Rumoured Targets 3

[Old dog]

Something needs to be done with Clifford, get a commitment from him that he is staying and applying himself, if so give him the 6 or 7, his choice or tell him he is not wanted.
Either way we have a good player or a vacant spot

 

[slotmachine]

So by my count we have only extended or signed Hetherington and Elliott who are lock picks for the Round 1 side next season.

The rest (Croker, Simi, Maps, Crossland, French, Gamble, Lucas) all no certainties.

A few more non-NSW Cup players would be nice, but with 29 on the books that is going to involve moving players on. The question is, who takes them after the Knights season that just was.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2022/09/06/knights-sign-tyson-gamble/

Unfortunately doesnt fix our halves issue but would make a stellar 14 imo

 

[Yosh]

https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2022/09/06/knights-sign-tyson-gamble/

Unfortunately doesnt fix our halves issue but would make a stellar 14 imo

Really? Can he fill in at dummy half at all?

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Really? Can he fill in at dummy half at all?

Dont see why not.

Ive rated Gamble since his Redcliffe days and while he hasnt gotten to the level as a 5/8 that i thought he would he is a big, strong and deceptively fast player. Can be a weapon but is just not an organiser like we need

 

[Knight Tales]

So by my count we have only extended or signed Hetherington and Elliott who are lock picks for the Round 1 side next season.

The rest (Croker, Simi, Maps, Crossland, French, Gamble, Lucas) all no certainties.

A few more non-NSW Cup players would be nice, but with 29 on the books that is going to involve moving players on. The question is, who takes them after the Knights season that just was.

KPP and Pryce push those players further down the batting order in 2024 and the roster actually starts to take decent shape. Fringe players who get regular first grade through cap issues and lack of roster depth in 2023 will only get a look in if injuries hit hard in 2024.

 

[macavity]

Apparently we are favourites to sign Brodie Croft.

I rated him when he came into the NRL then his confidence fell off a cliff. Not sure he is the answer but status quo certainly isn’t.

if we sign him it would indicate we are confident a number will be moving on.

 

[PhilGould]

New home for Croft​

The Knights have emerged as favourites to sign rejuvenated former Broncos and Storm halfback Brodie Croft.

Croft was struggling when he left the NRL at the end of last season but has had a breakout year with Salford in Super League, finding confidence and maturity.

He came up with 25 try assists and only this week, was named in the Super League Dream Team.

It was revealed a few days ago that three un-named NRL clubs are interested in the 25-year-old halfback, but Wide World of Sports has learned that the Knights are the keenest.

The Knights have struggled for a playmaker since controversially parting ways with Mitchell Pearce this season, as their lowly position on the ladder shows.

Jake Clifford and Adam Clune were used by coach Adam O'Brien with only moderate success and the club knows it needs a quality number seven to be a hope of challenging for a finals spot next season.

Croft still has a year on his contract at Salford but is believed to have a get-out clause to return to the NRL.

Only yesterday, the Knights signed fiery Broncos five-eighth Tyson Gamble and he may well form an exciting combination with Croft.

'Untenable' Hasler set for Manly showdown

Little-known replacement in line for shock call up

wwos.nine.com.au

 

[PhilGould]

Toohey did mention that Croft had reached out to the Knights but sounded much less confident it would happen than this article. This could just be Croft’s agent trying to make him seem more in-demand than he really is.

If true you’d have to think it means Clifford is gone at minimum. The unofficially official signings of French & Crossland would put us at 29 roster spots filled as is, and Croft would make 30. We’re operating like a team that knows multiple under-contract players won’t be here next year, as hard as is it to believe other clubs would be interested in our scraps. Also seems strange that we keep chasing halves if they’re still planning on signing Brooks.

 

[Jono078]

Geez Croft looked like utter garbage any time I saw him in the NRL. Perhaps he’s learnt a thing or two over there and would be coming here on close to minimum you’d imagine.

