During the off-season, rumours about Knights players who are apparently getting traded, dropped, getting paid less or sacked tend to fly all over the place.
Even rumours about players who are on the radar, only to be denied. It’s already happened twice and we have fallen for it. Looking back on it, I will happily own responsibility as a high protagonist for it by creating discussion about it in a Knights fans group.
Rumours about Mitchell Pearce seemingly leaving to go back to Sydney Roosters or being traded for Mitchell Moses at Parramatta just simply won’t die. These rumours have been shut down by Adam O’Brien, Mitchell Pearce himself, Brad Arthur and Barry Toohey.
To all the Knights fans, I have realised a pattern we must follow with every article about our players – check to see where the article is from. I personally would recommend dismissing all Sydney-based articles because if there’s one thing I have picked up on, a lot of the sports journalists from Sydney really love to piss us off.
The only articles I would trust now are either Newcastle Herald or anything from Toohey.
One thing I really don’t like is when players are compared to past legends. I remember at the start of the year I read something about Phoenix Crossland, who at the start of the year had only 12 minutes of experience at first grade, was being compared to Darren Lockyer. Lockyer is a legend no doubt and one of the greatest five-eighths I’ve seen, but Phoenix Crossland is the first Phoenix Crossland.
Think like this: picking up an electric guitar and perfectly nailing the guitar riff of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven doesn’t make you the next Jimmy Page, it means you simply picked up an electric guitar and nailed the guitar riff of Stairway to Heaven.
I won’t deny we have some nonsense from within the club from Troy Pezet. Remember that article which said Kalyn Ponga wanted 1.5 million a season? That was absolutely bogus and many of us picked up on it right away.
To any Knights fans who want to compare our players to past legends, understand that it’s not a good vibe. Kalyn Ponga isn’t aiming to be the next Billy Slater, Mitchell Pearce isn’t the next Andrew Johns and David Klemmer isn’t the Chief Harragon.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Guns n’ Roses singing Knocking on Heaven’s Door is just their version of a Bob Dylan song. Our players are on the field bringing doing the best they can to get the win and yes, we won’t win every game.
We have got a lot of time in the offseason before we focus on the 2021 season. Let’s enjoy State of Origin and when that’s all said and done, the rest of the offseason.
I may have said I predicted 2021 to be our year and I would love to be right. Let’s not believe any of the crap we get told by the media unless it can be verified by a reliable source it’s correct because we’re simply getting baited into what has now become an obvious trap.
If they bait us in, they’ll keep doing it.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Heyou
Roar Rookie
My tongue has been firmly in my cheek regarding Mr Norman. I’m sure he has it in him. I would prefer to see it out of him and on the field.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
andrew
Roar Rookie
You never know.
Paul
Roar Guru
we all do! :happy:
Heyou
Roar Rookie
I think they are looking seriously at Norman.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
He’s great! I reckon he’d fit in well with the Knights! I mean it. Newcastle should make an offer. He has potential.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Totally! I’ve been known to be sucked in… I have my gullible moments lol
Paul
Roar Guru
great comment Lisa Marie. I think we often forget the basics behind two completely different aspects of the game. The first is our respective Clubs, who have a responsibility to create a squad they consider will be competitive, be it next year or in a few years. On that basis, they decide which players they think will best fit the team dynamic and sign players up or let players go. The other aspect are those whose job it is to generate stories, be it for online or print media. The vast majority don't give a toss about each Club, nor are they paid to care. They've one simple job; get people engaged with their media outlet. In this day and age, that seems to be by any means necessary, including, as you rightly point out, simply making stories up. The issue you've highlighted is that people think they need to be the first to know something new and aren't too fussed about the truth of it. I'm happy to listen to the rumours, then wait to see what the Club actually does.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
The off season madness is surely familiar to many clubs and their social media supporter sites. Rumours abound and it’s best if we believe nothing until a deal has been signed, sealed and delivered and the coach and recruitment blokes say “it’s done!” Here are some questions and comments that are familiar to the social media supporters groups I am a member of. I’m paraphrasing here: What about this bloke? No way! He’s hopeless, too old ! This guy is off contract and is great in the halves? We don’t need halves. But... This bloke is returning from super league to take a 5/8 spot, This guy wants out! He is not a happy camper at this club. This bloke wants 1.5 mill for a season. Tell him he’s dreamin’. Not worth $25 - give him a one year deal with incentives. What is the coach waiting for? We need forwards! We are stuffed already... we will be barking up the wooden spoon tree at this rate! This bloke is going to be declared innocent and is coming back to play like a champ and win the comp! Woohoo! This fella wants out because he hates...everything! Our roster is hopeless. I’d only keep five! Get rid of this one. Let’s go for that one... Did you see this article? Is this true? Stop responding to rumours. It’s a gee up! Don’t believe anything this fellow writes. He hates us and likes to stir the pot and take the pss! Tell me this isn’t true?! Is this for real?? We just like reading about and talking footy when there is not much footy going on. The rumour mill is turning, ever turning and journalists will take a rumour and run with it or make a rumour and sit back and watch the supporters gobble it up and spit it out, keeping the ball rolling. Write anything that will get these bored, irate, worried, sometimes gullible supporters reading and talking. That’s the job and they are good at it. Believe nothing. Speculate for interest’s sake, with the understanding that some journos enjoy creating stories out of thin air. As supporters, our point of view means nothing regarding the development of a credible roster, capable of winning games - lots of them hopefully. It is in the hands of others. The coaching and recruitment teams of clubs, who have the salary cap firmly in sight, are the story makers and decision takers. Meanwhile we supporters will no doubt continue to discuss the pros and cons, trade points of view and insults, and the journalistic gymnastics will continue to have us up in arms or down and dirty. It’s the nature of the machine. Give it some oil and some water and some new spark plugs, tune It up and let it rip!
Heyou
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: YEP
Phil
Roar Rookie
I've heard the Knights are about to sign Slasher Sidebottom.
Tony
Roar Guru
Fingers and toes are crossed
andrew
Roar Rookie
I don't know if it's a done deal.
Big Daddy
Guest
Does that mean he will become a Newcastle Jet !!!
matth
Roar Guru
I hear Darius Boyd has been lured out of retirement to head back to the Knights, to stiffen up their defence.
Tony
Roar Guru
You beauty
The King of the World
Roar Guru
I know Dominic Young is conformed and I’m not sure about KP back in the halves. Tex Hoy is being raised as a long term 6.
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
I agree about leaving out the bad stuff, but there are some exciting young fellas apparently coming to Newcastle from England next year. One is Dom Young, a big outside back, but the other is Bailey Hodgson, the nephew of Josh Hodgson, who apparently has great wraps as a fullback. It makes me think they are looking towards Pearce heading off. I reckon they'll move Ponga back into the halves this year and get him some experience organising, and then ideally play him and maybe Tex Hoy as the halves going forward with this young fella at the back.
andrew
Roar Rookie
I've heard Corey Norman is heading to the Knights.