The Rumours Thread

[baggygreen man]

Hayden Buchanan coming through

Prefer Ben Johnson. Love to see some balls shown by our next PM and fast track Ball GF centre/wing trio David Afu, Lyric Te-Moananui, Jesse Williams at a similar pace to Loko Jr and Finau Latu.

 

[baggygreen man]

...was the correct decision to remove Timmins from pathways.

What had he done previously in terms of glory for the JV before Saints Ball finally won the club a rare premiership flag. Wasnt Timmo predominately linked with Steelers pathways?

 

[baggygreen man]

The Knights very keen to keep Leo Thompson

Our own Loko Jr will be 20 next year, only a year younger than Thomson. We are keen to keep him too and as he is in Top 30 next year debut him.

 

[justadragon]

Our own Loko Jr will be 20 next year, only a year younger than Thomson. We are keen to keep him too.

Thompson is 24 RVH

 

[baggygreen man]

Thompson is 24 RVH

So he is mate, misread. Still dont see us prying him from the Knights. Lets go for someone that has been let go due to salary constraints and still offers plenty. What is the hold up with announcing Campbell-Gillard as word is he is across the line.

 

[TheRev]

Loving the Flanno clean-out, so many negative rumours about sowie and timmins over the years (we could never know if they were true).. finally someone has the balls to call enough and get some decent staff and accountability.. as gould says.. you need to get the right people in the right positions.

I doubt the cleanout is finished either...

 

[TheRev]

As for recruits:
o 5 clubs including us are interesting in Hetherington
o Thompson I reckon goes to market in less than 2 months (not sure if 2025 or 2026).. and I dont think we get him cause heaps of clubs will be battling... but that imo is why ppl are holding off DSaifiti.. we need Newcastle on their knees ahead of November... in an ideal world they lose the players that they didnt want to lose..

 

[possm]

This! Corey Allan is bog average and has been since 2021 or 2020, whenever he played origin. People are saying on here that he’s fast. He’s probably slower than lomax and that was before an ACL. Once he plays a few games everyone will be calling for his head.

albeit with bird gone we need someone like him that can slot into C/W/FB will probably do a better job as a backup fullback than bird and mat F. But still don’t get your hopes up

We've signed Holmes who can play 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Let's judge Allen's ability in early 2025. You may be right or he may be a good left winger.

I'd say we need a top-grade and experienced fullback like tedesco and a replacement for Hunt such as Reynolds or Wishart.

But our top priority should be the recruitment of two good first-grade props, RCG and Thompson.

 

[baggygreen man]

Leo Thompson

The NRL profile of Leo Thompson including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.newcastleknights.com.au

No wonder the Knights dont want to lose him.

 

[HenryTatana]

So he is mate, misread. Still dont see us prying him from the Knights. Lets go for someone that has been let go due to salary constraints and still offers plenty. What is the hold up with announcing Campbell-Gillard as word is he is across the line.

RCG is preparing for the game of his life (Spoonbowl) hence no announcement yet.

 

[BLM01]

What had he done previously in terms of glory for the JV before Saints Ball finally won the club a rare premiership flag. Wasnt Timmo predominately linked with Steelers pathways?

1. He had done plenty for the Steelers in terms of playing including the JV and probably helping in and out around the club. But he was not the best fit for pathways and bringing the kids through education etc. Expereinced myself when attached to G7 club and but more directly spoke to a few parents with kids involved in lower grades or Stellers comps. Not a slander on the person just the job he was in.
2. Yes

 

[BLM01]

So he is mate, misread. Still dont see us prying him from the Knights. Lets go for someone that has been let go due to salary constraints and still offers plenty. What is the hold up with announcing Campbell-Gillard as word is he is across the line.

10 day cool off perhaps

 

[TheRev]

10 day cool off perhaps

Yah I reckon this is it.. so Parra would like to get the spoonbowl done before unleashing yet another media-headline.

If it wasnt done surely there would be more stuff in the media.. i.e. photos of flanno leaving reg's house etc..

