Recruitment And Retention Discussion

I had some concerns that long term contracts to Ponga, Brown and presumably Sharpe in the coming years, would potentially see a few younger halves/fullbacks seek opportunity elsewhere as their path appears blocked for at least the next 4-5 years.

I guess that’s somewhat the trade off of locking players down to long term deals.

Anyway, I had the thought this morning re: Brown and even Ponga’s big money contracts. That with the new proposed cap going up significantly to rumours of $20M.

1.4M is 7% of the new proposed cap. Roughly 12M cap now means that 1.4M is close to 12%).

So IF we need to offload any of these players in the future, it probably won’t be too hard to find a suitor to take Ponga or Brown for even 5% of the cap (1M in future, is the equivalent to $600k/year now).

Kind of makes the deals a bit more impressive and flexible than appears.
 
Seve has only shown glimpses of the potential he is supposed to have.
Nonu has looked 10x better.
I saw last week he wasn't picked for Aus schoolboys and the 2 Knights SG Ball centres, Will Manning and Callum Elsley, were - which is probably because all the Qld sides were terrible in the Schoolboys - but still - they picked 2 Knights over him.
 
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Happy enough to see Seve leave. Hasn't come along at all. May well play FG one day but if we're required to carry his heavy contract for the next couple of years at the expense of liquidity for Frizell etc, then it is good business to release him.

We have both Hunt and Winter infront of him for that one spot. We don't need Seve like we did when we signed him. Good business from POS.

And word from inside the club, the kid was a bit of a menace. Had been asked to leave his previous high school because of bad behaviour. Attitude and ego were challenges for him. Talented ofc but no certainty to make it
 
Les Misérables said:
Happy enough to see Seve leave. Hasn't come along at all. May well play FG one day but if we're required to carry his heavy contract for the next couple of years at the expense of liquidity for Frizell etc, then it is good business to release him.

We have both Hunt and Winter infront of him for that one spot. We don't need Seve like we did when we signed him. Good business from POS.

And word from inside the club, the kid was a bit of a menace. Had been asked to leave his previous high school because of bad behaviour. Attitude and ego were challenges for him. Talented ofc but no certainty to make it
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Was he on a big contract?
Top 30 next year?
Maybe they'll sign Frizz now.
 
bremsstrahlung said:
I had some concerns that long term contracts to Ponga, Brown and presumably Sharpe in the coming years, would potentially see a few younger halves/fullbacks seek opportunity elsewhere as their path appears blocked for at least the next 4-5 years.

I guess that’s somewhat the trade off of locking players down to long term deals.

Anyway, I had the thought this morning re: Brown and even Ponga’s big money contracts. That with the new proposed cap going up significantly to rumours of $20M.

1.4M is 7% of the new proposed cap. Roughly 12M cap now means that 1.4M is close to 12%).

So IF we need to offload any of these players in the future, it probably won’t be too hard to find a suitor to take Ponga or Brown for even 5% of the cap (1M in future, is the equivalent to $600k/year now).

Kind of makes the deals a bit more impressive and flexible than appears.
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I get the concern and its hard losing juniors/ younger talent. But I'd rather have stars locked down long term ie Ponga, Brown and Sharpe, than rely on the potential of younger players, potential they may never reach.

If they're good enough, we'll find them a spot ie Sharpe.

Not too fussed regarding Seve, as others have mentioned we have a few ahead of him.
 
Seano said:
Advantage: Fletcher Hunt's agent.
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Yep, makes his re-signing a bit more important now. Winter you would have to think is unlikely at this stage to come in and play centre for 20+ NRL games next year. Seve would be another year again behind Winter.

POS had bargaining power being able to say look at these two prospects coming through that will be in the frame soon. That's good and all, but we need someone to play that position full-time next year. Might have to give Flunt a little bit more respect. Throwing a junior to the wolves if it's Winter to come in.
 
I watched the Last game of seves at home and ive never seen a trainer ride a player so hard from the sideline, Adam Blair spent the whole half barking at him and only him non stop. disinterested would be a good way to describe his efforts. either not happy in Newcastle or doesnt like people pushing him to reach the elite level.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
I reckon Winter will be ready next year and he’ll be good right away. If he wasn’t an outside back I would say different, but teenagers are good at centre/wing from the jump all the time if they’re talented enough.
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I think you are right. He has looked right at home playing against men since he stepped up.
 
krustykraz said:
Also with Cooper and Connor V, are they both fullbacks?
Do they play other positions?
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Connor Votano has played wing for NSW at under 19 level and looked very good. Also plays centre and 5/8, but fullback is his best position.

Cooper plays 5/8 and was a very good partner for Chase Butler in the halves last year in Mathews, being a much bigger running threat.

I think the biggest difference is Cooper loves to tackle and Connor is a good defender, but clearly doesn't enjoy it.

Cooper tackles anything that moves and chases hard to get involved in defence.

Apart from that, they are both tall and athletic, with good vision, and freakish hand/eye coordination that sees them hold passes they have no right to hold.
 
Billy said:
Connor Votano has played wing for NSW at under 19 level and looked very good. Also plays centre and 5/8, but fullback is his best position.

Cooper plays 5/8 and was a very good partner for Chase Butler in the halves last year in Mathews, being a much bigger running threat.

I think the biggest difference is Cooper loves to tackle and Connor is a good defender, but clearly doesn't enjoy it.

Cooper tackles anything that moves and chases hard to get involved in defence.

Apart from that, they are both tall and athletic, with good vision, and freakish hand/eye coordination that sees them hold passes they have no right to hold.
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Thanks,
Sounds good if theyre both here in the future,
 
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