Which players to bid farewell to?

[Noname36]

This is spot on!

Sure Mullen hasn't lived up to the enormous amount of hype he got early in his career (wasn't he being called the next Johns at some point?) but there's no doubt in my mind that he's been our best player for about 5-6 years now and unfortunately is in a position where he has to try and organize a team of complete geniuss whilst battling injuries every season and a raft of coaching and club ownership changes during that time. Then the one year where the ownership stuff appeared to settle down and Bennett got his way with things a bit Mullen pulls out an inspired run of form and almost leads us to a grand final. Now granted he's had some poor games from time to time but our whole team has been just as inconsistent during this time too and he's not exactly playing with a team of superstars either.

Also for the record I think he should have played a few more games for NSW, I think his defence would be up to it and given how many games Mitchell Pearce has been given at that level I reckon Mullen is seriously unlucky not to have played a couple more series. Unfortunately I feel that he's unlikely to get another go at it and will probably go down in history as one of those guys who comes up in conversation from time to time and people go "oh yeah, I forgot he played for NSW" but yeah I'll conclude this post by saying that I really hope some people get off his back and hopefully he'll have a big 2016 season with a new coach and new halves partner.

Agree completely. If all of our squad offered the side as much as Mullen has we wouldn't be in the position we are currently I can guarantee you that.

 

[Joker's Wild]

At the end of the day Mullo has to stay healthy otherwise we wont see his best

The bloke is notorious for playing injured, which is a credit to his durability, but it certainly effects his game. A few years back (2008-2009) i was ready to call for the guys head cause his defence was beyond awful, then it turns out he had been playing with a shoulder issue and it all made sense.

Mullo is a fantastic player, its just his injuries that concern me. He needs to stay off the paddock if he is hurt and not return until he is right

 

[Rod]

This is my take on things.. bare in mind I haven't watched a Knights game for a few years.

Um, is this serious? Why would we pay any attention to what you say about our players then?

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Mullo may be inconsistent, but unless we are in the market for a better 5/8 (of which there aren't too many, and even less that would come here) then we need to keep him.

 

[mozza91]

Um, is this serious? Why would we pay any attention to what you say about our players then?

Yes I also found this strange. Even stranger that he then comments on Randell and Clydesdale 2 guys he's probably never seen play.

 

[Shenry4]

That's also a part of the problem for Mullen is the high amount of injuries throughout his career. I don't know if its luck bad management, but when has he had an injury free season? Particularly when hes not there in the finals our chances drop off considerably. He's a bit like Joey in that sense lol

 

[slotmachine]

He's doing alright for someone who hasn't seen a game, I agree with basically everything he said.

To be honest it's getting to the point where I wouldn't be sad to see any player go. We have zero players without flaws, and probably close to zero who are on decent contracts.

Sides who win comps generally have young guys who have made the leap to star status, but are on a rookie contract, so they are severely underpaid. Think reynolds/keary, RTS/cordner, DCE/Foran etc. That leaves them with plenty of cash to splash on the big names, and depth.

The knights hand out juicy upgrades to young guys who have done nothing. And we wonder why everyone's deal looks bad 2 years down the track.

 

[Apey]

He hasn't seen a game as such, but every now and then a player runs between his binoculars and Gagai.

 

[The Showstopper]

Next coach has one main job IMO. This is not a case of talent for them being found wanting. We are as good as anyone in our backline when on. Brown or whoever gets the nod has to get his 1,6,7 and 9 and tell them they are where it starts and ends for us. The four of them need to be in total sync and commitment to each other. One makes a move the other three are ready for the next play. the rest of the side makes sure they provide the platform for those four to make it happen. Anyone who goes maverick and tries to overplay their hand gets NSW Cup. No exceptions.

 

[perverse]

He hasn't seen a game as such, but every now and then a player runs between his binoculars and Gagai.

:lol: funnier than it should have been.

