Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Like the Sims/Mason groin grab I really don't care.
Shame he's only decided to stop having a bludge and "Boyding" us now his announced his leaving.
Joseph Leilua released by the Knights
- Thread starter Grandpa Joe
- Start date
Like the Sims/Mason groin grab I really don't care.
Shame he's only decided to stop having a bludge and "Boyding" us now his announced his leaving.
Billy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I think he will play really well at least till he signs a contract with someone else.
The last thing he needs to do, for himself, is to play like a dog while trying to sell himself to another side.
In fact, if he has another gear, now is the time to show it. It could put another zero on his next contract.
Grandpa Joe
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Yep. Sad fact he signs under Bellamy he'll be the next kangaroo in 12 months. Under our system he'll be Cragie reborn.
rhugh89
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Joey Leilua not leaving the Newcastle Knights just yet
May 17, 2015 - 9:48PM
Enigmatic Newcastle Knights centre Joey Leilua will pack his bags at the end of the season and is expected to make a new home in the capital with the Canberra Raiders.
However, Newcastle coach Rick Stone is adamant the 23-year-old Samoan international remains committed to the Knights for the rest of this year, and hopes he continues to play like he did in their 22-12 victory over Wests Tigers at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.
The former City Origin representative and one-time NSW shadow player scored Newcastle's go-ahead try in the 55th minute, then his charge for the line in the 77th set up the play-the-ball for dummy-half Chad Redman to score the clincher.
Leilua ran 14 times for 125 metres, made four tackle breaks, two offloads and 11 tackles, and caused the Tigers' right-edge defenders problems every time he ran.
Only seven days earlier, his attitude had been questioned after an indifferent performance in Newcastle's 30-10 loss to Manly at Brookvale Oval.
Leilua was contracted to the Knights until the end of 2016 but has activated a get-out clause and been granted a release at the end of this season.
It has been widely reported that Canberra are favourites to sign him for next year and beyond but Stone has no plans to release him before the June 30 transfer deadline.
"Let's get one thing clear. 'BJ' (Leilua) has activated a clause in his contract, that he had the right to do, to change clubs," Stone said.
"We haven't let him go. BJ has decided that he wanted to go so let's make that nice and clear, first and foremost.
"If I had my way, I wouldn't be letting him go, because he's a quality player and he was committed to the club for another year, but he's had a clause in his contract so he's activated that and he's decided to go.
"I spoke to BJ about that and said if you're going to invoke that clause, you've got to buy in and get some cred off the boys in how you play and how you train, so we've had some good strong talks over the last couple of weeks about what he's going to do.
"He's pretty up-front and forthright about what he's doing and what he would like to do, so his job is to continue to play with that sort of passion and that sort of desire and that sort of energy for the rest of the year."
It was reported that Leilua did not attend a function for Knights members on Saturday, apparently earning the ire of Stone and skipper Kurt Gidley.
That issue was not raised at the post-match media conference on Sunday night but Gidley said he hoped Leilua played with the same power and purpose for the rest of the season that he demonstrated against the Tigers.
"BJ is a wonderful talent. He's big, aggressive, and I love playing alongside him when he's in that frame of mind," Gidley said.
"That's what we need out of him each week, and even at training during the week, so that's what we want for the rest of year out of him."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...wcastle-knights-just-yet-20150517-gh3rmb.html
May 17, 2015 - 9:48PM
Enigmatic Newcastle Knights centre Joey Leilua will pack his bags at the end of the season and is expected to make a new home in the capital with the Canberra Raiders.
However, Newcastle coach Rick Stone is adamant the 23-year-old Samoan international remains committed to the Knights for the rest of this year, and hopes he continues to play like he did in their 22-12 victory over Wests Tigers at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.
The former City Origin representative and one-time NSW shadow player scored Newcastle's go-ahead try in the 55th minute, then his charge for the line in the 77th set up the play-the-ball for dummy-half Chad Redman to score the clincher.
Leilua ran 14 times for 125 metres, made four tackle breaks, two offloads and 11 tackles, and caused the Tigers' right-edge defenders problems every time he ran.
Only seven days earlier, his attitude had been questioned after an indifferent performance in Newcastle's 30-10 loss to Manly at Brookvale Oval.
Leilua was contracted to the Knights until the end of 2016 but has activated a get-out clause and been granted a release at the end of this season.
It has been widely reported that Canberra are favourites to sign him for next year and beyond but Stone has no plans to release him before the June 30 transfer deadline.
