Toohey article

Billy

Billy

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
https://www.theherald.com.au/story/...ain-a-tough-sell-despite-all-the-cash/?cs=306

All about why we can't recruit big names.

I've noticed over the years that the only two groups we do well with are those from the local area originally, or guys who were originally from country towns.
Ponga is a fine example. In the Saifiti interview they say Ponga ducks down to the local supermarket in bare feet and talks to anyone and everyone. The sort of thing you'd expect from a guy who grew up in mining towns like Mount Isa, and i'm sure he feels a lot more at home in Newcastle then he would in Sydney or Brisbane.
We don't have much luck with Sydney or Brisbane born and raised players, and we don't seem to have much luck with Kiwis either, but guys like Robbie O, Ben Kennedy, Matt Parsons, etc who all came from country towns, have no problems with Newcastle.
 
An excellent article.

I've lived in both Newcastle and Sydney. Newcastle is a great place to live, one of the best things about it is not congested like Sydney


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The examples he gave had good reason not to come to Newcastle. Not just because they didn’t want to live there.

In Joeys time there was no need to through money at Sydney players so bad example also.

If we are successful and can offer good money players will want to come.

Not a bad to plan to develop local talent though.
 
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And an even bigger turn off for players coming here is the fact we are routinely horrible.

What player is going to risk coming here and struggling every week to win. Not making the 8. The money here might be slightly more, but the potential damage done to their next contract from not featuring in finals, not winning could cost them big time next contract. Not to mention damage to rep potential.

Sign with one of the big sydney clubs and likely you will be in finals, on TV, in SOO, play for Australia? We can't offer them career progression like a Sydney club can.
 
If a player signs for 3 years on good money, moves his family to Newcastle, buys a home for much less than beach side accommodation in Sydney then he is set, if he extends that contract to end of career and makes Newcastle home then he is set, the problem with signings with a few exceptions is the 28-30 with wife and two kids school age making the move is a big family upheaval. Our aim has to be the 21-24 year old who is looking for opportunity and a chance to be part of a community, someone showing potential but needing the opportunity, I think some of our recent signings reflect that
 
Yeah it's an interesting piece but I think where there is money, players will come. If they are not interested, that's fine. We'll find someone else. As has been the case, and looking over the last 18 months as well.

I have noticed the trend of country players seemingly being able to adjust here with the exception of Mitchell Pearce who could have stayed in Sydney. I think the sooner that Centre Of Excellence amongst other projects are built the better our chances of future recruits see what kind of first class treatment you get when you become a Knight. We didn't have any of that over 20 years ago.

It also helps that Wests seem heavily interested in supporting the local junior bases rather then giving juniors a few thousand dollars and hopes and dreams.

The one thing Barry has missed pointing out is being able to adapt which I think for us fell apart over the last 20 years. Other clubs have done it better. Despite the amazing depth Penrith have they still recruit big name players like Maloney/Merrin/Tamou etc.
 
I do think it's an issue we have in Newcastle in general their is often on major stuff well they can just travel down highway but nobody ever has to just drive up our way.

I think for the Knights it's not so much attracting these stars but working with the community to attract more high profile events, activities in city so people have to come up the highway not down to Sydney all the time. Because once the players and their families are coming to Newcastle for more than just a fly in game and then gone it seem a world away but after doing it few times they see hey it's not that bad compared to the commute from the west of sydney this might be better for us
 
I've put this up before, and either no one can understand what i'm saying, or no one thinks it could work, but here goes.

The only way Newcastle can change the perception of the place for incoming players would be to move our training base to somewhere in the region that isn't an old, 1940s style, working man's suburb.
There are plenty of nice spots in the Hunter, Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie regions - I won't name any of them because when ever I do the next 15 posts are about why players would hate that particular spot - but some spot that players would find a lot nicer than Broadmeadow could be found.
Wests could build a gym and find an oval in a location where players could buy or rent a quality modern house and enjoy the beachside lifestyle most of them seem to want.
Players already here know that they can already live in a good suburb and commute easily, but it's near impossible to convince Sydney based players that they don't have to live in an old industrial area, but move the training base to a nice spot, and even the most boofheaded amongst them will think they could live somewhere nice.
 
Billy said:
I've put this up before, and either no one can understand what i'm saying, or no one thinks it could work, but here goes.

