing all our eggs into the utility position ahead of a genuine 5/8th.

Mann, Watson and Hoy are too similar for my tastes.

 

[Yosh]

It’s not a case of Watson signing on for less it’s still about what he offers based on injuries and game participation, sure he is ok when fit and playing but so is Foran etc, if susceptible to injury then your value is diminished. If a fit, rarely injured player is available then he is better value. Mann is a better option at 14 based on game time and is a better 6 than Watson. We need a 6 to make this team a threat, if we find one then Mann moves to 14 and Watson is out. Ok we signed him but I don’t like it. Most on here think Moga at his best is very good but have gone off him due to injury, similar situation.

Foran is on a million a year. Top 5 highest paid player that has played like 35 games in 3 seasons.

Connor will be on a lot less for only a year. He might not be fit to be on the field but I'm sure his character and his attitude fit the profile of the team and Obi wants him around.

If Watson does get over his injuries, he will be worth hell of a lot more than he signed for and hopefully hell remember what the club did for him and show loyalty in the future.

 

[Medievalknight]

Newcastle Knights Centre of Excellence causes more turbulence with rescue helicopter service

• 
  Michael Parris

Editors Pick - List

DOWNSIZED: An artist's impression of the amended Knights Centre of Excellence.



The region's rescue helicopter service is again at loggerheads with the Newcastle Knights, six months after the parties first resolved their differences over a proposed rugby league training base at Broadmeadow.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service chief executive officer Richard Jones said he was "frustrated" that the Knights' amended plans for the $18 million Centre of Excellence again raised conflicts with the helicopter maintenance base next door.


The rescue service took City of Newcastle to the Land and Environment Court in December and gained an injunction preventing the council from approving the Knights base until its concerns had been addressed.

The service, the Knights, land owner Venues NSW and the council then thrashed out a deal which imposed conditions on the development to minimise its impact on helicopter maintenance.


The council approved the project, but Knights owners Wests lodged an amendment to the development application on June 22 which removes one level of the two-storey building and modifies other aspects of the proposal.


Mr Jones wrote last week in a submission objecting to the amended plans that the changes "compromised the resolution the service and other relevant stake holders reached as part of resolving the Land and Environment Court proceedings".

+3

He said a site plan in the amended application removed the "critical reference" to an agreed "helicopter operations area" and introduced new elements such as an outdoor gym, tree planting, public footpaths and a light tower which could conflict with helicopter maintenance.

The District Park centre would be next door to the helicopter service's maintenance base for the four AW139 aircraft it uses for emergency flights and search-and-rescue missions.

The service argued last year that the Knights centre as first proposed would make crucial post-maintenance "hover checks" impossible and affect aircraft movements due to the increased number of people in the area.

It said the sports centre could have "serious implications" for the rescue service's contractual obligations to NSW Ambulance Service.

The Newcastle Herald understands a Venues NSW plan of management for the Knights training base would restrict helicopter maintenance flights to outside business hours.

Venues NSW said it would not make the plan of management public as it was "commercial in confidence".

"Venues NSW has and will continue to work collaboratively with Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and the Knights to ensure the project is delivered successfully for the benefit of the Hunter community," a spokesperson said.

Mr Jones said the rescue service, Knights and Venues NSW would "finally" meet on Thursday next week to try to resolve the issues.

"We are still extremely hopeful that there will be a suitable outcome between the parties," he said.

"There's been a reluctance for all parties to get in the room together, but we're very keen for that to happen."

Knights chief executive officer Phil Gardner said he would comment after the council had assessed the proposal and the "experts have had their input".

The Newcastle Herald reported last weekend that the Knights had revised the Centre of Excellence plans after construction tenders far exceeded the project's budget.

The centre will be funded jointly by the club and the NSW government.

The club had hoped to open the training base in late 2020.

 

[Knight Vision]

If you have 40 minutes to listen to a podcast, listen to Connor’s talk with Baz. He’s a really impressive guy. I can understand why the club wants to keep him around - for what he gives off field as well as on.

He does sound a very thoughtful kid and not you're average footy player.

What was interesting is he's consulting a physio and looking at ways to change the way he goes about playing in order to avoid the injuries moving forward which is great news. Way too many injuries for them to be all just to be bad luck.