Danny Levi requests a release

rhugh89

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
From Barry Toohey's column

Levi stuns coach with release request

A clearly frustrated Newcastle Knights hooker Danny Levi walked into Nathan Brown’s office early last week and stunned the coach by asking for a release from his contract.

Not surprisingly, his request was denied.

Despite his struggles this season behind in-form hooker Slade Griffin, Brown and head of football Darren Mooney still regard Levi as an important part of the club moving forward.

So they weren’t about to give him a free pass to leave.

“It's true he came in to see us. But its a simple case of Danny not being happy with playing reserve grade and nothing more than that," Brown said.

“That’s actually a good thing. We don’t want any of our players being happy with playing reserve grade.”

Brown denied Levi was only back in the top grade last night against the Panthers to appease him because of his request.

“Not true. Moons [Mooney] and I went down and watched our Cup side play Wyong last Saturday and Danny played very well along with Josh King,” Brown said.

“That’s the reason he and Josh were picked."


https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5396159/sporting-column-tooheys-news/?cs=306
 
Amazing how many players have an attitude problem under Brown. Uate, Sims brothers, Stockwell, Rochow - the list goes on and on.
Only Ricky Stuart seems to have more bad luck with having players develop attitude problems than Brown.
 
No one ever sees the player's point of view. Levi played a season despite needing back surgery to help the team. Last year his form was 1 of the few positives we had. He played World Cup and was decent. When Griffin was signed the combination Griffin/Levi had most of us looking forward to see it in action. Come round 1 Levi nowhere to be seen. Brown said his pre season was good, nothing between him and Griffin in trials yet for the best team balance Levi wasn't required. Levi publicly says he thought he deserved a shot in round 1. I don't care what anyone says that upset Brown and he thought he'd show Levi who's boss. The thing is it was said form from last year meant nothing come the start of 2018 yet Mitch Barnett got a run in round 1 after a limited pre season and no trial game. Pretty obvious last year's form was taken into account there. I said on here a few weeks ago Levi will/should ask for a release because he's not one of Brown's crew. Looks ordinary that he's got a run in first grade after asking for a release no matter how you try and sell it.
 
Amazing how many players have an attitude problem under Brown. Uate, Sims brothers, Stockwell, Rochow - the list goes on and on.
Only Ricky Stuart seems to have more bad luck with having players develop attitude problems than Brown.

It's funny how none of those players have exactly set the world on fire since leaving. Thought their spots were safe because Stone kept picking them every week.
 
It's funny how none of those players have exactly set the world on fire since leaving. Thought their spots were safe because Stone kept picking them every week.
Not true.
People here keep saying that, and have probably talked themselves into believing it, but most of them are doing fine.
 
Not true.
People here keep saying that, and have probably talked themselves into believing it, but most of them are doing fine.

Haven't really talked myself into anything because none of them have gotten better really.

Broncos are probably fortunate they got Korbin on a NSW Cup contract because that's what he's been playing like since he's even there (even broncos fans admit this)

His brother is still an absolute pillow who has made various bad reads in defence but they are covered up by the rest of the dragons forwards being awesome

Uate still makes errors and bad defensive reads, is about a step or so slower and doesn't bend the line anywhere near as much as he used to

The only one who may look okay is Rochow but even that was after a stint with Souths and being disrupted by injury

Haven't heard anything about stock well since he left
 
Levi has had the dirts since the trial match in Maitland where he didn't get on the field until the dying minutes. He was frustrated as hell on the sidelines.

It's clear Browns plans for the team don't involve Levi, he hasn't really given the Levi/Griffin combo any time at all to see how it goes. Levi plays 1 spot, hooker, Buhrer can cover multiple spots so he is always going to get his spot on the bench in front of Levi. The only reason to keep him is for injury cover in case Griff goes down.

I have no doubt Levi was picked to appease him. The club is doing the right thing saying no to release him, but I can fully understand Levi being upset by his current situation.
 
Haven't really talked myself into anything because none of them have gotten better really.

