Simmons says no to Knights

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Knights keeping close watch on Simmons
BY ROBERT DILLON
23/10/2008

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NEWCASTLE Knights officials are monitoring with interest the status of representative centre David Simmons after reports that Cronulla were poised to release him.

Knights coach Brian Smith is understood to be a Simmons fan, and Newcastle held negotiations with him last year before he eventually re-signed with the Sharks.

Newcastle strategic development manager Keith Onslow said his information was that Simmons would stay at Cronulla to serve the final season of his contract.

But should that situation change, it would be no surprise if the Knights made a move for the 23-year-old, who has scored 49 tries in 105 NRL games and represented City Origin in 2006.

"I think the club pursued Dave Simmons the year before and he's a name that always comes up in discussions," Onslow said yesterday.

"There was some talk that he might become available after Cronulla signed [Anthony] Tupou, because their salary cap was tight.

"I think anybody would be interested if a player like Dave Simmons became available, and we were keeping our interest up to date with his manager.

"But his manager emailed this week to say the rumours about him leaving Cronulla had no substance and he was going to stay put for 2009.

"So we've left it at that."

Meanwhile, Newcastle's plans to recruit Newtown winger Byron Ford have fallen through.

The Knights announced last month that they had agreed to terms with the Cook Islands international, who had been offered a two-year deal.

But the 26-year-old has since contacted Newcastle and indicated he would not be in a position to join them because of personal issues.

"He's had an about-face . . . it's disappointing," Onslow said.

Ford, a former US college basketballer and member of the notorious Bra Boys surfing gang, had been earmarked as a project player who would have boosted the depth of Newcastle's outside backs.

He scored 15 tries for Newtown in the 2008 NSW Cup season, including a long-range effort against Wentworthville in the Jets' grand final loss.

Onslow said negotiations with former Test star Adam MacDougall were ongoing.

He admitted it had been a "slow process" but said there was no reason to doubt that the veteran outside back would re-sign for one last season with the Knights.
Herald

Some Mixed news there.
 
Good Lord, our sources are all correct, it's Simmons.

And sucks about Byron Ford aswell! I think he had a fair bit to do with Adam Watene, so perhaps that and other things faultered.
 
Oh god no if they sign him and Maddog goes I will be ****ed this guy is average out of all the Cronulla backs to choose they choose this guy
 
Why does it seem like we have so much room under our salary cap?

TBH i dont think we need to sign anymore apart from Mad Dog...but thats just what i think
 
Why does it seem like we have so much room under our salary cap?

You will find, the Knights never say they do, they are always tight but half the time have money to burn.

Fungus: Most guessed on here it was Simmons in the 'Top Flight Centre' thread through things they had heard.

Don't get me wrong, if Simmons isnt signed for 2009, I am 99% sure he will be a Knight in 2010.
 
Why does it seem like we have so much room under our salary cap?

Because we aren't paying players like Kirk Reynoldson huge amounts anymore.

Simmons would be a great signing, I think! He is a solid first grader right now, heaps of experience, and the clincher for me is that he is still only 23! He would still have a bucketload of improvement in him.
 
He would be pretty handy, I think he just cops it but to be honest he is capable and defence isn't too bad.

Umm... weren't you the one who said if it's David Simmons heaven help us? That was like what... a month ago maybe? In all honesty... what's changed your mind since now and then... besides the Sharks playing pi$$ poor footy in the semis and being blown out by Melbourne?

Anyways... my feelings towards Simmons:

He's not hopeless. He plays mistake free footy... though in saying that... he's certainly nothing special.

If it ends up being Simmons... I think it would be a pretty useless signing... though I could live with it... especially if we lose Dougs. He could be our backup centre behind both Sau and Wes. He can also play both wing and fullback... and FWIW... I think he goes better at both wing and fullback than he does at centre.

Sharks needed a centre and they slotted him in there. He done nothing special... though he improved as the season went on and started to play some solid footy.

I wouldn't necessarily go out and sign him though.
 
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Most likely, but I don't scam posts searching forums 24/7 like you mate.

In response to Mozza's quote above is what I was getting at, Simmons is garbage but like any player... he is capable and his defence isn't the issue. His soft approach is, and under Smith may change.
 
Seems like the type of centre BS likes, ala Ben Smith, Brett Delaney, Luke O'dwyer. If we sign him it wouldnt suprise me if he starts the year of in the top 13 cause BS likes his style, but im still not too hot on him, but as he isnt really a liability in defence it wouldnt be the end of the world or a brain dead signing, as they say DEFENCE wins Premierships.
 
Most likely, but I don't scam posts searching forums 24/7 like you mate.

In response to Mozza's quote above is what I was getting at, Simmons is garbage but like any player... he is capable and his defence isn't the issue. His soft approach is, and under Smith may change.

Scam posts? Search the forums 24/7? Speak for yourself... but I guess your thousand posts a day do that for you anyway right?

Whatever... I don't want to get into another argument with you over absolutely nothing when all I asked was what changed your mind between now and then since all that's happened is they played poorly against Melbourne and got blown out.

BTW... the only reason I saw that comment was because I went back to that Top Flight Centre thread as I remember commenting on Simmons. Saves me from typing it all again... and FWIW... my opinion on him hasn't changed at all since I made that comment (only a few weeks ago)... but I'll speak for myself in that regard.
 
Ah come on... I change my mind all the time! I think its more of trying to convince myself that they are good signings......... still trying to come up with good reasons for Rogers tho :lol:
 
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