2023 Recruitment & Retention Thread

BETTERTHANLEGO said:
French has signed two years with Wigan won’t be joining us next season.

www.thecourier.com.au

French rejects NRL return to stay at Wigan

Bevan French, who had been linked with a return to NRL, notably at Newcastle Knights, has decided to...
www.thecourier.com.au www.thecourier.com.au
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Wonder if this is because he got a better offer with Wigan (i.e. more than 1 season + 2 yr option) and/or whether he's been given the nod we are going after/getting(?) Garrick?
 
I actually don’t think it makes any difference. If Hastings says he’s not gonna hang around long term if they make him play lock, they have a decision to make, and there’s no case for keeping Brooks over him. Hastings is their captain now so I’d say he’s become priority 1 for re-signing.

They have more halves depth than you think with Peachey and Talau able to fill in there, and they probably want to re-sign Fa’amanu Brown who was really good for them and is probably going to be their new starting lock next year.
 
I think it’s almost a certainty we’ll get either Brooks or Hastings. Hastings won’t stick around to play lock and Brooks is open to a fresh start, it just depends on who the Tigers choose as their starting halfback.
 

This below from zero tackle regarding where David Fifita could end up, Knights are apparently an (outside) option. Not sure it would ever realistically happen.​

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Newcastle Knights​

Newcastle endured a horror 2022. They avoided the Wooden Spoon via being slightly less terrible than the Warriors and Tigers.

They need a game-changing signing.

With the greatest of respect, I can't see Cameron Munster even taking a meeting in the Hunter while the Saifiti boys talents rule out the need for a shot at Tapine.

David Fifita's arrival would bring with him plenty of excitement.

Tyson Frizell is now the wrong side of 30 while Lachlan Fitzgibbon has fallen from grace. Fifita would walk into the Knights run on side and immediately improve them.

David Klemmer is supposedly being shopped around while Clifford, Clune, Fitzgibbon, Frizell, Mann and Young are all off contract. They could free up the cash if they really want to.

Whether or not the Knights could offer the playing roster Fifita will likely demand when sizing up his options is the only real stumbling block.

Newcastle almost have to go in on Fifita if for nothing more than to convince fans they can attract that quality of player to the club
 
Frank McWilliams said:
Clifford is central to our chances to go ok to well in 2023, if he stays and performs close to his best we will be ok even if his half’s partner is Clune, Crossland, Gamble or Brooks. If he leaves, gets punted, our chances then depend on getting someone, slim pickings, as good or better as any two of the other four are not so good, Brooks the likely best but we don’t have him, yet.
Can only see Ponga in half’s if we get a f/b, I mean a real one, not confident in Hodgson he will need a good few games in Cup injury free before being seriously considered, so that means the likes of Garrick who is a plus with goal kicking
Bottom line, need a happy playing well Clifford and for Ponga to 5/8 we need Garrick then Brooks would be a bonus but not so needed.
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Only way Clifford improves our 2023 is if he is in England with Clune.
 
I also hope we get Brooks. If we go in to next season with the same halves it is going to give OB another excuse he can use.

Im not head hunting OB but if he isnt up to the task he needs to go. Signing Brooks will give him that halfback, and Ponga from 6 gives him no excuses.

I don't see any other half of quality coming here. Moses on the market and we are not even in the conversation it seems.
 
What is Fifita worth these days? His $1 million tag is finished for the time being, I'd say successful clubs wouldn't value him above $500 000 atm, although he'd disagree. What price tag would you accept him playing at Newcastle for?
 
Maxibon said:
I think it’s almost a certainty we’ll get either Brooks or Hastings. Hastings won’t stick around to play lock and Brooks is open to a fresh start, it just depends on who the Tigers choose as their starting halfback.
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Have you heard any talk/rumors with Hastings? I haven't heard anything, about the Knights chasing Hastings.
 
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