Toohey's News

Changing Ponga from captain is not a good move. If you were going to do it, in the off season. He may not be a natural talker, but his teams mates talk about him he is the hardest worker at the club. Demoting the captaincy from him could cause discontent and uncomfortable from all parties involved. I think at least wait one more year for Lucus. He is still young.
 
He can be a hard worker and train hard, but on field we need a talker, an inspirer, a leader.

If Ponga isn't that, which it's clear in games he isn't, then bring in a co captain to be that.

And this avoids any potential unrest in the camp.

I'd love to see Lucas get it, simply as a nod to his potential as future captain. Some players take captaincy and mature in to great leaders.

Let's recognise that potential, and start moving him in that direction. Might also help retain him at contract time.
 
Kurriboy said:
He can be a hard worker and train hard, but on field we need a talker, an inspirer, a leader.

If Ponga isn't that, which it's clear in games he isn't, then bring in a co captain to be that.

And this avoids any potential unrest in the camp.

I'd love to see Lucas get it, simply as a nod to his potential as future captain. Some players take captaincy and mature in to great leaders.

Let's recognise that potential, and start moving him in that direction. Might also help retain him at contract time.
Click to expand...
Yeah, fair call Kurri, as a co-captain would be a good option.
 
Wicket said:
Does anyone know if Lucas is even interested in being captain. It’s a lot of extra off field work, which may stunt his development as a player if it’s forced on him

I think he would be a great leader and captain, but only if and when he is ready. Don’t force it
Click to expand...
The way he is getting into huddles, putting his hand up for the tough stuff, I think he knows he is ready
 
22/5
Goes through the top 30 roster and says players like Elliott, Frizzel and Hetherington are still in some doubt.
Says we have 18 signed for next year.
Says Leo, Brailey are going and KPP is likely to go.
Says Gagai is likely to be re-signed.
Says Hastings is no chance and Riley Jones is unlikely.

Says O'Brien won't be sacked. Says club are aware he is working with a "skinny roster" - not of his making - and POS will "take a bit of time" to fix the roster.

Says we have tabled an offer for Pahulu but won't be getting in a bidding war for him because we are "not paying overs".

www.newcastleherald.com.au

Toohey's News: Knights stars in roster firing line, but forget about calling for coach to be sacked

The dismal start to the year has prompted a roster rethink.
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au
 
Last edited:
Billy said:
22/5
Goes through the top 30 roster and says players like Elliott, Frizzel and Hetherington are still in some doubt.
Says we have 18 signed for next year.
Says Leo, Brailey are going and KPP is likely to go.
Says Gagai is likely to be re-signed.
Says Hastings is no chance and Riley Jones is unlikely.

Says O'Brien won't be sacked. Says club are aware he is working with a "skinny roster" - not of his making - and POS will "take a bit of time" to fix the roster.

Says we have tabled an offer for Pahulu but won't be getting in a bidding war for him because we are "not paying overs".
Click to expand...

Other than Gagai this is all bad. Esp the AOB part.
 
Billy said:
22/5
Goes through the top 30 roster and says players like Elliott, Frizzel and Hetherington are still in some doubt.
Says we have 18 signed for next year.
Says Leo, Brailey are going and KPP is likely to go.
Says Gagai is likely to be re-signed.
Says Hastings is no chance and Riley Jones is unlikely.

Says O'Brien won't be sacked. Says club are aware he is working with a "skinny roster" - not of his making - and POS will "take a bit of time" to fix the roster.

Says we have tabled an offer for Pahulu but won't be getting in a bidding war for him because we are "not paying overs".
Click to expand...
But we paid overs for Brown ?
 
Happy to be after Pahulu. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind if he paid overs a little. Sounds like the Titans screwed him over a bit last season. So doubt he stays.
Think we can offer him an opportunity to be a starting prop. Are the Dogs still after him? Surely they have enough forwards now.

I think we need at least 2 of Elliot, frizz and Hetho. I guess Elliot will have a new baby to think of for next year. Presumably Millie will stay with Roosters and her media gig, unless she claims compassionate grounds to come back to Newcastle to be with Adam. Not sure how her maternity leave works. Presume one of them will likely have to move for 2026.

I’d love to see our spreadsheet of what our team looks like in 2 years. At the moment it looks like next year is going to be “skinny” too. So how long do we get to use the excuse of a skinny roster?
 
Getting more worried about POS by the day. Signing Dylan Brown seems like an obsession of his and something he’d try and get done no matter how much it screws the cap.

