2019 NIB Knights

Personally, I think the halves are the last of their concerns.
Fullback, Front row and hooker are their biggest problems.

How did the raiders rebuild?
They signed a good halfback
got lucky with Austin
bought a centre with potential and got him playing up to it (ironically from newcastle)
They bred some great young props and and bought a few hard nut blokes from england.
They poached some good young players from around the NRL
They have finally started to keep some of their home grown talent too...

How did the eels rebuild? By cheating

Newcastle need to look to england for a couple of hard nut forwards, buy Seggy and throw a truckload of cash at Latrell Mitchell. If the roosters are going hard after Hayne, Mitchell wont get to play fullback any more and might want out. Im pretty sure he was poached from the newcastle system too. sign him and his younger brother.

I was only thinking of high profile recruits - nothing stirs the waters more than a decent halves combo.

Good forwards are important... but high profile ones that will attract other quality players are a fairly rare breed. An exciting half or back is usually a better advertisement IMHO.

Saying that - yeah, you need some decent forwards.

dasherhalo wrote:I was only thinking of high profile recruits - nothing stirs the waters more than a decent halves combo.

Good forwards are important... but high profile ones that will attract other quality players are a fairly rare breed. An exciting half or back is usually a better advertisement IMHO.

Saying that - yeah, you need some decent forwards.

There is nothing wrong with Mullen and Hodkinson as a combo when they are healthy. If the forwards go forward and do their job, there is no reason they cant be one of the better combos in the league.

We need a fullback who is a multi dimensional threat, forwards who arent 19years old and a hooker who is actually dangerous.

But what will the combo be the other 20 games a year whenMullen is injured. ?

Dip wrote:But what will the combo be the other 20 games a year whenMullen is injured. ?

who knows

David Fifita signs with Wakefield in the UK, effective immediatly - that sucks. Was hoping Newie would have a crack at him.

Just wanted to drop in an apologise for waking up New Zealand the week before. Sorry

Can't see newie winning another game all season.
Barnett looked.... ok?
Elliott looked... ok?

I guess the only positive that can really come from newie this year is the fact we are giving young blokes first grade experience.
There is something like 6 players in that side that can still play 20's apparently

Tariq gone as of right now.
Good riddance!
Bloke is great in an excellent team, but rubbish in a shit team.

Far out its going to be hard to re-buld with no names in the side though. Really hoping we pick up Seggy, but can't see it happening.

Dip wrote:But what will the combo be the other 20 games a year whenMullen is injured. ?

cogger & lamb have both showed some good signs in well beaten sides, both only 18-19, if one of them can keep progressing then you have a solid halves pairing with hodko


they defs lack NRL quality in the pack and out wide, Sione has stepped up recently but none of their other younger backs have looked that promising, rossdog is probs their 3rd best back behind gagai and sione

Daniel Saifiti has had some big games, Korbin is a plodder but is probably nrl quality. no one else in the pack plays FG at many other clubs imo.

i guess pauli pauli looks like a star once every month, its a shame how much of a liability he is the rest of the time

Totally agree LG.

It a shame because most of those guys are prob good bench blokes at this stage in their careers - but they have to start because of the lack of depth in the forwards.

Its crazy, 2/3 years ago, the knights had some of the best outside backs in the comp, and depth there, now its disgusting. I never thought I would say that, but we could really use Gidley at fullback now... haha.

The saifiti boys look like they are going to be awesome with time. The best thing about this situation is they will prob both have like 50 games under their belts by the time they are 21/22

The Courier Mail is reporting Knights have inquired about Greg Bird. He's a name but we'll pay overs for someone on the verge of the end of their career. I would prefer someone like Seggy but that's not going to happen.

I would be punting Mullen and giving Keary a call. Would love for Mullen to go to the Storm, show what he can really do in a great system.

Don't you know, about the Bird?

I hate that song.

I hate that Family Guy episode.

I hate that Family Guy made that song famous with the new generation.

Same

Fuck Greg Bird, the Knights should have a crack at Ethan Lowe.

Bren wrote:Fuck Greg Bird, the Knights should have a crack at Ethan Lowe.

We need to address our main areas of concern. #1 is Fullback I think. We're so bad here, Gagai is an awesome centre but he's not a FBs arsehole.

I would have loved Coote there, loved it.

Players off contract that I would consider if I was in the Knights shoes;

Kurt Baptiste, Jayson Bukuya, Luke Lewis, Sam Tagataese, Kenny Bromwich, James Gavet, Charlie Gubb, Jazz Tevaga, Nathan Brown, Jason Clark, Brock Gray, Jake Marketo, Joel Thompson.

But the three biggest that I would go for would be

James Segeyaro, Will Smith, Sam Moa.

Seggy plays 9 and Levi comes off the bench.

Will Smith plays 1 which he has done and done well for the Panthers.

Sam Moa adds much needed experience and power in the forwards.

There's surely enough $$$ at Newcastle to get those three. We've lost a heap of players this year already.

Panthers have met with Nathan Ross. The Vultures are circling.