Happy new year to every rugby league fan, all the Roarers and everyone else for that matter.
Here we are in 2023, the 117th season of first grade rugby league in Australia will be played, and a 17th team shall join the competition.
A famous saying was once said about how it all begins in the office. Who said this? Jack Gibson, one of the greatest coaches of all time. Let’s run his gauntlet of the 1980s (not including State of Origin).
1981-1983: Parramatta Eels. In all three seasons he coached Parramatta, they won the Grand Final.
1985-1987: Cronulla Sharks. In all three seasons he coached them, they didn’t make the finals.
How does that work? Two different clubs, two different businesses, two different teams and two different cultures. To add on to my point, let’s take a look more recently to Michael Maguire.
2010-2011: Wigan Warriors
First year: Premiers
Second year: Qualifying semi
2012-2017: South Sydney Rabbitohs
First four years: Made the finals (won the premiership in 2014)
Final two years: Missed the finals (injuries and loss of players can have an impact)
2019-2022: Wests Tigers
Never coached them to the finals and to add insult to injury.
Let’s take a look a Madge’s 2022 record:
Wests Tigers: three wins and nine losses (wooden spooners)
New Zealand Kiwis: six wins and one loss (eliminated in the semi-finals)
How does that work? Three different clubs, three different businesses, three different teams and three different cultures.
During the Newcastle Knights’ glory years, they were playing ruthless football. They knew how much the team meant to their town and their fans so that’s who they for – play for the town, play for the fans and play for each other. As time went on, that fizzled out and we all know what else happened. Things that aren’t worth mentioning.
After the Knights had a bad season, there were calls from some fans mentioning Adam O’Brien should be sacked. They are within their right to say so but I disagree.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
Losing Mitchell Pearce was a big blow, and Jayden Brailey’s injury was a setback, but our season ended with Mitchell Barnett’s trial for Street Fighter. That brought our team down and they never got their heads up.
The club’s culture needs to be converted back into the ways it was during our glory years – those years when we were ruthless, we knew how to make the finals and when Marathon was a fortress. Our ground was feared because other teams knew it would be a war to play the Knights in Newcastle.
It’s not the idea of a coach with a winning mentality comes kicking the door down and gives a rag tag team a winning attitude them turns them into champions. That works in movies, as does getting a disturbed water boy into the gridiron team to become champions, and a 13-year-old boy with magic sneakers playing for his lowly basketball team to help them into the playoffs and driving a time travelling DeLorean.
Remember when I mentioned how it all begins in the office? Newcastle acquired the services of Peter Parr as head of football, and he’s already shown some value. Two players missed the team bus, so they got dropped and we have made two player trades, on both trades I think we got the better end of the deal.
With that being said, I can see the Knights having a better season this year. Fun fact: Newcastle attempted to bring Peter back home in 2019 but he was still contracted to North Queensland, which he honoured. Had we got him then, we’d have a different club culture. Things like this though do take their time.
Our duty as supporters is still attend the games and back our team. I have a fair amount of travelling I plan to do this year for my team and more of my bucket list to tick off.
Whether you attend all games, every home game or live a distance away and can only make a handful, every Knights is the biggest Knights supporter so instead of making a bullocks competition, let’s back each other and show just why we’re the most passionate fans in the league.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Sorry, I just forked something up. Use this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LvIaKwSnIeQfKJCz2Qvgzo47eerRpuw2/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=114698333451261014237&rtpof=true&sd=true
Redcap
Roar Guru
Hi King, I'm putting together an article about 2023 NRL jerseys and as part of this I'm asking supporters of every team for their opinion about their team's new strips. The jerseys are here: https://leagueunlimited.com/news/38350-2023-nrl-jerseys/ Would you be willing to share your thoughs about the Knights' 2023 strips? It's really simple - just a couple of check boxes and a comment field. If so, you can comment here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RfLjWd-OJagxrsBIeF7wcdhinUahZBf_/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=114698333451261014237&rtpof=true&sd=true It's a cloud doc, so you don't need to save anything.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Buderus, Peden, Hughes, Kennedy, O'Davis, Harragon, Albert, Mad Dog, Hurtsy Muir, Butterfield, Matty Johns, Matt Gidley. Yep. Bunch of nobodies. Tell them to give their rep jumpers back. :laughing:
Nat
Roar Guru
While I am sure those numbers are not 100% accurate I did not make them up, I googled each and every one and most of the time those published figures are not too far off the mark. If these numbers were do far off the mark why are your players seeking opportunities elsewhere? What is fictitious is the idea that you believe these billionaires are just throwing massive coin at these players yet your team has won the last 2 premierships, played in 3 and only missed the finals once in 7 years. By comparison that is the same finals and 1 GF appearance more than the Roosters. Further it is significantly better record than Souths who missed both ‘16 & ‘17 finals and only one GF appearance. In the last 5 years Melbourne have lost Smith, Cronk and Slater yet have continued success. Which superstar did their billionaire buy in? So tell me, how do you explain the Panthers success over every other club yet point to shoddy dealings elsewhere?
The King of the World
Roar Guru
Andrew Johns was injury prone too sir. Newcastle played 22 games in 1997 and Joey played 9.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Reynolds must have been sponsored by Jetstar then.
Panthers
Guest
With all due respect. You’re just coming up with prices off of the top of your head , where you don’t actually know what any player at Penrith is being paid. As none of us do? Also, you really have nothing as to what top line players Penrith buy, as they don’t buy any & can’t afford to. That’s besides the fact that most top players don’t go to Sydney’s west . All of it still doesn’t cover anything I said about how other teams can stay in the 8 every year . Win a couple of premierships in a row . Not really lose any top line players, other than those that they choose to . Yet are able to buy some of the best of players coming onto the market . It all just goes to proving my point . Rich backers mean , never having to say ‘we’re sorry, as we can’t afford you’.
