Who will Bennett axe, retain & recruit for 2013?

Bennett prepares for player cleanout
BY MARGIE MCDONALD

NEWCASTLE coach Wayne Bennett has foreshadowed a massive player cleanout as Junior Sa'u and Wes Naiqama have already been given permission to talk to other clubs.

And three other Knights players appear to be on the outer as well.
Retired Newcastle centre Adam MacDougall, who played 122 games, said on Fox Sports on Monday night he had been told several players had been "patted on the back".
Hooker Matt Hilder and centre-second-rower Siuatonga Likiliki are believed to be among those players, while backrower Zeb Taia has already signed a deal with Les Catalans for next year.
Knights chief executive Matt Gidley said: "We're looking at our entire roster, and, as we have the bye this weekend it's allowed some time to review a few things for next year."
Sa'u's manager Steve Gillis said he wrote to chief executives on Saturday informing them the former NZ Test centre was available.
"I've written to every club on behalf of Junior to let them know he's got permission to negotiate. That's where it's at," Gillis said yesterday.
"There may be options he's not interested in so he may well stay at Newcastle; he's still got a contract there."
Last season, Naiqama attracted interest from his former club St George Illawarra, as well as the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla before he re-signed with the Knights for three years.
Naiqama has played six NRL games this year from 13, while Sa'u has contested eight.
After the Knights lost to Brisbane a fortnight ago, Bennett spoke about the need for the players to listen to him and trust his judgment or find somewhere else.
"I know what wins and I know what works," Bennett said.
"And I'm going to keep driving that. We'll get them all to buy into it or we'll make some other changes whatever we've got to do."
Sa'u would like to remain in the NRL and isn't interested in pursuing Super League as an option.
But Gillis said his first priority was to show Bennett he was good enough to stay at Newcastle.
"I haven't really discussed it with him in detail but he's going to put his head down, get his spot back and prove the coach wrong," Gillis said.
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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...393534123?sv=77a9ee658a6ec249a75b27c7afd045e4
 
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Sa'u is one guy who always does try his best ... and I gotta applaud him on his attitude that gets mentioned at the end of the article.
 
Beaumont said:
"I know what wins and I know what works."

We've told the players to put up or shut up.
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As a player, if you don't trust the coach it's very hard for the team to pull together. One player not doing a job can lead to others slacking off later on. You have to trust the coach to deliver results even if you don't fully believe in what he's teaching. Of course sometimes a coach doesn't know what he's doing and as a player you have a right to talk to him about it, but this is Wayne Bennett, so it's a safer bet to think that he's got enough experience to get you places.
 
A Coach at any level needs to have his team prepared both physically and mentally. Bennett for whatever reason has failed to have this team right "between the ears". I don't care who will be here next year or who won't. The Coach has completely lost this year's team and I thought Bennett was better than that.
 
Well from the sounds of that, its not the players don't trust him they just aren't adjusting quick enough and pressure is mounting... If junior was keen to go then you'd say something is up, but wanting to prove wayne wrong well that's a positive isnt it?
 
I dont think we can blame bennet. What has he done for us since coming here.
1. Signed Buderus (blues bolter till injury)
2. Signed Mason (best forward by far)
3. Signed Gagai (promising start)
Mckinnon n Cuthbertson r still young n shoould develop.
He didnt want Snowden n Wes was in career best form when he was signed. Gidley n Stig out for the season has hurt us alot. Beau scott to replace Taia next year isnt the worst idea considering how much Taia was asking for. Whar else do you want him to do.

Ps I dont think our season is over just yet. Bye, Tigers, Eels n Souths will be the turning point of our season (8points) :)
 
What else do I want him to do ?
I want him to coach the team he has NOW to show some form. You blokes are too easy on him. Both players and coach are going like busteds.
 
CORNER_92 said:
I dont think we can blame bennet. What has he done for us since coming here.
1. Signed Buderus (blues bolter till injury)
2. Signed Mason (best forward by far)
3. Signed Gagai (promising start)
Mckinnon n Cuthbertson r still young n shoould develop.
He didnt want Snowden n Wes was in career best form when he was signed. Gidley n Stig out for the season has hurt us alot. Beau scott to replace Taia next year isnt the worst idea considering how much Taia was asking for. Whar else do you want him to do.

Ps I dont think our season is over just yet. Bye, Tigers, Eels n Souths will be the turning point of our season (8points) :)
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Beau Scott is actually the worst idea. The man has never passed a football in his life, nor has his head ever turned to the right or left. Guy is the biggest ball hog in the game and I fear he doesn't even know what an overlap means
 
I was watching a few of Fedor's fights the other day and thought instead of recruiting Polynesians why don't we look at Russians ? Fedor tips the scales at 106kgs and is 183cms. There's an enforcer. Plenty of his body type and toughness over there and when the team runs out it can be to the tune of the Beatles and Back In The USSR.
 
Beaumont said:
What else do I want him to do ?
I want him to coach the team he has NOW to show some form. You blokes are too easy on him. Both players and coach are going like busteds.
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This side has pretty much had 3 coaches now and none of those coaches have been able to get this team to do very much .That tells me the players we have ar'nt good enough not the coaches .
 
Beaumont said:
I want him to coach the team he has NOW to show some form. You blokes are too easy on him. Both players and coach are going like busteds.
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Beaumont said:
We made the 8 last year with a lesser roster and coach. I'd be happy to be going as bad this year.
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Sing it brother.

Apparently Bennett's "method" is to coach a virtual QLD State of Origin team who treated the cap as a joke to 6 premierships.
 
Do u guys not remember mid season '07? As soon as everyones useless mates got shown the door and told they werent wanted the whole team fell apart. We lost every game from then (bar the last game to avoid the spoon... thank you Vuna). Once things settled down the following year we really began to make some good progress.

I see the same thing happening. Waynes turned up, realised we have some players that are really not up to scratch. Asked them to move on and now everyone rightly or wrongly is thinking its another clearout. Either way this is gonna sort the sheep out from the goats. But I dont blame Wayne. You gotta weed the garden when its required. Regardless of how gifted his teams have been he has brought numerous stars up through the ranks, and will begin to do so here once things settle down and get more established. Have some faith guys. Write this season off but when we start to get it together we will challenge for the title.
 
Tim - I agree the season has been written off some time back. Where do I send my 2 platinum tickets in the new Stand for a refund ? I respect everyone's opinion and agree with a lot of what gets said BUT Bennett's great History means nothing to me. What matters is NOW and I'm seeing diddly. I'll go with a clean out is necessary theory but what IF those signed don't deliver ? Will we write next season off and buy some more players ? Bennett inherited a top 8 side and has taken them to 15th that's the bottom line. Good teams and coaches don't make excuses they get the job done. What the players need to do is get the sand out of their collective vaginas and man up and Bennett needs to worry about a plan to beat the Tigers next week not who can he buy. Melbourne with no Slater, Cronk and Smith were well prepared by Bellamy for the contest against the Tigers let's see what our blokes with the greatest Coach in history can deliver.
 
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