Toohey's News

[jamesgould]

That what I don’t get. You have all the other top clubs with an elite fullback and halfback. How can the afford it and we can’t.

The majority of those good spines that successful teams have, all started at the club as a junior, or came at a very young age. That’s where you get the best value from these players, early in their contract life … so I’m probably talking myself into Pezet being the best solution here. Even though we’ve tried it before, from Clifford to Beau Henry.

The alternative is we have to pay a heap of money, that can work as the Broncos have seen with Reynolds, or it can be a total fail like Hodkinson and ruin your cap for several years.

Buying in multiple superstars just isn’t possible for the majority of clubs. I think it’s either got to be juniors, or smart strategic undervalued players (Brian Smith was the master at that). And then there’s the odd star junior like Ponga, or Tapine for the Raiders, who is worth going after.

 

[Celticman98]

Whatever the current plan is I wouldn't get too attached to it, wasn't that long ago our long-term spine was supposed to be:

1. Hodgson
6. KP
7. Clifford
9. Brailey

We also tried to sign Garrick to play fullback for a while there.

 

[HarVeeGee13]

The majority of those good spines that successful teams have, all started at the club as a junior, or came at a very young age. That’s where you get the best value from these players, early in their contract life … so I’m probably talking myself into Pezet being the best solution here. Even though we’ve tried it before, from Clifford to Beau Henry.

The alternative is we have to pay a heap of money, that can work as the Broncos have seen with Reynolds, or it can be a total fail like Hodkinson and ruin your cap for several years.

Buying in multiple superstars just isn’t possible for the majority of clubs. I think it’s either got to be juniors, or smart strategic undervalued players (Brian Smith was the master at that). And then there’s the odd star junior like Ponga, or Tapine for the Raiders, who is worth going after.

That’s it. The fact we’ve bet on the wrong young guy doesn’t mean betting on someone young was the wrong move.

Mitch Moses was Pezet’s age now when Parra signed him. It didn’t happen for him overnight but they’ve overall got great value out of signing him young. Matt Burton around the same age (and in my opinion he’s continuing to improve).

It would have been nice to be in a position to try for Adam Reynolds but honestly, if Brisbane is the other bidder, how do we win there?

We’re not going to buy a top tier established halfback. We have to develop one. Pezet is the most talented young half on the market.

We’re in a position to ease him in rather than look to him as a saviour, too. The pressure is always going to be on Ponga first and foremost, and Gamble is here for a while yet and IMO he’s a guy at 6 who can take pressure off a young 7 - he’s competitive, he’s vocal, he can play to a game plan and keep players around him on task.

I suspect we’re attractive to Matt Arthur and his dad who’s surely advising him for a similar reason - playing off the bench with Crossland at 9 eases him into it rather than asking him to be a main man from the beginning.

 

[jamesgould]

It would have been nice to be in a position to try for Adam Reynolds but honestly, if Brisbane is the other bidder, how do we win there?

That's the other thing I didn't mention of course, those elite experienced spine players actually changing clubs happens once in a blue moon, and you have to have your cards aligning to be in the situation where you can sign them, which unfortunately we weren't quite with Reynolds ... and as you say he probably would have gone to Brisbane anyway!

 

[frankLauda]

I’m just considering salary cap wise also. Yes I know those halves or spine players came through but at some point they are paying big bucks for them. Seems crazy to me how the storm can manage to fit Hugh’s, Paps, Munster and Harry Grant within there salary cap.

I just hope guys like Peter Parr and O’Sullivan can change the fortunes of this club. We should be a power house club with such a large catchment area for players, and how popular rugby league is in Newcastle.

 

[SportsFan]

That’s it. The fact we’ve bet on the wrong young guy doesn’t mean betting on someone young was the wrong move.

i feel for Brock Lamb & Jack Cogger who were pushed into first grade very early then hung out to dry. If we were in better shape they could have developed. Not saying they were world beaters, but both very young with lots of pressure.

 

[Macca89]

I’m just considering salary cap wise also. Yes I know those halves or spine players came through but at some point they are paying big bucks for them. Seems crazy to me how the storm can manage to fit Hugh’s, Paps, Munster and Harry Grant within there salary cap.

I just hope guys like Peter Parr and O’Sullivan can change the fortunes of this club. We should be a power house club with such a large catchment area for players, and how popular rugby league is in Newcastle.

They pay big money for their spine players and maybe one forward on decent coin but then they sign a heap of battlers on not much coin and Bellamy goes to work on them and they look like world beaters. I guarantee if we brought back king and Meaney people would be calling for their heads within a season but in Melbourne Bellamy time and time again seeks to get the best out of the players of that calibre

 

[Sarge]

They pay big money for their spine players and maybe one forward on decent coin but then they sign a heap of battlers on not much coin and Bellamy goes to work on them and they look like world beaters. I guarantee if we brought back king and Meaney people would be calling for their heads within a season but in Melbourne Bellamy time and time again seeks to get the best out of the players of that calibre

Yep Meaney would be going as good as Tom Jenkins . And King prob be working in the mines & playing for Cessnock !

