Knights look to splash cash to speed up rebuilding phase

It is almost daily that the cashed up and seemingly desperate Newcastle Knights are linked to a new NRL, or future-NRL talent.

Considering the horror season endured by players, officials and fans alike, this is not surprising.

In the past few days the back-to-back wooden spooners have been linked to Cowboys young superstar-in-wating Kalyn Ponga as well as Shark premiership winning megastar right side duo in Valentine Holmes and Jack Bird.

Although on the surface it’s hard to see three of the game’s most highly regarded players walking away from the dizzying heights of those reached recently by their respective clubs to join a club with only one win in 2016, stranger things have happened.

With roster spots to fill, and plenty of money to spend, the Knights have proven they are willing to take big risks, and spent big money, on players they regard as the future of the club.

The amounts of money being reported to be on offer for the three stars, who could realistically fill three of Newcastle’s back five positions for the next decade, is staggering.

It’s also a statement that supports just where the Knights are right now.

Players with plenty of options are very unlikely to see the Knights as a viable option for future development or immediate success, meaning the Knights will likely have to pay ‘overs’ to attract talent.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a club that is forced into paying well above the perceived market value of a player to secure his signature is considered to have paid ‘overs’.

It’s hard to see Valentine Holmes, especially considering a move to his preferred fullback position is now an almost certainty going forward, making the trip north to the Hunter unless there is a major financial lure.

That’s certainly not to say any potential move to the Knights would be purely monetarily based, but given the Sharks have just won their first title, are about to celebrate their 50th season at NRL level, and have made it very clear that Holmes is a ten-year-plus player at the club, common sense suggests The Shire is a positive place to be going forward.

The three potential signings are by no means a done deal, and having heard the recent comments from both Shane Flanagan and Lyall Gorman, I’d be very surprised to see both, or either, Holmes or Bird make the switch.

That being said, the fact that Newcastle are making offers to players who can help their club skip a painful rebuilding stage, is a very positive sign for disenchanted fans of the red and blue.

Given the fact that the Knights have shed a big chunk of their salary cap via moving on over-paid, under-performing players such as Uate and Sims, combined with a string of retirements, the Knights look as though they will be big players in coming seasons in terms of recruitment.

They’ve already signed former Origin utility Jamie Buhrer, who will likely form a more than decent second row combination with Sione Mata’utia and Mitchell Barnett, whilst extending the tenures of the Saifiti monsters.

Dane Gagai is a genuine superstar and should be allowed to return to his preferred centre position next season.

Trent Hodkinson and Jarrod Mullen are former Origin halves and are capable of much, much more than what they produced in 2016.

The Mata’utia clan is on board and are approaching their physical prime.

Dylan Phythian looks like an excitement machine, while Brock Lamb has plenty of NRL first grade ahead of him.

The basis of a very competitive and potentially very good side is there, but the Knights need two or three marquee signings to really propel their side back into finals contention.

Holmes, Bird and Ponga would see the side field a side with two Origin players (Gagai and Bird), a Kangaroos rep (Holmes), a future superstar (Ponga) and one of a plethora of young talented players.

Throw in an experienced prop or break out youngster coming through the junior system, and who knows?

It’s considered a long-shot for the Knights to secure all three young stars, and it’s worth remembering that any potential move would be for 2018 and beyond, meaning 2017 needs to be addressed first, but the signs are there.

The days of signing players on their last legs on fat contracts seem to be gone. Nathan Brown, despite overseeing a season with only three competition points earned, has the complete support of officials and the fan base.

Should a Ponga, Holmes or Bird sign their name to a Knights contract, it could really kick the Knights into gear.

Right now the club is in a position where it needs to outlay big money and take a long-term risk, which could be exactly what it needs to return to the NRL finals promised land.