slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
1st of March you need 29 signed, 30 signed by 30 June.
2022 Knights Recruitment & Retention Thread
- Thread starter HarVeeGee13
- Start date
Yes you can, on an upgraded contract though. The other issue we have is that there isn't only a salary cap ceiling, but a floor as well that you have to spend. We'd be no where near that and won't be able to attract the players worthy of getting us there now either. We can front end some of our bigger contracts and have more money over for next year to get around it I guess. Flamin' dolphins, skewing the player market when we have some cash to splash...
Frank McWilliams
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Tks
Kurriboy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Wasn't there rules brought in around front loading contracts?
KnightsUnite
Banned
So this is our Squad so far?
| # | Player | Year | Notes |
| 1 | Mitch Barnett | 2023 | |
| 2 | Bradman Best | 2024 | |
| 3 | Jayden Brailey | 2025 | |
| 4 | Jake Clifford | 2023 | |
| 5 | Adam Clune | 2023 | |
| 6 | Phoenix Crossland | 2022 | |
| 7 | Lachlan Fitzgibbon | 2024 | |
| 8 | Tyson Frizell | 2022 | Player Option for 2023 |
| 9 | Dane Gagai | 2024 | |
| 10 | Bailey Hodgson | 2023 | |
| 11 | Hymel Hunt | 2023 | |
| 12 | Jack Johns | 2023 | |
| 13 | Brodie Jones | 2023 | |
| 14 | Jacob Kiraz | 2022 | |
| 15 | David Klemmer | 2023 | |
| 16 | Kurt Mann | 2023 | |
| 17 | Jirah Momoisea | 2022 | |
| 18 | Brayden Musgrove | 2022 | |
| 19 | Kalyn Ponga | 2022 | Player Option for 2023 and 2024 |
| 20 | Chris Randall | 2023 | |
| 21 | Daniel Saifiti | 2026 | |
| 22 | Jacob Saifiti | 2024 | |
| 23 | Simi Sasagi | 2022 | |
| 24 | Pasami Saulo | 2022 | |
| 25 | Sauaso Sue | 2022 | |
| 26 | Enari Tuala | 2023 | |
| 27 | Dominic Young | 2023 | |
| 28 | |||
| 29 | |||
| 30 | |||
| Development 1 | Tex Hoy | 2022 | |
| Development 2 | Christian Ma'anaima | 2024 | |
| Development 3 | Krystan Mapapalangi | 2023 | |
| Development 4 | Garrett Smith | 2022 | |
| Development 5 | Leo Thompson | 2022 | |
| Development 6 | Chris Vea'ila | 2022 | |
| Train and Trial 1 | Edrick Lee | ||
| Train and Trial 2 | Dylan Phythian |
slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Kiraz has gone to the dogs, Smith to the warriors, Ma'anaima to the tigers.
I don't think Hoy was ever announced, I suspect he might end up in the top 30 if they can't find anyone else in the next few days.
I don't think Hoy was ever announced, I suspect he might end up in the top 30 if they can't find anyone else in the next few days.
KnightsUnite
Banned
Thanks guys i'll update my list 
KnightsUnite
Banned
How does this look?
| # | Player | Year | Notes |
| 1 | Mitch Barnett | 2023 | |
| 2 | Bradman Best | 2024 | |
| 3 | Jayden Brailey | 2025 | |
| 4 | Jake Clifford | 2023 | |
| 5 | Adam Clune | 2023 | |
| 6 | Phoenix Crossland | 2022 | |
| 7 | Lachlan Fitzgibbon | 2024 | |
| 8 | Tyson Frizell | 2022 | Player Option for 2023 |
| 9 | Dane Gagai | 2024 | |
| 10 | Bailey Hodgson | 2023 | |
| 11 | Hymel Hunt | 2023 | |
| 12 | Jack Johns | 2023 | |
| 13 | Brodie Jones | 2023 | |
| 14 | David Klemmer | 2023 | |
| 15 | Kurt Mann | 2023 | |
| 16 | Jirah Momoisea | 2022 | |
| 17 | Brayden Musgrove | 2022 | |
| 18 | Kalyn Ponga | 2022 | Player Option for 2023 and 2024 |
| 19 | Chris Randall | 2023 | |
| 20 | Daniel Saifiti | 2026 | |
| 21 | Jacob Saifiti | 2024 | |
| 22 | Simi Sasagi | 2022 | |
| 23 | Pasami Saulo | 2022 | |
| 24 | Sauaso Sue | 2022 | |
| 25 | Enari Tuala | 2023 | |
| 26 | Dominic Young | 2023 | |
| 27 | |||
| 28 | |||
| 29 | |||
| 30 | |||
| D1 | Krystan Mapapalangi | 2023 | |
| D2 | Leo Thompson | 2022 | |
| D3 | Chris Vea'ila | 2022 | |
| D4 | |||
| D5 | |||
| D6 | |||
| Train and Trial | Edrick Lee | ||
| Train and Trial | Dylan Phythian | ||
| Train and Trial | Tex Hoy |
Billy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I'd give that spot we were saving for Lee to Dylan Lucas.
