Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

I requested a feature on this forum to delete all posts that mention him.

We are getting somewhere though. Hastings has been so overrated because the Brooks lovers (the guys who talk about him all the freaken time) want to talk about Hastings as a proxy to Brooks.

It's onto Clune now because it's obvious that Hastings isn't very good.

Hopefully we get to the stage where the Brooks lovers don't talk about Brooks anymore. Give it another 10 years.

Hastings straight back into the Knights team when fit

 

[Lestronge]

Sheensy got us some overpaid forwards though.

Players that can create via themselves win games. The Broncos are flying and Reynolds has had a lot of games off the park.

The idea that it's all on the halfback simply doesn't hold up to reality.

I think after they hit the cellar , they needed him to get everyone into the right positions , advice , tactical nous etc . Now that the info has rubbed off and sunk in , then his overall Wins above replacement have dropped jot because he has , but because others around him have risen .
He was always IMO the smartest half going around , and very tough . I never rated him skills wise on the level of others around him.
My point is , I think if he retired tomorrow , then that club would be fine . Without him coming to that club , they’re no where fast IMO. He’s lifted that team so much .

 

[weststigerman]

Why are we still talking about Hastings and Brooks? Their respective performances over the last 2 years clearly show management made the wrong call. Knights were 14th last year and now they are 5th while we have gone further backwards.

Hastings has left, Brooks is about to leave. It's time to move on with the new breed of Sullivan and Fainu assisted by Sezer.

 

[Tom Shines]

Why are we still talking about Hastings and Brooks? Their respective performances over the last 2 years clearly show management made the wrong call. Knights were 14th last year and now they are 5th while we have gone further backwards.

Hastings has left, Brooks is about to leave. It's time to move on with the new breed of Sullivan and Fainu assisted by Sezer.

What else should we be talking about?

Their fantastic on field performances, or where they should keep their growing wooden spoon collection?

 

[Buttface]

I guess Tigers lost over the weekend and still trying to blame Brooks. Lol Was a funny read whilst sitting on the WC.

It’s Luke’s fault we lost bcoz he was injured.

 

[earl]

I think after they hit the cellar , they needed him to get everyone into the right positions , advice , tactical nous etc . Now that the info has rubbed off and sunk in , then his overall Wins above replacement have dropped jot because he has , but because others around him have risen .
He was always IMO the smartest half going around , and very tough . I never rated him skills wise on the level of others around him.
My point is , I think if he retired tomorrow , then that club would be fine . Without him coming to that club , they’re no where fast IMO. He’s lifted that team so much .

Reynolds to me is a great player. Him being off the park and they can still win games is amazing.

 

[weststigerman]

What else should we be talking about?

Their fantastic on field performances, or where they should keep their growing wooden spoon collection?

The future and how this season and last will be but a memory.

🤞

Oh and maybe a suggested signing or 2 given it's the thread title.

 

[Tom Shines]

The future and how this season and last will be but a memory.

🤞

Oh and maybe a suggested signing or 2 given it's the thread title.

This thread seems to go a little bit beyond the signing rumours, hence the 10,000 pages…

I think with 10+ years of disappointments… it’s amazing there is anyone still interested enough to bother commenting on the team… I don’t begrudge them discussing what they want … we wont be seeing Sullivan and Fainu playing for them for six months

 

[Telltails]

Reynolds to me is a great player. Him being off the park and they can still win games is amazing.

Penrith have also won plenty of games without Cleary..the talent in both teams is immeasurable compared to plenty of other clubs. Manly is more impacted by the loss of DCE because their squad is not in the same ball park.[/QUOTE]

 

[Todd Packer]

It’s Luke’s fault we lost bcoz he was injured.

He's not injured.
He's "injured".

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I think it's clear that Benji will task Fulton with identifying tall, athletic, fast & powerful outside backs to complement T'oa, Staines (hopefully), Naden, Tupou, Bula & Feledy.

Out with Talau (confirmed), Kepaoa, Nofa & Reilly if we can.

