Recruitment And Retention Discussion

Seano said:
You don't like the Brown deal, we get it. Most reasoned analysis of the deal and what's happening in the player market suggests that it's a risk, but a calculated one. But OK fine.

But there's no need to make stuff up to dump on the bloke. He's not a "dud" because you don't like the deal. And moving now didn't make sense for anyone.

I can already see how this is going to play out, with some deciding that Brown will be the scapegoat for everything that goes wrong before he even arrives at the club. And it's already tedious.

PS. Surely Farnsworth's over $1m deal for a bloke who is a great player, but who will get 30-40 less touches of the ball per game than Brown will give some context to the Brown deal.
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Brown will have people on his back to get results. With that being in 6 or 7. His getting paid big bucks to be a creator of points. We are into ponga right now for not doing it so I can't see why brown would be any different.
 
danknights said:
Brown will have people on his back to get results. With that being in 6 or 7. His getting paid big bucks to be a creator of points. We are into ponga right now for not doing it so I can't see why brown would be any different.
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At no stage have I said anything different. Players have to perform.

But I have called out unreasonable criticism. Calling Brown a "dud" because you don't like his contract is not reasonable, nor is suggesting that the NZ 6 doesn't know how to play 6. The relentless torrent of bullsh!t attacking a bloke who hasn't even pulled on a Knights jersey and isn't and won't be responsible for everything wrong or that goes wrong at the club is not reasonable.
 
I think the 'dud' comment was intended analogously not literally.

The way hes played for Parramatta since signing with us, it's probably a fair whinge to label the player as likely incapable of fulfilling both the value of the contract and the proposed role of a quasi-halfback i.e. a dud

Personally, I'm preserving my opinion until I see him play for us, the structure he gets thrown into, the forwards he plays behind and the coach he plays under.
 
Just in relation to Brown being dropped and not coming early…
Ryles has a job next year. He’s future planning. Brown wont be there. Even earlier in the season with Moses out, previously we’d likely see Brown take on the responsibility, but it seemed like he was explicitly told to play his role and let Hawkins take ownership and develop.
I don’t think it’s so much a reflection of Brown.

And roles reversed, I’d be a bit off Thompson and KPP if they came out and said they wanted to leave early before the halfway point. Thompson has already checked out, so maybe not the best point. But I support players seeing out the season. (I’m still hoping the Dogs fall to pieces in the halves and they butcher their best chance at success in years because Gus wanted the shiny toy NOW).

AOB, at this stage, and if results continue the same trajectory, will not have a job next year.
I guess we have been future planning a bit with Sharpe on the right since we signed Brown. But AOB needs a few results the finish the year if he’s any hope at retaining his job. If he was safe, I’d hope we’d be seeing a few players we hope to play a big role or undecided role next year, given a go. Because surely our finals hopes have been dashed without Ponga, Sharpe and Lucas.


Some things a coach with next year in mind would probably be doing:
Gagai and Frizz playing for contracts/negotiating power - this one’s easy since they are both easy inclusions.
I think we all would have liked to see a bit more of Arthur at 9, if he’s all he’s touted to be, especially with Brailey leaving and Crossland finding his groove at 13.
Gamble in the halves - started the season as the preferred option, now somehow finds himself at the bottom of the pack - maybe coming on to spell at Hooker this week?. Behind Hastings who we have infamously exiled, not signed for next year and seem to have taken a liking to again.
Giving a run to those who we haven’t extended in hopes we see something - Hetho
I think, not by choice, we have given a few younger players quite a good taste of first grade this year, but letting those fringe guys have a crack to see what the next step takes and what they can work on over preseason

I made a comment in relation to the Tigers and their handling of the TDS and API situation. When you have a coach under pressure, they take short term options, if a coach is backed, they’ll look more long term.
 
danknights said:
Brown will have people on his back to get results. With that being in 6 or 7. His getting paid big bucks to be a creator of points. We are into ponga right now for not doing it so I can't see why brown would be any different.
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That’s the problem with this mentality though. We attack KP and potential of Brown yet never seem to direct the failings at the overall team. If the knights held the ball more and controlled the ruck more then the guys like KP and especially Sharpe now can take advantage of the room. It’ll be same for Brown in years to come, co trio the flow of the game and we’ll have success, it takes an entire team for the stars to stand out.

Every “content creator” and “footy expert” say 2023 happened because of KP’s brilliance, where in reality KP did some special stuff due to the team playing some of there best 80min performances as a whole team and the emergence of young and Best being injury free. Funny that.

I already like the purchases of Crouch, Hola and Saulo. Emergence of McEwen possibly doing shifts in the middle and Elijah turning into a post contact beast. Add two more middles and the depth issue in middles next year is solved. Hold the ball and we’ll automatically do better.
 
BTP said:
That’s the problem with this mentality though. We attack KP and potential of Brown yet never seem to direct the failings at the overall team. If the knights held the ball more and controlled the ruck more then the guys like KP and especially Sharpe now can take advantage of the room. It’ll be same for Brown in years to come, co trio the flow of the game and we’ll have success, it takes an entire team for the stars to stand out.

Every “content creator” and “footy expert” say 2023 happened because of KP’s brilliance, where in reality KP did some special stuff due to the team playing some of there best 80min performances as a whole team and the emergence of young and Best being injury free. Funny that.

I already like the purchases of Crouch, Hola and Saulo. Emergence of McEwen possibly doing shifts in the middle and Elijah turning into a post contact beast. Add two more middles and the depth issue in middles next year is solved. Hold the ball and we’ll automatically do better.
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I don't believe so, you can have all the possession in the world but if you can't play some footy you'll be on the back foot also. We have seen AOB ball in the flesh and it's exactly just holding onto the ball. Yeah having cattle helps but you can't tell me all those players on the field currently don't have some flair that they just don't use on game day. Matt crocker, Brodie Jones and kpp all have more to their skillset than what we see each and every week. Losing key positions is what lets us down and having young guys in trying to replicate AOB ball of just hold the ball man and make your tackles.
 
Our attack also suffers because we spend way more time defending than any other team. It’s hard to attack well and have guys wanting to push up when you’re zapped from having to defend so much.

I have noticed in games this year when our attack has hummed a lot more if coincides with making less errors and having more of an even share of possession.

It doesn’t really matter who we bring to the club if we don’t fix the errors.
 
BTP said:
Add two more middles and the depth issue in middles next year is solved
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We don't have an issue with enough middles next year.

Jsaf, Saulo, Crossland, Hola, Crouch, McEwen, Jones, Croker, Cant, Frizz, Hopwood

It's too many if anything, we need more edges unless a few of them are transitioning back (noting McEwen starting there today now).

Now if you said you have an issue with the quality of middles I'm definitely listening.
 
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Most sides have a lot of flexible forwards who can play both middle and edge when needed, often both in the same game, rather than two separate & discrete lists of specialists. Those “tweener” forwards used to be one of the worst archetypes in the game and now it’s essential to have a bunch of them.
 
Think both ESL and Manuleleua would be best to play middle in Cup for most of 26 to develop further.
Unless injuries we have JSaf, Crouch, Saulo and Hola, Jones, Croker along with Crossland at 13 with Lucas, Friz? and McEwen 2nd row which Jones and Croker can cover as well
 
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