We have a good roster at the moment without much depth. Next year the roster looks way worse with no depth. Expecting a bunch of kids who aren’t ready for FG to fill the void is gonna leave us with a 2016 type situation.
 
"I'm really satisfied with the roster – that's one thing I will make clear. I won't be whinging we don't have the players. It's definitely not [a rebuild].
Click to expand...

This was the coach coming in to the position prior to 2020 season.

5 seasons later the club has gone from not needing a rebuild to barely any depth and right in the middle of a rebuild.

Depressing how inept the Knights are across the entire club.

Maybe this rebuild is the one that works!
 
Kurriboy said:
This was the coach coming in to the position prior to 2020 season.

5 seasons later the club has gone from not needing a rebuild to barely any depth and right in the middle of a rebuild.

Depressing how inept the Knights are across the entire club.

Maybe this rebuild is the one that works!
Click to expand...
I fear I won't be around to see it finished
 
Kurriboy said:
This was the coach coming in to the position prior to 2020 season.

5 seasons later the club has gone from not needing a rebuild to barely any depth and right in the middle of a rebuild.

Depressing how inept the Knights are across the entire club.

Maybe this rebuild is the one that works!
Click to expand...

Every time you change recruitment managers you are reshaping and or rebuilding. Since aob arrived how many have we gone through?zammit , doyle? And now pos, was mckinnon already gone i cant recall? Atleast now we should see some continuity and a clear plan moving forward with pos locked up for 5 years.
 
To be fair, literally every team goes through boom-bust periods with the roster. Players who were right in the upper echelon for that position get older (or get poached, if that team is too successful). It’s literally impossible to have a stacked roster with good to great players in every position for more than at the very most three straight seasons. That’s by design, that’s what a salary cap is supposed to do. Penrith staved it off for longer than anyone but even they finally have guys who are costing them games, but they have to play them because the good players are gone now.

The thing about “rebuilds” is that you should always be “building”. Melbourne were *really* skinny depth wise over 2022-23, for example. They had some straight up bad players in their best 17 & they were a few injuries away from bringing in some guys who are serious liabilities. The difference between them and us was that the good/expensive players in their top 30 are some of the best players in the comp and a lot of the good/expensive players in our top 30 were just kind of okay, so their “skinny” roster was still good enough for 5th and then 3rd. And then their bad/problematic players - their weaker starters & their depth - steadily became at least decent/reliable with more game time. And now they’re premiership favourites. Aside from Stefano, who they’ve shelled out for to take them over the hump (on current evidence that was a huge mistake, he’s still ****), their roster is full of guys they bought low on years ago & built into what they need.

We won’t pay “overs” for Pahulu, sure, but I can’t believe anyone else’s offer will be bigger. Unless some truly wild stuff is going on, Melbourne have more of their cap tied up in their pack than ours next year. Between NAS, Stefano & Eli Katoa, you’re looking at about $2.3 million, for example. But he’s exactly what we should be looking for: He’s not going to help in 2026 as a new decent 29 year old $500K middle would help, but there’s a very good chance he’s a much better player than the experienced guy in the years after that. I just hope we have the bottle to chase true success rather than panic and chase mediocrity in 2026.
 
EASBay17 said:
Every time you change recruitment managers you are reshaping and or rebuilding. Since aob arrived how many have we gone through?zammit , doyle? And now pos, was mckinnon already gone i cant recall? Atleast now we should see some continuity and a clear plan moving forward with pos locked up for 5 years.
Click to expand...
It will end before the 5 years. In tears.
 
I disagree that we have paid overs for Brown when looked at in context. We've locked up a marquee player for 8 years (with 2 years club options) on a deal that will likely be middle of the pack within the next couple years for marquee players as the new team and TV rights deal money floods through the NRL. We won't be at risk of losing our star half while that money washes through. We also have some protection if KP decides not to renew (or is potentially traded for assets, which I doubt happens, but who knows what Andre and KP will want to do).

The club refusing to pay over generally is good news even if that means more pain in the short term because we all recognise that over paying journeymen to fill roles in Newcastle has been part of why we're where we are now.

I don't think many of us expected or wanted another rebuild but here we are again. Hopefully they get this one right this time in POS we trust lol.

PS. AOB does have some excuse over the thinness of the roster, that's real, I think most would agree but equally until the roster is looking like improving it's probably not worth handing to a new coach. For his part he's been trying to develop players like McKewen and Cant....although I wish he'd only play Tommy in the middle and either play Brailey or drop him for someone who will be here next season.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top