The Player Draft Thread

[-AK-]

With The Knights pulling out alliance with Central Newcastle, All fit players who are not needed for first grade or Under 20s will be sent back to Newcastle Local Competition.

KNIGHTS chief executive Steve Burraston hopes to promote an annual draft of players back to Newcastle Rugby League clubs as a showcase event on the eve of each Newcastle season.

Burraston and Newcastle chairman John Anderson met yesterday and agreed in principle for all contracted Knights players, from both the National Rugby League and National Youth Competition (under-20) squads, to be placed with Newcastle clubs as players and/or ambassadors.

The concept, which is expected to be formally ratified at the Newcastle Rugby League's annual general meeting tonight, emerged as a result of the Knights' decision to withdraw their second-string or reserve-grade team from the NSW Cup competition.

Anderson does not expect any genuine opposition at tonight's general committee meeting, but he will address club delegates and explain details. Burraston said Knights strategic development manager Keith Onslow would be present to answer any questions.

"We've agreed in principle and all the details will be explained tomorrow night," Anderson said last night. "It will be discussed at the general committee meeting after the annual general meeting, but I think it's a great concept and I'm confident the clubs will agree once the details are explained."

It is understood Knights players who have graduated from a junior Newcastle club would remain aligned with that club, but all other players will effectively be available for the draft.

Burraston said a draft date had not been finalised but estimated it would be in February, just before the Newcastle season kicked off.

"We made a lot of progress today and have agreed in principle, but the Newcastle Rugby League still need to tell their clubs and hopefully they will sign off on it tomorrow night," Burraston said.

"If and when that happens, and I'm confident it will, it's an exciting concept and I'm sure it will benefit Newcastle clubs, the Newcastle competition and the Knights.

"We would like to make an annual event around the allocation of players and make it something really special each year that would promote the Newcastle Rugby League and create a lot of interest.

"Some of the marquee players would obviously go more in an ambassadorial role, but I'm sure a lot of players will play at least some games for their designated Newcastle clubs as the year unfolds."

Draft could be highlight of the season (http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/draft-could-become-highlight-of-newcastle-preseason/1362629.aspx)

[-AK-]

Knights throw open player pool for Newcastle Clubs to choose

NEWCASTLE Rugby League officials last night hailed a planned draft of Knights players into Hunter clubs as a "shot in the arm" for the local competition.

The Knights' decision not to field a reserve-grade team in the second-tier NSW Cup competition next year means players not required for first grade or National Youth Competition (under 20s) will be farmed back to local clubs to play each weekend.

About 15 Knights will automatically be allocated to the junior club they graduated from, then another 31 will be available in a pool of players.

Clubs will select players from the pool in the reverse order they finished this year, starting with the returning Maitland Pickers through to premiers Western Suburbs.

Each club will likely select two players each in the first round then one in the second round.

The top 25 Knights players, as determined by National Rugby League salary cap calculations, will not be allowed to play representative football for Newcastle or NSW Country.

The general committee of the Newcastle Rugby League discussed the concept after the league's annual general meeting last night.

No vote was taken, but there was an overall acceptance of the player placement program.

"I think it's a great concept. I think it's a shot in the arm for the Newcastle Rugby League, and I think it will only improve our competition," Newcastle Rugby League chairman John Anderson said.

Newcastle clubs must adhere to a flat-rate payment of $200 to senior Knights and $100 to NYC players.

As part of a proposed player allocation day in February, Anderson said the Knights would nominate 11 senior players who would act primarily as ambassadors for their designated club.

He said that would include Steve Simpson for his junior club, Singleton, who play in Group 21, and Kurt Gidley for his junior club, Western Suburbs.

Knights strategic development manager Keith Onslow said the club was still finalising the other nine "Category A" players, but that would be done in time for the AFL draft-style allocation day in February.

Anderson said the nine remaining Newcastle clubs would either pick the player they wanted as their ambassador or "pick one out of a hat like a Melbourne Cup barrier draw".
Newcastle club coaches and officials will meet with Knights coach Brian Smith next month to finalise details of the ground-breaking player placement program.

"We don't want the clubs to treat it as something to depend on each week; we want them to treat it as a bonus," Onslow said.

"There might be some weeks as the season goes on where some guys just won't play as a player-management issue over a 26-week National Rugby League season, but that's footy."