We’re really throwing shit to the fan next year and see what sticks when it comes to halves.

 

[slotmachine]

Losses	Gains
Barney	Elliott
Lee	Hetherington
Milf	Croker
Sue	Lucas
Jirrah	Gamble
Musgrove	French
Saulo

Don't necessarily think the 2023 squad is any better than this year as it stands.

 

[Loose Cannon]

I appreciate the Knights really working to get to that requisite million dollars for a halfback.

Not sure they realise it’s not supposed to soak up 4-5 roster spots.

 

[PhilGould]

Based on his last few years in the NRL the best thing you can say about Croft is that he would be cheap, but as a player there are a lot of similarities to Luke Brooks - just without the contract. Both can look good taking the line on when their team is on the front foot but are pretty much guaranteed to go missing when things are tough, and have a habit of bottling what look like simple decisions for a half in hilarious ways.

He played for just about every rep team possible as a junior and was seen as the surefire next big thing in Melbourne. Started so strongly that media heads were saying the Storm wouldn't miss a beat despite Cronk leaving. He struggled to maintain his form, Jahrome Hughes emerged, and next thing he was the new saviour halfback for the most talked about club in the comp while they were in all sorts. That start is about as high pressure as it gets for a young player. It's possible that the time out of that spotlight in England has given him a chance to smooth out some of those rough edges. There's a good argument that Luke Brooks could've benefited from a similar "rock bottom" type fall from grace rather than being coddled his whole career.

If it wasn't clear - this is just an attempt to talk myself into it being anything more than another dead end signing. If the plan is for him to be our starting half then chances are we're in for another painful season, though the same can be said with all the halves we have currently signed + Brooks as well. I will say I think there's more chance of what he has been doing in England translating to being a competent NRL player than of the same happening with Bevan French.

 

[SamSepi0l]

What's Steve Witt up to these days? Dane Campbell? We're back to those dark days if these are our choices.

 

[Knight Tales]

If he brings his form of late and can adapt it to the NRL, it is a lot better than forking out insane dollars for Brooks.

 

[Haffa]

What's Steve Witt up to these days? Dane Campbell? We're back to those dark days if these are our choices.

This is exactly where this club has been heading for two seasons. We are not the desirable destination we like to think we are anymore.

 

[Jono078]

I guess with Croft you have to ask if he’s better than Clune?

Potentially is a whole lot better.. as stated above, he’s had a high pressure intro to the NRL and he always gave a shit and tried hard. He went to the super league and by all accounts had a really nice season.

Sounds like a Jackson Hastings situation really.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Hastings short comings in his 1st NRL stint were never about ability, they were all about his lack of maturity and living off his family name

Croft was a good junior that crumbled under the pressure of the NRL. He played well in Qcup and has gone to the ESL and played well there, a comp that is barely a step above QCup.

I dont have much faith he'll return here any better than when he left but i guess its possible. I refuse to garner any hope if we do sign him

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Losses	Gains
Barney	Elliott
Lee	Hetherington
Milf	Croker
Sue	Lucas
Jirrah	Gamble
Musgrove	French
Saulo

Don't necessarily think the 2023 squad is any better than this year as it stands.

Given we got Elliott who has been excellent this year I’m not that bothered by losing Barnett. I actually think that Lee will be a big loss. His finishing is excellent and he’s such a great target for kicks. Given his injury history it would have been a risk to keep him I suppose but he’s been underrated since he got back on the field.

Aside from that the only other player I think we might regret letting go is Saulo. It’s a shame that he never got much game time but I suppose front row has been an area where we’ve had some decent depth over the last few years so can’t blame him for looking at opportunities elsewhere.

 

[Yosh]

Croft in theory sounds promising. Rather throw minimum contract money at a potentially talented redemption story over paying big bucks for Brooks.

Very happy we are going all out so solve the halves issues. Very difficult market out there this year. If we had tired a year earlier, we might have snagged a Ryenolds or Townsend.