The Halfback Conundrum

[Seano]

The Club, poorly run.....

O'Rly? Two NRLW titles, 4 out 5 NRL finals series, a new centre of excellence, financially stable, virtually no off-field incidents and some genuinely quality juniors coming through in the men's and women's ranks all in the last 5 years. Not to mention hiring a recruitment officer who seems to genuinely know what he's doing and how to build a roster.

Some average players that have been tapped on the shoulder recently I see some people making comments they should be extended. My god.

Incorrect. These same players took us to the 2nd round of the finals in 2023 and were unlucky not to do so again in 2024. Yes the Knights let the off-contract players know they could move if they could find a spot but this was about salary cap space and freeing up cash to try to keep Leo/sign a half back. No one to my knowledge has said to any of these players that they definitely won't be re-signed for 2025 (and the club would be stupid to do so), all are in the mix to earn (note the keyword, earn) an extension.

Brailey could have gone to Parra in the offseason but AOB stopped it, so the chance of him being re-signed by the Knights following a strong, injury-free 2025 seems high, similarly with Elliot. And without a quality 7 Hastings at his best and with his head right is the best 7 at the club until the Knights either buy or develop one.

There's not a club in the league without off-contract players who they are yet to make decisions on because....*checks notes*...there's a salary cap. And the cap works two ways they not only have to stay under it but they have to spend it on 30 players (and development players not sure how that part works off hand).

So of course they're running the risk of losing some blokes whilst they try to balance the roster and recruit. And blokes at the club are likely hanging on hoping for an offer, at least the ones who want to stay in Newy.

It's a fantasy to think that the Knights are not going to re-sign any of:
Jayden Brailey, Paul Bryan, Mat Croker, Adam Elliott, Jackson Hastings, Jack Hetherington, Brodie Jones, Riley Jones, Kai Pearce-Paul, Will Pryce, Sebastian Su'a, Siteni Taukamo *

As well as lose Thompson and possibly Friz who has a mutual option I believe and they're going to take that "war chest" and do what with it exactly? Go down to the player shop and buy replacements?


* Source Zero Tackle...so may not be completely accurate.

 

[Defence wins games]

From what I read that came down to not being able to work with Gardner and his cronie mate who stick their noses in where they shouldn't be.

There is no doubt in my mind our management is horrible, and contributes to the clubs outcomes.

All good moving organisations have aspirational leaders who work and live the organisation’s values.
This doesn’t happen at the Knights at the moment.
There are too many people at the top who have a say because they believe the club owes them because they provide financial security, even though they know nothing about the game, but have skills in other areas.
The fish rots from the head down, and at the moment we have a can full of rotten fish, and nobody at the club has the balls to move them on.
Hence our mediocre performance and aspirations start and finish there.

 

[Seano]

PS. Obviously, there are some problems at the club. We're currently not competitive with the top 4 sides, we don't have enough points, we need to sort out our halves, we need to find Ponga some help, and the jury is still out on AOB.

But these are all short-term problems most of which will be resolved in a season or two.

When the club is financially secure and starting to turn out quality rep potential/level juniors regularly, Best, Lucas, Crossland, Sharpe...and we have heaps of prospects coming through and we can turn players like Young & Thompson into test players the future is bright.

I'm not super confident about 2025 but I do think we could shock some people, but I'm increasingly excited about what the Knights will look like from 2026/2027 on.

 

[Albus Miles]

O'Rly? Two NRLW titles, 4 out 5 NRL finals series, a new centre of excellence, financially stable, virtually no off-field incidents and some genuinely quality juniors coming through in the men's and women's ranks all in the last 5 years. Not to mention hiring a recruitment officer who seems to genuinely know what he's doing and how to build a roster.

this just illustrates the point perfectly . Celebrating just making the 8 - half way up the ladder - the middle - being average. Embarrassing and sad really. Let me guess the reply would be "there are 9 other teams that would love to make the 8" blah blah. I can assure you this is NOT a point any administrator from any successful organization would point to as acceptable. Sorry.

Centre of Excellence - $$$ half of it tax payer. Every club has one, your point being?

Financially Stable - agreed

Off Field incidents ? Not a management issue but Ok . There was one guy released for cocaine (name escapes me), JSaf and Tapine on assault charges, Pearce being Pearce ( no law broken just a horrible man) yes last few years all good - nothing to do with management anyway - humans are imperfect.

Juniors coming through - LOL - we havent heard that before have we.