Provided there was no significant opposition at that meeting, Anderson said the league would then call another general committee meeting to ratify the program.

Long-serving Newcastle Rugby League and former Knights director Kevin Smith believed the program would only strengthen the relationship between the two organisations.

Meanwhile, the Newcastle Rugby League recorded a loss of $45,743 for the financial year to September 30 after a profit of $8640 in 2007.

Anderson said this was largely due to reduced income during the finals and increased expenses for representative teams.

The Newcastle board was returned unopposed and directors Vince Murphy and Trevor Crow were returned unopposed as the league's representatives on the Knights' board.

Link (http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/knights-throw-open-player-pool-for-newcastle-clubs-to-choose/1363823.aspx)

[bigdan]

What I want to know is, will players who came through Group 21 continue to stay aligned with their clubs, or will they have to be drafted by a Newcastle club? I'm thinking along the lines of Steve Simpson, who was a Singleton Greyhounds junior.

[-AK-]

NBN News reports states that any player playing in Newcastle Local Comp can be picked up by Smith to start training with the Knights. Thats great news! Much more to play for...

[~knightsgirljess~]

Yeah this is great news! It will only strengthen both the knights and the newcastle comps!

[Jonno_Knights]

with the draft getting a top pick is funny, cause u can pick a good player, but that player is most likely to get the call up to first grade :lol:

[Maddog78]

Does anyone know how this affects the salary cap? does the Newcastle RL have a cap or are payments limited by the earning capacity of the club?

Also doee the team repay compensation to the Knights for use of their players or do they ay the player in addition to their normal contract.

I think this is a great idea, take the Seymour example from the Sharks, he played a season of local comp and came back to the NRL are far more rounded player.

[-AK-]

Brian Smith in favour of placement but Knights come first

BY BRETT KEEBLE
20/11/2008 4:00:00 AM

KNIGHTS coach Brian Smith will continue his policy of resting players at different stages next season, even though it will sometimes stop those players representing their designated Newcastle Rugby League clubs.

Smith supports the player placement program, in which surplus Knights players will be available for Newcastle clubs next year, but he said maintaining and managing his Knights roster was still his priority.

He will meet with Newcastle coaches and club officials on December 1 to let them ask questions about how the system will work, and to provide some guidelines, but he said it would be a work in progress.

"Some of that stuff I'll need to tell them face to face rather than through the media but, suffice to say, as coaches we want the very best for our players, and working out a really positive relationship with all the Newcastle Rugby League clubs is a priority," Smith said.

"Everyone in the room, face to face, that's the best way to do that. They've got a couple of weeks to think about any issues they think might be relevant, and we'll obviously raise some stuff that we think will make the whole thing a goer.

"At the end of the day, my job is to make sure we manage our players and their preparation in the best possible way for the Knights, and that's what I'll be doing.

"But there is some courtesy and communication issues that we need to lay down as a protocol so that everyone will know where they stand right from the beginning.

"I think the main thing is that all those players, from under 20s right through to first grade, they're Newcastle Knights players.

"Some will never play any games in the Real NRL, some will play a few occasional games and some might be regular players.

"But no one can predetermine any of that that from a year out, so no one, including me, should suggest something is going to definitely happen one way or the other."

Smith said the placement program, and the return of players from this year's NYC and NSW Cup squads to Newcastle teams, would add quality and depth to the Newcastle competition.

"That's to our benefit as well, because the better the comp is that we're placing our senior or junior players back into, the better that is for their future development," he said. "We've got every reason to make this work and benefit from it, just as much as the Newcastle Rugby League clubs and the individual players."

LINK (http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/brian-smith-in-favour-of-placement-but-knights-come-first/1365095.aspx)

[Jonno_Knights]

Does anyone know how this affects the salary cap? does the Newcastle RL have a cap or are payments limited by the earning capacity of the club?

Also doee the team repay compensation to the Knights for use of their players or do they ay the player in addition to their normal contract.

I think this is a great idea, take the Seymour example from the Sharks, he played a season of local comp and came back to the NRL are far more rounded player.

The Jim Beam cup used a points system for their salary cap. When Wendell played for the Marlins he took up the maximum 15 points i think. Dunno if thats how it'll work though.

I think that the knights will continue to pay the players full wages. And the clubs will just use the players without penalty (as it will be even across the comp). But again im not sure on that, just what i assume.

