Knights take up options on Meaney, Phythian and Stone

Ethan

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Newcastle had three players who they had options on for 2018 and have taken them all up.

Market Watch can confirm the Knights had options in the club’s favour on youngsters Sam Stone, Nick Meaney and Dylan Phythian for 2018.

They’ve now been triggered and the trio will remain in the Hunter.

Stone, 19 made his NRL debut this year and shown great promise in his handful of stints in the top grade.

Phythian is a versatile player who can fill a role at fullback, hooker, half or lock but been sidelined due to a knee injury.

Meaney was named the club’s NYC Player of the Year in 2016 and is currently the NSW under 20s fullback.......From Fox Sports.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/8d43672bba634bd25471f8f32a3ca080
 
We already knew about Stone and Meaney.
Phythian isn't exactly a surprize either, since Brown has made comments about how he might use him next year.
 
Like the fact that Stone isn't in every week especially after his injury hopefully he gets another game or 2 this year and plays every other week next year.

Really could be huge in 2-3 years if managed right.

Don't know much about Meaney and Pythian but I am sure both are cap friendly re-signings.
 
Pretty happy they took the option on fiffo. Looked good in the trial and round 1. Would love to see him catch a break with injuries.
 
To keep them after next year will mean a payrise if they go any good at all next year.
 
We have players on 2018 end of contract that won't be staying, too old/not good enough, that means available funding for Stone, Pythian and Meaney. If the keep performing/improving its a no brainer.
 
Meaney trained at wing mostly last off season because it looked like we had Phythian locked in for fullback.
He has shown over the last two seasons that he isn't much of a try scorer, with only 4 tries last year, and only a few more so far this year, but he is really good at setting up other players with good passes. He must have a dozen try assists this year - all from quality passes i'd say. Because of that, i'd like to see him train at centre and wing as well as fullback, because he probably won't get a run at fullback with Ponga, Phythian, Ross and maybe Elliot all looking to play fullback.
 
absolutely billy, Wing is meaneys best shot at getting a run in firstgrade with ponga in the side and ross developing nicely there.
He definately deserves a run somewhere though
 
I notice in the photo of the firsts and reserves having an opposed session that Brodie Jones and Pasami Saulo are running with the reserves.
I suspect that means they are signed.
 
Meaney trained at wing mostly last off season because it looked like we had Phythian locked in for fullback.
He has shown over the last two seasons that he isn't much of a try scorer, with only 4 tries last year, and only a few more so far this year, but he is really good at setting up other players with good passes. He must have a dozen try assists this year - all from quality passes i'd say. Because of that, i'd like to see him train at centre and wing as well as fullback, because he probably won't get a run at fullback with Ponga, Phythian, Ross and maybe Elliot all looking to play fullback.
Don't disagree with you often Billy but why play a bloke at f/back all year to play him elsewhere, SOO f/back u/20, played very well all year in reserves at f/back, no one has cemented 1st grade f/back due to Pythian injury and not sure how is injury will be for next, Ponga for all the money paid is a talent but untried week in week out in 1sts and others,Ross and Elliott seem more suited to wing. Let him play at his preferred position, setting up tries is every bit as good as scoring them.
Don't believe in weakening one spot to strengthen another.
 
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