Rumoured Targets 3

[The Axe of Druss]

we don’t regularly produce talented juniors.

we will never be successful as a buying club.

Our kids need to be special by the time they get to AOB. They aren’t.

This is a huge part of our problem for sure

Issue is the solution to this problem takes 5+ years to bare fruit and at best we are only 2 years in

 

[Yosh]

we don’t regularly produce talented juniors.

we will never be successful as a buying club.

Our kids need to be special by the time they get to AOB. They aren’t.

Totally agree. However, if we have a successful club, system and infrastructure, that will trickle down to the juniors. Even if we have the best crop of juniors coming through, they won't end up in our first team because they will elect to join other more successful clubs. Furthermore, if we do get the systems in place, they won't be available for firsts for another five years at least.

Gardner has brought our team to the 21st century. We're not quite ahead of the curve but infrastructure wise, we're up there with the best in the NRL. What we lack is a head coach that has a vision and belief to take the club forward.

Don't know how many of you here follow football (soccer) but Jurgen Klopp has been a godsend for Liverpool FC. I think there are a lot of similarities between pre-Klopp Liverpool and Newcastle Knights. We bring in the right guy and the pieces are in place for us to become a powerhouse.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

I'm not 100% convinced on AOB just yet but I think you are also selling the bloke a fair bit short @Yosh

 

[Yosh]

I'm not 100% convinced on AOB just yet but I think you are also selling the bloke a fair bit short @Yosh

I'm full steam ahead on the fire AOB train. I can't hack it anymore. Our win/lose percentage isn't the issue. We look like we're trying to play a brand of football from the late 1990s or early 2000s. None of our players have improved at all. Worst of all is his excuses after the game. We lose 50-2 and he thinks we have improved from the week before. That was the last straw.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I agree with Yosh in the sense that my biggest gripe is the style of football that we try to play and it’s pretty clear that it places a low ceiling on what this team can achieve. Since AOB started with us he’s coached just over 50 games right? In how many of those games have we actually looked good? i.e. how often have we played slick & smart football during his tenure. Honestly I can count on one hand how many proper good games we’ve had during that time. Sure we’ve managed enough wins to play finals for two straight years but a lot of those wins were low scoring and scrappy games against mid-bottom tier sides. Ultimately the rest of the comp looks to be getting better and we’re just stuck on a treadmill going no where.

 

[Jono078]

we don’t regularly produce talented juniors.

we will never be successful as a buying club.

Our kids need to be special by the time they get to AOB. They aren’t.

Major issue yes, but that takes time.

Everyone is trying to copy the Panthers game plan of playing a similar style through the grades so players will be ready to fit right in at first grade.

If the style we play is trickled down then I shudder to think of what we produce or look for in players.

Our style of play, consistency and accountability has been piss poor under AOB. That’s something we can address much sooner, than building our next talent.

 

[Spot On]

I'm not 100% convinced on AOB just yet but I think you are also selling the bloke a fair bit short @Yosh

Our players are definitely far from the most talented in their positions re skill across the NRL (and that is across all players at the club including Ponga) and that’s ok, it’s obviously not ideal and far from what any of us or want or expect from our team but there is absolutely no excuse for the lack of physicality, desire and heart this mob, especially the piss weak forward pack, has displayed the past month.

That Brisbane pack was full of no name kids last night and they physically bashed the South’s side for 80 mins, never shirked their task and played with heart.

It was f**king great to watch.

Why can’t we at least deliver on the heart/ desire front?

I just don’t know what AOB is going to change? I hope he can turn it around but it has to start very soon.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

I'm full steam ahead on the fire AOB train. I can't hack it anymore. Our win/lose percentage isn't the issue. We look like we're trying to play a brand of football from the late 1990s or early 2000s. None of our players have improved at all. Worst of all is his excuses after the game. We lose 50-2 and he thinks we have improved from the week before. That was the last straw.

I think you need to separate what the coach says in public (especially to the media) and what is likely said in house.

