Rumours and Stuff

[Gary Gutful]

@ Oztag promotion for kids

New Eels signing Suaia Matagi has a run with some of the MCW players. Matagi regularly visits the group of an afternoon and loves what the initiative represents. Picture: Justin Sanson

Smash those little merkins!

 

[parra-matters]

More of the same if Napa goes to Brisbane then Hunt to Eels.

Broncos transfers
Brisbane have been busy trying to make some moves in the transfer market. There was some talk that Ben Hunt could be leaving and going to Parramatta. This may open the door for Gold Coast halfback Tyrone Roberts, a Wayne Bennett favourite, to join the club. But for now it seems that Hunt isn't going anywhere. The Eels could do with a quality half after Kieran Foran left. The Broncos are keen on luring Dylan Napa to Queensland, but the Roosters are desperate to keep him.

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_24142-off-the-record-rugby-league-rumour-and-gossip-62.html

I wouldn't write hunt off for 2017 yet, wait and see what happens with Napa, Napa is looking for a release to be closer to Family, if the roosters say no i'm sure his manager will use the old "Compassionate Grounds" tag and they will feel like the have to let him go. Then we can take hunt off the Broncos hands a year early. I mean Bennett didn't really sign Benji to play in the centres he signed him to play in the halves til they can target someone else the following year. Benji's defense can't handle centre.

 

[woddy]

2017 Nines Tournament Draw Confirmed
The 2017 NRL Auckland Nines Pool Draw Announced:


Waiheke Pool
Cronulla Sharks
Gold Coast Titans
Penrith Panthers
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Rangitoto Pool
Newcastle Knights
Wests Tigers
Brisbane Broncos
Melbourne Storm

Hunua Pool
Queensland Cowboys
Sydney Roosters
Canberra Raiders
South Sydney Rabbitohs

Piha Pool
St George-Illawarra Dragons
Parramatta Eels
Manly Sea Eagles
Vodafone Warriors




http://nrlaucklandnines.co.nz/2017-nines-tournament-draw-confirmed/

 

[Gronk]

 

[Gronk]

Who owns the Knights again ?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

You're claiming conspiracy when the unquestioned worst team in the NRL has the cap space and the desperation to take this kind of massive risk?

I'd be more concerned if the Cowboys managed to keep him. Or if Brisbane or Melbourne signed him.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Gronk loves his conspiracy theories.

 

[Gronk]

Gronk loves his conspiracy theories.

Gary your LU bot has been hacked by the Church of Scientology and has been posting subliminal messages.

Tom Cruise is great.

 

[The Colonel]

5 year $3 million deal for a kid that has played 2 first grade games is an incredible gamble. Reeks of desperation really. Any talented young kid at the moment should be getting his manager to call the Knights and offering his services.

The kid is obviously talented but that is bordering on stupidity.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I guarantee they would have had to pay a lot more than that for Jonathan Thurston. People are putting shit on the Knights but what are they supposed to do? They need to take some risks because players will only go there for overs. At least with Ponga there's a chance they will get some value out of him. With established players there is no chance of getting value - you know what they're worth, and you know you're paying overs for them.

 

[Incorrect]

It's a huge gamble most definitely, but one the Knights, more than any other team, need to take...

12 months from now this might look like being a steal. Coote could go down with an ACL tear in Round 1, Ponga could jump in and win a Dally M - who knows. If he ends up being as good as everyone reckons he's going to be, then 600K per year in 2020, 2021 and 2022 will be chump change...

Good luck to both him and the Knights...

 

[hineyrulz]

You're claiming conspiracy when the unquestioned worst team in the NRL has the cap space and the desperation to take this kind of massive risk?

I'd be more concerned if the Cowboys managed to keep him. Or if Brisbane or Melbourne signed him.

Agreed, this is how the
Cap was designed. The two time spooners being able to pay overs for the best young player in the market.

 

[amitropo]

Could the knights, an NRL owned club, have been told what the future cap will be hence the price they offered Ponga

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Look at the quality of knights roster (lots of young players) and half their squad is off contract. They should have no problem paying $600k.

He is going to be a good player but no-one knows if he is going to be $600k good. Also he is only 19 next year so it's a big ask for him to play fullback for a full year. Hayne didn't do it until he was 22.

Brown has no option but to take some risks.

Wonder if the Knights are the side offering big money for Moeroa.

 

[84 Baby]

The only risk here for Knights is the length of contract, and only if he bombs badly. $600k for a spine player is relatively par for the course. And at his age at least the Knights can develop him to mitigate that risk. Unfortunately they aren't known for great development, so I guess at least they're sharing that risk with the kid

 

[Stevie]

The Dogs signed She-Rex for 4 years on 600k!!! The bloke was dead set useless, and at that stage the cap was much smaller. Old Stinky could end up being the buy of the century.

 

[El Diablo]

Who owns the Knights again ?

 

[miatch]

to be honest, if I'm a knights fan, I'm stoked with that deal. it's a lot of money, it's a very long deal but there's very little doubt Ponga will be very, very good at rugby league.
I think there's an excellent chance that will be considered a very astute deal in a couple of years time - and, assuming the knights agree, that's all they can do, particularly considering the position theyre in

 

[hindy111]

Knights biggest problem - Mullen + Uate on big dollars. They have shed Uate and although I rate Mullen he is always injured.

Certain players would cost overs to go to the knights. But some would be not a whole lot more. Few teams have had to build from the bottom - Look at Parra - Souths-Penrith in recent times.
Did any of them do it by signing an 18yld for huge $$$
This is a move then could set them even further back. At what level would Ponga have to play just to be worth the 700k? Borderline origin level. If he kills it all they have done is paid a guy what he is perhaps worth-That's best case and maybe 2 years before he is worth that money. Their forward pack is ordinary and that is where they should of started. Its also an area where you can get good value for money.
All Brown has done is thrown in young guys hoping they might end up good first graders. I am not sure most of them ever will be. Buhrer was a smart signing.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

How do you know they haven't paid overs for Buhrer though?