Don’t believe the headlines, it’s been a good net week for the Newcastle Knights.
Coach Nathan Brown is not interested in patching up the aged list that he inherited from Wayne Bennett and Rick Stone, he wants to win a premiership.
He would be the first to agree that the Knights will finish closer to last than first this season, and even maybe the next, but by 2019 he will have a very competitive list of 30 players ready to challenge for the title.
Bennett coached the Knights from 2012 to 2014 with a poor 45 per cent win record – the only time the master mentor failed to pass the 60 per cent win mark at any club.
Not only was his time in Newcastle a blight on his exceptional record but Bennett’s focus on winning a premiership meant that his recruitment was focused on a short-term gain, and his legacy was a mess that Stone was left to lament – the latter had no chance with an old and tired list.
The biggest mistake that Bennett, and later, the Knights administration, made was paying many of the players over-market odds to ensure they stayed. This has been Brown’s greatest challenge to sort out.
He has been forced to move on Akuila Uate, who was on a reportedly ridiculous $600,000, when the average price for a winger was between $200,000 to 300,000.
When Bennett left, the Knights needed a class halfback, and were happy to pay overs for then-NSW No.7, Trent Hodkinson, reportedly on $600,000-plus. Maroon Dane Gagai was also signed by Bennett for $600,000 – well over market rates for a class centre.
Let’s fast forward to this week, where Fairfax Media have reported “Newcastle have suffered their fourth body blow in the space of a cursed week.”
Let’s examine each “body blow”:
Rory Kostjasyn facing surgery and at least 12 weeks on the sidelines
He is a tackling machine only and not likely to make any starting 13.
Jarrod Mullen tested positive to a banned steroid
Well past his brilliant best, he is quoted at being on $550,000 for this season and 2018, but the real figure is likely closer to $900,000 a season, which could be a windfall for coach Brown as he attempts to build a winning squad.
If Mullen is cut and his salary is excluded from the cap, then all of a sudden the Knights are in a position to buy whoever they want, which may be a big forward like Matt Scott and not another half.
Pauli Pauli suffered a dislocated hip in a car crash
The Knights need big forwards and Pauli is important to their depth, especially when Brownie can get the best out of him, but this setback is not long term.
Korbin Sims was released to join Brisbane
He averaged 59 minutes across 22 games in 2016, registering a poor 83 metres and 28.5 tackles. His average gain per run of 8.5 metres is not what the Knights required. He is easily replaced.
Knights fans have certainly bought into what Nathan Brown is doing by an increased membership, already up more than 2000 on last season.
Knight Vision
Guest
Brownies doing a great job. Bennett wont be getting an invite to Newcastle anytime soon. The man is a myth. Given outstanding advantages via 3rd party deals and working with a stacked deck he sure can get the boys to gel well enough. A super coach ? no way. If the true measure of a coach is the legacy he leaves behind then Bennett is a failure in every sense. Great politician and self serving man. Good at spin and perpetuating the holier than thou myth that is Wayne Bennett.
Knight Vision
Guest
Whats wrong with Cogger ?
Knight Vision
Guest
Tyler Randle would be the back up. Adams is back to the local comp and Freeman is gonsky I think
Knight Vision
Guest
Sims is a follower he certainly isnt a leader.
Knight Vision
Guest
TPA's ruin the integrity of the competition.
Knight Vision
Guest
over paid. Not enough bang for the buck and not a leader. Not what the Knights need right now. I'm not unhappy he's gone. Barnett will be a much better player than Sims.The kid plays with heart and agro . Fast becoming a fan favorite
Knight Vision
Guest
Dont forget Jack Gogger. A bit on the small side at the moment but I thought he showed some nice touches last year. He's a more accomplished junior footballer ( rep wise ) than Lamb and still only 19. Cogger has a big future.
Knight Vision
Guest
Agreed. He was also told he was free to look elsewhere. Unlike Sims brothers and quite a few others he decided to stick with Newcastle ( the money helps ) . I like Gagai he comes across as a quality and humble young man. I hope he stays with us long term but I have a feeling he wont be offered the same money next time around.
