Toohey's News

mullenmagic said:
29/7

Dom says he and the Knights are closer to getting a deal done now after they made a revised offer. He says he wants to stay but the first offer was “a bit of a joke.”

Long bit on O’Sullivan’s history with Manuleleua, including cutting him from the Warriors because “he was lazy and didn’t care enough,” a sentiment that was shared by some officials at Penrith as well. O’Sullivan credits NSW Cup coach Michael Dobson for the much improved effort areas. Knights have taken up the club option in Manuleleua’s deal for 2027 and Toohey says extending it beyond that is just a formality.

Saifiti and Saulo are both hoping to be back for Old Boys Day (round 25) against Manly.

Knights have tabled a revised offer for Australian Schoolboys rep Riley Rostron but it still hasn’t been accepted. Harold Matts captain Kingston Seuseu has signed for another three years at the Knights.
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Feel like the Dom stuff is a bit of a non-story atm.
Maybe he needs one of the “ratchet” deals. 600k for a winger with the current Cap seems overs, maybe not so much for the new cap. Club had the right to low ball him given what happened a few years ago. I think he’s a great fit for us, seems to really enjoy being here, think both parties work something out. Now he knows what’s the “greener grass” is like at least.

Good on Manuleleua and the Knights for improving that aspect. Can have all the talent in the world, but without the motivation to do something with it - doesn’t mean too much. Maybe that’s one of the benefits of having a guy like Crossland in the squad, you can see where hard work gets you.

Interesting with Rostron - guess it speaks to his quality that there’s such discussion around him. I was under the impression a few months ago, that a deal was offered and likely to be taken. But seems something has happened - perhaps another club is in for him. Or maybe the Ponga and Brown long term deals have caused a bit of a second thought. Ponga here til 2030 (at least) would mean Rostron would be 21. Don’t know if looking 4 years into the future, or assessing immediate competition/game time in SG Ball and even NSW Cup. In Year 12 as well, so don’t know what his academic ambitions are re: University in Newcastle vs elsewhere. Lots of tough decisions on the shoulders of a 17 year old.
 
bremsstrahlung said:
Interesting with Rostron - guess it speaks to his quality that there’s such discussion around him. I was under the impression a few months ago, that a deal was offered and likely to be taken. But seems something has happened - perhaps another club is in for him. Or maybe the Ponga and Brown long term deals have caused a bit of a second thought. Ponga here til 2030 (at least) would mean Rostron would be 21. Don’t know if looking 4 years into the future, or assessing immediate competition/game time in SG Ball and even NSW Cup. In Year 12 as well, so don’t know what his academic ambitions are re: University in Newcastle vs elsewhere. Lots of tough decisions on the shoulders of a 17 year old.
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Wouldn’t surprise in the slightest if its the roosters trying to sign him
They have already signed 4 or 5 players from AJ cup, Matt’s and sg ball from this years teams that I’ve seen
Plus they took a few from those sides last year too

It’s the normal roosters thing to do and allow clubs to bring them in and develop and then they blow us out of the water with the oppurtunities they offer
 
bremsstrahlung said:
Club had the right to low ball him given what happened a few years ago.
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Would be interesting to know what Dom would fetch on the market. If no one else is offering him 'x' amount why should we? If a team wants to offer $650-750k then good for him.
Is interesting he is next in line to be signed. I'm assuming Best is a dotting the i's and crossing the t's sort of thing considering we haven't heard much.
 
These stats are something I stumbled on randomly and I provide no deeper analysis to supplement them but it feels interesting on first look. Touch wood this doesn't jinx him this weekend.

2026: Dom has played 80 minutes in all of our matches this season --> 19 games so far.

2025: Played 80 mins every game he played in 2025 --> 19 games - was dropped by the Roosters at some point if I recall correctly.

2024: Played 80 mins in 19/22 matches --> One of those sub-80 min games he was sent off for decapitating Connor Tracey, while another was after 71 minutes when the Roosters were up 30+ points over the Eels and he had already scored a hattrick so I suspect was an early shower.

2023: Played 80 in 24/25 matches --> Sole sub-80 game was 70 minutes due to a sin-bin.

2022: Played 80 mins in 17/20 matches --> One sub-80 game was 70 mins due to another sin-bin.

2021: Played 80 mins in 5/6 matches --> Obviously his debut season when he wasn't a fixture of the first-team, sole sub-80 was 66mins.

TOTAL: 80 mins in 103/111 NRL matches with 4/8 of those sub-80 games coming from a sinbin/sendoff/early shower. Playing a minimum of 20 games each full season of first-grade outside of getting dropped by the Roosters in 2025.

