Who will Bennett axe, retain & recruit for 2013?

I didnt realise he was 26 but still. If Gids is playing in the halves for the next 3 years whats the likely hood of guys like Roberts staying around knowing he will be in NSW cup till then?

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Gidley has shown he is more then capable playing in the #9 and it would be the short term answer imo on what to do with Roberts and who to play at 9
 
We should buy back Liam Higgins or wait for Clydsdale to be ready - or maybe ask Clydsdale's older brother if he wants to make a comeback.
 
josh2010 said:
I didnt realise he was 26 but still. If Gids is playing in the halves for the next 3 years whats the likely hood of guys like Roberts staying around knowing he will be in NSW cup till then?

Gidley has shown he is more then capable playing in the #9 and it would be the short term answer imo on what to do with Roberts and who to play at 9
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Too bad what Roberts does, apart from his form kicking goals and playing well against Canberra there is no try assists, linebreak assists. He is a stop gap halfback at best and a handy back up. No other club is really struggling for a halfback either.

Accomodating him for Gidley is one of the most bizzare things.

Gidley can play at hooker when he was peaking in his career IMO in 08/09 he was injury free and his motor was insane. Adding to that he has only played a couple of games at hooker, not an all year round thing.

I very much doubt he can take on a full time hooking role in 2014 when Buderus retires, at his age.
 
True, But i just see Gidley as more as a #9 then Half. Have never really been a fan of him at half tbh. but thats just me.
 
Remember those games where Gidley would played hooker in attack and fullback in defence :lol:

How things have changed...
 
Alicia said:
Too bad what Roberts does, apart from his form kicking goals and playing well against Canberra there is no try assists, linebreak assists. He is a stop gap halfback at best and a handy back up. No other club is really struggling for a halfback either.

Accomodating him for Gidley is one of the most bizzare things.

Gidley can play at hooker when he was peaking in his career IMO in 08/09 he was injury free and his motor was insane. Adding to that he has only played a couple of games at hooker, not an all year round thing.

I very much doubt he can take on a full time hooking role in 2014 when Buderus retires, at his age.
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Couldn't have summed up my thoughts on the whole Roberts/Gidley debate better myself!
 
Well put it this way. I think there are more positions we need to worry about before we look at Hookers.
 
josh2010 said:
Well put it this way. I think there are more positions we need to worry about before we look at Hookers.
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Really?

Hooker is the biggest question mark in the short term. We have no experience FT NRL hooker if Bedsy gets injured, or when he retires.

Fullback - Set for now and into the future, great depth.
Wingers - Set for 2013, unknown for 2014 but whens the last time Newcastle had poor wingers?
Centres - Set with Tahu, Gagai, some good junior prospects. Is LikiLiki still here next year?
Halves - 2 experienced halves, with 2 decent rookies (Stig/Roberts)
Prop - Looking like a good mix of youth and experience. Probably need another old head (like Poore) to make a great rotation. When Mason retires, Sims steps up to partner Snowden.
Backrow - Always an area of strength. Housten, Scott, McKinnon, Smith. Great balance of youth and experience again.

Hooker - No clear replacement for Buderus if he is injured, or for 2014. Currently playing Costigan as a stop gap hooker for periods of the game instead of blooding a youngster. Bennett chased Cam King pretty hard from reports. That to me says Hooker is massive ??? in Waynes eyes.

Top three priorities should be, sign an experienced prop who is younger than Mason, a hooker to groom to replace Buderus, and maybe a centre to replace Tahu 2-3 yrs down the track (but that should easily found inhouse).
 
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I think we are a FRF or 2 short atm. Surely we have a #9 capable of doing the job in 2 years time?

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All depends on what price Baptiste will be.
 
Baptise is going to be a star. He's a class above in the QLD Cup and hasn't looked out of place in his time in the NRL. Would be a great signing IMO, could basically slot straight in for Bedsy when he retires with minimum work required.
 
Baptiste is a really good player from what i hear. C'mon guys, Bedsy will retire next year & Gids has just turned 30, Adams is not a starting NRL hooker either. I'd be very happy with Baptiste, one of the best junior hookers going around, i just hope it wouldn't stop the progression of Clydsdale. Bedsy said in the Knights Insider that the club sees Clydsdale as a potential first-grader so who knows what their plan is.
 
Wouldn't mind Knights going after Harrison from Raiders though. If its true that he is on the outer he would be a great buy!
 
Baptiste > Clydesdale

Also screw the Broncos! How do they manage to hold onto second string talent like they do? We had one bloke (KOD) who came through our system (2yrs). As soon as he showed potential in FG he was snapped up... The Broncos had Gagai just sitting there doing nothing, Baptiste should wake up and leave
 
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I reckon the Broncos are regretting the way they handled the Gagai fiasco though. That was a huge gaffe.
 
Mark said:
Baptiste > Clydesdale

Also screw the Broncos! How do they manage to hold onto second string talent like they do? We had one bloke (KOD) who came through our system (2yrs). As soon as he showed potential in FG he was snapped up... The Broncos had Gagai just sitting there doing nothing, Baptiste should wake up and leave
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Getting drilled by Burgess was hardly endorsing, and I think he was a mistake debut as bad as that sounds. Rochow would have played before him if he was fit.
 
Dane Gagai, Willie Mason, Beau Scott, Jeremy Smith, Justin Poore, Kurt Baptiste

I like! Pretty good considering all the players that are leaving (apart from Taia) I wont miss. I see nothing but upgrades here.

Gagai better than Sau and Wes
Mason better than Faaoso
Scott better than Edwards and O'Donnell
Poore better than Tui
Smith better than Taia
Baptiste better than our other backup hookers
 
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Taia leaving still cuts deep, he must have been gettin paid overs cause how could you not want to keep him, he's a legend
 
Yeah Taia is our biggest loss for sure imo. But with Houston, Smith, Scott, Costigan, McKinnon all demanding spots in the 17 and young guys like Tetevano, Anderson, Sims, Rochow pushing, it's not hard to argue with the decision. Would've preferred Costigan to go instead though.
 
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