Wayne Bennett's Knights set to sign Dragon's hooker Cameron King

[Sean18]

BEAU Scott won't be the only St George Illawarra player to be leaving the Dragons for old coach Wayne Bennett's Newcastle Knights.

The club's outstanding Australian Schoolboys hooker Cameron King is also on the radar of Bennett as a long-term replacement for veteran Danny Buderus.

We can't wait for the hostile reaction from Dragons fans at Kogarah Oval on Friday, April 13 when Bennett returns home with his Knights in Round 7.

The red and white army was disappointed enough when Darius Boyd, Alex McKinnon and Adam Cuthbertson all left with him at the end of last season. Dragons CEO Peter Doust says he is aware of the interest from the Knights for young King and is doing everything possible to keep one of the game's best prospects in the red and white.

"I think it's clear Wayne knows a lot about our players," Doust said. "He might be interested in more, depending on what he needs. But we have put a substantial offer to Cameron and we're still hopeful of retaining him."

As Bennett faces accusations of destroying his old club, it should be pointed out most of the players have actually approached him because of his coaching record.

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[This Year?]

Oh ffs!!

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

lol

 

[RABK]

This kid is an absolute gun, he'll be in the top 5 players in the world if he fufills his potential and will play 20 Origins. We surely can't poach him, the Dragon fans will riot.

 

[KempoKnight]

This kid is an absolute gun, he'll be in the top 5 players in the world if he fufills his potential and will play 20 Origins. We surely can't poach him, the Dragon fans will riot.

This, and I couldnt blame them. If I was a Dragons supportor Id be pissed as all hell.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

We can poach whoever the hell we want. We have had our ranks poached plenty of times, about time we returned the favour.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

I love the part about players approaching him about his coaching record. That will do me. LOL. People actually think it is all about money.

 

[drago brelli]

Bennett stood in front of a packed venue in Wollongong at the Dragons 2011 presentation and told all present that he wouldn't target the clubs talented players. Where's this bloke's credability? He's lied to everyone. What sort of an example is he setting? The only players who followed him from Brisbane to the Dragons in 2009 were Boyd and Emmitt. If King does sign at Newcastle then Bennett will be systematically dismantling the St.George/Illawarra team from afar. Fascinating to watch.

 

[Spot On]

Did you think he was going to tell the crowd he was going to take as many as he needed?

 

[rabble]

This is getting a little embarrassing. I might get over it by next year though.

 

[billy2]

We need a firstgrade ready hooker for next season.
Adams had his chance in the trials and didn't impress.
From what i have seen of Hilder this year he has improved his dummy half work a lot working with Bedsy and could be our lead hoker next year, but we still need a backup.
Redman, Sullivan and Clydesdale are all talented individuals and could all make firstgrade next year with Bedsy being the specialist hooker coach this year and in the off season.
In short - we don't need another talented junior - but a one year contract for a 50 game firstgrade veteran hooker would be ideal as a backup for Hilder - although we could always use Gids.

 

[Frederick]

We need a firstgrade ready hooker for next season.
Adams had his chance in the trials and didn't impress.
From what i have seen of Hilder this year he has improved his dummy half work a lot working with Bedsy and could be our lead hoker next year, but we still need a backup.
Redman, Sullivan and Clydesdale are all talented individuals and could all make firstgrade next year with Bedsy being the specialist hooker coach this year and in the off season.
In short - we don't need another talented junior - but a one year contract for a 50 game firstgrade veteran hooker would be ideal as a backup for Hilder - although we could always use Gids.

King is better than all of them.

 

[Noname36]

I'd much prefer us sign a half and move Gids to hooker, but whatever, this kid is a gun.

I feel bad for Saints fans, but on the other hand it happens to every club after a period like the Dragons have just had. The price of success. Lord knows we went through it. Our club had an obsession with signing Dragon's players even Before Bennett.

 

[Rod]

I'd much prefer us sign a half and move Gids to hooker, but whatever, this kid is a gun.

I would prefer us to do this too, but for some reason I don't think Wayne is likely to do it. He'll most likely want to keep his 1, 6, 7 system of Boyd, Gidley and Mullen going.

We need to sign a half or a hooker though, I don't think there's any doubt about that and King would be a great signing. I do feel a bit sorry for Dragons fans though. Plus the media will have a field day if we sign more Dragons players.

 

[Old_Timer]

We can poach whoever the hell we want. We have had our ranks poached plenty of times, about time we returned the favour.

By us? Name them?

 

[Old_Timer]

When Wayne left our club, he did so with our best wishes for success with you guys. To systematically rape our club in the manner that the Knights are doing is extremely sad. Taking Cameron King as well will devastate us and you really want that???

 

[LatK7]

As a Saints fan, this is quite crushing to hear. He's a Saints local junior and I would like him to stay with the club for a while longer. But if you get him, congrats...again. Sigh.

 

[Jobdog]

This is almost getting amusing. Almost.

As CH said, for years in the 90s we had our best juniors poached by other clubs (not necessarily the Dragons) so it's good that we get a chance to do the same.

It just seems the Dragons are the club we're targetting because they're the ones with the most recent success. It's not rocket science; if you've got money - spend it.

 

[drago brelli]

As a Saints fan, this is quite crushing to hear. He's a Saints local junior and I would like him to stay with the club for a while longer. But if you get him, congrats...again. Sigh.

I saw Cameron play SG Ball with St.George but I am sure he is from Wagga. He captained the Australian school boys and is a future club captain. I really hope the Dragons can hold on to him. I have been watching him in reserve grade and he is great to watch. He can play 9, 13, 7 and 6. A brilliant talent.

 

[God-King Dean]

There will be a lynch mob if Knights scab King.

But the article doesn't actually say anything, the author is just presuming.