"Let's get one thing clear. 'BJ' (Leilua) has activated a clause in his contract, that he had the right to do, to change clubs," Stone said.
"We haven't let him go. BJ has decided that he wanted to go so let's make that nice and clear, first and foremost.
"If I had my way, I wouldn't be letting him go, because he's a quality player and he was committed to the club for another year, but he's had a clause in his contract so he's activated that and he's decided to go.
"I spoke to BJ about that and said if you're going to invoke that clause, you've got to buy in and get some cred off the boys in how you play and how you train, so we've had some good strong talks over the last couple of weeks about what he's going to do.
"He's pretty up-front and forthright about what he's doing and what he would like to do, so his job is to continue to play with that sort of passion and that sort of desire and that sort of energy for the rest of the year."
It was reported that Leilua did not attend a function for Knights members on Saturday, apparently earning the ire of Stone and skipper Kurt Gidley.
That issue was not raised at the post-match media conference on Sunday night but Gidley said he hoped Leilua played with the same power and purpose for the rest of the season that he demonstrated against the Tigers.
"BJ is a wonderful talent. He's big, aggressive, and I love playing alongside him when he's in that frame of mind," Gidley said.
"That's what we need out of him each week, and even at training during the week, so that's what we want for the rest of year out of him."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...wcastle-knights-just-yet-20150517-gh3rmb.html
sau
Richard Clarke
I guess the good news is sione schooled Lawrence yesterday and his only going to get better
Kenny Powers
Banned
Sione showed what he is capable of yesterday. He's all class. That side looked 1000 times stronger in defense with him there
rhugh89
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
'If they don't really want me, I should just leave' Newcastle Knights, says Joey Leilua
June 10, 2015 - 10:39PM
He has offered to move on before the June 30 deadline if the Knights don't want him.
But if they do, as appears likely, enigmatic centre Joey Leilua has vowed to give his all for the club until he leaves at the end of the season.
Speaking for the first time since it was announced three weeks ago that he had triggered a get-out clause in his contract, allowing him to be released from his 2016 deal with Newcastle, the Samoan international told the Newcastle Herald his decision was made in the pre-season.
At that point he appeared on the outer, having been told by Knights coach Rick Stone he was likely to start the season in NSW Cup, behind first-choice centre pairing Dane Gagai and teenage Test star Sione Mata'utia.
"They told me there was a good chance of me not playing in round one, because of Sione coming through, and I said, 'If you think that, I'm going to look for another club. I deserve to play first grade'," Leilua said.
"So since round one I've been looking for another club."
He said it had been "disappointing" to find his position under scrutiny for the first time in his NRL career.
"Up until then I was happy," he said.
"I was under Wayne [Bennett] before Stoney.
"I mean Stoney's a good coach, but I came here to be around Wayne, for him to teach me something new, because he's a great coach."
The heavyweight outside back, who played in the Roosters' 2010 grand final loss to St George Illawarra as an 18-year-old rookie, said he reached the realisation that he "needed a change" to realise his potential.
"I was going to go at the beginning of the year when they were thinking of not picking me for round one.
"That was the reason I asked my manager to search for another club who wanted me.
"Then they played me in round one, so I was pretty happy about that, but by then other clubs really wanted me."
He said nothing was finalised but it was "most likely" he would sign with Canberra, where his cousin, back-rower Sia Soliola, is based.
He also has a relationship with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, who selected him as a standby player for NSW in 2012.
"He chose me as 18th man for Origin, so he must see something in me," he said.
Having observed the Raiders at close quarters in last week's 44-22 loss at Hunter Stadium, he has no doubt they are a team on the rise.
"They definitely are," he said. "They've got a young side. Good team bonding, I think.
"There's no big names in there, but they seem to be playing well together."
If the opportunity arose for a mid-season switch, Leilua said he had already informed Knights officials he would be interested.
"It's not my decision," he said.
"I've already put in an application to leave. That could be before June 30, or definitely at the end of the year.
"I'm not too sure about June 30. We'll see how we go, what the club wants from me.
"If they don't really want me, I should just leave."
All the indications from Newcastle's management and coach Stone have been that they need him for the entire season, in which case Leilua assured fans he would be fully committed.
"I go out there every game trying to give 100 per cent, even if I'm injured or sore," he said.
"I give 100 per cent, whatever team I play for.
