Kurt Gidley has been a wonderful servant of the Newcastle Knights for the past 14 seasons.
Nobody can question his commitment to his club, his region and the game of rugby league itself. But for the past couple of seasons, his impact has been limited to say the least.
Gidley’s biggest strength is also his biggest weakness: versatility. He has always been the very definition of the phrase, ‘Jack of all trades, master of none.’ He was a good fullback, but never a game breaker. A decent half, but never a playmaker.
A dummy-half, but never a hooker.
For a while there, in 2009 and 2010, he looked like he might genuinely take the step up into the upper echelon of NRL stars. But it never happened.
And now, in 2014, he is a constant question mark. He was once the very picture of fitness, an unbreakable machine with a motor that never stopped running. But now he is broken, injured and unavailable more often than not. And positionally, he is still the master of none.
This is not meant in any way as an attack on Gidley – merely a nudge.
This is the dilemma. Take Gidley out of the Newcastle squad, and picking the Knights’ spine is relatively simple task (especially if Darius Boyd moves back to Brisbane as expected).
Electrifying young gun Sione Mata’utia is a superstar of the near future. Jarrod Mullen is finally starting to look like a real NRL five-eighth, with one of the best long-kicking games in the competition. Tyrone Roberts showed us exactly what he is capable of against premiers the Sydney Roosters two weeks ago. And Adam Clydsdale is a promising hooker forming good combinations with his halves.
Is it a perfect spine? No. But given time to really gel and form combinations, under a new coach, they could be the four to take Newcastle into the finals in the next year or two. So where does Gidley fit into the scenario?
Gidley is the ultimate clubman, and will always be the spiritual leader of the Knights while he is around the team. There is no doubt that the young players look up to him, and when he is not injured, he is still capable of NRL level play. But he no longer justifies his place in the starting side. Nor does he know where that place is.
My suggestion would be for Gidley to step back, in the best interests of the team. He may not feel ready for retirement, and he has earned the right to choose his own time to hang up the boots. 224 games for Newcastle, 12 games for NSW and 12 Tests for Australia are numbers to be proud of. But ‘step back’ does not mean retire, necessarily.
A number of Newcastle players are young – the Mata’utia brothers are 21 and 18, Roberts is 23, Jake Mamo is 20 – and Mullen can be fragile. Gidley should stay around for one more season, using his versatility to the advantage of the club.
He should play off the bench, covering the backline and hooker. Off field, he would mentor the future stars of the club. In 2016, he would join the coaching staff.
Most crucial, but also the most difficult, is removing Gidley as on-field captain. His being captain makes it much more difficult to justify him not being in the starting side. Jarrod Mullen should co-captain the side with a tough forward, probably Jeremy Smith or Beau Scott.
Kurt Gidley is a champion footballer, and a legend in Newcastle. But the time has come for the NRL’s Mr Versatile to really start thinking about his future, and the future of the club he loves.
brad
Guest
The only reason Gidley has looked below par this season is because the "super coach" put him at dummy half. Kurt Gidley at dummy half is the biggest waste of talent in rugby league history. Gidley's strength, besides his immaculate defence and enormous work rate, is his running game, whether at fullback or in the halves. Gidley has a better mind and vision than the overrated Boyd, and except for one or two games, Gidley is a better halfback than Roberts. Roberts also leaks like a sieve in defence. Roberts defence has possibly been the worst part of the Knights performance this year. Other than one or two games at halfback, Roberts played his best football this year at dummy half. With all the young talent at the Knights, the experience and vision of Gidley is just what the Knights need to get the most out their backs next season, and to educate the young players. Gidley stepping down would be the worst possible thing that could happen for the Knights next year. Roberts could go, and he wouldn't be missed.
dubblebubble
Guest
Gidley over Joey?
Charles NSW
Guest
Why not? I would have him at fullback!
Muzz
Guest
Would you have Kurt at the Dragons, Charles?
Charles NSW
Guest
Funny how those that want to get rid of Kurt fail to see that their so called expert coach in Wayne Bennett puts Kurt in his team without question everytime. Who is wrong, the coach or the fans?
Hudson Burns
Roar Rookie
A champion player who single handily carried our team for the 09/10 even 2011 seasons. Although once Boyd arrived and a run of injuries Gidley has essentially been left without a position to play. A contract for a club in the ESL would be best for Kurt.