Broncos are probably fortunate they got Korbin on a NSW Cup contract because that's what he's been playing like since he's even there (even broncos fans admit this)

His brother is still an absolute pillow who has made various bad reads in defence but they are covered up by the rest of the dragons forwards being awesome

Uate still makes errors and bad defensive reads, is about a step or so slower and doesn't bend the line anywhere near as much as he used to

The only one who may look okay is Rochow but even that was after a stint with Souths and being disrupted by injury

Haven't heard anything about stock well since he left
Stockwell in Titans 17, bench, might see him next week and Tariq S is playing better than seen before
 
Levi has had the dirts since the trial match in Maitland where he didn't get on the field until the dying minutes. He was frustrated as hell on the sidelines.

It's clear Browns plans for the team don't involve Levi, he hasn't really given the Levi/Griffin combo any time at all to see how it goes. Levi plays 1 spot, hooker, Buhrer can cover multiple spots so he is always going to get his spot on the bench in front of Levi. The only reason to keep him is for injury cover in case Griff goes down.

I have no doubt Levi was picked to appease him. The club is doing the right thing saying no to release him, but I can fully understand Levi being upset by his current situation.
He needs to suck it up a lil but in saying that I’d pick him over bruhrer every week
 
Not true.
People here keep saying that, and have probably talked themselves into believing it, but most of them are doing fine.
Not so sure i agree with this Uate hasn't set the world on fire and had an Attitude problem before Brown got here , as soon as he signed that big contract his form took a dive .
Neither of the Simms boys were putting in like they should have been while here and Tariq's form proves that because he never played this well for us NOT once and his Korbin hasn't flown any higher than he did for us imo .
Stockwell isn't doing much and didn't do much here .
Rochow left and did nothing last year and I'm sure i read the other day that he has missed more tackles than any other forward in the NRL or something to that effect .
Best thing we did was get rid of all of them they all used this place as a summer camp with a cheque book ...
IMO Levi wants out because he knows that Brown bought someone better than him and he will not have a chance of starting again unless Griffin gets hurt , so he wants to see if he can get a start somewhere else . Cant blame him for that Griffin is better than him and he knows it .
 
Levi has no chance of showing those that matter if playing reserves, he has a contract for a couple of years but the bigger picture is NZ rep, got to get passed Isaac Luke who has come back strong, that equates to career satisfaction and big payment next contract none of which will happen in reserves.
He is 1st grade hooker type but just short of 80mins first grade type, but please let's keep him, his time will come
 
Levi and griffin should be our hooker rotation griffin steady tackling machine starting to open his game up a bit! Levi is an attacking hooker who can get around the ruck with tiring forwards with Pearce and Watson and ponga I like that a lot
 
Stockwell in Titans 17, bench, might see him next week and Tariq S is playing better than seen before

As mentioned looking better in the dragons pack but most will feel obliged to lift their game in their awesome pack. Still, I've seen some Sione like efforts from him at the try line trying to make tackles which is a big concern for the dragons.

As for Levi the funny thing is also Griffin has declared his allegiance for NZ so he could push him out of two spots!
 
Personally I really like Levi and think he's a better player than Griffin, that being said I hate it when players ask for a release after getting dropped for a few games, FFS get in have a go and win your place back it's simple. Fair enough if you're in reggies all year and you sit down and the coach tells you that you'll be in reggies next season as well a release might be a good idea for both parties. But it's round 10 he's played 3 of 10 games, get in have a crack and win your spot back, he re-signed last year for a new deal and now he wants a release? I don't like that at all.
 
Levi didn't get dropped on form, he just didn't fit in to Browns plans. Brown didn't want two specialist hookers in the side, one had to miss out and he went with Griff.

Levi is better attacking, Griff is better defensively and can play longer effective minutes. Our side leaks points so I get why Brown went with the defensive option.

I don't think it's a case of Levi just playing his way back in through form. And I think Levi is of the same opinion, hence the release request.
 
Levi didn't get dropped on form, he just didn't fit in to Browns plans. Brown didn't want two specialist hookers in the side, one had to miss out and he went with Griff.

Levi is better attacking, Griff is better defensively and can play longer effective minutes. Our side leaks points so I get why Brown went with the defensive option.

I don't think it's a case of Levi just playing his way back in through form. And I think Levi is of the same opinion, hence the release request.

Or he could improve his endurance and defence to force his way into the side...

Classic Gen Y these days. When things don’t come easy for you, you throw the toys out the cot and want out as Jaybro was getting at.
 
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