Rumoured Targets 3

[Mr_Knightside]

I like Lino but I agree maybe it’s time to move on from him. Clearly he’s not in AOB’s first choice team anyway. Biggest problem for Lino is that he basically hasn’t strung more than a couple of good games together at all since he got here, he usually follows up a good game with a shocker. He’s played some really good games but has had just as many poor ones too. I would rather someone who can deliver a solid contribution every week (which is what Green was brought in to do) without going to the other end of the form spectrum too often.

It’s a shame because I definitely feel that he has the ability to be a good first grader but he just can’t seem to deliver it every week.

 

[ryana87]

James Hooper is saying that Pearce is negotiating an extention and knights are only offering him 12 months more

12 months too many for my liking..... Hopefully it's 12 months reduced amount to prove himself..... like Watson

 

[Knight Vision]

So that means we have another 2 years with Pearce ? f**k no I hope not. That's way too long given this years performance.

If the plan is to keep Pearce and get Hoy or Crossland to partner him we are in for a long 2 years.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...g/news-story/a54982ffc2e6d25beed2d809244ba5bf

Hooper told Big League Wrap that Pearce’s manager is looking to extend the star halfback’s contract with the Knights beyond 2021, which he is currently signed until, but the club is only willing to offer another 12 months.

 

[Knight Vision]

No decent halves off contract this year, next years list is much better


Half Back off contract 2021

Tanah Boyd, Matt Burton, Erin Clark, Brodie Croft, Phoenix Crossland, Troy Dargan, Tom Dearden, Kyle Flanagan, Jamal Fogarty, Dean Hawkins, Ryley Jacks, Shaun Johnson, Lachlan Lewis, Jarome Luai, Jock Madden, Anthony Milford, Mitchell Pearce, Jordan Rankin, Adam Reynolds, Ashley Taylor, Connor Tracey, Sam Williams

5/8 off contract 2021

Jack Bird, Jake Clifford, Lachlan Croker, Blake Green, Ben Hampton, Nicho Hynes, Jeremy Marshall-King, Corey Norman, Hayze Perham, Josh Reynolds, Curtis Sironen, Billy Walters

 

[Spot On]

So that means we have another 2 years with Pearce ? f**k no I hope not. That's way too long given this years performance.

If the plan is to keep Pearce and get Hoy or Crossland to partner him we are in for a long 2 years.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...g/news-story/a54982ffc2e6d25beed2d809244ba5bf

Hooper told Big League Wrap that Pearce’s manager is looking to extend the star halfback’s contract with the Knights beyond 2021, which he is currently signed until, but the club is only willing to offer another 12 months.

Gives me some hope they are only prepared to go another 12 months BUT it should be at a significant downgrade to his current contract.

Another season approaches and we still need to fill half our spine. And it could be that way for another 2 years.

 

[Knight Vision]

Gives me some hope they are only prepared to go another 12 months BUT it should be at a significant downgrade to his current contract.

Another season approaches and we still need to fill half our spine. And it could be that way for another 2 years.

Another 12 month on top of the next 12 months is 2 more years of Pearce.

Dont think I can handle another 2 years of plod from Pearce with Mann/ ( insert name of another unqualified or untested 5/8 )

If they havent got the money they need to pull the trigger and make some room.

 

[Silent Knight]

One thing about the modern game I don't like is when players will try to influence clubs and coaches into thinking they can succeed in a whole new position even though they've never played there at the top level before. I know it just boils down to players wanting spine money, but it really can hurt a team when you're paying fullback money for a bloke who ends up going back to the centre or wing.

It's happening at the moment with JAC, the winger who thinks he's a fullback.

It happened with Latrell Mitchell, the centre who thinks he's a fullback.

It happened with Dane Gagai, the winger who thinks he's a centre.

But then with our blokes, its "utilities" that don't really fit in well anywhere except as a bench sub (maybe). I know it's "cool" these days to have players who can slot in to multiple positions, but wouldn't you rather have a specialist who does a better job in one position than a player who is mediocre in many positions?

I would hope that clubs are wising up to it, and they should probably put in a clause that says "you'll get paid x amount if you succeed at your desired position, but if you fail and go back to your default position, you'll get paid x amount". That will prevent paying wingers 700k moving forward.

 

[Yosh]

In the end, we only need one of Watson and Mann from 2021 onwards.

I can live with a 12 month extension for 60% of whatever Pearce is on now. Should give captaincy to Klemmer though. I think Klemmer is the kind of guy who would life his game further as captain, unlike Pearce who I think feels the pressure.

As good as Lino was that one game, I'm happy enough to give that spot to Crossland or Hoy. Don't want to have Mann!/Watson AND Lino all on the roster.

 

[Old dog]

Might stand corrected but Watson so far not signed, officially, Lino unsigned, Mann has one year to go so logical thing is we have Mann for 2021 and don’t require both if either of Watson and Lino. Problem is we need a combination of both as they are not quite 1st graders, Watson is a dynamo but lacks fineness and is injury prone, Lino has ability but not consistency bit poor in tackling but can kick goals.

