He’s got the talent just was overpaid on initial contract, same with Pryce, the possible cost of losing a McEwen, Lucas or god forbid Linnane due to their heafty contracts is not worth it. We can develop those boys into better players at half the price and they’re local, with families close by not wanting to leave.
Been in the junior system from Harold Matt’s. basically pushed Fletcher Sharpe from the halves to fullback and we’ve seen what Sharpe can do (wow). Was the standout player in local junior comp from 15s, 16s 17s. Very quick, solid defender, very good passing game. Been on of the stars for the Knights juniors. Is into his 2nd first grade preseason. Ran a 4min 15 Bronco last year at 82 kgs. Did ACL in first game of SGBall in 2024, a game where he was blitzing them. Now weighs in at 90kgs. Won the club Bronco recently, beating Ponga in 4 min 22. We are hearing he is doing all the right things and club staff are impressed with his development. Hopefully he can keep developing. He’d be close to 6ft in height, not real tall however not small either. He only recently Turned 19 so still has some growth in him.
Most of the video of him is from Mathews, Ball and Flegg in '22 and '23 when he was 16 and 17. He only played 1 game in '24 when he was 18. He's 19 now and 6' tall and just under 90kg. He'll probably be over 90kg by the end of pre-season.
Thanks Billy.
Well Mat Arthur is the same age, 7cm shorter, 9kg lighter and isn't beating Ponga at fitness trials and people think he could be in our round 1 side - but Arthur isn't coming off a year long injury.
Maybe, but no reason to not let him excell in Flegg and Cup this year. Important to just get him a full season in. By all reports players really respect him, juniors and seniors. Will have a few debutants this year in Hopwood and McEwen. Wouldn't put Siteni Taukamo from Sharks flegg team out of calculations either, watched footage of him recently and damn he's a strong fast lad. See him being a straight replacement for Mapalangi as back up centre/wing. He and McCarthy be going hard for that role this year.
Well they reward the development players by giving them a first grade trial if they are training well. So based on that he will trial, think coming back from ACL and untested might be a bit too much to stand out. He may just need a bit of time. But let’s see. There’s no need to push him in there early unless he deserves to be.
Arthur will play a lot of nrl this year. There is every chance brailey or Crossland picks up an injury. I suspect he may push brailey to cup if he comes out of the blocks fast
I think Brailey is in for a big year.
Agreed. I think a season in a healthy preseason I reckon he'll have a very positive effect on the club.
He’d be silly to leave with 5/8 or a centre position opening up next year