Knight Vision
Guest
Uate was on 500K per season by all reports. Still massive overs thanks to Bennett.
Knight Vision
Guest
Pauli is a depth signing and not our main big man. That is the young Saifiti's. Mullens contract of 550K per season was heavily back ended and yes rumored to be around 900K this season.
Knight Vision
Guest
You're right about Kosty his experience and tightening of the ruck will be missed until he returns. He would take the pressure off young Levi who is a star of the future if he stays healthy. Sims is easily replaced. Saifiti had better number last year in his first season in first grade. He was over paid and not exactly what we need going forward. I dont doubt he will go well at the Broncos but having said that I wouldnt be surprised if he finds it hard to get a spot in their pack.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That may be true. He did a wondeful job with Huddersfield but they didn't win a premisership under him either.
Paul
Guest
Brown wil lget them strong again but doubtful he can get a premiership out of Newcastle or anywhere else. Brown is a great talent scout. He put together a sensational roster at the Dragons but couldn't get the best out of them as a team.
andrew
Guest
Chris Adams?! Kyrs Freeman?! They are not difference makers in an NRL side. Infact they wouldn't make any top 17 in the league! Krys Freeman was selling real estate last i heard... The last Knights player selling real estate was Steve Witt, another player everyone said put in first grade and turned out not to have "it".
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sims played 22/24 games last year so there is no doubting he was in their best 17. With Smith leaving I have no doubt that Sims would have been in their top 17 this year. On top of that Pauli is now out. Maybe longer term the Knights will be better off having the salary cap space from Sims leaving but they're not going to get a quality replacement at this stage of the pre-season, so the Sims cash will likely go unspent for 2017. So as a part of their best 17 (and on the back of the Pauli and Mullen news) I can't see how losing Sims is a positive for the Knights in 2017.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Albo Your point for the Knights to have a "creative" player is what every team seeks and to be honest, you can count the good ones on one hand. Brownie clearly thinks Brock Lamb will graduate to that guy. At the moment he has Hodgkinson in that position also on big money. If they get Jack Bird he will be an asset but he will not be creative and cannot kick tactically. I dont have any doubts about Ponga even though he is only 18 at the moment. I have been watching him now for 3 years and every time he leaves me gasping. He is Tedesco and Slater like. Levi was thrown to the wolves last year and he will benefit by that and I expect a big year from him in 2017. Albo, they will be more than competitive in 2018/19, but you are correct that Lamb must go to that next level for them to be a top 4 team.
Albo
Guest
Whilst I totally agree with your points about those supposed 4 x losses not being losses at all, I am less confident about your prediction of looming success for the Knights. There is still no evident creativity around the halves, Scott ! Guts and effort can only take you so far. I see nothing in your spine to get me excited about the Knights looming success. I would only rate Ponga as a possible force going forward and he will still have plenty to overcome to achieve that, like being able to graduate from youth grade to NRL in a struggling team and a long way from home. Until they can unearth someone to lead them around the park with some creativity, and I know it is a rare commodity, I cannot see much changing for the Knights in the next few years.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Casper The problem for Gagai is he is on fullback money and he is not a fulltime NRL class 1.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Ben he tested positive to a banned steroid so he banned himself. Not sure what the ramifications are regarding worldwide ban. he has a reputation as being a great guy, I have only ever heard good things about how he has helped others so maybe his calling is coaching.
Ben
Roar Guru
With all the talk about Wayne Bennett and Nathan Brown... I think it's about time we got real here, and coming to the conclusion that Newcastle have had a pretty poor roster for a while now, based around a very one dimensional, injury prone player in Jarrod Mullen. Have a look at the statistics of all the other sides Bennett and Brown have coached... The best thing Newcastle can do is cut Mullen. He can go to England and WOW them with the 657931 cutout passes he throws in the maybe 10-12 games a year he plays. ?