 

[Knight Vision]

Should give captaincy to Klemmer though. I think Klemmer is the kind of guy who would life his game further as captain

One very important aspect of an on field Captain is his communication skills with the ref. Not sure if Klemmer is that man.

As someone pointed out when I suggested Barny, it would probably detract from the aggression he plays the game with.

Across our squad we are lacking in genuine leaders with big game experience. All the teams ahead of us on the ladder have plenty of them.

 

[Knight Vision]

Might stand corrected but Watson so far not signed, officially, Lino unsigned, Mann has one year to go so logical thing is we have Mann for 2021 and don’t require both if either of Watson and Lino. Problem is we need a combination of both as they are not quite 1st graders, Watson is a dynamo but lacks fineness and is injury prone, Lino has ability but not consistency bit poor in tackling but can kick goals.

I'd rather get a young kid that could turn into a star than can keep Lino who will never be anything other than fringe first grade quality.

Next year will be a battle for utility between Mann and Watson, it doesnt make sense to keep both, particularly if Hoy is not going to be a 5/8 then what is he? and where does Hoy fit into our squad if not anything other than a back up to Ponga.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

It’s all well and good to just not re-sign Pearce but there needs to be a viable replacement either at the club already or one that can be signed from elsewhere. The two that stand out from that list are Kyle Flanagan and Adam Reynolds but I think it’s unlikely that either of them will want to go anywhere so we may have to look at one of the others.

Tom Dearden has looked decent even in that terrible Broncos team and he’s more of an organiser than Pearce which is what we need. Maybe he would be a good target and might be incentivised to leave the Broncos if their situation doesn’t improve. Burton also has big wraps on him but he’s likely to head to the Bulldogs to play for Barrett supposedly.

Outside of that Jamal Fogarty has looked good in first grade so far so maybe worth keeping an eye on but there’s no other names on that list that excite me.

The big risk would be letting Pearce go and relying on a couple of inexperienced halves to try and run the show and we’ve been there before, it doesn’t work. I would rather try and get a good young playmaking 5/8 to the club for next year and see if that can bring the best out in Pearce.

 

[SamSepi0l]

You could sign peak Cooper Cronk and it won't fix a thing until we do more than run one out plays.

Until that's fixed the rest is more or less irrelevant.

 

[SamSepi0l]

No decent halves off contract this year, next years list is much better


Half Back off contract 2021

Tanah Boyd, Matt Burton, Erin Clark, Brodie Croft, Phoenix Crossland, Troy Dargan, Tom Dearden, Kyle Flanagan, Jamal Fogarty, Dean Hawkins, Ryley Jacks, Shaun Johnson, Lachlan Lewis, Jarome Luai, Jock Madden, Anthony Milford, Mitchell Pearce, Jordan Rankin, Adam Reynolds, Ashley Taylor, Connor Tracey, Sam Williams

5/8 off contract 2021

Jack Bird, Jake Clifford, Lachlan Croker, Blake Green, Ben Hampton, Nicho Hynes, Jeremy Marshall-King, Corey Norman, Hayze Perham, Josh Reynolds, Curtis Sironen, Billy Walters

The problem we have to date is we have shown zero ability to develop play makers so we need an established one to leave their club which is rare. If we take on projects without the ability to improve them then we're just the Tigers.
So that leaves:
Shaun Johnson
Jamal Fogarty
Adam Reynolds
Burton seems as close to a finished product as there is.
The rest either are unproven or haven't lead a team themselves.

Clifford and Hynes would be passable second options to pair with an established half.

 

[Old dog]

Now is when we should be looking, find a 7 while we still have Pearce for a year also look out for any young up and comer.

 

[Old dog]

As for Captain might have to consider Brailey if he plays most of 2021 he could take over in 2022, after Pearce is gone.
Mann will be our 6 next season through default with Watson 14 with a lot of work on Crossland and Hoy to fill in and looking to future.

 

[SamSepi0l]

As for Captain might have to consider Brailey if he plays most of 2021 he could take over in 2022, after Pearce is gone.
Mann will be our 6 next season through default with Watson 14 with a lot of work on Crossland and Hoy to fill in and looking to future.

If this is the case, then my hope for next year are hugely diminished.
We just won't be scoring points with Mann at 6.

 

[Knight Vision]

If this is the case, then my hope for next year are hugely diminished.
We just won't be scoring points with Mann at 6.

me also, my high hopes for next season will be dashed. We simply wont be a genuine contender next season.

Another season will be wasted while we have Ponga, Klemmer etc

 

[Old dog]

So who would you have at 6 next season, at this time it’s Mann or no one, we need to sign someone

 

[slotmachine]

Have to find a spot for Hoy too apparently. Gun young local!!

Why not a team made up of only utility players!