"There's no doubting that ... I'm just going to do my job and hopefully the fans can remember me in a good way.
"I'm going to show them for the rest of the year that I've put my best foot forward for the team."
Leilua has been much maligned at times for his handling mistakes, but he said that was the flip side of trying to score and create tries.
With 30 tries in 54 games, he has scored more four-pointers for Newcastle over the past three years than any player except winger Akuila Uate (35 in 52).
"You're definitely going to make errors in games," he said. "I don't think there's one player that's never made an error.
"You try not to, but obviously there's a couple of errors in my game.
"I just try to make plays, and if you pull them off, you get praised, and if not, people criticise you.
"It's a fine line, but you've just got to do your job and try to win games."
As for his reputation for avoiding the media spotlight, Leilua indicated it was not necessarily at his own request.
"Sometimes it's my choice. Sometimes I don't feel too well," he said with a smile.
"When it comes to media, I don't mind. I don't shy away from it. B
"ut if I've got something on my mind, I don't really want to get in trouble for saying it. I speak my mind."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...knights-says-joey-leilua-20150610-ghl543.html
June 10, 2015 - 10:39PM
He has offered to move on before the June 30 deadline if the Knights don't want him.
But if they do, as appears likely, enigmatic centre Joey Leilua has vowed to give his all for the club until he leaves at the end of the season.
Speaking for the first time since it was announced three weeks ago that he had triggered a get-out clause in his contract, allowing him to be released from his 2016 deal with Newcastle, the Samoan international told the Newcastle Herald his decision was made in the pre-season.
At that point he appeared on the outer, having been told by Knights coach Rick Stone he was likely to start the season in NSW Cup, behind first-choice centre pairing Dane Gagai and teenage Test star Sione Mata'utia.
"They told me there was a good chance of me not playing in round one, because of Sione coming through, and I said, 'If you think that, I'm going to look for another club. I deserve to play first grade'," Leilua said.
"So since round one I've been looking for another club."
He said it had been "disappointing" to find his position under scrutiny for the first time in his NRL career.
"Up until then I was happy," he said.
"I was under Wayne [Bennett] before Stoney.
"I mean Stoney's a good coach, but I came here to be around Wayne, for him to teach me something new, because he's a great coach."
The heavyweight outside back, who played in the Roosters' 2010 grand final loss to St George Illawarra as an 18-year-old rookie, said he reached the realisation that he "needed a change" to realise his potential.
"I was going to go at the beginning of the year when they were thinking of not picking me for round one.
"That was the reason I asked my manager to search for another club who wanted me.
"Then they played me in round one, so I was pretty happy about that, but by then other clubs really wanted me."
He said nothing was finalised but it was "most likely" he would sign with Canberra, where his cousin, back-rower Sia Soliola, is based.
He also has a relationship with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, who selected him as a standby player for NSW in 2012.
"He chose me as 18th man for Origin, so he must see something in me," he said.
Having observed the Raiders at close quarters in last week's 44-22 loss at Hunter Stadium, he has no doubt they are a team on the rise.
"They definitely are," he said. "They've got a young side. Good team bonding, I think.
"There's no big names in there, but they seem to be playing well together."
If the opportunity arose for a mid-season switch, Leilua said he had already informed Knights officials he would be interested.
"It's not my decision," he said.
"I've already put in an application to leave. That could be before June 30, or definitely at the end of the year.
"I'm not too sure about June 30. We'll see how we go, what the club wants from me.
"If they don't really want me, I should just leave."
All the indications from Newcastle's management and coach Stone have been that they need him for the entire season, in which case Leilua assured fans he would be fully committed.
"I go out there every game trying to give 100 per cent, even if I'm injured or sore," he said.
"I give 100 per cent, whatever team I play for.
"There's no doubting that ... I'm just going to do my job and hopefully the fans can remember me in a good way.
"I'm going to show them for the rest of the year that I've put my best foot forward for the team."
Leilua has been much maligned at times for his handling mistakes, but he said that was the flip side of trying to score and create tries.
With 30 tries in 54 games, he has scored more four-pointers for Newcastle over the past three years than any player except winger Akuila Uate (35 in 52).
"You're definitely going to make errors in games," he said. "I don't think there's one player that's never made an error.
"You try not to, but obviously there's a couple of errors in my game.
"I just try to make plays, and if you pull them off, you get praised, and if not, people criticise you.
"It's a fine line, but you've just got to do your job and try to win games."
