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Rumoured Targets 3

Woosh

Woosh

Head Moderator
Messages
1,088
Jackson Hastings can rest a little easier.

The final year of his lucrative contract at the Knights in 2025 is not under threat after the club quashed any suggestion they are pursuing unwanted South Sydney halfback Lachlan Ilias for next season as a replacement.

It's understood director of football Peter Parr sought out the Knights halfback before last Sunday's game against Melbourne to debunk a weekend Sydney media report linking the club to Ilias and reassuring Hastings his contract was not in jeopardy.

He was told there is no interest in the injured South Sydney halfback, who has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs by the Rabbitohs despite having a year remaining on his contract.

Parr was quoted in the story but did not want to comment further other than to say Ilias is not on Newcastle's radar.

It's understood Knights recruitment officer Adam Doyle was in a meeting with Ilias' manager Braith Anasta to talk about another player when Ilias' name came up.

Given Hastings will be one of the club's highest paid players next season and fellow playmaker Jack Cogger still has two years to go on his deal, going after a halfback with similar traits didn't make a whole lot of sense.

Some food for thought

Knights coach Adam O'Brien was on Melbourne's coaching staff when Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster were transitioned from fullback into the halves.

Hughes debuted in the NRL with the Titans at fullback and played six of his first 10 games for the Storm in the No.1 jersey. Now he is one of the game's premier halfbacks.

Munster played plenty of fullback before converting himself into the game's best five-eighth.

It didn't work for Kalyn Ponga but is there anything stopping O'Brien from having a serious look during the off-season at converting outstanding youngster Fletcher Sharpe into a future running No.6?

It's early days in his career, and there'll be no rushing him, but the Cessnock Goannas product played his junior footy in the halves and has the skill set and toughness to make a success of it. He actually played halfback in a NSW Cup game earlier this season.

With off-contract Tyson Gamble on the injured list and Englishman Will Pryce still a work in progress, the Knights have internally discussed recruiting a running five-eighth with Josh Schuster and Blaize Talagi two players talked about. Sharpe's qualities suggest he could be another option.

What was plainly evident after his eye-catching debut against the Storm is he will quickly outgrow the back-up fullback role he currently has at the club.


Another roster vacancy

Knights forward Jed Cartwright's decision last week to cut and run to link up with English club Hull, who his father John will coach next season, has left Newcastle with just 28 spots filled in their top 30 roster.

But under NRL rules, while they must fill one of the positions, they won't necessarily have to replace Cartwright with another player before June 30.

They are still looking at trying to bring in an outside back before the rego cut-off point but there are no guarantees.

Cartwright was under contract for next season so his release will free up money to potentially sweeten the offer to upgrade and extend prop Leo Thompson's contract.

Late change mystery

Centre Krystian Mapapalangi is a highly talented young player but he has played just seven games in two years because of injuries. Given that, we figure the more games he plays, the more his confidence will grow.

So why not simply leave him at home to play a full game in NSW Cup last Sunday rather than take him to Melbourne to be 18th man and likely not get a run, as it turned out, against the Storm?

We're guessing coach Adam O'Brien was playing ducks and drakes with the Storm by naming Mapapalangi at left centre for a second straight week before making the late switch for Dylan Lucas an hour before kick-off. The decision turned out to be a smart one with Lucas outstanding, scoring two tries in the defeat.
Click to expand...

www.newcastleherald.com.au

Barry Toohey: no battle for Hastings to stay with Knights for 2025

The halfback can rest a little easier.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au
 
R

ryan.a87

Juniors
Messages
812
Goes to show how scummy managers and media are

knights: we want pezet
Anasta: maybe, but what about illias?
Knights: nah

headline: knights talk to player manager about signing Illias
 
Burwood

Burwood

Bench
Messages
4,988
ryan.a87 said:
Goes to show how scummy managers and media are

knights: we want pezet
Anasta: maybe, but what about illias?
Knights: nah

headline: knights talk to player manager about signing Illias
Click to expand...
That headline wouldn’t cause enough drama for the media- you need to add one more little detail: “Hastings on outer as club chases new half”.
 