Bennett is a clear example of this tactic to take pressure off his players and put it on himself

 

[Spot On]

I agree with Yosh in the sense that my biggest gripe is the style of football that we try to play and it’s pretty clear that it places a low ceiling on what this team can achieve. Since AOB started with us he’s coached just over 50 games right? In how many of those games have we actually looked good? i.e. how often have we played slick & smart football during his tenure. Honestly I can count on one hand how many proper good games we’ve had during that time. Sure we’ve managed enough wins to play finals for two straight years but a lot of those wins were low scoring and scrappy games against mid-bottom tier sides. Ultimately the rest of the comp looks to be getting better and we’re just stuck on a treadmill going no where.

We have no style.

None.

There was some type of rugby league shown for 2 and half rounds but that’s it since AOB arrived.

 

[TooheysNew]

What do you believe is?

No one thing.

Lack of systems. Lack of talent identification. Lack of culture. Lack of pathways. Lack of juniors. Lack of leadership. Lack of desire. Lack of football knowledge in management. Lack of assistant coaching. Lack of accountability. Luck.

Sure, some of those stop at AOB's feet. But most of them are systemic, and suggesting that anything we have is "among the best in the league" is... interesting to me.

 

[Jono078]

I think you need to separate what the coach says in public (especially to the media) and what is likely said in house.

Bennett is a clear example of this tactic to take pressure off his players and put it on himself

The same Bennet who has won 6 premierships? Big difference.

no doubt what AOB probably says behind closed doors would be different but our results/style on the field are still the same and speaks for itself.

 

[Yosh]

When was the last time we made a one on one strip or a charge down? We do nothing. Just slow balls out from the ruck for one up hit ups. Most boring team to watch in the competition.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

The same Bennet who has won 6 premierships? Big difference.

no doubt what AOB probably says behind closed doors would be different but our results/style on the field are still the same and speaks for itself.

Bennett has 40years plus on AOB in 1st grade coaching. Comparing prem wins is a bit unfair

Took Bennett 4 years to win one with near unlimited funds and the Qld origin squad at his disposal

AOB is in his 3rd year at a club with half the influence of an early 90s Broncos

Like ive said, im not convinced of AOBs abilities but lets not stack the deck against him yeah

 

[Jono078]

When was the last time we made a one on one strip or a charge down? We do nothing. Just slow balls out from the ruck for one up hit ups. Most boring team to watch in the competition.

They wouldn't know what a strip or charge down is, they don't watch footy!

 

[PhilGould]

Toohey's News

- Knights may look to keep Anthony Milford around beyond this season. Seems more like Toohey speculating than anything else.
- Adam Elliott is a target, and is keen on a move to Newcastle despite the Raiders wanting to re-sign him. Could even happen this season.
- No talks with Millie Boyle yet but the club will make a big play for her if they sign Elliott.
- Knights are closing in on a deal to sign Will Pryce on a 2-year deal starting next season.
- Kai Pearce-Paul apparently deciding between the Knights or Dolphins though 5 NRL clubs are chasing him.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Sounds promising on the English boys.

And then we look to sign a d***, so that his girlfriend might come too. Jeebus.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Yeah sounds like we might have one or both of those English fellas for next year which is good. With Adam Elliot I can take it or leave it. I think he’d be better than Fitz and Jones though so that’s a plus. Depends on the money though ultimately, I don’t expect we’d be paying big $$$ for him.

 

[ryan.a87]

Yeah sounds like we might have one or both of those English fellas for next year which is good. With Adam Elliot I can take it or leave it. I think he’d be better than Fitz and Jones though so that’s a plus. Depends on the money though ultimately, I don’t expect we’d be paying big $$$ for him.

From my understanding the English fellas are still on contract for 2023…..so we are trying to sign them for 2024 onwards

 

[PhilGould]

Article specifically states the deal is for 2023 & 2024 so we’ll be paying a transfer fee to get him early. Assume the same will happen with KPP and whichever club he signs with.

 

[macavity]

From all reports KPP is the type of player to turn our trajectory around. Hope we are all over it.