As for his reputation for avoiding the media spotlight, Leilua indicated it was not necessarily at his own request.
"Sometimes it's my choice. Sometimes I don't feel too well," he said with a smile.
"When it comes to media, I don't mind. I don't shy away from it. B
"ut if I've got something on my mind, I don't really want to get in trouble for saying it. I speak my mind."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...knights-says-joey-leilua-20150610-ghl543.html
Billy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
If another club takes over his payments for the rest of the year i'd let him go, but if we are paying him, i'd rather he play reserve grade than for another club.
Maybe we could do a Jamie Soward and loan him to an ESL side for the rest of the year (with them paying him).
Maybe we could do a Jamie Soward and loan him to an ESL side for the rest of the year (with them paying him).
Joshhh
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I'll give him credit, that's one of the more honest interviews I've heard from an NRL player. But yeah, it does seem like he has a bit of an attitude problem, you gotta work hard to keep your spot. I wouldn't release him mid-season, he'd probably jump straight into Canberra's backline & start killing it because he'll wanna impress for the rest of the year, we're just benefiting Canberra then. I'd rather drop him to NSW Cup for the rest of the year & start developing Mamo/Chanel into first-graders.
knights4premiers
Uate
I don't like the bloke as a player but he could easily become a Konrad Hurrell under the right coach, this might be a weird thing to bring up - and anyone that knows me will know I'm far from a McManus fan, but if you go back through all the games a Polynesian has played on the wing outside Joey compared to McManus and maybe even mantellato that winger would of seen ten times the amount of ball in a single game than James would see.
Now I realise James is more of a conservative winger when you compare him to people like Kevin Naiqama and the Mata'utia's, I think Uate even played on his wing at some stage last year.
But I think a lot of this comes down to that professionalism. I don't think he gets along with Gidley and the older blokes due to that professionalism. And it shows with that kind of stuff on the field.
Also, funny how in the off season he went from being touted as 12 months off being a top 3 centre in the world to, see us later I don't want you. I've heard from people that yes, he is in fact a total you know what. But, our club needs class. And he can provide that. We put up with errors from forwards in our own half. Joey makes a mistake 20 metres out from trying to score and he gets the 'off with his head treatment'.
And he won't get released before June 30th. We play the Raiders that next week. Can you imagine how primed he would be?
Now I realise James is more of a conservative winger when you compare him to people like Kevin Naiqama and the Mata'utia's, I think Uate even played on his wing at some stage last year.
But I think a lot of this comes down to that professionalism. I don't think he gets along with Gidley and the older blokes due to that professionalism. And it shows with that kind of stuff on the field.
Also, funny how in the off season he went from being touted as 12 months off being a top 3 centre in the world to, see us later I don't want you. I've heard from people that yes, he is in fact a total you know what. But, our club needs class. And he can provide that. We put up with errors from forwards in our own half. Joey makes a mistake 20 metres out from trying to score and he gets the 'off with his head treatment'.
And he won't get released before June 30th. We play the Raiders that next week. Can you imagine how primed he would be?
We could make it a condition of release that he doesn't play us, I'm sure that's been done before.
I'm not even sure if he'd make Canberra's side straight away.
I'm not even sure if he'd make Canberra's side straight away.
Yep, **** him off. His attitude this year from the pre season didn't sit well with me. What kind of ****wit comes back from the off season overweight and out of shape and then chucks the ****s and looks for another club when the coach says his position isn't safe? What did he expect? Jesus.
His entitled attitude is exactly the type of thing we need to get out of the club at the moment.
He'll probably come back to kill it against us but who really cares. We can't have that type of attitude in the club. The Roosters are better off for having let him go and that's the type of club we should be taking notes from.
His entitled attitude is exactly the type of thing we need to get out of the club at the moment.
He'll probably come back to kill it against us but who really cares. We can't have that type of attitude in the club. The Roosters are better off for having let him go and that's the type of club we should be taking notes from.
I fearlessly predict he will come back to throw some passes to nobody against us.
Billy
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
It's a no win situation for the club - if we use him we look bad - if we don't use him we look bad.
The Club and Stone in particular are gutless. He should be released now. I'm surprised any Club is interested in Leilua to be honest. I mean despite the team playing like absolute busted Joey remains the only player to be publicly criticized by the Captain and Coach. If his attitude is as bad as they say the fact that Stone still picks him is a bigger issue for me. It shows just how much out of his depth Stone really is in the NRL.