 

[Defence wins games]

i feel for Brock Lamb & Jack Cogger who were pushed into first grade very early then hung out to dry. If we were in better shape they could have developed. Not saying they were world beaters, but both very young with lots of pressure.

Very similar, in a lot of ways to Kade Snowden in the forwards. He certainly went on to be a very good prop and moved to another club. The Knights are a different club now, backed by a financially strong club. The Centre of Excellence is a far cry from the shipping container days of Lamb, Cogger and Snowden.

 

[mullenmagic]

It’s interesting how open they’re being about the Pezet interest when he’s not available until 2026. It does make me think they’re at least hopeful they could get him here sooner but Melbourne don’t normally let players go early just to be nice about it.

 

[jamesgould]

i feel for Brock Lamb & Jack Cogger who were pushed into first grade very early then hung out to dry. If we were in better shape they could have developed. Not saying they were world beaters, but both very young with lots of pressure.

The whole Brown years were just terrible management from all concerned.

 

[Lefty]

The Safitis were thown into first grade before they were ready, I think that has damaged their careers.

As well as developing/recruiting a capable playing group, you need a coach that can develop the players.

 

[Kurriboy]

They pay big money for their spine players and maybe one forward on decent coin but then they sign a heap of battlers on not much coin and Bellamy goes to work on them and they look like world beaters. I guarantee if we brought back king and Meaney people would be calling for their heads within a season but in Melbourne Bellamy time and time again seeks to get the best out of the players of that calibre

That is the standards that are set at the club. Hard work on top of hard work.

I love how they make players go out and work as a brick layers labourer for a week or something when they arrive at the club. Grounds them and gives them the perspective of how lucky they are, but also if they don't work hard to stay, they got a glimpse of where they can end up, and on far less coin.

Melbourne takes average players, surrounds them with some class, gives them a simple role to play within the team, and gives them a great work ethic.

The coach that shouts at people comment, thats not what I want. I want a coach that is going to drive standards and draw a line in the sand. If we have to churn through some players to make that happen then they are the anchors pulling us down anyway!

Average players with the right attitude and drive are better than good or even great players, with the wrong attitude!

 

[Lefty]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1816373899879497762

 

[Beatell]

The Safitis were thown into first grade before they were ready, I think that has damaged their careers.

As well as developing/recruiting a capable playing group, you need a coach that can develop the players.

Do you honestly think they would have got faster and less lazy if they didnt start playing 1st grade until later in their careers? I agree they played way too early but this was always going to be their career path. From day one theyve been terrible in defence, dropped balls, poor play of the balls. We were dumb and recative in signing them to the deals we did.

 

[Lefty]

Do you honestly think they would have got faster and less lazy if they didnt start playing 1st grade until later in their careers? I agree they played way too early but this was always going to be their career path. From day one theyve been terrible in defence, dropped balls, poor play of the balls. We were dumb and recative in signing them to the deals we did.

You are probably correct.

 

[knights80]

It’s interesting how open they’re being about the Pezet interest when he’s not available until 2026. It does make me think they’re at least hopeful they could get him here sooner but Melbourne don’t normally let players go early just to be nice about it.

Maybe if the rumours of the storm maybe letting Nelson go to look at Stefano from tigers, there’s a chance the Knights could try to trade D-SAF to Storm in exchange for Pezet if Pezet is keen to come here.
I could imagine D-SAF would get that drive back he had in 2020 or so when playing origin as we know Bellamy would rip him into shape.

Way more appealing than switching to Dragons

 

[Kurriboy]

Maybe if the rumours of the storm maybe letting Nelson go to look at Stefano from tigers, there’s a chance the Knights could try to trade D-SAF to Storm in exchange for Pezet if Pezet is keen to come here.
I could imagine D-SAF would get that drive back he had in 2020 or so when playing origin as we know Bellamy would rip him into shape.

Way more appealing than switching to Dragons

Geez I thought for a second you were going to say bring Nelson here.

Absolute grub.

 

[BETTERTHANLEGO]

Sulli is easily a smarter man than I but I can’t understand why we’d be so willing to pay a decent wedge for players to play for another club.

 

[Les Misérables]

Guys great news

So, Brad Arthur signs as assistant coach. The Knights sack OB before the outset of next season or soon into next season. Brad Arthur then promoted to head coach, then pulls of a huge hiest and poches Mitchell Moses.

Ok I'm happy now that this is the clubs plan.