Rumoured Targets 3

[Old dog]

One of the locals is our biggest problem.

Did we really need Hetherington when we had Croker, Jones, and others coming through

 

[Knight Tales]

With the news about Tom Flegler, I think the Dolphins will be back at the table for D Saf sooner rather than later.

 

[Woody90]

Did we really need Hetherington when we had Croker, Jones, and others coming through

If we’re being honest they’re all very average (I like Crokes but mostly due to his love of the Knights, he hasn’t really pushed on ability wise).

If you listen to Phil Gould talk about Hetherington, he’s apparently a super athlete, so for that alone I was interested in his signing as he has some physicality which none of our middles outside of Thompson have. Too bad though he’s been just as stupid as he was at the Dogs and has had to be kept on a very short leash. Definitely not a risk that paid off.

Dont get me wrong, I definitely want a lot of juniors in the side, it’s just good business. Saying that though we’ve also gotten into a lot of trouble in the past by giving blokes contracts just because they’re locals and we don’t want to go back there.

 

[Burwood]

These players won’t be too difficult to offload, it’s just a matter of how much the club wants to chip in to get them out the door.
If they do choose to languish in reserves, they may be collecting a paycheck, but that will definitely stuff up the next contract that they sign when their time here ends.

 

[Old dog]

The younger players with several seasons beyond current contact yes but others without the ambition to further there playing career and revenue are kidding themselves.
Unfortunately let’s say DSaf, Brailey, Hetherington, Elliott are dropped to Cup doesn’t that curtail the likes of potential first graders getting the opportunity to put pressure on possible selection for 1sts, we are seeing Hastings now clogging up Cup and limiting the likes of Sutton impressing for 1sts

 

[Burwood]

3 of those guys are 28 and one is 29- they’ve got plenty of years left in them.

 

[SamSepi0l]

Everyone loves to say Hetherington is some kind of athlete.. Is he going to show that at some point? Or just good at working out?

 

[Yosh]

Regardless of whether we can offload them or not, the intent is clear. Noone gets a free ride anymore. You're either earning your paycheck or you're out. Great for the club going forward. Either way most of the duds aren't going to be on the payroll from 2026 anyway. Love the proactive approach.

Elliot news wasn't true apparently and he deserves to stay if he is on less than 500k a year. I'm glad we chose Gamble Over Hastings as well. Feel bad for Brailey but we have helped him enough over the years. DSaf needs to go ASAP.

 

[macavity]

Everyone loves to say Hetherington is some kind of athlete.. Is he going to show that at some point? Or just good at working out?

You can't see it? Thought it was pretty obvious. He is a unit. Just nothing upstairs.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Are we really still talking about moving Elliot on? The guy is putting in big time and easily our most bang for buck middle outside of maybe Thompson

 

[Alex28]

Are we really still talking about moving Elliot on? The guy is putting in big time and easily our most bang for buck middle outside of maybe Thompson

Barry Toohey says we aren’t.

 

[mozza91]

Are we really still talking about moving Elliot on? The guy is putting in big time and easily our most bang for buck middle outside of maybe Thompson

Agreed. I think he’s a really good player and 466k for him is bloody good value for what he provides.

 

[Old dog]

Want us to keep Elliott, Croker and Jones all effort players

 

[Rod]

I personally don't see it with Croker, shows glimpses but too often gets dominated physically for mine.

As always, if he's not on much coin it doesn't matter so much though.

 

[Burwood]

Are we really still talking about moving Elliot on? The guy is putting in big time and easily our most bang for buck middle outside of maybe Thompson

Only one person on the forum springs to mind and seems to have it in for him.

 

[Yosh]

Brodie is growing on me. Plays both middle and edge. Someone to keep in the top 30 for sure.

 

[Allstar Knights]

The thing with Jones and Croker is they are absolutely replaceable, but they are also very valuable and reliable type players in your top 30. Guys like Seb Su'a and Cody Hopgood are massive talents who will probably leapfrog them eventually but might not be ready for week-to-week NRL straight away. There's still value in keeping guys like Jones and Croker around for another year who now have NRL experience under their belt, don't break the cap and reliable. In saying that, if they are replaced with quality that's fine but having reliable guys like them who are next in line is extremely handy imo.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

The big question with Croker and Jones is, can we get two better replacements for the same money or less. I doubt either of them is on much more than minimum $$$ for a fringe first grader so I don’t think it’d be an issue keeping them. If there’s a couple of gun young players who we think we can sign from outside the club then sure, or if keeping these guys is holding back others who are likely to be better then I get that reasoning too.

But if there’s no-one who offers value for $$$ or there isn’t anyone ready to be promoted into the top 30 in place of these guys then maybe offer them a 1 year deal and see if they improve next year, if not then let them go and either promote a couple of kids who have an extra year under their belt or try and get a couple of talented guys from elsewhere.

 

[PhilGould]

The reports are that it's a roster balance concern rather than a money concern, O'Sullivan thinks we have too many middles. Basically backing some combination of Su'a, Hopwood and Cant to replace them and using whatever money becomes available on other areas.

 

[macavity]

The reports are that it's a roster balance concern rather than a money concern, O'Sullivan thinks we have too many middles. Basically backing some combination of Su'a, Hopwood and Cant to replace them and using whatever money becomes available on other areas.

Yes, but Cant definitely isn't a middle.