Recruitment officer - agreed finally after 10 years they get a recruitment centric specialist with expertise.

NRLW Premierships - buying back the farm and winning a few games a season concluding with 2 Premierships in the women's game was indeed great for the club. How is that winning culture going? On course for a GF appearance next season are we?

 

[Albus Miles]

Incorrect. These same players took us to the 2nd round of the finals in 2023 and were unlucky not to do so again in 2024. Yes the Knights let the off-contract players know they could move if they could find a spot but this was about salary cap space and free up cash to try to keep Leo/sign a half back. No one to my knowledge has said to any of these players that they definitely won't be re-signed for 2025 (and the club would be stupid to do so), all are in the mix to earn (note the keyword, earn) an extension.

One freak took us to the finals and his name is Ponga.

Dsaf was moved on because he is not value for money - money better spent elsewhere.

The proof is in the details. Is any club going after our free agents Hastings, Hetherington, Brailey, Elliot ? NO they arent . Why do you think that is? Because they arent any good that's why hahaha Brailey didnt go to Parra because they arent stupid enough to pay the freight the Knights were asking for a below average hooker made of glass.

 

[Lefty]

Personally finding a lot of the constant negativity on here quite boring recently.

I totally agree with this.

There are a lot of things which are going well at present. We are financially secure, we have a modern stadium, a centre of excellence, a large fan base who follow us no matter how badly we play, lots of promising juniors and we have some excellent senior players, Peter Parr, Peter O’Sullivan and Adam Blair.

We just need to fill the gaps in our roster and build towards a premiership with the head coach we have and hope Phil Gardner and his mate stop meddling with the football department.

 

[Celticman98]

The club has got a find way to remove that Cannovo bloke that is Gardner's right hand man.

 

[Albus Miles]

I'm not super confident about 2025 but I do think we could shock some people, but I'm increasingly excited about what the Knights will look like from 2026/2027 on.

What will it "look like" making the 8? making the 4? Grand Final and/or Premiers?

Without a major player steering the ship and a damn good 2IC ( half and 5/8) I don't see the needle moving much at all. The impending loss of Friz and Gags experience will be hard to replace. + the pack lacks a mongrel. The only mongrel we've had for a decade is now a test and SOO rep playing for the Warriors.

Cleary/Luai
Hughes/Munster

Theyre the bench mark for a Premiership tilt.

 

[Seano]

this just illustrates the point perfectly . Celebrating just making the 8 - half way up the ladder - the middle - being average. Embarrassing and sad really.

Oh, get a grip. That's how the competition works. I can only assume you only watch the grand final then?

Centre of Excellence - $$$ half of it tax payer. Every club has one, your point being?

Seriously what's your point? The Centre of Excellence is a good thing for the future development of the Knights. Why would you hate on it? Why does it matter that it was built in partnership with the government to progress Rugby League in the Hunter? Just another excuse for a snide dig at the Knights?

Off Field incidents ? Not a management issue but Ok . There was one guy released for cocaine (name escapes me), JSaf and Tapine on assault charges, Pearce being Pearce ( no law broken just a horrible man) yes last few years all good - nothing to do with management anyway - humans are imperfect.

Seriously you're stretching here to hate on the Knights mate. Tapine hasn't been at the club in a decade, Pearce's off-field stuff was at another club and JSaf was cleared wasn't he? Are you sure you support this club?

Juniors coming through - LOL - we havent heard that before have we.

I could give you a list of names, we have Gus Gould enquiring about jrs at the club but I doubt it would matter to you.

NRLW Premierships - buying back the farm and winning a few games a season concluding with 2 Premierships in the women's game was indeed great for the club. How is that winning culture going? On course for a GF appearance next season are we?

Winning culture is not just about the NRL team mate. "On course for a GF appearance next season are we?"...two titles and GF qualifier, yes they've lost some players but it won't be long before they're back on top with the jrs they have coming through.

Your snide and over-critical comments about the Knights don't exactly scream fan....or informed. Do you actually support this club?

 

[Seano]

The proof is in the details. Is any club going after our free agents Hastings, Hetherington, Brailey, Elliot ? NO they arent . Why do you think that is? Because they arent any good that's why hahaha Brailey didnt go to Parra because they arent stupid enough to pay the freight the Knights were asking for a below average hooker made of glass.

Your not understanding salary cap management is hardly a shock at this point.

