Knights bring halt to transfer madness

Joshhh

Joshhh

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Knights bring halt to transfer madness

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First session: Beau Henry trains with the Titans. Picture: Michael Ross Source: The Daily Telegraph

NEWCASTLE coach Rick Stone has given Knights fans an iron-clad guarantee the club will not be shedding any more players in the wake of the mid-season transfers of Cory Paterson and Beau Henry to rival clubs.

Henry became the latest player to part company with the Knights over the weekend after a deal was finalised with Gold Coast on Friday night.

Henry, unwanted by incoming coach Wayne Bennett, trained for the first time with the Titans yesterday after signing with the club until the end of 2013.

His hasty exit follows Paterson's departure to the North Queensland Cowboys more than a week ago.

The transfers of both players are to free up room in the salary cap next season for the arrival of the likes of Darius Boyd, Kade Snowden and Timana Tahu. Stone, who is desperately trying to keep the focus on this season, admitted losing players mid-year was "far from ideal" but decisions were made in the best interests of the players involved.

"We won't be losing anyone else to another club before the end of the season, I can guarantee that," Stone told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

'We just can't afford to.

"But in the case of Pato and Beau, it was about giving them the opportunity to secure their futures long term and that meant allowing them to go straight away.

"As a coach, it's far from ideal but we just have to get on with it the best we can."

Asked if the Knights are considering bolstering their current squad before the June 30 cut-off, Stone refused to rule it out.

"It's a possibility.

"It could happen but it's not on the agenda at this stage," he said.

Any new player brought to the club would have to be okayed by Bennett.

Meanwhile, Stone faces injury concerns over former NSW State of Origin winger James McManus and prop Dan Tolar in the build-up to Saturday's clash against Penrith at Ausgrid Stadium while the return of five-eighth Tyrone Roberts has a question mark over it.

Roberts, who made his NRL debut earlier in the season before being injured, is the logical replacement at five-eighth for Henry but is no certainty to be cleared to play against the Panthers.
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http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...transfer-madness/story-e6frexnr-1226074479069
 
Unfortunately, I'm not sure how much of a say Rick Stone has in this. It seems clear the "next year at the expense of this year" policy is being driven by management and Bennett.

As I've said before, very disrespectful to the players and coaching staff who put all the work into the off-season and season to date, and disrespectful to the season ticket holders and sponsors who signed on expecting to see the Knights compete this year.
 
It will probably build up if we get rid of more players midseason. Paying players to play for other clubs is not ideal. I probably agree to an extent that that will be it (I dont know too many clubs who ever got rid of more then one player). Players who are off-contract this year or next better watch out though. I guess these are the tough decisions a coach has to make, I just hope the management (better as it is) sticks by the coach.
 
mozza said:
It better be, because this season is pretty much a write off.
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Pretty much yeh. Ever since Bennett signed, we all knew there was going to be changes.

Matty78 said:
Interesting comment on whether any players may come to us though.
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Honestly, I think Stone has no idea what's going on in regards to player signings. I cant see many players moving to us halfway through the year, that are on the radar of Wayne. Never know though I suppose.

As for whether this article is true, again... I don't think Stone is 100% certain on anything these days.
 
Gees I feel for Rick Stone. Really been mucked about and I agree with you Alicia, I don't think he has any say at all into what is going on at the moment.

The year isn't done yet, but I do worry if we cop a big loss things could spiral out of control. The boys haven't let their heads drop yet and have remained competitive, I just worry that it could all go down hill really quick.
 
Matty78 said:
Gees I feel for Rick Stone. Really been mucked about and I agree with you Alicia, I don't think he has any say at all into what is going on at the moment.

The year isn't done yet, but I do worry if we cop a big loss things could spiral out of control. The boys haven't let their heads drop yet and have remained competitive, I just worry that it could all go down hill really quick.
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This is what worries me. If we have a couple of bad results and drop out of finals contention things could just spiral out of control and nobody wants to see us win the spoon or cop floggings every week.
 
Least we don't have Dureau and Rogers as replacements this year heh
I hope Roberts steps up, and I heard Stig is training with the first grade squad, which is great to see
 
(.)(.) said:
Without Mullen this seasons pretty much a write off anyway isn't it?
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Mullen is the great enigma of this team. I laughed to myself when he was mentioned as a NSW contender...had those people actually been watching him this year? Seen how completely clueless he has been inside the oppositions 20?

The halves are what worry me most about the Knights...and nothing in this great recruitment drive has dealt with the problems there.

Personally, I think if Bennett can turn Mullen into the player we've always hoped he would be, it would just about be his greatest coaching achievement.
 
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