Last year I'd have thought Lucas wouldn't be strong enough for firstgrade, but he is now.
I'd like to see him in the open to see if all that extra bulk has slowed him down - but I think he's firstgrade ready, and Lee is a massive gamble.
Last year I'd have thought Lucas wouldn't be strong enough for firstgrade, but he is now.
I'd like to see him in the open to see if all that extra bulk has slowed him down - but I think he's firstgrade ready, and Lee is a massive gamble.
Frank McWilliams
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I will be pleasantry surprised if Lee makes it back, our best winger but not sure we can afford the risk despite us not yet naming top 29. With Hunt, Young and Tuala and others such as Lucas wing is reasonably strong unlike other positions.
Who plays 1 if Ponga is out, who plays 3 or 4 if Gagai or Best is out who plays 6 or 7 if Clifford or Clune is out, who plays 9 if Randall is out. If all are fit then our top 20 is very good.
Bottom line is our recruitment has been very ordinary and our development has been poor even making allowances for Covid
Who plays 1 if Ponga is out, who plays 3 or 4 if Gagai or Best is out who plays 6 or 7 if Clifford or Clune is out, who plays 9 if Randall is out. If all are fit then our top 20 is very good.
Bottom line is our recruitment has been very ordinary and our development has been poor even making allowances for Covid
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I’m honestly not convinced, after watching Clune in the trials and in a bunch of his Dragons games, that Brooks will do a better job of the specific things we want our left-sided half to do.
Add to that that Clune looks hungry AF to prove himself and should offer more defensively despite his stature - Brooks can definitely make stronger tackles, but he can be lazy.
At the end of the day though, we can talk about what we project for Clune all we like, but it’s up to him to demand that spot and end all consideration of us looking at other established talent.
Add to that that Clune looks hungry AF to prove himself and should offer more defensively despite his stature - Brooks can definitely make stronger tackles, but he can be lazy.
At the end of the day though, we can talk about what we project for Clune all we like, but it’s up to him to demand that spot and end all consideration of us looking at other established talent.
slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Think it's safe to say Clune is only an interim measure if they're after this Pryce kid.
Reckon the Brooks plan is dead in the water too.
Reckon the Brooks plan is dead in the water too.
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Doesn’t mean Pryce is guaranteed that jersey. We all thought Ponga would move to 6 this year and Bailey to fullback, that hasn’t happened either.
You get multiple good prospects and the one who demands a jersey, gets it. The rest end up somewhere else. That’s how Melbourne managed to replace the best 9/7/1 combination in the history of the sport, with guys they trained up for years before they got a proper run in first grade.
You get multiple good prospects and the one who demands a jersey, gets it. The rest end up somewhere else. That’s how Melbourne managed to replace the best 9/7/1 combination in the history of the sport, with guys they trained up for years before they got a proper run in first grade.
mullenmagic
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
He's signed until the end of 2024 so it'll take a substantial transfer fee to get him next year. Doubt they'd go to the trouble for him to come over and wait in the wings.
slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Waiting in the wings or not, you don't go around trying to sign the hottest young talent in the super league if you think you've already got the long term halves option at the club.
mullenmagic
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
He's done some nice things in the trials but yeah if the club had their way he'd be playing reggies behind Pearce, Brooks, Drinkwater, probably even Milford if they signed him early enough. Don't think he's viewed by any decision makers as the answer longterm.
