Recruitment And Retention Discussion

[Billy]

Knights signings tracker: NRL market explodes, but what does it mean for Newcastle?

NRL transfer talk and every Knights players' contract status.

www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article that says 10 players come on the market for 2028 on Nov 1

Saifiti
Best
Hunt
Graham
Saulo
ESL
Hola
Schiller
McCarthy
Kepaoa
Arthur

No mention of any direction we may be leaning on any of them

 

[Lefty]

Finally.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2114864494270980365

https://twitter.com/x/status/2114872973316264318

 

[Lefty]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2114558610189521316

 

[Billy]

Finally.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2114864494270980365

He could be anything or he could be nothing.
He has played in 2 Mathews grandfinals - once as a fullback and part time hooker and once as a dominant playmaker/5/8 - lost the first one - totally owned the second one to win the minor and major premierships.

 

[Billy]

You'd have to think both McKay twins will get a pre-season.
Kade remained injury free in 2026 while his brother missed most of the season - but they could swap jumpers and you could never tell.

 

[Frank McWilliams]

Knights signings tracker: NRL market explodes, but what does it mean for Newcastle?

NRL transfer talk and every Knights players' contract status.

www.newcastleherald.com.au

Article that says 10 players come on the market for 2028 on Nov 1

Saifiti
Best
Hunt
Graham
Saulo
ESL
Hola
Schiller
McCarthy
Kepaoa
Arthur

No mention of any direction we may be leaning on any of them

11 listed
Keep SAF, Best, Hunt, ??? Graham, Saulo, ESL McCarthy. Let go Hola, Schiller, Kepaoa, Arthur

 

[Billy]

Rostron - plays fullback, centre, wing, 5/8, halfback, hooker and probably lock.
Bishop - plays fullback, 5/8 and hooker
Cooper Votano - 5/8, but big enough to play in the forwards.
Butler - halfback but played 5/8 for Aus Schoolboys.

 

[Lynchyknight]

11 listed
Keep SAF, Best, Hunt, ??? Graham, Saulo, ESL McCarthy. Let go Hola, Schiller, Kepaoa, Arthur

If Best stays Hunt will go, also think Graham and ESL leave to

 

[KPGreatness]

If Best stays Hunt will go, also think Graham and ESL leave to

Graham was always going to leave he came as a stop gap for Hagan, I do agree that ESL looks very likely to leave because Cant is a demon according to first grade coaches.

 

[Jon Snow]

Gotta say right now both the Dylan Brown and Sandon Smith signings are looking like pretty good foresight from the club. With the obvious exception of Cleary coming off contract, there’s a real lack of genuine halves that are available next few years.
I mean they’re saying Zane Harrison wants $900k, the guys a rookie who’s played half a season. Walker is chasing big big dollars.
Our other signings this year are also smart business, gonna be clubs throwing silly money at players the next few weeks.
We’ve got a really elite and well balanced roster for the next two years really.

 

[jamesgould]

If Best decides to leave, do we think we go looking to recruit someone new, or go with Hunt and Winter, and potentially a cheaper back-up signing, and save that money for our back rowers?

 

[frankLauda]

If Best decides to leave, do we think we go looking to recruit someone new, or go with Hunt and Winter, and potentially a cheaper back-up signing, and save that money for our back rowers?

Yes I would do that.

 

[Macca89]

If Best decides to leave, do we think we go looking to recruit someone new, or go with Hunt and Winter, and potentially a cheaper back-up signing, and save that money for our back rowers?

That would probably be the only positive if best does leave

 

[Owey]

If Best decides to leave, do we think we go looking to recruit someone new, or go with Hunt and Winter, and potentially a cheaper back-up signing, and save that money for our back rowers?

I'd do that

 

[HarVeeGee13]

The Newy Juniors guy on Instagram just posted to people who follow him that there's a contingency plan "to balance the squads' firsts experience" if Best goes and "we won't be left short of left centre options both long and short term".

It's kind of weird, I think he's awesome, I think he's a match-winner, I think the window is wider open if he stays... but yeah obviously we can pivot if we lose him. Hunt has been okay there. Lucas or Sharpe can play there if needed, if others don't perform. Very malleable squad.