Without knowing durability/gametime statistics for outside backs that record of consistent availability and lack of mid-game injury/HIA seems remarkable for such a powerful athlete. Obviously Bradman is at the other end of that spectrum. I suspect the seemingly complete lack of HIAs is due to his height and his tendency to run super upright but minimal soft-tissue injuries feels incompatible with a player of Dom's speed and size.

I did then decide to have a brief look at Gags and his record exemplifies his toughness - Gags hasn't gone sub-80 mins (other than due to sinbins) since 2021 and that was for an early shower when Souths beat the Dragons by 50. Prior to that he played 50 minutes in a game mid-season in 2020. Gags has played 20+ games a season (often alongside origin too) across that time period.

Maybe Gagai and Young are closer to the NRL average than I thought and I've been clouded by Bradman/Ponga torrid mid-game injury record. Nonetheless we can safely say that Dom has brought consistent availability throughout his career to date.

I apologise in advance for when Dom does his ACL 7 minutes into this weekends match.
 
MullosLefttoRight said:
These stats are something I stumbled on randomly and I provide no deeper analysis to supplement them but it feels interesting on first look. Touch wood this doesn't jinx him this weekend.

2026: Dom has played 80 minutes in all of our matches this season --> 19 games so far.

2025: Played 80 mins every game he played in 2025 --> 19 games - was dropped by the Roosters at some point if I recall correctly.

2024: Played 80 mins in 19/22 matches --> One of those sub-80 min games he was sent off for decapitating Connor Tracey, while another was after 71 minutes when the Roosters were up 30+ points over the Eels and he had already scored a hattrick so I suspect was an early shower.

2023: Played 80 in 24/25 matches --> Sole sub-80 game was 70 minutes due to a sin-bin.

2022: Played 80 mins in 17/20 matches --> One sub-80 game was 70 mins due to another sin-bin.

2021: Played 80 mins in 5/6 matches --> Obviously his debut season when he wasn't a fixture of the first-team, sole sub-80 was 66mins.

TOTAL: 80 mins in 103/111 NRL matches with 4/8 of those sub-80 games coming from a sinbin/sendoff/early shower. Playing a minimum of 20 games each full season of first-grade outside of getting dropped by the Roosters in 2025.

Without knowing durability/gametime statistics for outside backs that record of consistent availability and lack of mid-game injury/HIA seems remarkable for such a powerful athlete. Obviously Bradman is at the other end of that spectrum. I suspect the seemingly complete lack of HIAs is due to his height and his tendency to run super upright but minimal soft-tissue injuries feels incompatible with a player of Dom's speed and size.

I did then decide to have a brief look at Gags and his record exemplifies his toughness - Gags hasn't gone sub-80 mins (other than due to sinbins) since 2021 and that was for an early shower when Souths beat the Dragons by 50. Prior to that he played 50 minutes in a game mid-season in 2020. Gags has played 20+ games a season (often alongside origin too) across that time period.

Maybe Gagai and Young are closer to the NRL average than I thought and I've been clouded by Bradman/Ponga torrid mid-game injury record. Nonetheless we can safely say that Dom has brought consistent availability throughout his career to date.

I apologise in advance for when Dom does his ACL 7 minutes into this weekends match.
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Dom had an infected brain in there as well! At the end of 23 while playing for England. Even that couldn't stop him!

Definitely pretty impressive numbers.
 
R_A said:
Would be interesting to know what Dom would fetch on the market. If no one else is offering him 'x' amount why should we? If a team wants to offer $650-750k then good for him.
Is interesting he is next in line to be signed. I'm assuming Best is a dotting the i's and crossing the t's sort of thing considering we haven't heard much.
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Toohey said the Best deal is basically done they’ve just had trouble meeting up with his manager to finalise things

So that would just leave JSaf to be re-signed I believe and which shouldn’t be a problem given he said he’ll take what’s left
 
TheBatman said:
No Toohey's news today?
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5/8
Says he is bewildered that no one rates the Knights.

Talks about our goalkicking costing us games against Roosters and Sharks.

Talks about backrow strength - says we have tied up till
Lucas 2030
McEwen 2028
Manuleleua 2028
Cant 2028
ESL 2027
Mulherin 2029
Seu Seu 2029
Kade McKay 2028

Says Cooper Votano is returning on a 3 year deal - but Riley Rostron is holding off on signing

700 people attended Scott Dureau's funeral including most of the squad and many league identities like Robinson and Menzies.

The "twins", Dom and Bradman, both turn 25 on gameday.