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
It's not about whether you think you already have the long term option or not. You don't know what could be happening in two years let alone five. You proactively give yourself multiple options - someone might steal someone else's jersey, someone might leave unexpectedly and you need to replace them, etc. Recruit proactively for potential future needs - guys with clear talent & potential - rather than reactively when you lose someone, chasing your tail and overpaying for someone mediocre out of desperation. Example:
Spine players in the 2017 Melbourne Storm squad:
Cameron Smith
Cooper Cronk
Cameron Munster
Billy Slater
Slade Griffin
Brodie Croft
Brandon Smith
Jahrome Hughes
Scott Drinkwater
Jake Turpin
Brodie Croft was thought of as Cooper Cronk's replacement. Jahrome Hughes was the back-up fullback, and he and Scott Drinkwater were seen as fighting it out for the #1 jersey (with Drinks being the more hyped prospect). Brandon Smith hadn't really hit his straps yet but not long after this, everyone would start to assume he'd be the heir apparent to Cam.
In 2018 they lost Cooper Cronk, Jake Turpin and Slade Griffin, and added:
Cooper Johns
Billy Walters
Ryan Papenhuyzen
Harry Grant (upgraded to main squad from u20's)
In 2019 they lost Billy Slater and Scott Drinkwater in midseason after he fell behind Hughes & Papenhyuzen in the pecking order, and added Nicho Hynes. They found spots for both Jahrome Hughes and Ryan P by realising Brodie Croft sucks, and making the big call to drop a grand finalist halfback in like round 21 or whenever it was.
And so it goes after that - Brandon Smith, who half the recruitment managers in the comp were ready to prostitute their wives to if it meant signing him, usurped by an even better player in Harry Grant. A talented guy like Hughes who was always thought of as a fullback, developing into one of the best halfbacks in the NRL, who can probably get himself a million dollar deal for his next contract if he wants.
They didn't call all this in advance. They thought Cheese was their future hooker, Croft the future halfback, and Drinkwater the future fullback. Now all three of those players are gone or leaving, and they're better off for it. Because they bring in players they "don't need" because they "already have their (insert position here) of the future".
Melbourne's genius in running their club isn't that they see things other clubs don't & have this magical ability of identifying diamonds in the rough everyone else misses. Like, I've heard Melbourne's scouts were iffy on signing Papenhuyzen, but Bellyache forced it through literally just because he liked the cut of his jib after having a meeting with him. There's more guessing & luck that goes into identifying talent than people are prepared to admit. Melbourne just literally put more entries into the raffle than other clubs do, and they never think "oh this guy's good: okay then, we're set in this position".
Spine players in the 2017 Melbourne Storm squad:
Cameron Smith
Cooper Cronk
Cameron Munster
Billy Slater
Slade Griffin
Brodie Croft
Brandon Smith
Jahrome Hughes
Scott Drinkwater
Jake Turpin
Brodie Croft was thought of as Cooper Cronk's replacement. Jahrome Hughes was the back-up fullback, and he and Scott Drinkwater were seen as fighting it out for the #1 jersey (with Drinks being the more hyped prospect). Brandon Smith hadn't really hit his straps yet but not long after this, everyone would start to assume he'd be the heir apparent to Cam.
In 2018 they lost Cooper Cronk, Jake Turpin and Slade Griffin, and added:
Cooper Johns
Billy Walters
Ryan Papenhuyzen
Harry Grant (upgraded to main squad from u20's)
In 2019 they lost Billy Slater and Scott Drinkwater in midseason after he fell behind Hughes & Papenhyuzen in the pecking order, and added Nicho Hynes. They found spots for both Jahrome Hughes and Ryan P by realising Brodie Croft sucks, and making the big call to drop a grand finalist halfback in like round 21 or whenever it was.
And so it goes after that - Brandon Smith, who half the recruitment managers in the comp were ready to prostitute their wives to if it meant signing him, usurped by an even better player in Harry Grant. A talented guy like Hughes who was always thought of as a fullback, developing into one of the best halfbacks in the NRL, who can probably get himself a million dollar deal for his next contract if he wants.
They didn't call all this in advance. They thought Cheese was their future hooker, Croft the future halfback, and Drinkwater the future fullback. Now all three of those players are gone or leaving, and they're better off for it. Because they bring in players they "don't need" because they "already have their (insert position here) of the future".
Melbourne's genius in running their club isn't that they see things other clubs don't & have this magical ability of identifying diamonds in the rough everyone else misses. Like, I've heard Melbourne's scouts were iffy on signing Papenhuyzen, but Bellyache forced it through literally just because he liked the cut of his jib after having a meeting with him. There's more guessing & luck that goes into identifying talent than people are prepared to admit. Melbourne just literally put more entries into the raffle than other clubs do, and they never think "oh this guy's good: okay then, we're set in this position".