Hopefully the club opts for Train & Trials for Ngutlik, Jordan Hill & Jay Kirk and Pathway deals for Luke Laulilii, Will Craig, Heath Mason, Riley Oitmann & Tino Tavana so we start to remedy our lack of speed, power & athleticism in the OBs.

But we'll need some from external if we can find the roster space - Mawene Hiroti as good depth, Bevan French has been mentioned, maybe even Robert Derby from Cowboys as a T&T (off contract, tall, fast, young PNG). Not much else out there unfortunately that has runs on the board.

 

[jirskyr]

Is there any doubt that Clune's a better half than Brooks now?

Why does anyone care if Clune is slightly better or worse than Brooks? Brooks isn't our problem any more. We need MUCH better than Brooks, at least much more consistent.

Also Clune has come into a Knights team already firing and played 2 matches total. I guess you guys have all forgotten the previous 45 or so matches he played over the past few seasons, struggling to cement a spot at 2 clubs.

Clune has already been tested at a club just like Tigers, and failed. It's worth noting that Jayden Sullivan is coming under basically the same conditions, though he has played roughly half as many matches as Clune and is almost 22, whereas Clune is 28 years old.

 

[The Chad]

How does Doueihi "survive" when he embodies all the traits you want to "remove"??

Have you even watched the cat play in 2023?

He actively avoided tackling when at fullback - he was a disgrace to the jersey!!

I disagree, and that is ok.

 

[Blocker1963]

I am telling you Bateman is cooked, his body language tells you everything, all Teams know how predictable he is, run sideways, palm and look for a runner, nothing changes, try assists Nil, tackle breaks 3, Line breaks Nil, Off loads 2. Just trying hard doesn't cut it for the money he is on.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I think it's clear that Benji will task Fulton with identifying tall, athletic, fast & powerful outside backs to complement T'oa, Staines (hopefully), Naden, Tupou, Bula & Feledy.

Out with Talau (confirmed), Kepaoa, Nofa & Reilly if we can.

Hopefully the club opts for Train & Trials for Ngutlik, Jordan Hill & Jay Kirk and Pathway deals for Luke Laulilii, Will Craig, Heath Mason, Riley Oitmann & Tino Tavana so we start to remedy our lack of speed, power & athleticism in the OBs.

But we'll need some from external if we can find the roster space - Mawene Hiroti as good depth, Bevan French has been mentioned, maybe even Robert Derby from Cowboys as a T&T (off contract, tall, fast, young PNG). Not much else out there unfortunately that has runs on the board.

Don't we have a big fast winger who played SG Ball for Balmain and is ex St Joseph's College Hunters Hill via Dubbo product? I understood he is in the Cubs/pathways?

 

[jrtiger]

I think it's clear that Benji will task Fulton with identifying tall, athletic, fast & powerful outside backs to complement T'oa, Staines (hopefully), Naden, Tupou, Bula & Feledy.

Out with Talau (confirmed), Kepaoa, Nofa & Reilly if we can.

Hopefully the club opts for Train & Trials for Ngutlik, Jordan Hill & Jay Kirk and Pathway deals for Luke Laulilii, Will Craig, Heath Mason, Riley Oitmann & Tino Tavana so we start to remedy our lack of speed, power & athleticism in the OBs.

But we'll need some from external if we can find the roster space - Mawene Hiroti as good depth, Bevan French has been mentioned, maybe even Robert Derby from Cowboys as a T&T (off contract, tall, fast, young PNG). Not much else out there unfortunately that has runs on the board.

Ray Vaega at Manly is an attainable, proven outside back. Hiroti another. both could do a job in the top 30 until Laulili'i is ready. Staines will hopefully be kept. Reilly I don't mind if we hold onto for 12 months. I think he will be ok as a depth player.

unsure on Derby's status but I do rate him pretty highly. French I'd be wary of. hardest part is going to be shopping players to free up spots. let's hope Fulton is capable.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I am telling you Bateman is cooked, his body language tells you everything, all Teams know how predictable he is, run sideways, palm and look for a runner, nothing changes, try assists Nil, tackle breaks 3, Line breaks Nil, Off loads 2. Just trying hard doesn't cut it for the money he is on.

