The pre-season thread - 2022

Hi guys, Warriors here, hope you don't mind me dropping in your pre season chat. As far as the past season goes both our teams underwhelmed the respective fans, with the big difference being you made the 8. How is the Knights recruitment and retention going?

With us it is confirmed the Warriors are based at Redcliffe for the season, so that is good. Some of our players have had to change Schools for their kids 4 times, so a little certainty is good. A lot of us are excited about having Sean Johnson back. SJ is a legend at te Warriors and seems really eager to dig in. Also just confirmed we have signed Ash Taylor on a Train and Trial. We are hoping for better luck with injuries and with new Halves and a settled lineup can start closing out those close ones.

Genuinely interested in how you guys see the Knights for pre season and beyond.
 
If we sign the backrower that the club is supposedly hunting for, then I think our recruitment of Gagai (being the centre we need) and that player will be a good start. My concern is still around halfback with a deteriorating Pearce, or 5/8th (whichever position Clifford is not in, as I'm not worried about him). Otherwise retention has been good in extending Saf x2, Brailey, Hunt, Tuala, Jones and Fitzgibbon. All decent starters or useful depth.

Fingers crossed for the Warriors this year coming. They certainly deserve some success for the sacrifices they've been asked to make to keep the competition going over the past 2 years.
 
Watcher said:
Hi guys, Warriors here, hope you don't mind me dropping in your pre season chat. As far as the past season goes both our teams underwhelmed the respective fans, with the big difference being you made the 8. How is the Knights recruitment and retention going?

With us it is confirmed the Warriors are based at Redcliffe for the season, so that is good. Some of our players have had to change Schools for their kids 4 times, so a little certainty is good. A lot of us are excited about having Sean Johnson back. SJ is a legend at te Warriors and seems really eager to dig in. Also just confirmed we have signed Ash Taylor on a Train and Trial. We are hoping for better luck with injuries and with new Halves and a settled lineup can start closing out those close ones.

Genuinely interested in how you guys see the Knights for pre season and beyond.
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Damn, I'm surprised Taylor could only pick up a train & trial deal. Would've thought someone out there would have offered him a proper deal for sure. The guy has got talent, I remember one year he was up the top for try assists. Probably just needs the right environment to get some value out of him again. Throwing huge money at young kids will always be a gamble & it's one that didn't pay off for the Titans.
 
knightime said:
If we sign the backrower that the club is supposedly hunting for, then I think our recruitment of Gagai (being the centre we need) and that player will be a good start. My concern is still around halfback with a deteriorating Pearce, or 5/8th (whichever position Clifford is not in, as I'm not worried about him). Otherwise retention has been good in extending Saf x2, Brailey, Hunt, Tuala, Jones and Fitzgibbon. All decent starters or useful depth.

Fingers crossed for the Warriors this year coming. They certainly deserve some success for the sacrifices they've been asked to make to keep the competition going over the past 2 years.
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We need more than Gagai & Clune to make significant ground up the ladder, but to be fair not much around at the moment. Depth was an issue this year, lost some first-graders & replaced them with young kids, but that should hold us in better stead next year, everyone is a little bit more experienced now so some leaps forward should be taken as an overall squad.
 
Joshhh said:
Damn, I'm surprised Taylor could only pick up a train & trial deal. Would've thought someone out there would have offered him a proper deal for sure. The guy has got talent, I remember one year he was up the top for try assists. Probably just needs the right environment to get some value out of him again. Throwing huge money at young kids will always be a gamble & it's one that didn't pay off for the Titans.
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I think the explanation was he wanted a deal with not so much pressure so he could get his game back on track, before likely heading to the new Queensland team in 2023.
 
jamesgould said:
I think the explanation was he wanted a deal with not so much pressure so he could get his game back on track, before likely heading to the new Queensland team in 2023.
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That's the way we see it as well. Great recruitment, some still question his attitude but he has talent and personally I will be surprised if he doesn't get a contract, the 'million dollar man' is off his shoulders now, he can just play.
 
Watcher said:
That's the way we see it as well. Great recruitment, some still question his attitude but he has talent and personally I will be surprised if he doesn't get a contract, the 'million dollar man' is off his shoulders now, he can just play.
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He should be a pretty valuable recruit for the Warriors, even if it is just for one season!
 
I've never seen more than maybe a 300k value in Taylor.
How he got a million dollar deal is a mystery.
 
Owey said:
Yeah, i think the Broncos looked sideways at him when he was going ok and the titans pooped in their pants.
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Well I think they were looking at him as the next big thing in the juniors at the time. Was being groomed as the Broncos next halfback, then the Titans swooped in & signed him to a contract before he even played a first-grade game.
 
www.newcastleknights.com.au

2021 NSW Cup Highlights

All the best tries and highlights from the nib Newcastle Knights Knock-On-Effect NSW Cup season in 2021.
www.newcastleknights.com.au www.newcastleknights.com.au

Best tries from reserve grade - some impressive speed shown by Lucas, Young, Baker and Sasagi in a lot of those tries - but young Chris Veaila jumping over Blake Ferguson is still my favourite, given how young Chris is and how experienced Fergo is.
 
Joshhh said:
Damn, I'm surprised Taylor could only pick up a train & trial deal. Would've thought someone out there would have offered him a proper deal for sure. The guy has got talent, I remember one year he was up the top for try assists. Probably just needs the right environment to get some value out of him again. Throwing huge money at young kids will always be a gamble & it's one that didn't pay off for the Titans.
Click to expand...
Young kid making lots of money and living on the GC is never going to end well lol
Probably needs needs to play for someone like the storm or Roosters to bring the best out of him.
 
I wonder if Clifford will have to do the boot camp with the younger players?
I think he's one who would benefit from it, but as a regular firstgrader he might get the later start.
 
He’s got a new baby and has to organise a move down from ****sville to the Hunter, probably got enough on his plate at the moment.
 
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