Nat
Roar Guru
I won’t pretend the TPAs don’t get rorted. There are so many holes in it but they cannot put these on paper and it’s a massive risk for player, manager and club. By rights they are supposed to be at arms length to the club and organised by the manager. If you remember when Jimmy Maloney swapped for Moylan he let slip in a presser that he was waiting for the club to sort out his Keno deal? Everyone has heard the (let’s call them) jokes about uncle Nick having brown paper bags in the boots of his cars and $10k bets on golf shots (technically perfectly legal). Most are not d-umb as to note these deals in board minutes as Parra. With all due respect I think you are undervaluing what some of your Panthers are earning. There is $2m in the halves pairing and another $1.1m on the right side of them. Edwards, Fish & Yeo is another $2.2 and you’re over $5m on 7 players and now Martin is a rep mainstay he will take up a chunk as well. Is it any wonder Api and Kikau sought a payday elsewhere?
Panthers
Guest
Did you think Eisenhuth, Salmon, Falls, O’Sullivan, Sorenson, Kenny . Even the likes of Capewell , Momirovski, we’re Stellar players ? They’ve all been part of the 30 man squad over the last few years.
EastOfDivide
Guest
The Smith’s , Cronk’s, Tedesco’s etc . Don’t go to Newcastle. Same as they don’t go to West’s, Parramatta, Penrith , Canberra & even Manly now days . Those clubs have to develop their own players & not have them poached away by other clubs , plus have some luck with a few lesser quality imports. Newcastle & Manly are lucky to have a more appealing coastal area. Yet Newcastle is quite a distance away. If you can actually buy in some of the best players & coaches. Plus other people within the club. It makes a Huge difference! If you can then have the government build you a top stadium & the like . ( Which you say isn’t your stadium & you put your clubs name on it ) . Even those things help. I don’t think as a Roosters supporter, that you have much idea of how much harder many other clubs have things.
Panthers
Guest
I think it all depends on how much they can get away with? What they can spend legally ( according to current rules ) & outside of the cap. Roosters are in the 8 every year. Yet they can afford your Smith’s & Cronk’s . Never have any cap pressure? Don’t get offended Roosters supporters, they’re just a good example. I haven’t seen Penrith buy one top player in the last however many years. Also long before they had any recent success. Other than Korisau, who wasn’t rated as highly when he returned there & only returned there as Ivan Cleary was there. Name me one other top line player to go there ? Yet they lose first grade players every year. As well as many of their next up players. There is no comparison between the two clubs. Having a lot of money to spend by certain clubs is there for everyone to see.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's been proven they have got a stellar roster. All I was hearing about Coach Cleary was that he had been around for a long time and his results proved that he wasn't a great coach. Would he have won a title if he stayed at the Tigers? It's all come together for Cleary and I'm glad for him.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
The Knights’ best years from the 1997 premiership season through to the early 2000s were more to do with one Andrew Johns than anything else. He made players around him better. They have failed to replace him, almost 20 years since he retired. They have pinned their future on Kalyn Ponga, a player who has proven to be inconsistent and injury prone. I don’t see a bright future for the Knights unless they find a way to cut him loose
Nat
Roar Guru
Yep they do - for a period of success then they will hit with cap pressure and be forced to blood young guys and buy others. As the success cycle dwindles out forces more $ on less quality.
Nat
Roar Guru
That is true to a point but a tier one player must have equitable market value on the books along with their generous TPA. You shouldn't over estimate what the TPAs are either. Melbourne back in their day had the most by a long shot and it was less than $1m total which was significantly more than the next highest. Having billions of dollars doesn't mean they are throwing plenty at league players. They are smart business men and there is no ROI on that.
Nat
Roar Guru
Only on the way home from the club. Full purses are always welcome.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Wests Group would boot 50 drunk grandmothers off the courtesy bus in a bad part of town they are that bloodless.
Panthers
Guest
The cap doesn’t necessarily mean that clubs whose first grade side does well , lose a lot of top players due to their rising value. It all depends on the club involved & what sponsors, independent sponsors, wealthy backers they have ? South’s went from virtually nothing, to all getting around in top designer suits & being in the top 8 permanently. Including a GF Win making another GF . Immediately that they gained wealthy backers. The Roosters always buy top players, lose only second raters , plus a few retirements. Only exceptions to the rule are Mitchell & those that they’re finished with. Again wealthy backers are they key to this. Cronulla are now flush with money & you can see the difference immediately with the players that they continue to buy.
Panthers
Guest
Penrith finished outside of the 8 in 2019. So not many people thought that they had a stellar roster at the end of that year. I’d suggest that it was excellent coaching & a real plan for their style of play that changed Penrith. Added to the change in penalties, with 6 agains in 2020. Not having crowds in 2020 was probably a big help too.
Justin
Guest
They do have a good group of young forwards coming through, that played in the under 19’s NSW team last year . So that’s promising. As is the fact that they made the GF in Jersey Flegg last season. Then really should have won that grade. So many of that squad are not far away in age, of possibly making the first grade side . I’m not so sure about Best. Could be great , but just too many injuries. Much like Ponga. However, a young centre came into the first grade side near the end of last season, who’s also very promising. I think they got the right half out of Hastings & Brooks. Would have been horrible to get Brooks in my opinion. Let’s face it, if you get a set of good halves . A good player at hooker , which they have & a decent fullback. Then you’re on the upturn. I hope for my nephews sake & for all you other suffering Knights supporters , that next season marks a real change of fortune for Newcastle. It’s good for the game when MacDonald Jones Stadium is a sell out each week. Totally agree with you that Barnett in one action, changed the first grades team’s fortune last season. They were doing well & were right in that game. It was a sliding doors moment.