Knightblues
Guest
Gidley should put the club ahead of himself and retire to Newcastle A Grade.
Andy
Guest
Everyone says the whole 'jack of all trades...' line but he was a great fullback, he wasn't the best in the comp but he was easily in the top half, which is nothing to sneeze at. It's bizarre everyone has taken issue with the fact he was benched captain, or used as a utility for NSW like it was his choice. Poor bloke got screwed when the Knights signed Darius, he was a great fullback and got shafted with the knights 2 highest paid players having the same position. People always expected him to be more than he was, which was a really good fullback. On the article - if he's not first choice, the club should tap him on the shoulder, have a nice payday in the ESL for a couple of years.
b ward
Guest
As a Knights supporter please quit Kurt. You were a terrible option this year at 9 and 7 and could buy a decent prop or hooker with the money. I appreciate everything you have done for the club but your killing Tyrone Roberts ability when you play beside him. The Knights need a coach can help develop Tyrones talent, and can sit Mullen down and tell him he is not the only kicking option at the club. Mullen plays one half against Roosters and Knights look terrible,he gets injured and Tyrone dominantes the second half with no Gidley either.
Jim
Guest
One of the most overrated footballers of this generation in my book. Absolutely talked up by everyone, but failed on almost every occasion to deliver. If you think Saints fell with a thud once Bennett left, its going to be just as bad for the Knights I fear.
Tom Clarke
Roar Pro
The salary cap is a good point, and one I failed to mention but should have. You're right, you can't have him as a back up on 400 or 500k
MAX
Guest
The Hunter has produced Churchill and Sattler. I rate Kurt Gidley as next in line. If only they had found their way to Belmore.
Tom Clarke
Roar Pro
I didn't mean to suggest that Gidley was the sole reason the Knights had dropped of the perch, but he is definitely not the player he used to be, and I think not knowing where to put him has become a problem for the team.
Charles NSW
Guest
The problem is that too many put players down without understanding for what reason. This is a player who always gives his utmost for his team and has done some wonderful things. He has representated Australia and NSW and has held different positons making him one of the most versitile players in league. He has been a wonderful player but has had his spate of injuries . If as a player he is not playing as well now as he should, they can put him in as a reserve player. With his expertise I am sure he still has something to give until his retirement.
james t
Guest
Gidley along with Mullen and Houston. I cannot see what people see in jarrod Mullen his last play options are non existent and his direction is also lacking. Iv heard so much over the years but the guy never lives up to the hype. Even pearce is a better half and he's amongst the worst to ever don a blues jersey
Luis
Guest
Probable is in Bennett plan to bring Gidley to the Broncos, way not, Dario's is about to crossing the border back to QLD.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Google reckons 400k. Probably too much, but honestly less than I feared. But I agree dropping him back to 250-3 would be better and let him keep his pride.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
He was an elite level player in his day, don't take it away from him, Australia only lost one game during his time playing internationals. But I agree with the article. The man Roy and HG named 'The Slicer' has been a great club man for Newcastle and I've often been the first to defend him, but his time is done. He is still a valuable presence around the club though, and the bench idea is a good one - if only they'd go for it - but it'll never happen. He'll retire retire in a year or so well after his time, unless another season ending injury finally breaks him. At least he is back to his best position at fullback; it allows Mullen/Tyron/Clydesdale to gel their combination.
Don
Roar Rookie
The real issue isn't whether he should play on or not. It is how much money he is costing in the salary cap and whether the coach has the guts to drop him back to park footy when he isn't playing well enough. If he takes a pay cut and you can get him at the right price, then with all the young guys coming up through the club he could be worth hanging on to for another year purely as a utility reserve. But if he is among the highest paid players and expects the same money then you have a real problem.
The eye
Guest
The Knights position on the table isn't solely due to Kurt Gidley...not a single player from the club has improved or even equalled their overall performance from last year and the buck for that stops with the coaching..Gagai,Roberts and the Mata Utai brothers were shocking last week and Uate is a mere shell of the player he once was..Cuthbertson played lazy and old men Willie and Faalogia go harder than 'star' forward Snowden..Bennett is the one that needs immediate punting not Gids..