2023 Recruitment & Retention Thread

KnightsUnite said:
Tooheys latest post scares me saying we already have fullback stocks...
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The only acceptable explanation for this they've promised Pryce the fullback spot and sworn allegiance to his potential. And they're fearful that signing a fullback may mean he sees no immediate spot in the spine and renegs his contract

Tbh I can get on board with that. I think Pryce is that quality of player. But fmd what desperate and failed club we are
 
My guess is more like, between Pryce and Hodgson (as well as Armstrong, Sharpe etc), they think their chances of bringing a young talent through are better than they are of finding a better option on the market. To be fair fullback is the spine position where you see young talents emerge and hit an elite level at the youngest age, so it’s not a totally insane way to look at it.

I’m really not sure about Miller myself. IMO we might as well just play Gagai there. And then yeah go after Herbie, if he isn’t much chop at fullback you at least end up with a guy who’s well on the way to being one of the best outside backs in the comp, even if it’s at a slight overpay.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
I reckon there’s a decent chance that some teams have made cap commitments around the expectation that the figure will be $12 million for next season. There might be a mad panic and some enforced unloading of players if it turns out to be less than that. Which it very well might, because the game isn’t making as much money as it should. Because Abdo and PVL sold the TV rights for a tuppence. Because they’re incompetent.
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This is an under discussed topic around the game.

I have multiple stories from media executives at the most senior level about how those negotiations went. Obviously can't detail in this public forum - but they certainly paint a picture of incompetence at NRL HQ.
 
MontyBrogan said:
This is an under discussed topic around the game.

I have multiple stories from media executives at the most senior level about how those negotiations went. Obviously can't detail in this public forum - but they certainly paint a picture of incompetence at NRL HQ.
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It was the most idiotic time possible to sign a new deal, as well.
 
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Chris Vea'ila - A kiwi who came over as a 15 year old to play Mathews. He played fullback in Mathews and was one of our best in the 2019 team that took out the minor and major premierships. He was probably the tallest kid in the team and close to the heaviest as well. When they really needed a try, Jonah Pezet would find a way to get Chris one on one against a wing or centre and Chris would just barrel over them. He played his first game of reserve grade as a 17 year old and was matched up against some nuffie named Blake Ferguson. The Knights halfback put up what seemed a very foolish kick that came down perfectly between Vea'ila and Ferguson, setting up a fair aerial contest between the two. Vea'ila leaped over Ferguson, took the ball cleanly and came down with it 10 metres short of the line. Ferguson kept his feet and grabbed Vea'ila, but was easily shrugged off and Vea'ila scored the try.
In 2022 he was in and out all year. He played games of Ball, Flegg and reserves, but stress fractures in his leg meant he was out a lot and notat his best when he played.

Kobe Rugless - Joined us from the Roosters in 2022 a a potential hooker. He reminds me of a young Connor Watson with his effort and aggression but doesn't have the speed of Connor, but makes up for it with a good passing game. We used him mostly as a lock in Flegg and reserve grade in 2022.

Miles Martin - Joined us from Parra I think in 2022. Had a great Ball season. He played lock forward and scored multiple tries. He has a very rare skillset. He's as big as a Saifiti but can move and step like a back. Some of his tries in Ball were scored with power, but most were scored by stepping his way past the other middle forwards and running away to score. He is basically a mobile giant.

Tavita Toloi - came down from Qld to play Ball a few years ago. He was our best player in Ball and led the try scoring playing second row.
In 2022 he moved from second row to prop and was in and out of Flegg and reserve grade. I watched one game of Flegg where he came off the bench and I thought he was our best forward. At the end of the season he made the Fiji WC squad and put in a good effort off the bench in his 1 game. I read an interview with him where he said he was determined to make NRL and super proud to play for Fiji. He was back for the first week of training with the Knights 10 days after playing for Fiji in England.

All 4 could play Flegg in 2023, but will most likely play reserves.
 
Les Misérables said:
The only acceptable explanation for this they've promised Pryce the fullback spot and sworn allegiance to his potential. And they're fearful that signing a fullback may mean he sees no immediate spot in the spine and renegs his contract

Tbh I can get on board with that. I think Pryce is that quality of player. But fmd what desperate and failed club we are
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I am still waiting to hear about a contract for either of those poms.
 
Owey said:
That would mean he had an offer on the table. It could be us, don't know who else is looking for a fullback. I'm not sure he is an upgrade on what we have though.
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Feels like they would like Hodgo to be the FB but unproven on injury front and his talent as he’s barley played. So get someone cheap who would do for a year or two until Pryce is here and has proven himself too. Along with letting Sharpe and Armstrong develop for another year. They have a few things to consider, but it’s easier to release someone who isn’t needed anymore, instead of trying to find someone again if injuries hit and we have no FG quality FB’s.
 
