2021 signing rumours

Sadly it’s the wrong programme you should be poaching from.

We poached from the Roosters and got a Premiership. Can’t really see that happening in this instance.
 
Matty23 said:
The Saifiti boys, Fitzgibbon, Best, To’a, Hoy, Crossland, Saulo, Sasagi are pretty talented if I do say so myself.
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Saifiti boys living upto potential and Best burst onto the scene.

Fitzgibbon is a stock standard average backrower.

To’a has potential and looked a solid prospect.

Hoy isn’t FG standard.

Crossland hasn’t shown anything to suggest he would make a solid halfback. Wonder why Clifford has been chased?

Saulo been around for a couple years now. Big boy but hasn’t had any dominant displays or demand to be consistently picked in FG unlike other young forwards his age that have and now rep players.

Sasagi, heard about him on here for a couple years now but still hasn’t cracked FG yet. Might be another one of Billy’s next immortal that amounts to nothing, there’s been quite a few over the years.
 
cowboyman said:
Saifiti boys living upto potential and Best burst onto the scene.

Fitzgibbon is a stock standard average backrower.

To’a has potential and looked a solid prospect.

Hoy isn’t FG standard.

Crossland hasn’t shown anything to suggest he would make a solid halfback. Wonder why Clifford has been chased?

Saulo been around for a couple years now. Big boy but hasn’t had any dominant displays or demand to be consistently picked in FG unlike other young forwards his age that have and now rep players.

Sasagi, heard about him on here for a couple years now but still hasn’t cracked FG yet. Might be another one of Billy’s next immortal that amounts to nothing, there’s been quite a few over the years.
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Well considering he's only 20 and and mostly been injured the past couple of seasons, that might have something to do with it..
 
Coach Adam O'Brien has mentioned today that the club is beginning contract negotiations with Mitchell Pearce, and says himself and the club absolutely want him there playing with Clifford when he comes.

Just another one of the many things the Telecrap/Foxsports get (yet again) wrong, in regards to the Knights.
 
However you look at it, Pearce will be taking a big paycut - enough to pay for Clifford out of his cut probably.
Either that, or someone in the ESL will offer him crazy money and he'll take it.
 
Signing Clifford gives the club a great negotiating position.

Also, whats the plan for Crossland and Hoy now we signed Hodgson and Clifford long term?

Mann, Watson, Hoy and Crossland all off contract next year.
 
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slotmachine said:
Signing Clifford gives the club a great negotiating position.

Also, whats the plan for Crossland and Hoy now we signed Hodgson and Clifford long term?

Mann, Watson, Hoy and Crossland all off contract next year.
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Hodgson is probably a year or two off first grade you’d think?

The rest are all playing for their futures, Hoy & Watson will attract the most interest from other clubs.


I guess the hope is Watson can turn into a lock ?
 
I can see 1. Ponga 6. Clifford/Green 7. Pearce 9. Brailey for 2021/22.

Then 1. Hodgson 6. Ponga 7. Clifford 9. Brailey after that. In 2023 Brailey is the old man of the group at 27.

I've been saying for a while there doesn't really seem to be a path to first grade for Hoy, Crossland etc (less so now they have signed Clifford) and we have too many utilities.
I guess we will find out what happens with retention in 2021.
 
Feel for Hoy, think his a legitimate firstgrader, who was that utility kid that went from Warriors to Tigers and couldn't cement a spot 3-5 years back, regular for NZ but couldn't get a first grade spot, was a half, fb even hooker at times?
 
Kurt Mann said in an interview that Hoy is a younger version of him.
True.
Only Hoy is bigger and faster.
I hope Hoy doesn't have to spend years bouncing from one position to another before a coach finds exactly how to use him, but Mann still hasn't got a spot after well over 100 games.
 
Because Mann doesn't fit well in to one spot. Unfortunately these good players exist that arent good enough in one position to lock down a spot.

They need to be the benchy or reserve depth player and move to whatever club has a spot for them.
 
Billy said:
Kurt Mann said in an interview that Hoy is a younger version of him.
True.
Only Hoy is bigger and faster.
I hope Hoy doesn't have to spend years bouncing from one position to another before a coach finds exactly how to use him, but Mann still hasn't got a spot after well over 100 games.
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Mann giving himself a wrap
 
Jaybro said:
Mann giving himself a wrap
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I paraphrased - he was saying that Hoy and him had a similar skillset when asked about both of them playing together. He has a point - both were/are mostly fullbacks in the juniors, played a bit of running 5/8, both have a bit of a kicking game, both can fill in at centre or wing. The difference now is that Mann has learnt to defend in the middle in the last few years while Hoy needs to work on that.
 
We don't have many backs coming through who aren't already in the NRL squad - no more Best, Sasagi, To'a etc - but we have a dozen young forwards who will be in reserves, under 19s or under 17s this year who could be future firstgraders.
O'Meley and Ryan coaching in reserves, under 19s and having a hand in under 17s as development coaches seems like perfect choices for all these young forwards coming through. It won't hurt Jones, Saulo, Momoisea, Ma'amania and Garrett Smith to play under O'Meley in reserve grade either.
Jaron Purcell should benefit from having O'Meley around too. I see Jaron played every game in the second row for Wyong in the real NRL this year. O'Meley has been coach of Wyong for the last few years (not in 2020), and I think his sons, Jake and Nick O'Meley, also played for Wyong this year. Jaron is one of our best young forwards, 18/19 this year I think, and Mark should be a great coach for him. In fact, I'd be surprised if he hasn't been coaching him for years already on an informal basis.
 
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