2026 Recruitment And Retention

CornChippy said:
Knights looking to lock up Wilson De Courcey for two years as a long term replacement to Dane Gagai.

www.zerotackle.com

Knights make move to lock down rookie talent

The talented outside back came through the Panthers elite pathways before being poached in 2023.
www.zerotackle.com www.zerotackle.com
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I don't think WDC is that guy at centre. But we need cheap depth in that spot over the next couple seasons while wait for someone else to emerge from inside of outside the club.
 
WDC actually looks like a really good winger more than a centre, I think Billy said it best that he is wasted at centre.

Funny because he has been a centre, but yeah looks like a Lomax situation where is a better winger
 
If Gagai and Frizell both retire, I’d like us to offer them some coaching role

If they play on, probably at the bears would be a good spot for both, to help set the culture there, then we should offer them a coaching role once they have retired
 
Projecting the starters and depth:

1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Dominic Young
3. Wilson De Courcey*
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew*
6. Fletcher Sharpe
7. Dylan Brown
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Trey Mooney
11. Dylan Lucas
12. Jermaine McEwen
13. Mat Croker

14. Sandon Smith
15. Marata Niukore*
16. Cody Hopwood
17. Pasami Saulo
18. Fletcher Hunt
19. Francis Manuleleua

1. Toby Winter (development)
2. James Schiller
3. Kingston Seve
4. Kyle McCarthy
5. Sosaia Latu (development)
6.
7. Matthew Hunter
8. Lachlan Crouch
9. Matt Arthur / Harrison Graham*
10. Peter Hola
11. Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
12. Asu Kepaoa
13. Tom Cant

14. Diesel Hagan (development)
15. Wil Sullivan

*Not yet signed/confirmed

Can definitely understand why they want to keep Marzhew, outside backs look shaky even factoring him and De Courcey in. Going to be depending on a couple of younger players to come of age fast. That feels like the biggest area of focus for whatever little external recruiting we may look to do.

Spine depth looks good. Would probably look to add an extra half on a development deal, similar to what they did with Harrison Graham this year. Even someone from within like Mitch Henderson who can be a dependable reserve grade half alongside Hunter, and cover half/hooker for first grade in case of emergency.

Forwards are maybe lacking the top-end talent of other teams but the depth is pretty healthy. Will be hoping the likes of Mooney and Hopwood can develop into that type of player from within.
 
If Marzhew leaves at the end of the year who gets first crack at his spot do you think?
Schiller is talented and a big body but makes the same amount of mistakes as Marzhew or do we go De Courcey, a young unproven player but with a heap of potential?
 
mullenmagic said:
Can definitely understand why they want to keep Marzhew, outside backs look shaky even factoring him and De Courcey in.
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I’m fine with keeping Marzhew on a reduced contract, with how one sided his play style is he certainly isn’t worth what he is on so if the reported rumour of them looking to reduce his money is true than I’m fine with it.

on the flip side he is on a 2 week tackle in the air streak and I wanna see if he can keep it alive against the raiders
 
Seano said:
Brent Reed is calling on the Dragons to stop signing "rejects" and break the bank to sign KP.


PS. Dragons definitely need a new fb, Gutho should move to the centres, he's too slow, and the Dragons can't wait until 2028.
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Reed has always been close to the Ponga family, maybe he knows KP is on the way out.. I doubt it though
 
Reed was definitely spitballing about what the Dragons should do to fix their current problems, not suggesting he had any inside knowledge.

And I agree with him, KP could be a difference maker for them, the problem is though they need help in 2027 (or sooner), not 2028.
 
Mclovin said:
Reed has always been close to the Ponga family, maybe he knows KP is on the way out.. I doubt it though
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Read wouldn’t have a clue what the Ponga’s are deciding much like anyone else in the Sydney media. We don’t need to quote any fake news examples…

The guy that used to do the Knights media stuff said Andre was always pretty open and good for a chat and never had any issues talking with him. When speculation came about even from people who used ro post here who shall not be named he simply just said don’t believe everything you hear off the forums or Sydney media

Tells you all you need to know lol
 
No argument about the Sydney media not knowing much or anything about what's going on in Newcastle. They only write about the club when we win, when we're not supposed to or if we're losing a lot, but in this case, Reed was just suggesting what he thought the Dragons should do to fix their problems, ie, go hard after KP. $1.75m is what he said they should be willing to go up to.
 
Yeah I am interested to see who gets the next ‘big deal’ something different where it’s a bump in the dollars or something that gets talked about for months ‘the 10m dollar man’ Dylan brown/ ‘the 10 year man’ etc heh
 
Mclovin said:
If Marzhew leaves at the end of the year who gets first crack at his spot do you think?
Schiller is talented and a big body but makes the same amount of mistakes as Marzhew or do we go De Courcey, a young unproven player but with a heap of potential?
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Fletcher Hunt is next in line. De Courcey, Seve and Winter will all have their chances over the next few years to cement a spot in the backline
 
Well from what I know Seve is an out and out centre and right now they are turning Winter into a centre so I think if Marzhew leaves it will go right to Hunt, De Coursey, McCarthy and Schiller and they’ll battle it out for the wing spot
 
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