Recruitment And Retention Discussion

[Seano]

Aside from Dom, which ones, if any, do you reckon will play FG at the Knights in 26 @Billy?

 

[Billy]

Aside from Dom, which ones, if any, do you reckon will play HG at the Knights in 26 @Billy?

All of them are interesting signings with obvious areas where they are very good and obvious areas where they need to improve.

I'd call them all "project" players that good coaches can turn into stars.

 

[EddieC]

2025 mid season recruits

1 Cullen Gray - Union
2 Dom Young - Roosters
3 Marcus Dac're - Canada Union
4 Sully Hoad - Queensland
5
6 Mitch Henderson - Canberra via Qld cup
7 Jake Arthur - Manly
8 Wil Sullivan - Qld cup
9 Aydon Hoad - Qld
10 Lachlan Crouch - Cronulla
11 Dylan Coyte - Manly
12
13 Mason Teague - Dolphins

14 Ryder Williams - Titans

Bit confused here @Billy with Sully and Ayden Hoad? They were signings for preseason and have been here since November 24 so bit sure how they are mid season? Will Sullivan was a “replacement” when we lost Sebastian Sua and a swap deal was done with Mason Teague. These were all pre season?

 

[mullenmagic]

Gray & the Hoad twins were here from the start of the season. Sullivan and Teague both happened early in the season but still midseason signings.

 

[Seano]

"Pasami Saulo has been granted an early release from his contract with the Green Machine to link up with the Knights for the 2026 NRL season, per News Corp."

Newcastle Knights bolster forward pack with new signing for 2026

He previously played 27 NRL matches for the Knights.

www.zerotackle.com

Given the club's desperate need for a prop, and the likely significantly less to sign than Hetherington, a good signing.

PS. That picture they always use of AOB on their front page and thumbnail makes him look like he's trying to do a Zoolander #BlueSteel

 

[krustykraz]

"Pasami Saulo has been granted an early release from his contract with the Green Machine to link up with the Knights for the 2026 NRL season, per News Corp."

Newcastle Knights bolster forward pack with new signing for 2026

He previously played 27 NRL matches for the Knights.

www.zerotackle.com

Given the club's desperate need for a prop, and the likely significantly less to sign than Hetherington, a good signing.

PS. That picture they always use of AOB on their front page and thumbnail makes him look like he's trying to do a Zoolander #BlueSteel

If we get Papa or Trey, I'm pretty happy with the middles for next year.

It's like the old Bennett approach, don't over spend on forwards so you can load up the spine.

A decent hooker would be great so Phoenix can play 13.

 

[Seano]

I doubt we'll get Trey now that we've signed Saulo. Maybe Papi.

But Saulo should be a good signing, and hopefully, 2026 is a breakout year for Matt Arthur.

 

[slotmachine]

I'm pretty happy with the middles for next year.

At the moment it's JSaf and a bunch of kids and fringe guys, would be the worst rotation in the comp. I guess the hope is that they improve into 2027/28 but I wouldn't have high hopes for 2026.

 

[Grandpa Joe]

Expecting 2 more journeyman like signings tbh in the forwards.

 

[slotmachine]

Which forwards are we pushing out to sign them, because there's only 1 spot left earmarked for a hooker?

1 Bradman Best
2 Brodie Jones
3 Cody Hopwood
4 * Dane Gagai
5 Dominic Young
6 Dylan Brown
7 Dylan Lucas
8 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
9 Fletcher Sharpe
10 Francis Manuleleua
11 Greg Marzhew
12 Jack Cogger
13 Jacob Saifiti
14 James Schiller
15 Jermaine McEwen
16 Kalyn Ponga
17 Kyle McCarthy
18 Lachlan Crouch
19 Mat Croker
20 Matt Arthur
21 Pasami Saulo
22 Peter Hola
23 Phoenix Crossland
24 Taj Annan
25 Thomas Cant
26 * Tyson Frizell
27 Tyson Gamble
28 Wil Sullivan
29 Wilson De Courcey
30

 

[Grandpa Joe]

I can't believe we re-signed both Jones and Croker.

