2025 Recruitment And Retention

Fullback is his position, Knights are trying him elsewhere to avoid a situation like this. If the Bulldogs are saying “you’ll be our fullback of the future” and the Knights are saying “well try to figure out a new position for you as we go” it’s not difficult to see why that’d be tempting. Not to mention he’d be going from a development contract to top 30 presumably if he were to leave this season.
 
Not surprising but Dogs can get fuuuuuuukkkeedddd. 😂😂😂😂

Honestly though Votano is the FB for Flegg/Cup next year as I’ve been told. Sharpe may very well play 6/7 if not winger/FB in first grade.

Clubs will chas hard, very hard for some of our juniors. But I’d like think we can keep him for a few more years leading into KP’Contract.
 
Votano is on a development contract.
Gould wouldn't have broken the rules and talked to him, but Gould is cheeky enough to put it in the papers that he's keen to offer him an opportunity and see what happens.
 
Couldn't blame him for going if it happens. He has Ponga in front of him and no one is supplanting KP. If the opportunity is there, then it's very similar to the Pezet opportunity that could have been at the Knights. Can't keep them all unfortunately.
 
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Pretty sure we could move on Marzhew in the future if we absolutely had to to accommodate Votano.. Or even move Sharpe into the halves.

He wouldn't have to play on the wing forever I'm sure
 
mullenmagic said:
Telegraph reporting the Bulldogs have approached the Knights about Connor Votano given his path to first grade as a fullback is blocked here. Doesn't say how the Knights responded (can't imagine they'd be keen) but interesting that it doesn't mention the Bulldogs approaching Votano himself. Could easily read that as them already having talked to Votano before approaching the club, which would be worrying for the future.
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alexwilliams said:
Pretty sure we could move on Marzhew in the future if we absolutely had to to accommodate Votano.. Or even move Sharpe into the halves.

He wouldn't have to play on the wing forever I'm sure
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Marzhew is essential to our first grade team. He often does more work out of yardage then our forwards and can find the line. Currently we know what we are going to get with Marzhew. Let young Votano earn his spot in the backline.
 
It isn't even clear yet if Votano is going to have the freakish fitness levels needed to play fullback at senior level.
Sharpe Ponga and Armstrong all have the fitness after firstgrade pre-seasons, but Votano's reserve grade numbers were way down on those guys and he is a big unit compared to those guys.
It could easily turn out he is more suited to centre or wing.
 
I’ve been rubbing my hands together for the day he gets his debut, be just our luck someone else gives him that chance and it comes back to haunt us every time we play against him.
 
I want Votano to stay at the Knights but predict he will end up playing either centre or five eighth. Too many gun fullback options at our club right now.

Has a big boot on him and could be the eventual replacement for Gagai.

I can't remember who said it but was Connor a diehard Knights fan growing up?
 
It’s off season, resorted to listening to some podcasts.

James Graham - the bye round - had an interesting one with Penrith CEO Matt Cameron. Was very interesting listening to him talk, and discuss the salary cap and club structure. They just sound like they are on the same page across the entire club from juniors to first grade.

Spoke about managing the cap, they claim they use 88% of the cap. That 12% is Lose 1M worth of players each year from their first grade team. Next up from Cup/junior ranks. Was interesting to hear their approach. Claims they have their starting 13 plan locked until 2028. Providing no surprises.

How Api was a good recruitment at the time to organise Nathan and Jahrome. But when they got the hang of what they needed to do, they didn’t need Api’s $$$$ to pass them the ball, Kenny could pass it to them and not lose out.

(Also interesting was some episodes with Terrel May and Brandon Smith post being let go and signing Robson respectively. Both alluding to ruthless Roosters trying to restructure their cap).
 
Pretty easy situation from here, find out where he is planning on going and negotiate a swap with a good front row/half replacement from that club

He obviously thinks he is worth more than he has shown so good luck to him but may as well have him and if so be his brother off the books asap
 
A lot was made of D-SAF form dropping off but Leo was 100% in the same boat last year, granted he is younger but it was worrying that we were going to be throwing $600-700k at him and other teams apparently offering upto $800-850

Think Leo reading too much of his own press and hype lately

It might just be time to blood Sua,Bryan and Hopwood early though heat for 2026 and surely if he goes to raiders like speculated someone like Trey Mooney or Jake Clysdale won’t be happy and will want out and we should grab them up
 
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