Toohey's News

An interesting slant I put on the close relationship between O'Brien and Zammit that Toohey talked about today is that O'Brien has always been very vocal about him having no input into recruitment and roster management, and now we are told that Zammit and him are former team mates from their playing days and Zammit came because O'Brien sold him on the idea of fixing our roster.
I mean, how "hands off" was O'Brien if he bought in a good mate to do that job.
Not that I see that as a problem. I think the coach should have massive say on what his playing group is, and should live and die by his decisions.
 
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Billy said:
An interesting slant I put on the close relationship between O'Brien and Zammit that Toohey talked about today is that O'Brien has always been very vocal about him having no input into recruitment and roster management, and now we are told that Zammit and him are former team mates from their playing days and Zammit came because O'Brien sold him on the idea of fixing our roster.
I mean, how "hands off" was O'Brien if he bought in a good mate to do that job.
Not that I see that as a problem. I think the coach should have massive say on what his playing group is, and should live and die by his decisions.
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Maybe he brought him on board because he trusted him to do the job with that level of autonomy.
 
Lefty said:
Some other clubs (Sharks,Titians and Broncos) have been able to sign decent players since the season started but we have not signed anyone. It seems like a failure of recruitment to me and I wonder if it is connected with Zammit’s departure.
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I don’t think Zammits departure has anything to do with a lack of signings considering we missed out on 95% of the people we approached under his watch anyway. Knights just need to develop a culture as a consistently good team and the signings will happen regardless.
 
I see Jaylen Hodgson is named at hooker for Hull FC reserve grade this week and he has a senior contract with them.
He was supposed to be in our Mathews squad in 2021 and didn't get a game and was at Hunter Sports High till last year.
I expected him to pop up in Ball this year, but he has apparently got a better offer.
 
Billy said:
I see Jaylen Hodgson is named at hooker for Hull FC reserve grade this week and he has a senior contract with them.
He was supposed to be in our Mathews squad in 2021 and didn't get a game and was at Hunter Sports High till last year.
I expected him to pop up in Ball this year, but he has apparently got a better offer.
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He never went to Hunter Sports High, he was at Kotara, played juniors for South Newcastle last year I believe
 
Sorry to correct you there about the school Billy, but Owey's daughter wouldn't have forgiven either of us if I let that one go through to the keeper. I think she may have enjoyed the view when she passed him at school...
 
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Owey said:
Sorry to correct you there about the school Billy, but Owey's daughter wouldn't have forgiven either of us if I let that one go through to the keeper. I think he may have set her heart a flutter when she passed him at school...
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I'm sure he was talked about as looking at Hunter Sports High in the articles about him and his parents coming to Newcastle, so assumed he went there.
 
Billy said:
I'm sure he was talked about as looking at Hunter Sports High in the articles about him and his parents coming to Newcastle, so assumed he went there.
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I think he has genuine ability, certainly Hull seem to think so. In not sure why he never made it in to our junior system.
 
Very interesting listening to the Toohey's News podcast today ... he's very critical of us getting rid of Clint Zammit ... points to our much improved roster this year and some of the recruits he's got over the last few years. Also mentions Zammit wanted Hastings at the club all along, and it was other people at the club who were focussed on Brooks. :o
 
I think Parr deserves the benefit of the doubt based on his decisions so far, and from what I’ve heard he was also of the view that Hastings was the right man and that’s what prompted the change of target.
 
I have no idea how high up Zammit was involved in the recruitment, but all I know is I have not been impressed by the roster management and recruitment the last few years. I feel like before this year, the squad has only been getting weaker each year with guys leaving and no one replacing them, the depth just keeps thinning each year. Parr seems to want to take control of things and be a bit more of a public face to recruitment situated locally and so far it seems like the roster is now progressing forward instead of going backwards every year.
 
Is Zammit responsible for Kobe Rugless from Roosters, Gyris Glamizina from Warriors, Zane Camroux from Wests, Temple Kalepo from Warriors, Liam Sutton from Cronulla, Campbell Woolnough from Raiders, Chris Slater-Raptis from Wests, David Hollis from Parra, Sebastien Sua from Warriors.

I suppose if you pick up 10 or so lower grade guys from other clubs, one of them will be a Leo Thompson.
 
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