PhilGould

PhilGould

Bench
Messages
3,469
The Newcastle Knights have beaten St George-Illawarra to secure rugby league’s number one recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan is the man who, alongside Wayne Bennett, built the Dolphins roster for their entry into the NRL to become such an overnight success story.

He has previously worked at Melbourne Storm, the Roosters and the New Zealand Warriors where he discovered and signed the likes of Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Boyd Cordner, Latrell Mitchell and Joey Manu as unknown teenagers.

It is a significant signing for the Knights, a heartland rugby league franchise with a massive junior nursery and a potential development and pathways system that should be as strong as Penrith.

He is expected to leave the Dolphins straight away.

Two weeks ago O’Sullivan appeared certain to be heading to the St George-Illawarra Dragons after several meetings with coach Shane Flanagan.

But Knights coach Adam O’Brien and general manager of football Peter Parr convinced him to head to Newcastle.

Newcastle have a number of key players coming off contract next year including Great Britain imports Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce.

Pearce Paul has been one of the buys of the year on the edge for the Knights this year.

They also have Jackson Hastings, Adam Elliott, Jayden Brailey, Leo Thompson, Jack Hetherington, Dylan Lucas and Thomas Jenkins free to negotiate with rival clubs from November.

O’Sullivan’s thoughts on Hastings will be of particular interest.

The Sunday Telegraph reported last weekend that the Knights had reached out to NRL 360 host Braith Anasta in regards to his halfback Lachlan Ilias, who has been granted permission to negotiate with rival clubs.

 
perverse

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,697
PhilGould said:
The Newcastle Knights have beaten St George-Illawarra to secure rugby league’s number one recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan is the man who, alongside Wayne Bennett, built the Dolphins roster for their entry into the NRL to become such an overnight success story.

He has previously worked at Melbourne Storm, the Roosters and the New Zealand Warriors where he discovered and signed the likes of Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Boyd Cordner, Latrell Mitchell and Joey Manu as unknown teenagers.

It is a significant signing for the Knights, a heartland rugby league franchise with a massive junior nursery and a potential development and pathways system that should be as strong as Penrith.

He is expected to leave the Dolphins straight away.

Two weeks ago O’Sullivan appeared certain to be heading to the St George-Illawarra Dragons after several meetings with coach Shane Flanagan.

But Knights coach Adam O’Brien and general manager of football Peter Parr convinced him to head to Newcastle.

Newcastle have a number of key players coming off contract next year including Great Britain imports Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce.

Pearce Paul has been one of the buys of the year on the edge for the Knights this year.

They also have Jackson Hastings, Adam Elliott, Jayden Brailey, Leo Thompson, Jack Hetherington, Dylan Lucas and Thomas Jenkins free to negotiate with rival clubs from November.

O’Sullivan’s thoughts on Hastings will be of particular interest.

The Sunday Telegraph reported last weekend that the Knights had reached out to NRL 360 host Braith Anasta in regards to his halfback Lachlan Ilias, who has been granted permission to negotiate with rival clubs.

Click to expand...
Huge signing. Well done to Parr and AOB.
 
alexwilliams_66692007

alexwilliams_66692007

Coach
Messages
11,673
PhilGould said:
The Newcastle Knights have beaten St George-Illawarra to secure rugby league’s number one recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan is the man who, alongside Wayne Bennett, built the Dolphins roster for their entry into the NRL to become such an overnight success story.

He has previously worked at Melbourne Storm, the Roosters and the New Zealand Warriors where he discovered and signed the likes of Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Boyd Cordner, Latrell Mitchell and Joey Manu as unknown teenagers.

It is a significant signing for the Knights, a heartland rugby league franchise with a massive junior nursery and a potential development and pathways system that should be as strong as Penrith.

He is expected to leave the Dolphins straight away.

