Rumours and Stuff

[The Colonel]

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.

It places undue pressure on a kid that has played two games to live up to the price tag they are paying him for one.

If it comes off it's genius.

But he is going from a team that played finals football this year with a host of seasoned international and state players to a side that struggled to win one game this season and is littered with potential first graders and over paid players past their best.

No doubt the kid has talent but they needed to sign players that can help him reach his potential or risk burning him out before he reaches it.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

His uncle Quentin can give him advice on how to adjust to intensity of the NRL.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Did anyone else not realise it's for 2018?

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

His uncle Quentin can give him advice on how to adjust to intensity of the NRL.

Maybe but I hear he's on the nose.

 

[The Colonel]

Did anyone else not realise it's for 2018?

The Cowboys will be doing what they can in the next ten days to try and change his mind before the cooling off period finishes.

They won't release him straight away but they may do before the season starts if he doesn't. While they have a plan for him for next season I think it's a long term plan and they are likely to be better off promoting from within and putting the development into another junior.

Well aware that it's for 2018 but regardless the Knights are still at least two seasons if not more from turning around the mess they are in.

Players like Sio, Starling, Buhrer and Kostjasyn are good honest players but are hardly going to change the fortunes of the club in the long term.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It places undue pressure on a kid that has played two games to live up to the price tag they are paying him for one.

If it comes off it's genius.

But he is going from a team that played finals football this year with a host of seasoned international and state players to a side that struggled to win one game this season and is littered with potential first graders and over paid players past their best.

No doubt the kid has talent but they needed to sign players that can help him reach his potential or risk burning him out before he reaches it.

By the time he gets to Newcastle (2018) they could be a different team and he might have a full season of first grade under his belt. I'm keen to see if the Cowboys use him next year. Green certainly doesn't owe him any favours.

 

[Gary Gutful]

It's bullshit that's what it is!

 

[strider]

no its not ... its horseshit!!

 

[hineyrulz]

Bill looks like he has a set too

they need to get on Bernie's diet

Bernies Liquid diet works a charm

 

[The Colonel]

By the time he gets to Newcastle (2018) they could be a different team and he might have a full season of first grade under his belt. I'm keen to see if the Cowboys use him next year. Green certainly doesn't owe him any favours.

They could well be. Though the signings they have made so far won't make much difference other than experienced heads amongst what is already there. Brown will need to find a mix of experience, potential and a shit load of luck to turn around the mess he has on his hands.

 

[Gronk]

 

[Poupou Escobar]

They could well be. Though the signings they have made so far won't make much difference other than experienced heads amongst what is already there. Brown will need to find a mix of experience, potential and a shit load of luck to turn around the mess he has on his hands.

I reckon Brown is recruiting well. They are buying solid, experienced first graders, which is what they need. They would obviously be paying overs, but paying overs is what they must do. It's better to pay overs for half a dozen players worth $250k than to pay overs for one player worth $1M+. Every genuine first grader they sign is one less dumb/soft rookie in the defensive line.

Ponga is between the two categories (with a high level of uncertainty over exactly what he will be worth over the duration of his contract) and not arriving for another 12 months.

 

[oldmancraigy]

I read somewhere that Knights/ Cowboys were discussing the option of swapping Ponga for Korbin Sims right away?

Maybe saw it on the news feed somewhere?
Maybe I dreamed it all....

But if there was a semblance of truth to it, nice idea by the Cows - get some value in return and don't waste time developing a youngster for someone else.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It would certainly suck for the fans to watch Ponga star in 2017, though at this stage he is surely still just a backup.

 

[Incorrect]

I read somewhere that Knights/ Cowboys were discussing the option of swapping Ponga for Korbin Sims right away?

Maybe saw it on the news feed somewhere?
Maybe I dreamed it all....

But if there was a semblance of truth to it, nice idea by the Cows - get some value in return and don't waste time developing a youngster for someone else.

With Tamou and Hannant gone they've lost a bit up front so yeah, woudl be a good idea...

 

[The Colonel]

I reckon Brown is recruiting well. They are buying solid, experienced first graders, which is what they need. They would obviously be paying overs, but paying overs is what they must do. It's better to pay overs for half a dozen players worth $250k than to pay overs for one player worth $1M+. Every genuine first grader they sign is one less dumb/soft rookie in the defensive line.

Ponga is between the two categories (with a high level of uncertainty over exactly what he will be worth over the duration of his contract) and not arriving for another 12 months.

Or pay triple that for a player who has played 2 games of first grade.

The likes of Sio, Starling and Kostjasyn are hardly genuine first graders. Sio is probably the more accomplished of the three and is in a position the Knights have abundance of. THe other two haven't really nailed down a first grade position at any club to be considered genuine. Buhrer is probably the only one of their recruits who has been playing regular first grade.

I understand why the Knights are taking the gamble BUT I don't consider that the odds on this gamble are very good in favour of the Knights. If I was Ponga I would have taken the deal as well. I just think it reeks of desperation and could very well hamper what could be a very good career before it even starts.

 

[hineyrulz]

Sadly when you are as low as the Knights are you have to take them sort of risks. Uncle Wayne left their cap an absolute mess. And not ever club has Bronco dollars to spend on whoever they like.

 

[The Colonel]

Sadly when you are as low as the Knights are you have to take them sort of risks. Uncle Wayne left their cap an absolute mess. And not ever club has Bronco dollars to spend on whoever they like.

I agree totally.

I understand why they have thrown massive money at a teenager. I just think it's going down the same path they have found themselves in the past - having to pay big money to keep players that aren't returning in the investment.

Matu'utia brothers, Jake Mamo and others who have struggled because they haven't had the experienced players around them to bring them through slowly.

It's a cycle they will struggle to break like Parramatta did in the nineties and after Smith left.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Or pay triple that for a player who has played 2 games of first grade.

He's only played so few games because of his age not lack of ability. He was still eligible for Mal Meninga Cup (SG Ball equivalent) this year, yet in the two NRL games he played - both sudden death finals matches against strong defensive teams - he ran for 242 metres with 8 tackle breaks. This is a kid who is only going to get stronger, smarter and more confident over the next five years. His value between 2018 and 2022 will have little to do with how few games he played in the year he turned 18 - most NRL players only make their NYC debut at that age.

And as for your comment about paying triple that, he is reported as being on $600k/year which is closer to double $250k than triple.

The likes of Sio, Starling and Kostjasyn are hardly genuine first graders. Sio is probably the more accomplished of the three and is in a position the Knights have abundance of. THe other two haven't really nailed down a first grade position at any club to be considered genuine. Buhrer is probably the only one of their recruits who has been playing regular first grade.

I agree Starling mightn't be a genuine first grader but the other three are - Kostjasyn has played 126 NRL games, including 94 in the four years since joining the Cowboys. That includes 10 finals matches and a premiership.

I understand why the Knights are taking the gamble BUT I don't consider that the odds on this gamble are very good in favour of the Knights. If I was Ponga I would have taken the deal as well. I just think it reeks of desperation and could very well hamper what could be a very good career before it even starts.

It's certainly a risk.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Sadly when you are as low as the Knights are you have to take them sort of risks. Uncle Wayne left their cap an absolute mess. And not ever club has Bronco dollars to spend on whoever they like.

He did, and did the same thing at the Dragons. Hasler did likewise at Manly and looks to be doing the same thing at the Dogs.

Maybe the 'best' coaches don't leave clubs in a better condition than when they found them after all.