Knights’ Recruitment Manager

[Les Misérables]

Over the next 2-3 years, we can (and probably will) lose:

Hunt
Manuleleua
Smith
Saifiti
Croker
(+ 1 maybe other we'd prefer to hold onto)

In addition to

Frizell
Gagai

These guys being supplemented by Winter, Hagan, Mulherin and a couple others on rookie dollars for their first 2-3 years in the NRL, while repositioning existing players like McEwen from an edge to the middle, and Crossy from 9 to 13, provides for the system we need to keep the music going for the next 4-5 years around Ponga

 

[slotmachine]

I also still think Cody Hopwood is a great bet to be as good as guys like Tino & Tapine btw

Ive always thought he's more Carrigan than anyone

I cant see Sandon staying at the club, he'll get offered a starting 7 role somewhere. Those funds could be useful in retention.

Got no idea why he was profiled as a hooker/14 when he looks pretty ordinary there and a much better 7.

 

[Brad tighe]

I think we will keep Manuleleua and move McEwen to prop

 

[Grandpa Joe]

I cant see Sandon staying at the club, he'll get offered a starting 7 role somewhere. Those funds could be useful in retention.

Will he? I think his got a bit of the AJ Brimsons about him good at plenty of positions and great at none.

Lets see him back up his form next year, Roosters didn't let him go for no reason.

 

[Newygirl]

Will he? I think his got a bit of the AJ Brimsons about him good at plenty of positions and great at none.

Let’s see him back up his form next year, Roosters didn't let him go for no reason.

Brimson’s a fullback, he just had better fullbacks at the Titans ahead of him. No idea why they didn’t just let him go earlier

To me Smith’s clearly a 7. He took us to a GF as a 7, and played very well through the whole finals series. That already puts him above quite a few other halfbacks already.

Plus, he’s still young, he’ll keep improving. For mine, a club like Perth would be mad not to offer him a good deal as a starting half

 

[Oliver]

Hypothetical. If the Bears came knocking and offered to take Brown off our hands, allowing us to keep Sharpe and either Best or Manuleleua for the next five years. Would you take that deal?

 

[Owey]

Hypothetical. If the Bears came knocking and offered to take Brown off our hands, allowing us to keep Sharpe and either Best or Manuleleua for the next five years. Would you take that deal?

Wouldn't consider it for a nano second

 

[Tackleslikeagirl]

Hypothetical. If the Bears came knocking and offered to take Brown off our hands, allowing us to keep Sharpe and either Best or Manuleleua for the next five years. Would you take that deal?

Nope. Rather Brown and Sharpe in the halves. Sandon may end up on their radar.

 

[Billy]

Hypothetical. If the Bears came knocking and offered to take Brown off our hands, allowing us to keep Sharpe and either Best or Manuleleua for the next five years. Would you take that deal?

I think I would.
Smith went way better than expected and even aimed up in defence in the finals. I think we could live with Smith and spend the big dollars better.
Chase Butler also looks like he is strong enough to play seniors. He was one of the few in the Aus Schoolboys side who held their own against the older PNG boys.

 

[Defence wins games]

Over the next 2-3 years, we can (and probably will) lose:

Hunt
Manuleleua
Smith
Saifiti
Croker
(+ 1 maybe other we'd prefer to hold onto)

In addition to

Frizell
Gagai

These guys being supplemented by Winter, Hagan, Mulherin and a couple others on rookie dollars for their first 2-3 years in the NRL, while repositioning existing players like McEwen from an edge to the middle, and Crossy from 9 to 13, provides for the system we need to keep the music going for the next 4-5 years around Ponga

I have confidence that the recruitment team will prioritise Francis. If he stays on his current trajectory they would be fools to let him go.

 

[Defence wins games]

Will he? I think his got a bit of the AJ Brimsons about him good at plenty of positions and great at none.

Lets see him back up his form next year, Roosters didn't let him go for no reason.

All that glitters is not gold at the Rorters. Just talk with Dom.
Sandon was let go so the Rorters could get old DCE. Sandon nearly pulled their pants down by helping to get the Knights to the GF.
I’d keep him for certain.

 

[Lynchyknight]

Hypothetical. If the Bears came knocking and offered to take Brown off our hands, allowing us to keep Sharpe and either Best or Manuleleua for the next five years. Would you take that deal?

Not a chance in hell
And not a Chance the knights would either

 

[Newygirl]

Considering the Brown signing played a big part in KP staying I don’t think that would be a good idea

 

[Oliver]

I think I would.
Smith went way better than expected and even aimed up in defence in the finals. I think we could live with Smith and spend the big dollars better.
Chase Butler also looks like he is strong enough to play seniors. He was one of the few in the Aus Schoolboys side who held their own against the older PNG boys.

That’s how I see it too. I don’t think Brown is a $800k better player than Smith and I’m not convinced we win the preliminary final if we had Brown instead of Smith.

 

[Newygirl]

That’s how I see it too. I don’t think Brown is a $800k better player than Smith and I’m not convinced we win the preliminary final if we had Brown instead of Smith.

Smith isn’t a $500k signing anymore though, his performance in the finals will mean if we want to re-sign him long-term and let Brown go he’ll cost us a lot more too. Maybe not the same as Brown but the gap is no longer $800k

 

[Oliver]

Smith isn’t a $500k signing anymore though, his performance in the finals will mean if we want to re-sign him long-term and let Brown go he’ll cost us a lot more too. Maybe not the same as Brown but the gap is no longer $800k

The next three years Smith will be still on 500k though.

 

[Die Hard]

Smith isn’t a $500k signing anymore though, his performance in the finals will mean if we want to re-sign him long-term and let Brown go he’ll cost us a lot more too. Maybe not the same as Brown but the gap is no longer $800k

Exactly, likely at least 700-800k at the current cap which would mean likely 1.3m+ in the future cap, basically just as expensive as Brown for a quality halfback compared to a potentially worldbreaking elite in Brown. Brown will only become more incredible value over time, one of the reasons I am excited for our future team potential. He is only 26 and has potential to be an in form top half. Browns defence is absolutely immense and he is one of the reasons we will win premiership(s).

 

[Newygirl]

The next three years Smith will be still on 500k though.

Yes but if they actually let Brown go, they’d immediately move to upgrade and extend Smith so they don’t risk going from 2 halfbacks to none. Smiths management would immediately be agitating for an upgrade if was the number 1 option. If they didn’t he’d go to market as soon as he can, especially with the cap going up

 

[krustykraz]

Having the best defensive half in the comp is very underrated for some reason.
I love watching him do those traditional legs tackles and chopping players down. It's a lost art.

 

[Oliver]

Yes but if they actually let Brown go, they’d immediately move to upgrade and extend Smith so they don’t risk going from 2 halfbacks to none. Smiths management would immediately be agitating for an upgrade if was the number 1 option. If they didn’t he’d go to market as soon as he can, especially with the cap going up

Obviously you get Smith’s extension done before letting Brown go to the Bears.