 

[Spot On]

1qaz watches this team more than most of us. He would also know Dane has serious defensive issues to address in the off season, as do most of the squad.
New coach will obviously make this a priority and address the problem. If he can't then some of the millionaires are in for a massive pay cut.

 

[1qaz]

The biggest issue Dane has is when the opposition steps back on the inside. He faces towards the sideline when he defends. You never see him get beaten on the outside, but he does miss a lot when they step back in.

As for Randell and Clydesdale... Tell me which clubs would get out their chequebook to sign these two blokes?
If I was in charge of the Knights, I would be throwing money at a decent hooker until Levi is ready to play big minutes.
Even though I haven't seen a Knights games in years.. let me guess. every time you played Souths, Luke destroys you through the middle?

The Knights has used Costigan, Roberts, Gidley, Waddell, Redman, Randell, Clydesdale all at 9 over the last few years.
The sad fact is Waddell was the starting 9 at stages last season.
Now he's at the Broncos he won't even come close to playing a game unless there are injuries to McCullough, K Nikorima, Parcell, J Nikorima etc
And lets not forget the Broncos lost Jake Granville last season as well.
Granville is now killing it at the Cowboys and he's one of the main reasons they are sitting equal first.
The Knights lack quality hookers in a big way and they will continue to ignore it as they think they have the next Cameron Smith.

 

[Spot On]

Most people are aware of the hooking problem 1qaz. If not, they aren't watching the games hey.;-)

 

[Rod]

I actually agree with the hooker point, Ballin being spelled by Levi is a great idea.

And I haven't seen a Manly game since 1997.

 

[aqua_duck]

Say we turf Clydsdale and Randell, how much does that actually save us? Is Randell even in the top 25?

 

[slotmachine]

Clydesdale is on good money I believe. North of 200k. Manly were interested when he re-signed. Although that was probably just his manager fleecing the stooges in the front office as usual.

 

[perverse]

North of 200k... so around about average wage, or even below it (allegedly, according to you anyway... and for some reason I'm just running with it). That's good money for you or I, he's hardly breaking the bank, though. It's hardly a squad-ruining contract.

Even in your "grass is always a darker shade of shit" worldview, it's hardly near the top of our worries. Keeping Clydsdale there until Levi comes along just makes sense at this stage. Randall is poo, but would be on even less money. As far as contribution to the team/contract price ratio goes - Clydsdale is nowhere near in the same problem category as others.

 

[Bring it home Knights]

The biggest issue the team imo is the hooking role. If we had Buderus in 2013 form in the team, we would be a top 8 team in my opinion. There is no way we would be a chance of the GF but we could definitely make the finals. I'll never forget how the knights went in 2013. When buderus went to the bench, we looked like a team of plodders. When he came back on the set plays flowed and the team played as a unit. When he went off it was like a bunch of players who had never trained together before in their lives. I miss him.

 

[Joel-22]

The biggest issue the team imo is the hooking role. If we had Buderus in 2013 form in the team, we would be a top 8 team in my opinion. There is no way we would be a chance of the GF but we could definitely make the finals. I'll never forget how the knights went in 2013. When buderus went to the bench, we looked like a team of plodders. When he came back on the set plays flowed and the team played as a unit. When he went off it was like a bunch of players who had never trained together before in their lives. I miss him.

:'( Almost made me tear up. So true of 2013. I remember one year (might have been 2007) we played like shit all year but he was just a man of iron. Tackling his merkin out all game every game carrying a thousand injuries. I remember one game that year within 10 mins into the game he was bleeding from his head and mouth and had his jersey torn off his body entirely and just continued to play like nothing had happened. 100% heart. That's one of the major reasons out of the 10,000 reasons that he's my favourite player to ever play the game.

 

[The Showstopper]

Buderus injury in prelim f###ed us. We in it right up till then. He stays on the field we may have been premiers. The roosters just ravaged us from the minute he went off. I knew it was over then and there.