Two weeks ago O’Sullivan appeared certain to be heading to the St George-Illawarra Dragons after several meetings with coach Shane Flanagan.

But Knights coach Adam O’Brien and general manager of football Peter Parr convinced him to head to Newcastle.

Newcastle have a number of key players coming off contract next year including Great Britain imports Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce.

Pearce Paul has been one of the buys of the year on the edge for the Knights this year.

They also have Jackson Hastings, Adam Elliott, Jayden Brailey, Leo Thompson, Jack Hetherington, Dylan Lucas and Thomas Jenkins free to negotiate with rival clubs from November.

O’Sullivan’s thoughts on Hastings will be of particular interest.

The Sunday Telegraph reported last weekend that the Knights had reached out to NRL 360 host Braith Anasta in regards to his halfback Lachlan Ilias, who has been granted permission to negotiate with rival clubs.

Click to expand...
Don't suppose he wants to bring Katoa with him?
 
Yosh

Yosh

Coach
Messages
11,940
Great news to start the weekend. Hopefully tomorrow doesn't bring me straight back down to hell
 
Knight Tales

Knight Tales

Bench
Messages
3,022
Best news all year. What a coup. Great work Peter Parr and AOB. Quick question - despite not being named in the article is it fair to assume Phil G had a big hand in these negotiations?
 
Last edited:
Woody90

Woody90

Juniors
Messages
2,241
PhilGould said:
The Newcastle Knights have beaten St George-Illawarra to secure rugby league’s number one recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan is the man who, alongside Wayne Bennett, built the Dolphins roster for their entry into the NRL to become such an overnight success story.

He has previously worked at Melbourne Storm, the Roosters and the New Zealand Warriors where he discovered and signed the likes of Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Boyd Cordner, Latrell Mitchell and Joey Manu as unknown teenagers.

It is a significant signing for the Knights, a heartland rugby league franchise with a massive junior nursery and a potential development and pathways system that should be as strong as Penrith.

He is expected to leave the Dolphins straight away.

Two weeks ago O’Sullivan appeared certain to be heading to the St George-Illawarra Dragons after several meetings with coach Shane Flanagan.

But Knights coach Adam O’Brien and general manager of football Peter Parr convinced him to head to Newcastle.

Newcastle have a number of key players coming off contract next year including Great Britain imports Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce.

Pearce Paul has been one of the buys of the year on the edge for the Knights this year.

They also have Jackson Hastings, Adam Elliott, Jayden Brailey, Leo Thompson, Jack Hetherington, Dylan Lucas and Thomas Jenkins free to negotiate with rival clubs from November.

O’Sullivan’s thoughts on Hastings will be of particular interest.

The Sunday Telegraph reported last weekend that the Knights had reached out to NRL 360 host Braith Anasta in regards to his halfback Lachlan Ilias, who has been granted permission to negotiate with rival clubs.

Click to expand...

This is better than any individual player signings we could have announced.

I was sure he’d go to Dragons or Souths with history there so very well done to Parr and AOB.
 
Woody90

Woody90

Juniors
Messages
2,241
Knight Tales said:
The article says he is departing the Dolphins now which would suggest the club is putting him to work with immediate effect?
Click to expand...

Either that or having some time off. It doesn’t serve the Dolphins at all to keep him on the books at the moment. He’s not always been the most above board operator and increases the risk of him getting in players ears the longer he’s there but focussing on a new role.

Hopefully he’s involved in our recruitment and retention plans for next year though.
 
Nuke

Nuke

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
5,386
Maybe more to do with the time of year. Not as much recruitment to be done right now. If he stayed there until the end of the season, it doesn't leave much time to start sorting out which players are staying, going, or isolating who they are targeting before it's all too late for next season.
 
Woody90

Woody90

Juniors
Messages
2,241
I do find it interesting that so many support staff choose to leave when Bennett leaves a club…even if they don’t follow him to the same club. It’s almost like they know that shit always hits the fan soon after he leaves.
 
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