 

[Slippery Morris]

Someone said in a previous post for Maloney to come in for a coaching role. I would even just get him for a few sessions to sit down with Hunt, KFlanno and the other young halves as he could surely pass on his knowledge to being smarter in the role and managing a game in the halves. He had a pretty solid career and getting any knowledge they can from him would be pretty smart move for the club. Ben should also reach out to his Qld mate Cooper Cronk. I am sure they crossed paths playing origin. I am sure he would be worth to bring in for a few sessions as well in the off season.

 

[Dragon David]

Someone said in a previous post for Maloney to come in for a coaching role. I would even just get him for a few sessions to sit down with Hunt, KFlanno and the other young halves as he could surely pass on his knowledge to being smarter in the role and managing a game in the halves. He had a pretty solid career and getting any knowledge they can from him would be pretty smart move for the club. Ben should also reach out to his Qld mate Cooper Cronk. I am sure they crossed paths playing origin. I am sure he would be worth to bring in for a few sessions as well in the off season.

Yes, that was me if my memory serves me correctly Slippery. Maloney won two premierships - one with the Roosters and the other at the Sharks and he has been a "I've been everywhere man" man. He used to get on the wrong side of the refs a lot as you probably know. He was a good reader of a game and of course Flanno knows him well because he coached him for that 2026 grand final win with the Sharks.

I think that he had a good year up at the Cowboys before his DUI incident and I would agree that he would be of great help for Kyle Flanagan. If Hunt is still with us next year then Maloney might be good to spend a few sessions which might improve both our halves as well as the junior ones. I have some reservations about Hunt seeking help from anyone though on how he should play.

 

[BLM01]

Someone said in a previous post for Maloney to come in for a coaching role. I would even just get him for a few sessions to sit down with Hunt, KFlanno and the other young halves as he could surely pass on his knowledge to being smarter in the role and managing a game in the halves. He had a pretty solid career and getting any knowledge they can from him would be pretty smart move for the club. Ben should also reach out to his Qld mate Cooper Cronk. I am sure they crossed paths playing origin. I am sure he would be worth to bring in for a few sessions as well in the off season.

You wont get Cronk. He works at the Roosters with all halves coming through and present
Apart from the 2020 FOX job after football and a gig with the Giants. How else did they fit in their cap at the time with the star studded back line and most of their forwads
Smart work again by the Roosters

 

[Macedonian Dragon]

Sione Finau will be promoted to Lomax wing, CR will prob keep the other, Suli and Holmes the centres, so where are the gaps. It is powerful/skillful bookends we most need. Blokes that can repeatedly make the advantage line to give us good go forward.

Sione only played 1 NRL game this year. Surely we can't expect him to be our starting winger. He's a good depth option same as Allan and Matt Feagai. Tuipuloto and Matt Feagai/Allan/Sione Finau is a bottom 4 wing pairing. We need a quality quick winger. Maybe we get someone like Averillo to play centre and play Holmes on the wing.

 

[Unsainty79]

Sione only played 1 NRL game this year. Surely we can't expect him to be our starting winger. He's a good depth option same as Allan and Matt Feagai. Tuipuloto and Matt Feagai/Allan/Sione Finau is a bottom 4 wing pairing. We need a quality quick winger. Maybe we get someone like Averillo to play centre and play Holmes on the wing.

Agree. Tuipolotu looks strong, but he isn't a top drawer winger by any means. There is a lot to play out over the off-season. If we're looking to move Hunt on, as what is vaguely being suggested in the media, we'd be in a strong position to have some players sent our way - I think the Dolphins and Titans might be keen on BH. Can't rule out the Chooks either with SW injury.

 

[hewi]

Bird goooone, has played his last game for us and off to the Tigers.

 

[BLM01]

Agree. Tuipolotu looks strong, but he isn't a top drawer winger by any means. There is a lot to play out over the off-season. If we're looking to move Hunt on, as what is vaguely being suggested in the media, we'd be in a strong position to have some players sent our way - I think the Dolphins and Titans might be keen on BH. Can't rule out the Chooks either with SW injury.

Chooks bought Townsend. They dont need another ageing halfback with Sandon Smith still there and Hunt wont play reggies for them. Besides Walker will be back around May/June at latest and so will Manu