Toohey's News

KPGreatness said:
I’m going to be interested in seeing how Smith progresses after having his first bad game for us, I’m not going to go into hyperbole and act like he isn’t a good player, the Warriors game was hard since our forwards were getting rinsed after all the penalties and were to tired to even get out of our own 40 half the time, which puts more pressure on both halves as it means they have to make every little chance count and turn it into points

so far he is 2/3 in my books I’ll reserve judgement for now, I do expect Smith to be better in the coming games but it will only work if our forwards put in.
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Not saying his not a good player just saying he isn't a firstgrade half. Great utility.
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Trey Mooney isn’t a first grade prop.

We’re playing “one bad game therefore they suck” right? Fun game.
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He's played 50 games. People point to the ANZAC Day game but he played 46 other games for the Roosters (30 starting in the halves) and looked average or worse far more often than he looked like a starting half. There's been more than a fair sample size to form an opinion on him as a player.
 
Don’t agree with that at all. There aren’t 34 better halves than him running around right now. 30 NRL starts in the halves is also not a big sample size at all. 23 is young and 30 starts is inexperienced.

Also if you’re a person for whom the jury is in now on Fletcher Sharpe as a half, I don’t agree with that either. Stats aren’t everything but we could honestly be one game away from Sandon passing Fletcher for line break assists in a Knights jersey.
 
KPGreatness said:
I’m fine with re-signing Ponga as long as he is willing to take a pay cut, he is way to unreliable as a player to be on what he is on, what we are paying Ponga is what you would pay if he played 20+ games a year at 100% for 80 minutes per week, but he is Isn’t and with how much he claims to love Newcastle and the Knights and how much he wants to win a premiership with us, if that’s true at all than I’m sure he’d be fine with taking a pay cut to help out our salary cap
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100% from the 2025 to 2022 season he is only averaging 12 games including finals games for us (80 minutes) which is horrid for someone on the amount he is. I think at the end of his current contract is where we will se whether he thinks we really can contend because I do believe pos will offer him a fair bit less to stay at the club. But yeah if he does leave I wouldn’t see us contending for a few years even with his money freed up
 
HarVeeGee13 said:
Don’t agree with that at all. There aren’t 34 better halves than him running around right now. 30 NRL starts in the halves is also not a big sample size at all. 23 is young and 30 starts is inexperienced.

Also if you’re a person for whom the jury is in now on Fletcher Sharpe as a half, I don’t agree with that either. Stats aren’t everything but we could honestly be one game away from Sandon passing Fletcher for line break assists in a Knights jersey.
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I agree with what you’re saying, the same applies to Sharpe though he’s literally only played what 10-15 games in the halves? In a far worse side, playing AOB ball and alongside Jack Cogger.

Im keen to see how he develops under a good coach, that could utilise his best attacking skills. I think both Sandon and Sharpe will stake good claims to be our five eight.

Besides a poor game in defence, I couldn’t have hoped for much more from Smith tbh. Let’s all hope Sharpe comes out now and shows out.
 
Yeah this game is a big test for Sharpe, an opportunity to show some feel for the position, because he can’t just be totally at liberty to play what he sees while Brown & Ponga run the show when Brown & Ponga aren’t there. He has to be the #2 in terms of steering us around because you’re not going to get the same voice and direction from Hunt that you get from Kalyn.
 
1/4

Wilson De Courcey has been offered a new 2-year deal. Toohey says if he stays he’ll be fighting it out with Fletcher Hunt, Kyle McCarthy, Kingston Seve and Toby Winter for the right centre position with Dane Gagai “certain” to be leaving as the Knights won’t make him an offer. Brodie Jones, Tyson Frizell and Tyson Gamble in the same boat. Toohey says Seve will be in the top 30 which is the first confirmation we’ve got of that. Apparently 3 spots to fill as things stand, not including Niukore.

Marata Niukore deal expected to be made official within the week.

Toohey says he’ll be surprised if O’Sullivan doesn’t “find space” for Harrison Graham in the squad if he continues his form.

Talks up Jacob Saifiti’s start to the season.

Toohey says Dom eased up before getting to the line on the weekend and should be looking to make his goal kickers jobs a bit easier.
 
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friz will retire or go to SL,

Gags will end up at parramatta or something in Sydney.

Wil sulivan has essentially had to retire due to concussions. We have technically four spots available
 
8/4

Jermaine McEwen is viewed as a priority re-signing for the Knights amid reports that other clubs are sniffing around him. Will be offered an upgraded and extended deal to attempt to keep him off the market come November.

