Recruitment And Retention Discussion

I get sentimentally wanting Frizell here but I just don’t think it’s that much of a loss on the field at this stage. If the loss of a 35-year old bench forward can’t be offset (and then some) by the growth of our younger middles we have bigger problems.

On Niukore: O’Sullivan has had far more hits than misses, the loudest of which have been when everyone doubts his judgement before they arrive. More than willing to give him the benefit of any doubt. Not really the same type of player as Frizell so I’m not necessarily looking at him as a direct replacement (other than in the sense of being another older, experienced forward).
 
Predicting that our starting pack will be the same as this year (or close to):
8. Saf
10. Mooney
11. McEwen
12. Lucas
13. Crokes

Then we will have the following fighting out for 3 forward bench spots:
Friz (if he stays)
Niukore
Manuleleua
Hopwood
Crouch
Saulo

Plus the more fringe players (or developing):
Cant
ESL
Hola
Kepaoa
Plus any breakout youngster we have...

I personally would prefer to keep Friz for one more year because that depth would be immense, especially looking at how many injuries we have atm. A lot of the youngsters getting another pre season under their belt will only be better for it
 
I must say, I’m less concerned if Frizz leaves now, than I was at the start of the season.

Hopwood and Crouch have done a great job when required and they’ll only get better. Haven’t really seen Saulo hit his heights. Mooney and Safs would be pencilled in to start 8/10 next year.

Frizz still has something to add. He’s been a good club man for us over the years. I know it’s a business, but it would be nice for him and the club to have him retire from the NRL in the red and blue. How we treat players does affect the club - see what happened with Reynolds drama at Brisbane, compared to the vibe at Canberra for papa’s last game. I’d like to put something forward to him - let him decide if it’s worth it.

The question I guess I have moving forward is, if not Frizz, then who?

Matt Arthur?
Schiller?
 
Arthur makes the most sense to go and is obviously fifth choice behind Crossland, Smith, Graham and Hagan.

Obviously we can’t force him out nor should we try but maybe if the Knights could talk to him and even offer some kind of help to locate a club for him.

Surely as a young guy he would want to go to a team where he has a realistic chance of game time.
 
slotmachine said:
POS going to need to pull a rabbit out of his hat if Friz walks, because swapping him for Niukore makes our pack worse (for 2027 at least).
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This logic only reconciles if the performance capacity of each player is considered static.

Reality is that another pre-season into Hopwood, Crouch, Manuleleua, McEwen, etc will leave them as better players, just as it did this year.

Conversely, another 6 months into the legs of a soon-to-be 35-year old Friz who debuted at 19 and has played over 300 NRL games across 15 seasons, plus the additional 30+ rep jerseys in that period of time - is not going to result in improved performances.

Short of us sustaining long-term injuries across the offseason our pack will be better than it was this year.
 
MullosLefttoRight said:
This logic only reconciles if the performance capacity of each player is considered static.

Reality is that another pre-season into Hopwood, Crouch, Manuleleua, McEwen, etc will leave them as better players, just as it did this year.
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I think you misunderstand my point, the young players are going to improve regardless.

The question is does Niukore or Frizell being part of the pack in 2027 make it better. I don't think it can be overstated how unimpressive Niukore's form in Cup has been, you'd really have to hope he's been phoning it in. Ideally you have both and then the point is moot.
 
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Billy said:
I think Kepaoa is a useful squad member because he can play wing, centre and second row well enough to come off the bench in firstgrade if needed, but Hola seems a waste of a top 30 spot.
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Hola was brought for a strategic reason. He is on base salary wage and can do a 20 min join if needed in first grade.
Exactly the spot Friz is finding himself in within only base salary

Granted Friz has shown way more over his career, and probably deserves that little extra but you always need players willing to sign on for base salary and spend most of year in cup
 
slotmachine said:
I think you misunderstand my point, the young players are going to improve regardless.

The question is does Niukore or Frizell being part of the pack in 2027 make it better. I don't think it can be overstated how unimpressive Niukore's form in Cup has been, you'd really have to hope he's been phoning it in. Ideally you have both and then the point is moot.
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Imagine his mindset knowing they could win a premiership and he has been jumped in The queue after not missing an entire game last year! Webster has cracked a **** cos he is leaving. Niukore has every right to be pissed off. He was playing well and was still not selected. So this is the end result.
 
Lefty said:
It’s time for Matt Arthur to do what is best for the team and find an English team that will take him. Frankly, considering the amount he is reportedly being paid the Knights clearly have not got value for money from him.
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If you were Arthur why would you leave? He won’t get that money anywhere else! I seen him holding his place in 2027 despite him not in favour. Collect his dollars and play where dad is in 2028. Leeds have Levi - ironically would have maybe a year left!!!!
 
Nightsondee said:
If you were Arthur why would you leave? He won’t get that money anywhere else! I seen him holding his place in 2027 despite him not in favour. Collect his dollars and play where dad is in 2028. Leeds have Levi - ironically would have maybe a year left!!!!
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Of course he is entitled to stay at the Knights next year. However, if he wants to act in the best interests of the club, he should leave the Knights this year, that way a much loved Knights player can finish his career with the club.

Next year a 36 year old Friz will not be the player he used to be, but I would still rather have him than not.
 
Nightsondee said:
If you were Arthur why would you leave? He won’t get that money anywhere else! I seen him holding his place in 2027 despite him not in favour. Collect his dollars and play where dad is in 2028. Leeds have Levi - ironically would have maybe a year left!!!!
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You leave if you want a career playing league either in the NRL or most likely, the Super League

The longer he sits in reserve grade for us, the more his value for a new contract any where goes done. He effectively becomes forgotten about and teams start questioning why other younger players have jumped him in the pecking order

Also what ever his contract is for next season with us, he gets paid that, regardless of where he plays

Say he is on $300,000 with us next year. He goes to the Super League on a contract of $200,000. We will still have to pay the remaining $100,000 from his original contract with us

So financially he doesn’t loose any money at all. I would suggest hep would be better off financially for the reasons I stated above and I’d assume he would get a multi year deal
 
Nightsondee said:
If you were Arthur why would you leave?
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For an opportunity. Some clubs need hookers and backup hookers; the Bears, for example. I'm not saying he'll get an offer, but his odds of playing NRL drop significantly if he spends the year at the Knights off the bench in the reggies. IDK believe that he is on huge money, sure, probably above minimum, but at the moment his career is stalled.
 
Wicket said:
You leave if you want a career playing league either in the NRL or most likely, the Super League

The longer he sits in reserve grade for us, the more his value for a new contract any where goes done. He effectively becomes forgotten about and teams start questioning why other younger players have jumped him in the pecking order

Also what ever his contract is for next season with us, he gets paid that, regardless of where he plays

Say he is on $300,000 with us next year. He goes to the Super League on a contract of $200,000. We will still have to pay the remaining $100,000 from his original contract with us

So financially he doesn’t loose any money at all. I would suggest hep would be better off financially for the reasons I stated above and I’d assume he would get a multi year deal
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That's what I don't get either ... same with Schiller, he had an offer from the Dragons. They look like they'll improve next year, and there's a first grade player in Schiller ... but let's face it, the entire backline would have to go down at this stage for him to see first grade again here.

I guess it's a lifestyle thing, and it's not just players here ... Jonah Pezet another that seems to be happy cashing in his NSW Cup cheques when he could have been playing weekly first grade. And NSW Cup is a lot less effort and pressure than first grade.

But surely they are destroying their future earnings and future in the sport by turning down these chances ...
 
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