Was told by a usually reliable source that we will be shedding some high earners and replacing with a mix of youth and 'average' experienced players as the club will not be spending anywhere near the cap for the foreseeable future, they need to get debts down rather pronto.

I'm not liking the sound of that TBH.

I can understand the club blooding more youth in the future as this is the way forward for most Rl clubs, however, the part where you say replacing with average experienced players would not be as understandable and unlikely imo, as it would probaby be counter productive.
People will only go to watch a winning side or at least a side that shows ambitions, if the club were to suddenly adopt the above aproach then im afraid the clubs attendances and thus revenues would decline, wiping out any cost savings made by getting rid of the better players and substituting them with inferior ones.

I never said I agreed, just what I was told.

If the club haven't got the money, what can they do, if we end up being a Salford or a Broncos for a couple of seasons, but come out stronger from a financial point, then it might be the only viable option as the BOD cannot keep underwriting the club indefinitely. Look at Bradford as an example of what can happen to a club and they have had 10k plus gates for a long time.

I wasn't disputing what you said, i'm simply looking at it form a different angle and puttin forward my view as i see it.
If the club did decide to go down the route you mentioned, then as i've previously stated, it would be counter productive imo.
If we did a Salford or a London for example as you suggested, there would be no gurantee that we would come out financialy stronger, as ive' already said, crowds would probably diminish, some of the best young players like Taylor Cox may not want to stay at the club, it would be harder to attract good sponsors and as a result the club would be poorer imo, both financialy and from a player quality point of view .
With regards to the directors underwriting the club, almost every club in super league is in the same or similar situation as we are in that respect, however, this is why the club is currently in the process of building a new North and possibly south stand, it is hoped that this will bring in the extra revenue streams that will make the club more self financing in the long run and reduce or even eradicate the need for the directors to keep on underwriting the clubs debs in the future.

I'd prefer the board kept tipping in cash so we can spend to the cap, but it's not my money so it's easy to say.
Within reason, it is performance relative to expectation that is crucial and it is often stated that people just want to see a team that gives its all (though I tend to be slightly dubious about that). We could maintain something like our current level spending 85% of the cap, I reckon. Much less than that and it'd really start to show.

A bit worrying. Clinton won't be retained, looking like the same for Webster & expect this to be Galeas final season. Pretty much everyone else has signed / extended in the last few months.

Are you sure we have 13 players ooc end season it was 15 but with wheeldon going and now mc donnell. Im expecting half of the 13 to go if not more.

So basically our squad is gonna be that skinny next season we ain't got no chance ave we wel end up like wacky, cas and Salford it's not good

based on where the last Newcastle based club finished up, id say Hull?

Bit over-dramatic, isn't it? Rovers were interested in Gareth Ellis. Lopini Paea is signed up, supposedly. Linked to Shenton, Zeb Taia, Moltzen. Dobson, Green, Paea and David Hodgson already on big contracts and Kris Welham signed up long term. Hardly on the breadline.

This is the second geographical related 'joke'.

My question was related to the "is NRL that much better than ESL that a mid-table NRL club could come over and rule the roost?" question.

No matter, brain dead.

I think I've asked this before, so excuse my ignorance. When are our accounts due?

I've been really enjoying your sigs recently too. How does one go about getting such an honour? Is it a closed club just for 'General' this month?

You just have to post absolute ridiculous crap, then disappear when it doesn't materialise.

August and you're too bland. I've got enough to last until Christmas, thanks. You're not permitted to bring up old threads anymore. Shame.

I see that, but the current quote isn't really untrue or silly. With some astute signings we perhaps could've won 6 more games than last season - this season. Key being, astute signings. We never actually signed these players though ... sigh

Darn. You ready to settle your bet yet, pet? Presently, Rovers finishing 4th looks to be the really silly clause.
Oh and you didn't answer the accounts question!

Edit thread drift, sorry > Zeb Taia.

Mika was a young guy with a handfull of firstgrade games and a lot of improvement still in him.

Taia is coming up on 100 firstgrade games, is an automatic firstgrade selection, is in the prime of his life and when fit gets and deserves selection in the NZ side that has the best forward pack in the world.


If you want to compare like for like - Taia is the guy who replaced Clint Newton at the Knights and all Knights fans rate him as a better player.

www.theherald.com.au/news/local/ ... 57350.aspx

www.theherald.com.au/news/local/ ... 57350.aspx

What bet is this? Blooming Mike Smith. Anyway, still half the season to go and you'll be in the top 8 after the Magic weekend it says over there. Not silly at all yet.


I said August, cockle. Pay attention.

Is Zeb the first Rovers player since Zook Ema with a name that starts with a Z?

No your right ,Rovers have gone backwards .

According to NRL News on twitter Taia is signing for Catalans on a 3 year deal (see below)

NRL News ‏ @NRLNEWS
Zeb Taia will leave the Newcastle Knights at season's end, after signing a 3-year deal with the Catalan Dragons from 2013.

. . .a replacement for Lopini

confirmed on the Dragons website

Are they bringing through many french players?