2018 halves combination

LEVR said:
I didn't read: 'I wana stay'

I read: 'I'm totally prepared to leave if it suits'
Click to expand...
He is too smart a guy to close down his options, but the club are not going to release him, so he says he is going to do his best and make a decision on his future when he has to.
Some players get all bent and twisted by things they can't control, but the quotes in that article seem to say he'll just keep working and back himself to do well.
 
I don't put any stock in what a player says in the press about contract stuff, or clubs, managers, media themselves etc.

Too much politics involved to put any faith in what is being said.

If I were Lamb, apparently dumped from the first grade side after having a good 2017 in a fairly average team, I'd be looking to leave also if I could get a 1st grade gig at another club. I don't see too many clubs that would sign him straight to a 1st grade spot outside manly though.

Brown will be banking on that to keep him, he could leave to another club and fight for a 1st grade position there, or he could stay and fight for it here. Here he has goal kicking as his ace in the hole, and if we are losing those close games again this season, goal kicking along with form may play a factor in his pushing for a 5/8 starting spot. Especially with Brown now having some pressure applied to him to now start getting results.

I'm assuming Ponga will be goal kicking for us next year?
 
Newcastle Knights 2018 halves plan, will Brock Lamb be chopped?


Steve Zemek, AAP
December 15, 2017 12:36pm


NOT only are Newcastle bullish about their hopes of retaining local junior Brock Lamb for 2018, they want to lock him up beyond next year.

Lamb’s future has been the source of speculation following the arrival of Mitchell Pearce which threatens to push the talented young playmaker out of Nathan Brown’s top 17.

Manly were rumoured to be hunting his signature for 2018 however the NRL’s salary cap investigation threatens to scupper any hope of them adding to their roster.

Lamb, 20, is off contract at the end of 2018 and Knights CEO Philip Gardner said the club was not only confident he would wear the red, blue and white next year, they would be in a position to re-sign him.

“He’s with us for 2018 and we hope he’s with us longer,” Gardner said.

“He’s a very important part of where we’re at. Brock is a local junior. He was with me announcing a trial game up there in Maitland because he’s a Maitland junior. He’s a champion young man with a lot of ability.”

Pearce and Connor Watson are expected to form Brown’s scrumbase partnership next year and should Lamb’s game time be limited, he could search for other opportunities before the June 30 transfer deadline.

Lamb seemingly came of age in the final two months of the 2017 season, spearheading the Knights to upset wins over St George Illawarra, Warriors and Parramatta.

Gardner made an impassioned pitch for Lamb to remain, predicting he would play plenty of first-grade.

“If I was advising him, I’d be saying ‘Brock wait for the 29th of June to make any decision’. Because he could be playing a lot of first grade between now and then,” Gardner said.

“He’s got a long career ahead of him and it’s going to be a big competition for his signature in 2019. We’ll be one of those clubs competing for it.

“His attitude about playing with Mitch is first-class. He’s not dropped his head, he’s putting in, he’s proving he’s a quality person and a quality player.

“We want the best for Brock and he’ll be with us in 2018. We need him.”


https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...d/news-story/cc98af1c6212660b455191aa82db49e7
 
We have money to upgrade and pay Lamb an extension, no worse of finance wise if we spent what Hodko has been getting for a year and paying Lamb for 2-3 years extension, 2019-20. Would love to keep him here.
 
With a halves combination of Watson, Pearce I'm worried about our kicking game. If Pearce is our only 5th tackle option our attack will become very predictable. Imo Pearce doesn't have the best kicking game as it is.
Also no goal kicker?
 
Agreed. Roosters had the same problem with Pierce/Watson combo

Difference is that we'll have a dynamic and creative Ponga. They had Gordon who, let's face it, is flat..

So I think Watson's longterm success in the halves is contingent on how well Ponga takes to the roll of a ball playing fallback, who will need to know how to kick and make a habit of finishing sets well when he needs to
 
According to the mole today. Cogger wants out of the Knights with the Bulldogs wanting him. They need to release a player to fit him though. Knights prepared to let him go.
 
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