[knight-no-7]

Sounds like an great idea. But im curious to know whats actually going to happen with the Cap situation too. Cant wait till next season. Off-season is soo boring now.

[-AK-]

Well - the player draft is tonight! Either way I think clubs will be happy with who they get.

http://www.theherald.com.au/multimedia/images/full/452408.jpg

Historic draft for Newcastle league
BY NEIL GOFFET
24/02/2009 4:00:00 AM

THE reborn Maitland Pickers will target props and a playmaker when they make the first two selections in the history-making Newcastle Rugby League "draft" of Knights players tonight.

The Knights and the NRL formulated the concept of the Player Placement Program when the Knights decided late last year not to field a reserve-grade team in the NSW Rugby League's second-tier NSW Cup competition this season.

Apart from saving themselves about $300,000 a year in player payments and operating costs, the Knights believe their decision to send surplus players back to district clubs each week will raise the profile of Newcastle's domestic competition and increase the overall standard.

Maitland, returning to the Newcastle competition after being unable to field teams for the past two years, will choose first and will target fringe first-grade players.

Pickers coach Noel Dent has his eye on utility playmaker Marvin Karawana and front-rowers Tim Natusch and Sione Tovo but can only pick two of them.

"There is no use picking the top players because you are unlikely to see them too often throughout the season," Dent said in the lead-up to tonight's draft at Newcastle Leagues Club.

"We've done a bit of homework on where the Knights are strong in some positions and not in others and tried to match up our players based on that.

"We're aiming for players who are down the chain a bit that we think we will have most weeks and get good value out of."

After Maitland, Lakes United will choose the next two players. The process will continue in the reverse finishing order of the 2008 competition ladder, meaning reigning premiers Western Suburbs will be the last club to make their two selections.

Lakes finished second from the bottom last year but wooden-spooners Raymond Terrace are no longer in the competition.

Eleven senior Knights have been classed as category A "ambassadors". Four of these have already been allocated Kurt Gidley (Wests), Dan Tolar (Central Charlestown), Steve Simpson (Cessnock) and Jarrod Mullen (Singleton) because they have ties to those clubs.

That will leave another 34 players to pick from, comprising 18 senior Knights and 16 from the club's under 20s (National Youth Competition) squad.

After the first round of two choices each, clubs will then make one more selection each. That will leave four players left over but it is still to be determined where those players will go.

It is understood the ambassadors will not play in the Newcastle competition but will be available to represent their clubs at presentation nights, coaching clinics and other similar promotions.

Gidley (Wests) and Tolar (Central) graduated from the junior ranks of those clubs into the Knights' system. Simpson, who hails from Broke, has been assigned to neighbouring Cessnock and Mullen to Group 21 club Singleton where he was born and where his father Steve played.

The other seven ambassadors will be drawn from a hat and allocated to a club in the same selection order as the draft.

Mark Taufua (Maitland), Joel Edwards (Cessnock) and Luke Walsh (Wests) are category B players who have already been assigned to their junior clubs and will not be part of the draft.

The remaining 18 players in the Knights' 32-man senior squad will go into the PPP, along with 16 players contracted to play NYC. The other 15 players in the NYC squad will return to their junior clubs if they are not required to play in the under-20 competition.

LINK (http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/historic-draft-for-newcastle-league/1441654.aspx?storypage=2)

[-AK-]

From the Knights website.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Coverage live on 2HD (1143 AM) from 5.00pm

Every contracted Knights player will be aligned with a Newcastle Rugby League Club this afternoon at the inaugural Player Placement Pool draw at the Newcastle League’s Club.

A crowd of around 200 is expected at the Real NRL’s headquarters in National Park Street to witness the historical event, including the entire Newcastle Knights playing roster and Coaching Staff.

Hosted by Old Boy and Knights Team of the Century Inductee, Mark Hughes, the 2009 NRL and National Youth Competition squads will be divided into three groups of;

• Ambassadors

• Local Juniors

• Players eligible for placement pool selection

A handful of local ambassadors including Kurt Gidley (Wests), Jarrod Mullen (Singleton), Steve Simpson (Cessnock) and Dan Tolar (Central Charlestown) will be aligned with their junior club while the remaining seven clubs will participate in a draw to receive their representative.