Phoenix Crossland talks up Justin Holbrook’s influence thus far. Quote; “last year we were just happy when we won, this year we’re winning because we’re happy."

Dylan Brown will be back against the Roosters barring a setback. Toohey mulls over the potential options for the spine when he returns. Holbrook says he hasn’t even thought about it yet.

Pathways are looking good, NSW Cup is leading the comp and the 4 junior teams are all in the finals. No mention of Jersey Flegg sitting dead last, but the less said about that team the better.

Knights have apparently put contract talks with Greg Marzhew on hold as they weigh up how much they have available to spend. Marzhew says he loves the club and wants to stay.

Francis Manuleleua's contract has an option in the club's favour for next year, which will likely be an easy decision for them to make.
 
15/4

Fair bit on the Ponga contract situation, though more just an overview than specifically reporting anything. Says Ponga will sit down with the Knights in the next few months. Speculates he could get offers of up to $2m with the cap increase. Toohey says he’d be worth the $1.3-4m he’s on now if he was consistently on the field but has averaged just 15 games per year over the last 5 years. There’s a lot of players who’ll be needing new contracts and upgrades in the next few years and they already have a pretty good fullback in waiting. Toohey says despite the injuries it’s believed Ponga is the happiest he’s ever been, and there’s even quiet optimism he could make a financial sacrifice to help the club if he does stay. Or he might choose to chase big money elsewhere.

Harrison Graham has been offered a 1-year extension but is holding out for at least 2, which Knights are baulking at. The development of young hooker Diesel Hagan is believed to be a factor in that.

Throat cartilage injury is what cut Rory Kostjasyn’s career short before playing a game for the Knights back in 2017, luckily the prognosis for Dylan Lucas is far better. Should only be a month.

Tyson Frizell’s rib cartilage injury is one of the most painful you can get. Generally those injuries can be needled up and played through but his is dangerously close to his spleen so needling it isn't an option.
 
The story about Lucas the other day said he played out the game, was able to talk normally, but was unable to eat a hamburger after the game.
Guys like Lockyer and Kosjaysyn couldn't talk and could hardly breath and had damage to their voice that lasted forever.
Lucas sounds like he'll probably be able to keep training and just have to eat soft food for a while.
 
mullenmagic said:
15/4

Fair bit on the Ponga contract situation, though more just an overview than specifically reporting anything. Says Ponga will sit down with the Knights in the next few months. Speculates he could get offers of up to $2m with the cap increase. Toohey says he’d be worth the $1.3-4m he’s on now if he was consistently on the field but has averaged just 15 games per year over the last 5 years. There’s a lot of players who’ll be needing new contracts and upgrades in the next few years and they already have a pretty good fullback in waiting. Toohey says despite the injuries it’s believed Ponga is the happiest he’s ever been, and there’s even quiet optimism he could make a financial sacrifice to help the club if he does stay. Or he might choose to chase big money elsewhere.

Harrison Graham has been offered a 1-year extension but is holding out for at least 2, which Knights are baulking at. The development of young hooker Diesel Hagan is believed to be a factor in that.

Throat cartilage injury is what cut Rory Kostjasyn’s career short before playing a game for the Knights back in 2017, luckily the prognosis for Dylan Lucas is far better. Should only be a month.

Tyson Frizell’s rib cartilage injury is one of the most painful you can get. Generally those injuries can be needled up and played through but his is dangerously close to his spleen so needling it isn't an option.
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Personally i would offer 2 years for Graham as would be perfect for Hagans development
As Highly Unlikely Arthur would be extended after next year if he even is still here next year so would allow hagan to mainly play NSW cup for a full year next year to then be fighting Graham as bench player in 2028
 
mullenmagic said:
Fair bit on the Ponga contract situation
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The truth is no one really knows, but there is definitely some truth to how much happier he's been. You even look at Dom Young being happier and playing like it. Would Ponga be happy and play anywhere near as good elsewhere if he wasn't?

Remember when Ponga had one foot out the door according to the Sydney media when he was years from being off contract last time but in reality never came close to leaving?

Pepperidge Farm remembers.
 
I don’t think KP leaves of his own accord. If it’s about money we won’t even bother cos we don’t have to. Sharpe is going to be worth a lot of money and clubs will be lining up for him. He is a legitimate franchise player IMO. He will be in the extended NSW squad as injury cover this season. I have little doubt. He will be Watson’s replacement on the bench sooner rather than later.
 
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