Dom and Greg are in a race to top the try scoring ( 17 and 19) - and Bradman and Dane are getting the try assists (15 and 8)

www.newcastleherald.com.au

Toohey's News: The 'bewildering' lack of recognition and homesickness leads young star to come home

Get the latest Knights news and gossip in Barry Toohey's column
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au
 
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Billy said:
5/8
Says he is bewildered that no one rates the Knights.

Talks about our goalkicking costing us games against Roosters and Sharks.

Talks about backrow strength - says we have tied up till
Lucas 2030
McEwen 2028
Manuleleua 2028
Cant 2028
ESL 2027
Mulherin 2029
Seu Seu 2029
Kade McKay 2028

Says Cooper Votano is returning on a 3 year deal - but Riley Rostron is holding off on signing

700 people attended Scott Dureau's funeral including most of the squad and many league identities like Robinson and Menzies.

The "twins", Dom and Bradman, both turn 25 on gameday.

Dom and Greg are in a race to top the try scoring ( 17 and 19) - and Bradman and Dane are getting the try assists (15 and 8)

www.newcastleherald.com.au

Toohey's News: The 'bewildering' lack of recognition and homesickness leads young star to come home

Get the latest Knights news and gossip in Barry Toohey's column
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au
Click to expand...
Mulherin and McKay could be the best of them all
 
Billy said:
5/8
Says he is bewildered that no one rates the Knights.

Talks about our goalkicking costing us games against Roosters and Sharks.

Talks about backrow strength - says we have tied up till
Lucas 2030
McEwen 2028
Manuleleua 2028
Cant 2028
ESL 2027
Mulherin 2029
Seu Seu 2029
Kade McKay 2028

Says Cooper Votano is returning on a 3 year deal - but Riley Rostron is holding off on signing

700 people attended Scott Dureau's funeral including most of the squad and many league identities like Robinson and Menzies.

The "twins", Dom and Bradman, both turn 25 on gameday.

Dom and Greg are in a race to top the try scoring ( 17 and 19) - and Bradman and Dane are getting the try assists (15 and 8)

www.newcastleherald.com.au

Toohey's News: The 'bewildering' lack of recognition and homesickness leads young star to come home

Get the latest Knights news and gossip in Barry Toohey's column
www.newcastleherald.com.au www.newcastleherald.com.au
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Wtf lol everyone is talking us up
This year including traditional haters like bloke in a bar
 
Grandpa Joe said:
Wtf lol everyone is talking us up
This year including traditional haters like bloke in a bar
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most things i watch or listen to have only the dolphins possibly being able to challenge the top 4 teams. Everyone is overlooking we have only lost 4 games since anzac round by a combined total of 7 points. 2 games on goal kicking alone against top 4 teams the souths game which was our worst game of the year and a melbourne side in melbourne which was the strongest side they fielded all yr.
We all know our ladder position doesnt represent how good we have been but the sydney centric media machine hasnt looked twice at us.
 
EASBay17 said:
most things i watch or listen to have only the dolphins possibly being able to challenge the top 4 teams. Everyone is overlooking we have only lost 4 games since anzac round by a combined total of 7 points. 2 games on goal kicking alone against top 4 teams the souths game which was our worst game of the year and a melbourne side in melbourne which was the strongest side they fielded all yr.
We all know our ladder position doesnt represent how good we have been but the sydney centric media machine hasnt looked twice at us.
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And I see that as a good thing as many media people in Sydney wouldn’t know their anus from their elbow regarding the relative quality of football teams in the NRL.
Let them not mention the Knights when discussing contenders in the NRL.
 
Defence wins games said:
And I see that as a good thing as many media people in Sydney wouldn’t know their anus from their elbow regarding the relative quality of football teams in the NRL.
Let them not mention the Knights when discussing contenders in the NRL.
Click to expand...
When we start getting talked up as contenders and as a team people want to watch, we start getting some ref calls. I dont care about the sydney press, but their reporting on us and the calls we seem to get are aligned imo. Go watch the back end of 23 again, we started getting the 50/50's.
I saw a stat yesterday which ill go find and post if I can, but we have received the least penalties and 6 agains of any team this year. We are poking through the line, finding our front and trying to get up quick... a lot, but not getting any reward. I see this every week, especially those close games we lost. We were the better team but couldn't pull away because we weren't allowed too. I think that changes as soon as we are "talked about".
 
Main stream media don’t really rate us. But the poddy guys are starting to see the potential, like the Bloke boys. But completely understandable in regards to premiership this year particularly with both Dylan’s going down. If things keep going the way they have been in regards to recruitment and retention we are a top 4 team over the coming years, we should get more respect.
 
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