Category B will be made up of players returning to their junior club and expected to play in the Newcastle Rugby League Competition throughout the year and includes current NRL squad members, Mark Taufua (Maitland), Luke Walsh (Wests) and Joel Edwards (Cessnock).

Category C comprises of players eligible for Newcastle Rugby League Placements who are not local juniors, making up a 34 man pool.

Clubs will be called in order of 2008 final positions to select their preferred players in groups of two, led by Maitland who re-joins the local competition after a 12 month absence and working through to Premiers, Wests.

Players eligible for the Placement Pool are;

Category A - Ambassadors

Kurt Gidley - Wests

Jarrod Mullen - Singleton

Steve Simpson - Cessnock

Daniel Tolar - Central Charlestown

Ben Cross

Isaac De Gois

Matt Hilder

Chris Houston

Adam MacDougall

Cory Paterson

James McManus

Category B

NRL

Joel Edwards - Cessnock (pictured)

Mark Taufua - Maitland

Luke Walsh - Wests

NYC

Shaun Boss – Wyong

Ethan Cook – Central Charlestown

Nick Dwan – Wests

Jared Edwards – Macquarie United

Jonathan Ford – Macquarie United

Mitch Garbutt – Wests

Ryan Lamb – Wests

Chris Marlborough – South Newcastle

Peter Mata’Utia – Raymond Terrace?

Jeremy Papamau – Maitland

Ben Simon – Maitland

Ryan Stig – Morpeth – Maitland

Ben Tupou – Wests

Kruize Wilson – South Newcastle

Ben Wyborn – Kurri Kurri

Category C

NRL

Cameron Ciraldo

Scott Dureau

Richard Fa’aoso

Jimmy Fawcett

Marvin Karawana

Keith Lulia

Luke MacDougall

Constantine Mika

Wes Naiqama

Tim Natusch

George Ndaira

Ben Rogers

Junior Sau

Zeb Taia

Sione Tovo

Akuila Uate

Cooper Vuna

Danny Wicks

NYC

Josh Ailomai

Dane Cordner

Isaac Dargan

Kieran English

Byron Fruean

Trent Hilton

Harmony Hunt

Angus McHatton

Alex McMillon

George Morseau

Kevin Naiqama

Menaia Osborne

Theeran Pearson

Kevin Pease

Zane Tetevano

Simon Williams

This afternoon’s event will be broadcast live on 2HD (1143am) from 5.00pm and results will be published on the Newcastle Knights official website this evening.


All underlined players are on the market tonight!

[bigdan]

Anyone listening to this? 2HD don't stream online...

[~knights1~]

draft been done

*see video thread

[-AK-]

Just for those who cant watch, here are the results.

Player Placement Program:

James McManus - Wyong
Steve Simpson - Cessnock
Matt Hilder - Macquarie
Jarrod Mullen - Singleton
Kurt Gidley - West Suburbs
Dan Tolar - Central
Isaac De Gois - Nelson Bay
Adam MacDougal - South Newcastle
Chris Houston - Maitland
Cory Paterson - Lakes United
Ben Cross - Kurri Kurri

These guys will act as leaders to their respective clubs - chances of them playing are very slim.

Players drafted to other clubs at the possibillity of playing will be available soon.

[~knights1~]

De-gois -nelson bay
Doogs -Souths

newcastle website will have it up tonight

[Jonno_Knights]

how funny is maddogs reaction lol, and degois looks happy as usual :lol:

[~knights1~]

yeah

He'd be good playing Poker ,LOL !

[mozza]

Pato at Lakes is good to bad he will never play for them

[Pumba]

Knights Team Up With Newcastle Rugby League

Every contracted Knights player has been aligned with a Newcastle Rugby League Club following tonight’s inaugural Player Placement Pool draw at the Newcastle League’s Club.

A crowd of around 200 crammed into the Newcastle Rugby League headquarters in National Park Street to witness the historical event, including the entire Newcastle Knights playing roster and Coaching Staff.

Hosted by Old Boy and Knights Team of the Century Inductee, Mark Hughes, the 2009 NRL and National Youth Competition squads were divided into three groups of;

• Ambassadors

• Local Juniors

• Players eligible for placement pool selection

A handful of local ambassadors included Kurt Gidley (Wests), Jarrod Mullen (Singleton), Steve Simpson (Cessnock) and Dan Tolar (Central Charlestown) while the remaining seven clubs joined a draw to receive their representative.