The only way Newcastle can change the perception of the place for incoming players would be to move our training base to somewhere in the region that isn't an old, 1940s style, working man's suburb.
There are plenty of nice spots in the Hunter, Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie regions - I won't name any of them because when ever I do the next 15 posts are about why players would hate that particular spot - but some spot that players would find a lot nicer than Broadmeadow could be found.
Wests could build a gym and find an oval in a location where players could buy or rent a quality modern house and enjoy the beachside lifestyle most of them seem to want.
Players already here know that they can already live in a good suburb and commute easily, but it's near impossible to convince Sydney based players that they don't have to live in an old industrial area, but move the training base to a nice spot, and even the most boofheaded amongst them will think they could live somewhere nice.
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The alternate option is a lot smarter. Investing a sh*tload in junior development. As if Wests are just gonna shift the Knights Mayfield facilities and move to like Nesca Park or something. Mayfield is honestly as Newcastle as it gets, with the coal yards and the gentrification of East Mayf/Tighes Hill to the West all within the span of Maitland Rd. Also isn't the Centre of Excellance gonna be kinda like our new HQ when complete? Not sure if pretty much everything will shift, it would be interesting to know.
 
Billy said:
I've put this up before, and either no one can understand what i'm saying, or no one thinks it could work, but here goes.

The only way Newcastle can change the perception of the place for incoming players would be to move our training base to somewhere in the region that isn't an old, 1940s style, working man's suburb.
There are plenty of nice spots in the Hunter, Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie regions - I won't name any of them because when ever I do the next 15 posts are about why players would hate that particular spot - but some spot that players would find a lot nicer than Broadmeadow could be found.
Wests could build a gym and find an oval in a location where players could buy or rent a quality modern house and enjoy the beachside lifestyle most of them seem to want.
Players already here know that they can already live in a good suburb and commute easily, but it's near impossible to convince Sydney based players that they don't have to live in an old industrial area, but move the training base to a nice spot, and even the most boofheaded amongst them will think they could live somewhere nice.
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This is the go make the training base at Nelson Bay or the newer grounds at Salamander bay there's plenty of room to build a gym there too , that way I can go and watch them train all the time . Its also a good idea because up here is a retirement village really and not much nightlife compared to Newy so less chance of them getting into trouble .
There's always some really nice houses for sale here on or close to the beaches as well...I LIKE IT ...
 
Frank McWilliams said:
If a player signs for 3 years on good money, moves his family to Newcastle, buys a home for much less than beach side accommodation in Sydney then he is set, if he extends that contract to end of career and makes Newcastle home then he is set, the problem with signings with a few exceptions is the 28-30 with wife and two kids school age making the move is a big family upheaval. Our aim has to be the 21-24 year old who is looking for opportunity and a chance to be part of a community, someone showing potential but needing the opportunity, I think some of our recent signings reflect that
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Frank, perfect solution to our woes.

What about forward engineering your thoughts toward recruitment - look for players who have potential, either newly married ( or in a stable relationship ) looking at having a family or who are married and have kids that haven't started school yet, offer them security of long term employment with built in performance clauses, great place to bring up a new / young family , good schooling system , cheap house buy in compared to big city , relatively Safe community environment compared to the Big Smoke , diverse local environment , not too far from the Big City lights top line entertainment but far enough not to be immersed in the city grind.

Once settled in makes it hard for them to uproot and move family away.

Problems solved.
 
Except these players with young family or just married etc tend to not be established first graders, not at the top of their game etc.

The only people concerned about the housing price in Sydney are the ones who can't afford one. A decent NRL player who is going to play their whole career at NRL level (and one we apparently are going to set up in newy for life), can afford a house anywhere. And not like the house is going to devalue.

The article is about why we have trouble attracting big names, no promising project players.
 
We want not quite established players with potential married or not with pre school aged kids, more likely to move as well as appreciate the opportunity and they can earn good money that will come with performance.
Not saying we should ignore the marquee type of player if available
 
Targeting juniors from country towns is the go.
We currently have guys like Ramein, Heath Gibbs, Farr, Watson from the central west, the Saifitis, Cogger, and others from the central coast, Crocker, Meaney, Crowther, Buderus, Dark etc from the North Coast.
These are the guys who don’t mind Newcastle.
Just last week Heath Gibbs returned to us from a short stint in Sydney. I don’t know why he returned, but city life for a kid from Dubbo is probably a big part of it, and Ramien might be coming back to us for similar reasons.
 
Billy said:
Targeting juniors from country towns is the go.
We currently have guys like Ramein, Heath Gibbs, Farr, Watson from the central west, the Saifitis, Cogger, and others from the central coast, Crocker, Meaney, Crowther, Buderus, Dark etc from the North Coast.
These are the guys who don’t mind Newcastle.
Just last week Heath Gibbs returned to us from a short stint in Sydney. I don’t know why he returned, but city life for a kid from Dubbo is probably a big part of it, and Ramien might be coming back to us for similar reasons.
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Did we really get Heath Gibbs back?
Thats good hes a good young prospect.
 
Ramien is coming because his ex-partner and child live on the Central Coast.

No idea if he's going to be based there, but Heighington is and does the commute.
 
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