I wouldn't mind having a team of cooked players like Bateman if they played with the same intensity and skill. A large issue is we lack pace and size and skill in the backs and Bateman is an easy target because of it.

 

[jrtiger]

Don't we have a big fast winger who played SG Ball for Balmain and is ex St Joseph's College Hunters Hill via Dubbo product? I understood he is in the Cubs/pathways?

Scolari? I don't think there's a spot for him in NSW Cup, let alone first grade moving forward. great attitude and a hard worker but unfortunately I think his size is against him.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Scolari? I don't think there's a spot for him in NSW Cup, let alone first grade moving forward. great attitude and a hard worker but unfortunately I think his size is against him.

William Malloy.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Not saying we should take him but certainly nothing like BJ

Bevan French is not the type of player the Tigers need. He's a slightly above average guy that is quick- pretty much the perfect mix to succeed in the SL.

Our halves will be the main reason for improvement in our backs.

But our outside backs need to be safe under kicks, at least reasonable in defence, able to compete physically & not give up dumb penalties/turnovers. Our wingers need to be good at churning out metres from dummy half/kick return opportunities.

Addition by subtraction- remove the arm wavers, shirt grabbers, catch droppers & mentally challenged.

For mine Doueihi & Tupou survive. Nofoaluma has to based on salary. Feledy is coming through. Reilly...not upset if he stays. The others can go. I know some love Staines, but he's simply not worth $500k this year or any year to follow. Yet to see his 'blinding speed' do anything of note. To'a is good for a dumb penalty & excessive arm waving every time he's on the field. Naden cannot be trusted to perform consistently. Kepaoa...sigh.

Young Lualili'i is in the mix. Bring in Hiroti for a third of Staines' contract & get as much from him as you do Staines. Hymel Hunt & Momorovski stiffen up the defence & match up physically. Are they exciting? Hell no. But they stop our backs being a liability. If the club wants to land a good up & coming player, you chase Alamoti. We need backs that don't lose you games.

French agree he is the wrong option for us.

AD coming off a 3rd knee recon will take a good 12-18mths on top of his rehab to get going, he isn’t contracted for that 12-18mths atm. Even then his get going wasn’t consistent. Defensively & urgency mixed was his weakness. Running the ball was his strength. He has been replaced in the halves and fullback now. Unless he can become a good defender then center is also a long shot & we shouldn’t be banking on him turning the corner after being out of the game basically for 2 seasons come contract renew time. He should be cut unless it’s on a T&T deal or gap filler on the roster. We can’t be banking on him coming good in 25 (he will miss a chunk of next season).

For us it’s about creating roster space to fix the problems we have cap space to use. We cannot keep players like AD, Reilly, Nofa, AJ who are just liabilities. We need to move them on (Nofo we can cap hit and still come out infront) to allow us to gain players who can fix our weaknesses.

I think we would love to keep Staines and Blore but the challenges is we don’t currently have the roster spots to keep them both & the risk is how long that will take whilst other clubs can offer them a deal (those clubs in a better position than us on the ladder). We also would love to recruit outside of the club but again for 24 we have zero cap space and for 25 need to be selective as to our priority focus on new blood v keep.

Hiroti v Staines is interesting view and depends what we really need in the backline. I would keep Staines he is a few years younger and when playing for us has been hungry and quality, comes from winning culture and we need that more than anything atm.

At center this is our main problem point and right now just have no real idea how to fix it unless we buy big. Toa, AJ, Naden aren’t the answer. Feledy will need alot of time over next 2-3 years. Would go hard for Best but doubt he leaves Knights can match us. Gaigai is 33 start of year - old for mind. Olam we should stay clear of, he will be BJ mark 2 here. Very clear reason why he is dropped & not wanted by storm yet no one else signed him yet.