Category B was made up of players returning to their junior club and expected to play in the Newcastle Rugby League Competition throughout the year and included current NRL squad members, Mark Taufua (Maitland), Luke Walsh (Wests) and Joel Edwards (Cessnock).

Category C comprised of players eligible for Newcastle Rugby League Placements who are not local juniors, making up a 34 man pool.

Clubs were called in order of 2008 final positions to select their preferred players in groups of two, led by Maitland who re-joins the local competition after a 12 month absence and working through to Premiers, Wests.

The final results of the Player Placement Pool were as follows;

Category A - Ambassadors
Kurt Gidley - Wests
Jarrod Mullen - Singleton
Steve Simpson - Cessnock
Daniel Tolar - Central Charlestown
Ben Cross – Kurri Kurri
Isaac De Gois – Nelson Bay
Matt Hilder - Macquarie
Chris Houston - Maitland
Adam MacDougall - Souths
Cory Paterson - Lakes
James McManus - Wyong

Category B

NRL
Joel Edwards - Cessnock
Mark Taufua - Maitland
Luke Walsh - Wests

NYC
Shaun Boss – Wyong
Ethan Cook – Central Charlestown
Nick Dwan – Wests
Jared Edwards – Macquarie United
Jonathan Ford – Macquarie United
Mitch Garbutt – Wests
Ryan Lamb – Wests
Chris Marlborough – South Newcastle
Peter Mata’Utia – Raymond Terrace?
Jeremy Papamau – Maitland
Ben Simon – Maitland
Ryan Stig – Morpeth – Maitland
Ben Tupou – Wests
Kruize Wilson – South Newcastle
Ben Wyborn – Kurri Kurri

Category C

NRL
Cameron Ciraldo - Souths
Scott Dureau - Macquarie
Richard Fa’aoso - Wyong
Jimmy Fawcett - Souths
Marvin Karawana - Maitland
Keith Lulia - Macquarie
Luke MacDougall - Lakes
Constantine Mika - Wyong
Wes Naiqama – Nelson Bay
Tim Natusch - Lakes
George Ndaira - Kurri
Ben Rogers – Nelson Bay
Junior Sau - Cessnock
Zeb Taia - Wyong
Sione Tovo - Maitland
Akuila Uate - Cessnock
Cooper Vuna - Cessnock
Danny Wicks - Kurri

NYC
Josh Ailomai - Wests
Dane Cordner - Wests
Isaac Dargan - Lakes
Kieran English - Wests
Byron Fruean - Maitland
Trent Hilton – Central
Harmony Hunt - Souths
Angus McHatton - Central
Alex McMillon - Macquarie
George Morseau - Souths
Kevin Naiqama - Kurri
Menaia Osborne - Central
Theeran Pearson - Kurri
Kevin Pease - Maitland
Zane Tetevano – Nelson Bay
Simon Williams - Lakes

Link (http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news_KNIGHTS%20TEAM%20UP%20WITH%20NEWCASTLE%20RUGB Y%20LEAGUE_200902)

[-AK-]

So Maitland picked up Tovo and Karawana as first choice. Two guys who should play for them often (no offence). Con Mika is good purchase too - great utillity value.

And Wests missed out due to them winning last year - however they picked up 3 players in NYC.

All in all seems pretty fair - in saying that there is currently a fair few guests lurking the forums possibly with a different opinion :p

[mozza]

Madpup and Natusch are good pick ups as both will be available for the start of the season at least

[Newcastle Forever]

Wests will still win the real NRL this year :)

Btw, now that we don't have a reserve grade side, I think we have a chance of making a (small) profit :D

[tommyjay1]

draft been done

*see video thread


where is video thread?

[~knights1~]

where is video thread?


it's under 'forum' Newcastle Knights GFX * Match Highlights
(~Knights1~ NBN News Reports)

http://www.marathonstadium.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4459&page=20

[~knights1~]

http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/imagelarge.php?image=/uploads/news/289/ambassadors.JPG

Maitland happy with prime pick in Newcastle Rugby League Draft


BY BRETT KEEBLE
25/02/2009 4:00:00 AM
MAITLAND coach Noel Dent was confident the Pickers would be more than competitive in their return to the Newcastle Rugby League this season after nominating playmaker Marvin Karawana and prop Sione Tovo as the first two selections in the inaugural draft of Knights players last night.