 

[Brad tighe]

Which forwards are we pushing out to sign them, because there's only 1 spot left earmarked for a hooker?

1 Bradman Best
2 Brodie Jones
3 Cody Hopwood
4 * Dane Gagai
5 Dominic Young
6 Dylan Brown
7 Dylan Lucas
8 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
9 Fletcher Sharpe
10 Francis Manuleleua
11 Greg Marzhew
12 Jack Cogger
13 Jacob Saifiti
14 James Schiller
15 Jermaine McEwen
16 Kalyn Ponga
17 Kyle McCarthy
18 Lachlan Crouch
19 Mat Croker
20 Matt Arthur
21 Pasami Saulo
22 Peter Hola
23 Phoenix Crossland
24 Taj Annan
25 Thomas Cant
26 * Tyson Frizell
27 Tyson Gamble
28 Wil Sullivan
29 Wilson De Courcey
30

They will sign a backrower and let someone go to sign a booker

 

[Lynchyknight]

I reckon one off Gagai and Friz will leave so that’s 2 spots and I think Cogger or Gamble will ask for release so that’s will be 3

 

[slotmachine]

I think Cogger or Gamble will ask for release so that’s will be 3

In which case they will just be replaced with another backup half, not a forward.

 

[KPGreatness]

1 Bradman Best

2 Brodie Jones

3 Cody Hopwood

4 * Dane Gagai

5 Dominic Young

6 Dylan Brown

7 Dylan Lucas

8 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana

9 Fletcher Sharpe

10 Francis Manuleleua

11 Greg Marzhew

12 Jake Arthur

13 Jacob Saifiti

14 James Schiller

15 Jermaine McEwen

16 Kalyn Ponga

17 Kyle McCarthy

18 Lachlan Crouch

19 Mat Croker

20 Matt Arthur

21 Pasami Saulo

22 Peter Hola

23 Phoenix Crossland

24 ???

25 Thomas Cant

26 ???

27 Tyson Gamble

28 Wil Sullivan

29 Wilson De Courcey

30 ???





Removed w/ reasons

Jack Cogger - He just isn’t that good and I have no confidence in him even as a back up, our juniors would operate the same if not better and have a better upside for it and I replaced him with Jake Arthur as I hope we keep him and I’d wager that the Knights would only want a halves option to replace Cogger



Taj Annan - Just looks a few years off first grade and is already about 21, and as we have cover for him already in the top 30 such as McCarthy, Schiller and De Coursey, he is a person we can release and free a top 30 spot



Tyson Frizell - I’m not sure how bad this might annoy people and I love Frizz a lot but I think his run for us is over, we have cover for him already with McEwen, ESL, Manu and Cant all in the top 30 and Crossland is thriving at that 13 role meanwhile Croker has been good their when used, it will free up another spot extra slot for a prop as well if needed

 

[Billy]

Taj Annan isn't even being picked in cup for the last 2 games.
Wil Sullivan is improving slowly, but he's behind Hopwood, who is 2 years younger.

 

[slotmachine]

he is a person we can release and free a top 30 spot

Can't just sack him. Got a deal until 2027, it's going to be a decent payout as I can't see anyone else being interested in him.

 

[Seano]

Yeah, can't release anyone (without cause) unless they agree, and they're only likely to do that if they're getting a longer/better deal elsewhere or retiring.

I actually think Cogs is good enough to play backup, but in the ideal Knights season, he captains the reggies and is not much required for FG.

 

[jamesgould]

Yeah, can't release anyone (without cause) unless they agree, and they're only likely to do that if they're getting a longer/better deal elsewhere or retiring.

I actually think Cogs is good enough to play backup, but in the ideal Knights season, he captains the reggies and is not much required for FG.

I can see Gamble playing a big role in 14 next year with Crossland at 13, and Arthur an inexperienced 9 who might only play 40 minutes. Then Arthur2 and Cogger will be our back-up halves, we’ll probably need both at various stages in the season. So both required next year, imo.

 

[Grandpa Joe]

I think Cogger or Gamble will ask for release so that’s will be 3

No chance, I don't think even the ESL will come knocking.