Toohey's News

My opinion on whether the young players deserve a top 30 contract.

Kai Pearce-Paul - yes
Will Pryce - yes
Toni Tupouniua - no - currently worst forward in reserve grade
Paul Bryan - no - he is a very good prospect but has been injured all this year and didn't show enough last year to be worth more than a development contract.
Myles Martin - no - worth a development contract for sure, but no way will he play NRL next year
Dylan Lucas - yes
Krystian Mapapalangi - he is playing today. He did enough last year to earn a top 30 spot but it would be nice for him to repeat that in the next few months
Oryn Keeley - 50/50 call - he is getting there
Ryan Rivett - no - he has a very high ceiling and could be a Mitch Moses quality half if he can get strong enough to defend at a senior level, but right now he can't hold his own at reserve grade level.

In short - most of them are worth no better than a development contract.
 
What if other clubs have offered guys like Oryn Keeley and Myles Martin top 30 contracts to try to steal them away? We lose them and all of a sudden the fanbase is apoplectic about all the kids we’re letting go…
 
We have failed to use Dev Contracts to not only retain the young promising players but failed to develop them as the name indicates.
My understanding is you can have up to 6 in a given season meaning you could have a player from a variety of positions. The past few years we have failed to bring on those players and haven’t always played them in preferred positions which has curbed there development.
 
I don't think promoting so many kids does much for our chances next year, a few injuries and we're screwed. But hopefully you see the reward a bit further down the track
 
1/07
Says the fate of O'Brien comes down to how the players go in the next few games.

Says his possible replacements are McGregor, Morris and Josh Hannay. Club is not interested in Maguire because he is too similar to O'Brian, so why change? Hannay is getting wraps for his work with Sharks and Qld and he has a relationship with Parr from his time with Cowboys.

Says Mann, Hunt, Johns, Jones and Clune are all as good as gone for next year. Says Tuala might get a new deal. Doesn't mention Fitz.

Says we are in talks with Pompey's manager but he hasn't decided to leave the Warriors yet. It comes down to how much money the warriors have left after signing RTS.

Says Kostjasyn hasn't been signed for next year yet because they are keeping an assistant coach spot in case an incoming coach wants to bring his own offsider.

Says Henderson, Vea'ila and Rugless are all gone - doesn't mention Myers coming in.
I think it would be a coach killer gig for him to try coming here to fix this mess.....BUT from what I've heard from him and about him, I think Josh Hannay is going to be a very good NRL level coach in years to come. He has a very good footy brain from all reports and a personality that makes players want to play for him (a bit like Todd Payten) - I'd definitely have him well in front of McGregor (hell...I'd have AOB in front of McGregor?!).

It would be a risky appointment but I would have a degree of nervous excitement if he did end up here...just my thoughts :)
 
Mann might be going back to the Dragons and Clune to super league
AOB, and his three assistants (Green, McDermott and Kostjaysn) are all confirmed until the end of 2024 and all come off contract together.
Broncos could be a threat to sign Best as his family have moved to Ipswich.
Mapapalangi won't be released and Knights were never looking at Sullivan, just agent driving up his price.
Long time ABC caller Craig Hamilton is retiring.
 
Mann might be going back to the Dragons and Clune to super league
AOB, and his three assistants (Green, McDermott and Kostjaysn) are all confirmed until the end of 2024 and all come off contract together.
Broncos could be a threat to sign Best as his family have moved to Ipswich.
Mapapalangi won't be released and Knights were never looking at Sullivan, just agent driving up his price.
Long time ABC caller Craig Hamilton is retiring.
How would broncos find the 700k or what ever Best is going to be making for next year, unless he signs for massive unders.

Sure they are losing a few players next year but I imagine the likes of Flegler and Farnsworth are looking for a big pay day rather than being moved on because they are already on a heap of money.
 
Bradman moved out of home to come to Newcastle when he was too young to have a licence yet.
On the opposite end of the scale, I remember Pauli Pauli used to drive up for training from western Sydney because he didn't want to leave home.
 
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Bradman moved out of home to come to Newcastle when he was too young to have a licence yet.
On the opposite end of the scale, I remember Pauli Pauli used to drive up for training from western Sydney because he didn't want to leave home.
I thought Best was Newcastle born
 
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I thought Best was Newcastle born
He was raised in Woy Woy - He's the best thing out of Woy Woy since Uate.
His father was from country Qld and played for Manly for many years in the lower grades and for London Broncos for a few games.
 
12/8
Cut price players delivering the goods - says Marzhew, Gamble, Thompson, Crossland and Croker are all on between 150k and 180k this year.

If Dom had taken our 500k offer we wouldn't have had the money to re-sign Frizzel.

The Mata'utia brothers have vowed to play a season together in the real NRL before they retire.

A former player with deep pockets has been approached to be a third party sponser for the Knights - I assume they are talking about McDougall.

Adam O'Brien and Nu Brown stayed in the same resort in Hawaii last off season. O'Brien saw him working out in the resort gym and was impressed with how hard he worked in the off season, so jumped at the chance to sign him when the chance came up.
 
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