A scrumbase utility with seven National Rugby League games under his belt in the past two years, Karawana made history by being the first player chosen in the Player Placement Program and he will be joined at Maitland by Tovo, a bullocking front-rower in his second season at the Knights.

After the Knights decided late last year not to field a reserve-grade team in the NSW Cup, the PPP was devised so that players not required to play first grade or with the club's National Youth Competition (under 20s) team each week would return to represent district clubs in the Newcastle competition.

The concept was universally embraced by Knights players and staff and Newcastle Rugby League coaches and officials at the draft function at Newcastle Leagues Club last night, and Knights coach Brian Smith was confident his players would take the right attitude back to their respective Newcastle clubs.

Newcastle Rugby League president John Anderson said the PPP encouraged a spirit of cooperation between the domestic league and the Knights and it was up to the clubs to make it work.

Dent was sure that would be the case because the Knights were so supportive.

"To be honest, I think there were a few sceptics when it was first mooted," Dent said.

"Even a few weeks ago, there were some local blokes who were saying it probably won't get off the ground but what's impressed me is the enthusiasm of the Knights fellas.
"I know that with Brian Smith, he demands the best, and I worked with [Knights chief executive] Steve Burraston for a few years out at Macquarie and I know he wouldn't expect anything else either ... I get a feeling they're a happy mob at the Knights and I believe they'll go well this year, which is going to be good for all of us."



Lakes United followed Maitland and chose prop Tim Natusch and centre Luke MacDougall. South Newcastle then picked utility forward Cameron Ciraldo and fullback Jimmy Fawcett and Kurri Kurri nominated former St George Illawarra junior teammates Danny Wicks and George Ndaira to bolster their front row.

Karawana shunned any suggestion that being the first player selected carried any prestige.

"Obviously you'd rather be playing first grade for the Knights every week but Maitland are sort of like a new club, coming back into the competition, so it will be good to be able to help them out through the year," Karawana said.

"It should be a pretty good team and it should be a good competition. All the boys are happy with it and it should help the local comp. It's something new and something exciting."

The Pickers will also have access to Maitland juniors Mark Taufua, Jeremy Papamau, Ryan Stig and Ben Simon, and further strengthened their squad last night with second- and third-round selections Kevin Pease and Byron Fruean.

"It was vital for us that we got that balance right because even our older players are only 23 or 24. Even though Marvin and Sione are still only young physically, they've been around the traps for a while," Dent said.

"Marvin has played a bit of first grade and is probably a bit stiff not to have played more because I think he's a real good player, and Sione is a real strong workhorse, he's got great leg speed, and they're both good people -- which is important."

Knights back-rower Chris Houston will not play for the Pickers but drew Maitland's name out of the hat to represent the club in an ambassadorial role.

"I'm rapt because Shane Millard is a real good mate of mine from St George," Dent said.
"Shane is Daryl's dad and Shane and I played together at St George years ago, and Daryl [who now plays for Canterbury Bulldogs] played all his juniors with Chris so that's worked out really well. I've only just met Chris but from talking to blokes about him, he seems more than keen to get involved so we'll use him the best way we can."



Other Knights ambassadors are Kurt Gidley (Western Suburbs), Jarrod Mullen (Singleton), Steve Simpson (Cessnock), Dan Tolar (Central Charlestown), Ben Cross (Kurri Kurri), Isaac De Gois (Nelson Bay), Matt Hilder (Macquarie Scorpions), Adam MacDougall (South Newcastle), Cory Paterson (Lakes United) and James McManus (Wyong).

Some players were already aligned with their junior Newcastle clubs, including Taufua at Maitland, Luke Walsh (Wests) and Joel Edwards (Cessnock), so were not included in the draft.

[knight-no-7]

Draft success depends on how Knights play the game
26/02/2009

THE revolutionary player placement program shapes as the best news the Newcastle Rugby League competition has had in 21 years providing Knights players show the right attitude when lining up for their district clubs.

Since the Knights first entered the NSWRL premiership in 1988, their success has inevitably come at the expense of the competition from which they arose.

