Rumoured Targets 3

[Mr_Knightside]

So is Tuala unsigned then?

 

[mozza91]

So is Tuala unsigned then?

Should offer him a low deal. Is good for squad depth.

 

[Woody90]

Bit worried moving on Crokes (who I like btw) might unsettle Ponga (I also get though if you start making retention decisions not to upset other players you’re on a hiding to nothing).

 

[perverse]

Bit worried moving on Crokes (who I like btw) might unsettle Ponga (I also get though if you start making retention decisions not to upset other players you’re on a hiding to nothing).

Eh I wouldn't worry about that. Kalyn is a big boy and has been through mates leaving the club in the past. If it was ever going to be an issue, it would have been when Connor left.

 

[Woody90]

Eh I wouldn't worry about that. Kalyn is a big boy and has been through mates leaving the club in the past. If it was ever going to be an issue, it would have been when Connor left.

I think it’s a bit different with Watson as that was mostly his decision from what I remember. This would be Crokes being pushed out.

 

[PhilGould]

KNIGHTS MOVE TO KEEP KIWI

Newcastle have taken the first significant step towards keeping prop Leo Thompson out of the clutches of their rivals after tabling an upgrade and two-year extension to the New Zealand international.

Thompson, off contract at the end of next season, is on a miserly deal given he has become a fixture in the Knights side and a Test player for the Kiwis.

It is understood he is on less than $300,000 this season and around $350,000 in 2025, well below market value for a player with his resume and reputation.

The Knights have made it one of their priorities to negotiate a deal but it won’t be easy - Thompson is believed to be leaning towards testing the open market and a host of clubs are clambering to make a bid for the 24-year-old.

Newcastle have a battle on their hands but Knights recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan has fired the first salvo in the fight for Thompson after offering a deal to the Kiwi International and his manager Daniel O’Loughlin.

“We put something to Leo,” O’Sullivan said.

“I have had two good meetings with Leo and Daniel, clearly told them where I think the club is heading and they have been really receptive.

“Leo is entitled to wait. If he wants to test the market or see what his value is, that is his right. That never worries me or scares me.

“We will have a figure for Leo moving forward that is sustainable and within our grasp of financial responsibility.”

O’Sullivan sees Thompson as a key part of the club heading forward, particularly with the prospect that Daniel Saifiti may be on the move at the end of the season after being granted permission to test the market.

However, he knows that Thompson will have the final say.

“We want him to stay but it is an open market,” O’Sullivan said.

“I never get too worried about someone who leaves or someone you don’t sign, it its more about someone you shouldn’t sign in the scheme of things.”

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/sport-confidential-brandon-smith-reveals-backstory-to-whitehead-hip-drop-furore/news-story/1e591aeac8434590f1159ceec8e05ccd?amp

 

[ryan.a87]

A recruitment boss who doesn’t panic pay overs for a player because some random clubs come sniffing

what a novel idea

 

[slotmachine]

“I never get too worried about someone who leaves or someone you don’t sign, it its more about someone you shouldn’t sign in the scheme of things.”

Refreshing approach.

 

[Rod]

Yeah it seems O'Sullivan is a bit of a realist about these things which is good.

We've offered to extend him and give him a healthy upgrade before November, and his brother is coming. Can't do much more than that.

 

[Knight Tales]

Peter O’Sullivan would be well versed in the belief, if we miss out there will always be another. Something our club has never been able to get its head around. He’s going to crush some egos in this place and in the market as well. D Saf already knows that O’Sullivan regards him as obscenely overpaid.

 

[PhilGould]

KNIGHTS DONE WITH HASTINGS

Poor old Jackson Hastings is the latest Newcastle Knights player to be classified as excess baggage.

The 28-year-old halfback is on a ridiculously high contract of $800,000 next year and has been told he is free to look elsewhere.

Not that any other club would be prepared to pay anywhere near that amount of money for a struggling NSW Cup halfback.

The Hastings contract was originally done as part of a swap deal with front-rower Dave Klemmer between Newcastle and the Wests Tigers.

Whoever decided to throw $800,000 his way should not have anything to do with salary cap management.

Hastings has played 17 NRL games for the Knights this year but has twice been dropped to NSW Cup.

He’s performed solidly but mostly ineffectively.

The Knights will honour his contract next year but would prefer to contribute money to a new deal elsewhere.

Hastings has played for six clubs since debuting in 2014 – at the Roosters, Manly Sea Eagles, Salford, Wigan, the Wests Tigers and the Knights. His manager Liam Ayoub fancies himself as a big deal-maker but he’ll be flat-out getting Hastings another NRL gig.

A move back to the UK Super League is the most likely scenario.

The Knights have hired recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan to do a roster overhaul for next year.

And Hastings is not the only one who has been told he can move on.

Hooker Jayden Brailey, front-rowers Jack Hetherington and Daniel Saifiti and lock Adam Elliott have all been told they can look for another club.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/phil-rothfield-calls-on-latrell-mitchell-to-stop-playing-the-victim-in-open-letter-saint-sinner-shoosh/news-story/948eb97d6d8f2f83669cc8f90bde2e19?amp

 

[ryan.a87]

Feel like this article was written like 6 weeks ago?

 

[Apey]

Feel like this article was written like 6 weeks ago?

Lol yeah, more like 3 months ago. Daily telegraph scoop right there. Did they figure that out when we dropped him to NSW Cup for the second time this year?

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

I'd keep Elliot unless he's on major coin and won't take a cut.
What is he on?

 

[Woody90]

I'd keep Elliot unless he's on major coin and won't take a cut.
What is he on?

$466k

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

$466k

A lot but nowhere near Hetherington.

 

[Old dog]

We are dreaming if we think we can offload overpaid players such as DSaf, Hetherington, Brailey, Hastings Elliott? Etc, they can stay, get paid and turn up and still get paid, are happy living in Newcastle why leave.
Somebody stuffed up and now we are paying the price, some paid big money could have been covered by locals for far less. Let the rebuild start again, and again and again, I’m sure we will eventually NEARLY get it right

 

[Woody90]

I think we’re a chance of moving Hastings on. The others are happy staying and potentially playing reserve grade but I don’t get the feeling Hastings will be happy playing reserves for a long time. He needs to make highlight reels.

 

[Woody90]

We are dreaming if we think we can offload overpaid players such as DSaf, Hetherington, Brailey, Hastings Elliott? Etc, they can stay, get paid and turn up and still get paid, are happy living in Newcastle why leave.
Somebody stuffed up and now we are paying the price, some paid big money could have been covered by locals for far less. Let the rebuild start again, and again and again, I’m sure we will eventually NEARLY get it right

One of the locals is our biggest problem.

 

[Old dog]

Think Hastings is most likely to go followed by Brailey