Rumoured Targets 3

[perverse]

A bloke who is playing beyond his contract value, for a glamour club... and was enthusiastically re-signed mere months ago. We're supposed to just swallow that both parties woke up one day and felt "you know what, this isn't working for us"? And both parties saw it the same way and felt yeah, let's just split up. Happy days.

Strange if true. He's either been asked to move aside by Uncle Nick (and well taken care of for his troubles no doubt) to accommodate other signings, or there is a stinky nappy hidden somewhere waiting to be found for mine. Either way, it's the Roosters so no-one will ask too many questions and we'll move right along I'm sure.

Suddenly the Roosters are talking to Ben Hunt...

It's wild how they can just do whatever they f**k they want down there.

 

[Knight Tales]

Robbo’s entire career will be questioned when it ends. Always relies on a top class halfback to dig him out of a dry spell. Cronk won those titles in 2018 and 2019.

How can they have Smith, Walker, Townsend and Hunt all on their books if this goes ahead? This is why people get disheartened by the game.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Suddenly the Roosters are talking to Ben Hunt...

It's wild how they can just do whatever they f**k they want down there.

Of course they’re talking to Hunt. That’s exactly why they’re letting May go. They know that he will get snapped up by another club easily enough and that creates enough room for Hunt.

Honestly we need to get on the front foot with stuff like this. Like in terms of the Leo situation. If he’s dithering around and considering his options then we should be out there talking to other front rowers. If Leo takes to long then we sign someone else.

The roosters have history with making big decisions quickly when they see the opportunity to improve their roster. Moving Pearce on when Cronk became available is a prime example.

We need to be more ruthless when stuff like this happens.

 

[Woody90]

Tbh I wouldn’t want us to sign Hunt anyway. We need someone to steady the team, hold his composure and make the right plays in important games to take pressure off Ponga. Ben Hunt is literally the exact opposite of that.

 

[Woody90]

"couple of years ago " is being very generous. The Knights MO has been in recent memory to offer mediocre players over valued multi-year contracts when no other club is in the bidding. I'd imagine the club has quite the reputation among agents.

Tbh the previous recruitment manager has a lot to answer for. That’s when most of really bad contracts were signed. Club said initially they parted ways as Zammit didn’t want to relocate to Newcastle but I wonder if there was more to it than that and Gardner realised what had happened to the cap. Always seemed weird to me that he was apparently working remotely since the beginning and then it suddenly became an issue.

 

[TooheysNew]

Lol at the suggestion of Gardner having any idea how to manage a cap.

 

[Knight Tales]

Of course they’re talking to Hunt. That’s exactly why they’re letting May go. They know that he will get snapped up by another club easily enough and that creates enough room for Hunt.

Honestly we need to get on the front foot with stuff like this. Like in terms of the Leo situation. If he’s dithering around and considering his options then we should be out there talking to other front rowers. If Leo takes to long then we sign someone else.

The roosters have history with making big decisions quickly when they see the opportunity to improve their roster. Moving Pearce on when Cronk became available is a prime example.

We need to be more ruthless when stuff like this happens.

Good luck. Until our CEO gets over his player morality obsession it will never happen. Does anyone think Parra give a shit what JAC did? Nope. They know he is world class winger. Bingo. Signed.
May brothers. Total dicks. Also talented. Same result. Likely Bennett at a guess.

No doubt someone will sign Tyrell and Talon. Cos winning is all that matters. Eveyone has an opinion. But this club is weak as piss on this front. Bet your life Ezra Mam is hunted by every club except us if he becomes available. We need to get our hands dirty. Accept what you cannot control and actually go after marquee players in key positions.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Tbh the previous recruitment manager has a lot to answer for. That’s when most of really bad contracts were signed. Club said initially they parted ways as Zammit didn’t want to relocate to Newcastle but I wonder if there was more to it than that and Gardner realised what had happened to the cap. Always seemed weird to me that he was apparently working remotely since the beginning and then it suddenly became an issue.

looks like we have a pretty decent off field team assembled now ( with the exception Gardner ) - Parr and Sully have excellent CV's.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Tbh I wouldn’t want us to sign Hunt anyway. We need someone to steady the team, hold his composure and make the right plays in important games to take pressure off Ponga. Ben Hunt is literally the exact opposite of that.