Whereas the Hunter's league lovers once headed to suburban grounds such as Cahill Oval, Lyell Peacock Oval and Maitland Sportsground for their weekly footy fix, for the past two decades the Knights have naturally been the feature attraction.

Crowds of more than 20,000 have been regular occurrences at EnergyAustralia Stadium, or the International Sports Centre as it was formerly known.

Conversely, head to any local match these days and the attendance usually comprises family, close friends and a smattering of diehards.

Not surprisingly, clubs have been doing it tough financially.

Waratah-Mayfield folded in 2003 and haven't been seen since.

Maitland have come and gone and returned after a couple of years in limbo. Raymond Terrace withdrew at the end of last season to link with Group 21.

There were fears Lakes United could disappear down the S-bend after back-to-back premierships in 2006 and 2007 left a legacy of unpaid players.

In this economic climate, with sponsors hard to find and leagues clubs suffering because of poker-machine taxes, every pie, beer and raffle ticket sold on game day is worth its weight in gold.

But more than any season since 1988, district clubs can feel optimistic about the prospect of a few extra bums on seats, after the Knights' decision to scrap their reserve-grade team and draft out excess players to affiliated Real NRL outfits.

High-profile Knights such as Kurt Gidley, Steve Simpson, Ben Cross and Jarrod Mullen won't be seen playing with the semi-amateurs.

But there are no shortage of established first-graders who will be spending time with local outfits.

Danny Wicks, Wes Naiqama, Cooper Vuna and Luke MacDougall, who will all start the season late because of injuries, may need time in the Real NRL to regain fitness and confidence.

Keith Lulia, Cameron Ciraldo, Luke Walsh, Scott Dureau, Ben Rogers and George Ndaira loom as players who will have to bide their time occasionally in the Real NRL.

Then there are the rising stars, such as Constantine Mika, Sione Tovo, Tim Natusch and Joel Edwards, who are yet to make their top-grade debuts but have been touted as potential top-liners, plus a host of under 20s.

The key will be the enthusiasm and commitment of the players.

Make no mistake, none of them want to play in the district competition, and they can hardly be blamed for that.

Running out in front of a few hundred at Kurri Kurri Sportsground is a far cry from a blockbuster clash against Brisbane at EAS.

But there will be no point sulking about it. Players will have to be professional about the situation and accept that their best chance of winning a recall to coach Brian Smith's No.1 side is to dominate at district level.

They should also realise they have a great chance to leave an impression on their new albeit temporary teammates, both on the field and socially after the game.

It is a chance for them to give something back at grassroots level to the game that pays their wage.

The locals will no doubt be keen to learn as much as they can from the full-time professionals.

But perhaps the reverse can also apply for any Knights who need reminding that they started playing rugby league for the love of the game, rather than a weekly pay cheque.



Lion-hearted Ciraldo brings cub to Souths in draft bonus
BY NEIL GOFFET
26/02/2009

http://www.theherald.com.au/multimedia/images/full/453903.jpg

SOUTH Newcastle got more than they bargained for when they chose Knights forward Cameron Ciraldo in Tuesday night's history-making draft at Newcastle Leagues Club.

The rugged back-rower or prop told South officials he had been waiting to see which club secured his services before signing up his five-year-old step-son, Kai Rendall.

Kai, who turns six on Wednesday, played soccer in Sydney last year but wants to play rugby league this season, and Ciraldo decided they would play for the same club.

"He comes home every afternoon from school and starts running in and tackling me as hard as he can," 24-year-old Ciraldo said.

"He really wants to play, and the first thing he wanted to know after I told him we were going to Souths was what colour the jumper was, and he is very excited.

"We probably live a bit closer to Wests, but I decided if I got one of the inner-city Newcastle clubs that I would take him there with me."

Ciraldo and wife Kim moved to Newcastle with Kai at the end of 2007 and extended their family in July last year when daughter Taya was born.

A Menai junior, Ciraldo grew up playing league in the Sutherland shire and played 19 first-grade games for the Sharks.

He joined the Knights last season and played 14 first-grade games.

[Mr Goanna]

Cessnock have done very well in recruitment this year...not only did they pick up those Knights backline dynamos in the draft but they enticed Willy Poleo and Sione "The Bulldozer" Finefeuiaki to join them...tremble in fear all you other clubs!:badgrin:

[~knights1~]

I also hope a few more people get out to the local games to watch the players go around