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I woke this morning to a rude shock.
I turned the television on to notice that it would reach a top of 33 degrees in Sydney, but this was barely the news that left me feeling ill in the stomach.
“Bulldogs secure Knights band of brothers Sione, Chanel and Pat Mata’utia” was one of the headlines over at Fox Sports, and this immediately caused me to wake from my typical period of drowsiness after getting out of bed.
As a Knights fan, one of the few positives to come from season 2014 was the successful transition of both Sione and Chanel into first grade football. While they are untested over a long period of time in the top grade – the initial signs are extremely positive.
Sione, who is younger than myself by only a few days (18 years old in June) stepped into first grade this season and scored seven tries from his seven matches including some spectacular aerobatic displays. Sione was a standout for the Knights as they looked to end their season on a high filling in at fullback and on the wing putting in some hardened displays. His performances have been rewarded with a spot in the Prime Minister’s XIII.
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Chanel, who is slightly older at 22, also stepped into first grade scoring five tries from his seven matches. Playing on the wing, the regular NSW Cup winger proved effective in attack and defence ensuring he remained in the side in front of fellow NSW Cup winger Josh Mantellato.
Pat, 20, is also a regular in the Knights NSW Cup side and is considered a future First Grader playing in the centers with a powerful and aggressive presence.
With the Knights’ season all but over, the Mata’utia brothers provided many fans with some much-needed excitement and left fans with a lot to ponder over the long off-season.
It is for this reason that the news this morning will leave many Knights fans in shock and disbelief.
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that all three brothers playing at the Knights have signed lucrative four-year deals from 2016 at the Canterbury Bulldogs.
While it is believed that the appropriate documents have been lodged with the NRL, current Knights CEO Matt Gidley is under the impression that the brothers will be looking to stay at Newcastle.
“The boys have told me they want to stay”.
These words have echoed in my ears for the past hour and lead me to believe that the Mata’utia brothers are after some security beyond the 2015 season.
With reports that there is dissent between the brothers’ manager Chris Haddad and the Knights as well as between the brothers and Haddad, the situation looms as one that the Knights are quickly losing control of.
All three are contracted for the 2015 season and therefore the Knights will have until Round 13 to change the brother’s minds but this would already appear an uphill battle.
For the fans’ sake, I hope the Knights are swift in their actions and that an appealing offer is made to all three keeping them at the Knights beyond 2015.
The club’s unwillingness to re-sign Willie Mason at the end of the 2014 season already caused significant uproar with the fans and I can assure you that if the Knights are to lose three locally developed players in Sione, Pat and Chanel there will even more uproar especially due to the potential that all three have.
For the fans of Newcastle and for the future of the Newcastle Knights, I hope that Matt Gidley along with Rick Stone secure the futures of the Mata’utia brothers.
What do you think Roarers?
Have the Knights missed a golden opportunity?
Where will the Mata’utia brothers be in season 2016?
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