Official: Knights sign Connor Watson on a 3 year deal

[slotmachine]

TBH I don't know if Watson is THAT much better in the halves than some players already at the club.

 

[mozza]

With Ponga and Watson of nothing else we'll be a good shot to win the Nines.

 

[Aidos]

I hate paying overs but we have no choice, surely. Besides Maloney there's no one else of quality on the market and on potential I believe Watson will be worth 600k or even more. Just get it done.

 

[EASBay17]

I hate paying overs but we have no choice, surely. There's no one else on the market and on potential I believe Watson will be worth 600k or even more. Just get it done.

yup id take watson on 600kper year over 4 years instead of cronk or maloney for 1 or 2 years for 1mil +.
if he reaches his potential 600k will be very very good value for money in 2 or 3 years time.

 

[Billy]

To be honest, Apart from him wanting to come here, I don't see how Watson fits the plan. We have plenty of rookie playmakers - if we need a half, we need a Cronk or a Maloney, not another rookie.
We still need a 600k prop - not another rookie half.

 

[Frank McWilliams]

Not likely to get Cronk or Maloney though would be nice, go for Watson, and yes go hard for a v/good mature prop with at least a couple of years in the legs

 

[Delles]

What I'm reading is Watson has signed with the Tigers... how can we be sure as of yday he signed with us?

 

[rhugh89]

To be honest, Apart from him wanting to come here, I don't see how Watson fits the plan. We have plenty of rookie playmakers - if we need a half, we need a Cronk or a Maloney, not another rookie.
We still need a 600k prop - not another rookie half.

Yep, We need an experienced playmaker who knows how to close a game out and has good game management skills

We have lost 7 games by 10 points or less and 5 of those by 6 points or less

Some good teams in those games as well

An experienced high quality half could have very well been the difference in these games

Round 1 - Lost to the Warriors 26-22
Round 3 - Lost to the Rabbits 24-18
Round 5 - Lost to the Sharks 19-18
Round 6 - Lost to the Bulldogs 22-12
Round 11 - Lost to the Panthers 30-20
Round 14 - Lost to the Sea Eagles 18-14
Round 16 - Lost to the Dragons 32-28

 

[Matty James]

That article is from 10hrs ago, 13hrs ago they published an article saying Watson has two clubs to choose from. Much like the jack bird scenario the media are chasing headlines hoping to be right.

As of this very moment Watson is a Newcastle knight for 2018 and beyond.

Do we get to tar and feather you if you're wrong?

 

[Joey1245]

Does any one have any solid info on Connor watson

 

[Joshhh]

Read about Feeney being off-contract and not being offered yet. Wondered what people thought of what we should do with him.

Considering he has only played 12 first grade games I don't mind the idea of giving him another cheap last chance prove it one or two year deal. Preferably one with a club option for the 2nd year.
I know it probably won't be a popular idea to keep him around but considering how impatient people are here with some of the players who have had more first grade experience then him I think he's entitled to his shot.

For sure if we can't add anyone. If we can add Watson or Maloney, there'll be a case to let Feeney go. Adding Lamb, Cogger & Phythian will give us some decent options that will severely limit Feeney & Pearsall's opportunities.

 

[josh2010]

really hope we arn't stuck with the same halves. Really rate Lamb but we need someone that suites him! Someone with a bit of experience would be nice if we dont get Watson!

 

[roger88]

For sure if we can't add anyone. If we can add Watson or Maloney, there'll be a case to let Feeney go. Adding Lamb, Cogger & Phythian will give us some decent options that will severely limit Feeney & Pearsall's opportunities.

I would rather stick with Hodkinson as he has worked with our young guys and hopefully another pre season the combos get better.




We need to put our money into buying props with a bench of.


14 D Safiti

15 Herman Ese,ese

16 Josh Starling

17 Utility

 

[josh2010]

If we can grab Ese Ese, Moga, graham and Watson for next season our squad Will be top 8 material imo. But to be premiership material we need a top half still and maybe another Forward although thats not saying we cant find that from our own club. If we can run out with something like this for RD 1 id be over the moon!

1 ponga
2 Sio
3 Moga
3 SKD
5 Ross
6 Watson
7 Lamb
8 D.Saifiti
9 Levi
10 Graham
11 Sione
12 Buhrer
13 Guerra
14 Barnett
15 Ese Ese
16 J.Saifiti
17 Stone/Yates/Utility

That would be a dream side for next yr!

 

[Left Foot]

If we can grab Ese Ese, Moga, graham and Watson for next season our squad Will be top 8 material imo. But to be premiership material we need a top half still and maybe another Forward although thats not saying we cant find that from our own club. If we can run out with something like this for RD 1 id be over the moon!

1 ponga
2 Sio
3 Moga
3 SKD
5 Ross
6 Watson
7 Lamb
8 D.Saifiti
9 Levi
10 Graham
11 Sione
12 Buhrer
13 Guerra
14 Barnett
15 Ese Ese
16 J.Saifiti
17 Stone/Yates/Utility

That would be a dream side for next yr!

Top 8? Don't think so.
We will still battling with Tigers and Titans to avoid the spoon.
Spine is still **** weak.
Only one that has any real potential is Ponga.
Forwards are meh.
Grahams best years are behind him.
Saifiti and Ese'Ese are good players but rest are meh and would struggle to get gigs on the bench at most other clubs.

 

[Joey1245]

Top 8? Don't think so.
We will still battling with Tigers and Titans to avoid the spoon.
Spine is still **** weak.
Only one that has any real potential is Ponga.
Forwards are meh.
Grahams best years are behind him.
Saifiti and Ese'Ese are good players but rest are meh and would struggle to get gigs on the bench at most other clubs.

I agree that I don't think it will be top 8 but maybe top 10! also Watson has no potential? Is it some other kid who ripped the Auckland 9s apart this year bruher is **** also! Guerra is average don't know how he played any rep footy (I'm being Sarcastic have some positivity **** me with your attitude we should just close the club)

 

[mozza]

If everything goes right that team is a top 8 side. Ponga and Watson have so much talent to burn and Watson/Lamb halves combo has a buttload of potential. Levi is quality too even though Left Foot won't admit that he was wrong about him.

The pack is much better than we have now, no nuffies like Starling or King and a plenty of impact off the bench to prevent lapses when Graham and Saifiti have a spell.

Outside backs have potential but plenty of errors too, but if the forwards and halves are firing it won't matter too much.

 

[Left Foot]

I agree that I don't think it will be top 8 but maybe top 10! also Watson has no potential? Is it some other kid who ripped the Auckland 9s apart this year bruher is **** also! Guerra is average don't know how he played any rep footy (I'm being Sarcastic have some positivity **** me with your attitude we should just close the club)

With my attitude and knowledge, we wouldn't be collecting 3 wooden spoons in a row.

 

[Hughburt6]

Pretty sure Watson is going to the tigers though so don't get your hopes up

 

[Battler]

I'm pretty happy with our recruitment so far. Yes it hasn't yielded heaps, but I'm glad to see Mooney/Brown stick to their guns and not pay massive overs for anyone. I would have loved to see Watson here, but not at $600k. Not at $500k either. We need get forward and aggression and there's not much left in the market, so I'm cool with Ese'ese if it's official. We still need two more big angry bastards, but a start is a start. The rebuild can't happen in a year, but it is happening and I'm prepared to let Browny at least see out his plan.