He would be the perfect mentor for our young high quality half that we are grooming to take the reigns.....if we had one.

Pearce would have been the same ....if we had a young star that we were developing. Instead we gave Pearce a bloke named Kurt Mann, and blew the opportunity.

Hopefully those day are behind us and we can give Kayln a team to win a Premiership with.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Whilst I don’t love Hunt he would be a massive upgrade on what we have. A creative half with an actual running game who threatens the defence with the ball in hand.

However with Hastings still on the books it won’t happen. Too much money tied up there and Hunt will be getting offers of $1m or close to it from other clubs.

When I was talking about being ruthless and more proactive I was more referring to the Leo situation. He’s saying that he wants to make a decision before the new season kicks off which is about 4-5 months away and we could definitely be left out in the cold if it drags out that long and then he decides to leave.

IMO we sus out who’s available at front row and make it not-so-subtle that we’re looking to sign someone and see if that gets Leo moving a bit quicker…

 

[Yosh]

So pretty quiet Nov for us. Many clubs already doing deals or at least in the headlines expected to do some good deals. Seems like nothing is coming out from Newy HQ.

What you guys think about this? We gonna end up taking too long and pick up over priced scraps and upgrade useless fodder again?

 

[TooheysNew]

Who did you want at the price they're talking about?

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

So pretty quiet Nov for us. Many clubs already doing deals or at least in the headlines expected to do some good deals. Seems like nothing is coming out from Newy HQ.

What you guys think about this? We gonna end up taking too long and pick up over priced scraps and upgrade useless fodder again?

I think we have the roster pretty much confirmed for next year. Unable to shift a few that will see the end of their contract next year - I think then we will be in the market for the 2027 season.

Sully will already be holding talks with a few players for 2027 as I'd imagine quite a few wont be re-signed and a couple might retire.

Leo taking his time might mean we're unable to table an offer to May , but I think I'd spend money elsewhere rather than make May an offer.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

Need to be pushing all stock into developing the Juniors and keeping them here, it’s working at Penrith, and thats how you build class teams.
If Leo wants to go, next man up, the only way to fix the mess we are currently in is to build from the ground up, stop with the mid level high paid stop gaps, our best players are essentially home grown, outside of Ponga who was a kid when we got him.

Doing the same thing over and over again is just pure insanity, time for a change, i’d take a lean year or so if it leads to better management going forward.

Hell i’m not even opposed to trading Ponga at the end of next year to a team for their prospects.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Need to be pushing all stock into developing the Juniors and keeping them here, it’s working at Penrith, and thats how you build class teams.
If Leo wants to go, next man up, the only way to fix the mess we are currently in is to build from the ground up, stop with the mid level high paid stop gaps, our best players are essentially home grown, outside of Ponga who was a kid when we got him.

Doing the same thing over and over again is just pure insanity, time for a change, i’d take a lean year or so if it leads to better management going forward.

Hell i’m not even opposed to trading Ponga at the end of next year to a team for their prospects.

Totally agree with all of this talk of juniors etc.

The Ponga bit though, no way known on earth would I ever move Ponga on.

One of only a handful of players I've seen in over 40 years of footy watching that can single handedly win a Premiership for you. One of only a few that could pull it out of the fire with seconds to go.

You don't win Premierships without Ponga type players. He's our golden ticket to the big dance.

 

[Yosh]

Building juniors are all good sure but we need to put a team around Ponga now. I reckon there is a 6 or 7 year window we got Ponga in his prime. I reckon we throw everything and the kitchen sink to build a team around Ponga.

 

[Knight Tales]

2026 Yoshy. Next season is about shoring up who we want to keep. We are on the right track. But it doesn’t hurt to make our presence felt in the market.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Building juniors are all good sure but we need to put a team around Ponga now. I reckon there is a 6 or 7 year window we got Ponga in his prime. I reckon we throw everything and the kitchen sink to build a team around Ponga.

The process has been frustratingly slow! I'm now getting to the stage of dreaming for another Premiership before I die.

Parr, and now Sully appear to be excellent appointments, and hopefully the hemorrhaging of staff has stopped - turnstile staffing is never a good indication of a happy organization pulling in the same direction towards success.

Juniors appear to be on the way . Hope Ponga doesnt lose patience and head for the door before they develop and be challenging for a title. .