2022 Knights Recruitment & Retention Thread

To’a is a bit average.

On recruitment, we’d just be in such a better position if Pearce decided he wasn’t gonna stay in Australia during the year rather than at the end of it. Flush with cash when players like Shaun Johnson and Adam Reynolds were negotiating with rivals…

The way it stood, when he left, our only options were to try and get someone to break a contract - not likely - or throw someone a lifeline. I’m not gonna complain about the club opting not to sign Corey Norman. You can only recruit the players who are actually available.
 
Kickitoverhere said:
Hope crossland has more that this
Click to expand...

Never going to be a first choice half here so doesn't really matter.

On the recruitment front, the rule used to be that you needed 29 players signed by 1st of March. They seemed to throw a lot of the recruitment rules out the window over the last two years so I wonder if that's still the case. Not much time to find three players if so.

This link says it's still the rule, but who knows https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/01/27/2022-signings-tracker-official-rosters-for-all-17-nrl-clubs/
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
To’a is a bit average.

On recruitment, we’d just be in such a better position if Pearce decided he wasn’t gonna stay in Australia during the year rather than at the end of it. Flush with cash when players like Shaun Johnson and Adam Reynolds were negotiating with rivals…

The way it stood, when he left, our only options were to try and get someone to break a contract - not likely - or throw someone a lifeline. I’m not gonna complain about the club opting not to sign Corey Norman. You can only recruit the players who are actually available.
Click to expand...
Yep Pearce ****ed is big time. Can’t believe so many people in here were just like oh well his heart isn’t in it anymore
 
slotmachine said:
Never going to be a first choice half here so doesn't really matter.

On the recruitment front, the rule used to be that you needed 29 players signed by 1st of March. They seemed to throw a lot of the recruitment rules out the window over the last two years so I wonder if that's still the case. Not much time to find three players if so.

This link says it's still the rule, but who knows https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/01/27/2022-signings-tracker-official-rosters-for-all-17-nrl-clubs/
Click to expand...
Apparently Joey said crossland has improved heaps this off-season, I assume that means in relation to his playmaking skills
 
Kickitoverhere said:
Apparently Joey said crossland has improved heaps this off-season, I assume that means in relation to his playmaking skills
Click to expand...
Joey was one of the greatest ever players there’s no denying that. But spotting talent he isn’t very good. Only need to hear him in commentary to see how many young guys he overrates and hyperboles.

He had also spent the last couple years working with the Eels and young Brown hasn’t looked any better then he did when he first burst into the scene. Probably gone backwards if anything.

Crossland just isn’t good enough and the club know it.
 
cowboyman said:
Joey was one of the greatest ever players there’s no denying that. But spotting talent he isn’t very good. Only need to hear him in commentary to see how many young guys he overrates and hyperboles.

He had also spent the last couple years working with the Eels and young Brown hasn’t looked any better then he did when he first burst into the scene. Probably gone backwards if anything.

Crossland just isn’t good enough and the club know it.
Click to expand...
Do you ever have anything positive to say about anything Newcastle related?
 
Matt Hoy is Joey's good mate.
So he is always going to talk up Tex.

Most playmakers take time to develop their game and don't hit their straps until mid 20's (there are obviously some freaks like Filter and Cleary).
Cody Walker Is one of the best halves going around and didn't come good to his mid 20's.
Thurston future immortal didn't have a regular starting spot till about 23

Phoenix is only 21, time will tell if he becomes an NRL quality half.
 
Last edited:
alexwilliams said:
Do you ever have anything positive to say about anything Newcastle related?
Click to expand...
I speak reality. Many on here seem to think Crossland isn’t good enough but the time I say it people like you pop up out of the woodwork and quote me.

Like slots said, Joey thinks Tex Hoy was good to and talked him up. His talent identification is shocking and he overrated a lot of young players while in commentary whether it be Knights or anyone for that matter.
 
krustykraz said:
Matt Hoy is Joey's good mate.
So he is always going to talk up Tex.

Most playmakers take time to develop their game and don't hit their straps until mid 20's (there are obviously some freaks like Filter and Cleary).
Cody Walker Is one of the best halves going around and didn't come good to his mid 20's.
Thurston future immortal didn't have a regular starting spot till about 23

Phoenix is only 21, time will tell if he becomes an NRL quality half.
Click to expand...
Thanks krusty. Crossland has only had limited opportunities in first grade but many people on here have already written him off. Give the guy a fair go, he his still only 21!
 
Last edited:
cowboyman said:
I speak reality. Many on here seem to think Crossland isn’t good enough but the time I say it people like you pop up out of the woodwork and quote me.

Like slots said, Joey thinks Tex Hoy was good to and talked him up. His talent identification is shocking and he overrated a lot of young players while in commentary whether it be Knights or anyone for that matter.
Click to expand...

Agree with you on Crossland and most definitely Hoy.
 
If the club thought he was any good as a half they wouldn't have given him a token 12 month deal and told him to reinvent himself as a lock.

They also wouldn't have gone out and recruited Clune as a backup when Pearce was still around, then given him the starting job when Pearce walked.

I guess they wouldn't have tried to recruit every second half in the comp too, Clifford, Brooks, milf etc.
 
Last edited:
Crossland has a lot of good traits, but a crafty and instinctive playmaker he is not. If he was capable of such things and we were yet to see it he would've been hiding it in the juniors too.

You can't just learn to have NRL quality halfback ball skills. You need to be born with that unfortunately.

We let our best junior halves prospect go to the Storm.
 
BETTERTHANLEGO said:
Despite his flaws and penchant for hyperbole, I’d much rather have Johns in the position he has with us than anyone else.
Click to expand...
No doubt you want him coaching and transferring his knowledge to the guys at the club. I just wouldn’t solely rely on his opinion of a player especially when they are young and unproven as he likes to hyperbole them all.
 
cowboyman said:
No doubt you want him coaching and transferring his knowledge to the guys at the club. I just wouldn’t solely rely on his opinion of a player especially when they are young and unproven as he likes to hyperbole them all
Click to expand...

Yeah true that is a fair point but I also don’t think he’ll be the one identifying talent moving forward, he can only work with what he is provided this year.

He has worked with top flight players both in the nrl and in origin for sometime and I think that should translate well moving forward with our squad.

Though putting too much power into anyones hands can turn sour quickly so I do understand how potentially destructive it could be to the club. Touch wood the knights aren’t thick enough to do that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top