Breen3 said:
Read an article Blake taffee may seek an early release to get a fullback spot. Not a superstar I know but can do a job at the back and wouldn’t break the bank
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he gets dominated when returning the ball but he would be an improvement on what we currently have unless one of our young guys jumps up during pre-season.

Billy would Vea'ila be able to play first grade as fullback this season for us? what position has he been playing the last year or 2?
 
R4D5 said:
Billy would Vea'ila be able to play first grade as fullback this season for us? what position has he been playing the last year or 2?
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No, He was too big and not fit enough for fullback at Mathews level. They moved him to centre when he ran out of puff.
For the last 2 years he's been playing either centre or wing. Wing is his best position - tall, fast and can jump.
 
Billy said:
No, He was too big and not fit enough for fullback at Mathews level. They moved him to centre when he ran out of puff.
For the last 2 years he's been playing either centre or wing. Wing is his best position - tall, fast and can jump.
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thanks for the reply. I was hoping he could have been a solution to our fullback problem

Hopefully he can have a good season this year and improve his fitness and push for first grade
 
Lord of the Skraelings said:
Suggested it twice hasn’t been well received in these parts.
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For good reason. Taupau is a pillow these days and he is good for a brain explosion. If he had some leadership qualities then he would be worth a minimum contract but he comes across a bit of a wank on the field. Probably explains why no club is looking to sign him.
 
Kurriboy said:
You don't spend that long covering the Knights and being on the inside to suddenly only knowing the same as us random fans who aren't on the inner circle.

Laughable!
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I think it's clear that over the last 24 months, Baz has lost a fair bit of his connection to inside info at Newcastle.

But I think what he says is still pretty credible, because he has adjusted to the loss of (some of his) sources. He more often says "I don't know" on Twitter, and in general makes less strong claims than he used to.

In this specific case, he's said that if we don't sign a fullback, Gagai will start there round one. That's pretty logical, and most here could have guessed it with some deduction (I've certainly said it). Pretty believable that his remaining sources at the club have indicated that.

The difference is, the old Baz wouldn't have said "If we don't sign a fullback" - he would have had the inside track on whether or not we will. In summary, Baz is still a good source of info, he just doesn't give us much info as he used to.
 
MontyBrogan said:
I think it's clear that over the last 24 months, Baz has lost a fair bit of his connection to inside info at Newcastle.

But I think what he says is still pretty credible, because he has adjusted to the loss of (some of his) sources. He more often says "I don't know" on Twitter, and in general makes less strong claims than he used to.

In this specific case, he's said that if we don't sign a fullback, Gagai will start there round one. That's pretty logical, and most here could have guessed it with some deduction (I've certainly said it). Pretty believable that his remaining sources at the club have indicated that.

The difference is, the old Baz wouldn't have said "If we don't sign a fullback" - he would have had the inside track on whether or not we will. In summary, Baz is still a good source of info, he just doesn't give us much info as he used to.
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He used to say plenty of vagories in response to some questions asked. Non commital "if we do" this style answers.

The viewpoint that Baz has lost his contacts at the Knights is just situational bias. Baz isn't doing his media work as much now, so people think he doesn't have the contacts.

The truth is more likely he isn't paid to chase down the stories and come up with content anymore, so he isn't. He has a life.
 
R4D5 said:
thanks for the reply. I was hoping he could have been a solution to our fullback problem

Hopefully he can have a good season this year and improve his fitness and push for first grade
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Thinking Veailia and Lucy’s will be outside back pushing for 1st if they remain injury free.
Kurriboy said:
He used to say plenty of vagories in response to some questions asked. Non commital "if we do" this style answers.

The viewpoint that Baz has lost his contacts at the Knights is just situational bias. Baz isn't doing his media work as much now, so people think he doesn't have the contacts.

The truth is more likely he isn't paid to chase down the stories and come up with content anymore, so he isn't. He has a life.
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oh mate he is one of my favourite media people in league. I might have sounded rude but was being blunt more on the fact I think the Knights used the feed him “leaks” and now, even before he retired I think after Brown, they shut up shop on media. Sydney Media sometimes breaks the news well before any herald reporters. So now it’s more his opinion then actual sourced info.

Either all his comments make sense. Why would t Miller want to come if he seems to be first choice. All teams are pushing for “something in return”. I don’t think the Knights have anything decent/too important depth wise to trade.
 
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