 

[Seano]

What will it "look like" making the 8? making the 4? Grand Final and/or Premiers?

Without a major player steering the ship and a damn good 2IC ( half and 5/8) I don't see the needle moving much at all. The impending loss of Friz and Gags experience will be hard to replace. + the pack lacks a mongrel. The only mongrel we've had for a decade is now a test and SOO rep playing for the Warriors.

Cleary/Luai
Hughes/Munster

Theyre the bench mark for a Premiership tilt.

Neither Penrith nor the Storm magicked their superstar halves partnerships nor did their winning cultures happen overnight. These things were developed over time. You'd know that if you knew what you were talking about, stick to trolling.

 

[jamesgould]

Criticising a team for only winning two premierships in a row is a pretty high bar lol.

 

[Albus Miles]

Oh, get a grip. That's how the competition works. I can only assume you only watch the grand final then?

watch the full season. I dont celebrate average. Never have. Sorry about that. You can. I won't.

Seriously what's your point?

you raised it as an example of great management. Everyone has one. The tax payer paid half if it. Yeh it's great. We'd still have one no matter who manages the club. So what.

Seriously you're stretching here to hate on the Knights mate

as mentioned it is no stretch a management thing. People are imperfect . Again you raised it as an example of good management. I say so what.

I could give you a list of names, we have Gus Gould enquiring about jrs at the club but I doubt it would matters to you.

I would much rather see the baby than hear the labor pains. We've heard all this before waaaay too many times.

Your snide and over-critical comments about the Knights don't exactly scream fan....or informed. Do you actually support this club?

I'm bred Newy. A person can be a fan and not except being average. A person can be a fan and love the critical thinking application to trouble shooting issues. I guess some walk in the rain and other just get wet, and your the soaked type.

I'm VERY informed.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

I really don’t see much acceptance of being losers. People on here are pretty much always fuming after a loss.

I won’t apologise for enjoying our good moments though. For me as a fan I take enjoyment where I can find it. Without that I’d personally find supporting the team a very depressing, cynical and unenjoyable pastime. Same with life, there’s so much crap out there in the world, but you only get one crack at life, so why not try to enjoy it while you can?

Do I wish we were better - of course, but we aren’t, and there’s not a lot I can really do about that!

Personally finding a lot of the constant negativity on here quite boring recently.

I think we need the footy to come back tbh I’m detecting a bit of stir craziness. Cricket isn’t doing it for everyone maybe?

 

[Seano]

Here's the report that Obi stopped Brailey's move to Parra because he didn't want to lose him:

Souths’ big call on two rising stars; Sydney club pulls out of Hunt race: Transfer Whispers

Souths’ big call on two rising stars; Sydney club pulls out of Hunt race: Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

Here's the list of Canterbury's off-contract players for 2025.

Bailey Hayward, Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Kurtis Morrin, Jaeman Salmon, Toby Sexton, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Ryan Sutton, Blake Taaffe, Jack Todd, Jake Turpin, Blake Wilson

....the suggestion that off-contract means bad or unwanted by any club from this new bloke is ....*checks notes*...dumb

Clearly, not a "very informed" commenter.

I'm not bothering to reply to this bloke's latest comment, a quick scan suggests his snide gibberish is not worth my time.

 

[jamesgould]

I think we need the footy to come back tbh I’m detecting a bit of stir craziness. Cricket isn’t doing it for everyone maybe?

Maybe we should move onto another summer sport - I believe it’s also Lacrosse season?!

 

[Albus Miles]

Neither Penrith nor the Storm magicked their superstar halves partnerships nor did their winning cultures happen overnight. These things were developed over time. You'd know that if you knew what you were talking about, stick to trolling.

my word they are developed over time. Next year is the Wests Group 10 year anniversary. Half a generation.

How long is acceptable to you? Half a generation? 1 generation ? How long should it take for an organization to be successful.

Would it be acceptable to be average after a decade of operation if you were a shareholder in a company ? That's rhetorical by the way.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Maybe we should move onto another summer sport - I believe it’s also Lacrosse season?!

I watch a lot of basketball. Even more terrible refereeing to get annoyed about. I’m never really in the off-season.

 

[Seano]

I watch a lot of basketball. Even more terrible refereeing to get annoyed about. I’m never really in the off-season.

At least the NBA stopped calling everything a foul after the FIBA World Cup because European bball is way tougher (and better for it).

 

[HarVeeGee13]

Don’t get me started mate