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Recruitment and retention

257Matt said:
If Knowles is a success in the NRL he'll be the oldest first time NRL player to achieve it. The successful players previously the Burgess brothers all in their very early 20's, Morley 23, Whitehead 25, Graham 26 & the oldest to be successful was Ellis at 27. Knowles will be 29 when Round 1 kicks off it's a huge task when all the others came early in their careers or just as their peaks were coming. The two most successful backs being Herbie & Widdop came across at very young ages.

Plath and Donoghoe since taking on the lock roles have won major club awards and last year Donoghoe at lock really unlocked Katoa.

Both Averillo and Donoghoe would be better no.6 options than the player they've signed for next year.
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Not like we don't have a Mariana Trech of depth for locks.
 
257Matt said:
If Knowles is a success in the NRL he'll be the oldest first time NRL player to achieve it. The successful players previously the Burgess brothers all in their very early 20's, Morley 23, Whitehead 25, Graham 26 & the oldest to be successful was Ellis at 27. Knowles will be 29 when Round 1 kicks off it's a huge task when all the others came early in their careers or just as their peaks were coming. The two most successful backs being Herbie & Widdop came across at very young ages.

Plath and Donoghoe since taking on the lock roles have won major club awards and last year Donoghoe at lock really unlocked Katoa.

Both Averillo and Donoghoe would be better no.6 options than the player they've signed for next year.
Click to expand...
My concern over Knowles is how well he can deal with the heat. The guy is from Barrow in Cumbria and has played in St Helens since he was 15. Neither place is regarded for their hours of sunshine or dry weather. The mist or rain is usually that bad I'm afraid the guy will get headaches if he's able to see more than 200m.
 
midlands hobo said:
My concern over Knowles is how well he can deal with the heat. The guy is from Barrow in Cumbria and has played in St Helens since he was 15. Neither place is regarded for their hours of sunshine or dry weather. The mist or rain is usually that bad I'm afraid the guy will get headaches if he's able to see more than 200m.
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If he's a true professional it shouldn't matter. Plus english forwards have a high ceiling in the NRL for whatever reason as compared to backs, and even worse are halves coming to the NRL.
 
Ex
yonathonjoung said:
If he's a true professional it shouldn't matter. Plus english forwards have a high ceiling in the NRL for whatever reason as compared to backs, and even worse are halves coming to the NRL.
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He wouldn't. Be coming. Here uf couldn't
 
midlands hobo said:
My concern over Knowles is how well he can deal with the heat. The guy is from Barrow in Cumbria and has played in St Helens since he was 15. Neither place is regarded for their hours of sunshine or dry weather. The mist or rain is usually that bad I'm afraid the guy will get headaches if he's able to see more than 200m.
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An offseason in Qld will dry an englishmen out quick smart.

We had Michael Bridges - ex leeds - footballer (SOCCER) come out to play in Australia. I remember him saying its the hardest place to play and a tough league due to the conditions.

I think thats where the high ceiling comes in. They get to a higher level of fitness. Bringing their game to a new level. Because if they dont, the conditions mean they dont make it.
 
The game i was at on Sunday it was Dark (5pm ko) misty, drizzle 3C and blowing a strong wind. there were two people from Widness next to me in shorts.

For me the idea of doing more than drinking when its above 20C is enough to make me want an Ice bath. 5C shorts and flipflops. 8-10c depending on the wind depends if its tshirt or hoodie.
 
Warrington and former Canberra player George Williams confirms his return to the NRL next year with an unknown team.
The fact its not been announced seems to suggest he isn't a priority.
 
midlands hobo said:
Warrington and former Canberra player George Williams confirms his return to the NRL next year with an unknown team.
The fact its not been announced seems to suggest he isn't a priority.
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I would think now former club has said it they will. Don't think theu would or any other clubs say a players coming. Till previous club said was going
 
Donoghoe has nose for NSW after Dolphins extension
By Joel Gould AAP

Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe has set his sights on a NSW jersey after inking an extension until the end of 2028.

The Newcastle-born 1980s-style tough nut, who was on the club's books until 2027, has had a stunning rise in the NRL and is now a Test regular for Fiji with seven internationals to his credit.

When he arrived in Queensland in the 2023 pre-season he was initially signed to CQ Capras. He got a train-and-trial deal with the Dolphins and impressed Wayne Bennett so much that he was named on the bench in the club's first ever game against the Sydney Roosters, which they won.

Last year was the 24-year-old's best season, playing 22 games in multiple positions and winning the club's best forward and most consistent awards.

Donoghoe has fast become coach Kristian Woolf's indispensable man. In his NRL, Queensland Cup and NSW Cup career he has started in every position on the field apart from prop.

Not only that, he is now one of the first picked and is set to start at No.9 in the club's season opener against South Sydney in the wake of first-choice rake Jeremy Marshall-King's knee injury.

The new deal has put a spring in the step of elite athlete Donoghoe, who won the club's fitness tests in the pre-season.

"I’ve made myself a home here ... so I’m happy to extend," he said.

“The Dolphins gave me my first crack and have backed me. Woolfy has really showed faith in me, so I’m happy I can repay him and the club."

Donoghoe would make a wonderful utility in State of Origin, and has a passion for the state and its history.

“It’d be a massive goal of mine," he said.

“I grew up watching NSW and went through all the pain for all those years.

“It’d mean a lot to me. I definitely wouldn’t look back if I got the opportunity.

“I liked Paul Gallen. He went through all the hard times ... and (admired) Jarryd Hayne and Trent Hodkinson. When he got that try in the drought-breaker (in 2014) it was unreal."

Donoghoe has played solely in the halves for Fiji, and his standout displays in the 2024 Pacific Championships really kick-started him into what was a great 2025.

“My grandfmother (Kim) was Fijian. Unfortunately she's not with us," he said.

“She is the reason I played for Fiji, so when I get to those camps and play for her I get to learn more about my culture.

“It brings me back closer to that side of my family.

“I get to play a bigger role at five-eighth and tell the boys what to do.

“I can build confidence, and it definitely helps coming back to the Dolphins."

Donoghoe has won admiration for his toughness. In one match last year he broke his war-torn nose and went back into the fray.

“I need a nose job. It got busted up again in the first wrestling session, but it’s all right," he grinned.

“It was just the once it was properly broken."

So will he be more careful in future?

“Probably not," he said.

“Lucky I didn’t get it fixed because it will probably happen again."
 
midlands hobo said:
Warrington and former Canberra player George Williams confirms his return to the NRL next year with an unknown team.
The fact its not been announced seems to suggest he isn't a priority.
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Has he ever played 5/8? Because unless Katoa is injured or on rep duty, he won't be 1/2 for us.
 
Josh said:
Has he ever played 5/8? Because unless Katoa is injured or on rep duty, he won't be 1/2 for us.
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He's a very ordinary 5/8 or half these days he was awful for Canberra in 2021 and been worse with Warrington bar one drop goal.
 
257Matt said:
He's a very ordinary 5/8 or half these days he was awful for Canberra in 2021 and been worse with Warrington bar one drop goal.
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Was he awful for Canberra? I remember the first year he was a revelation. After that I heard he fell out with Ricky Stuart, as a lot of people have done.
 
Josh said:
Was he awful for Canberra? I remember the first year he was a revelation. After that I heard he fell out with Ricky Stuart, as a lot of people have done.
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Correct Josh , he went well the first year then Covid hit and his partner was pregnant and couldn’t settle due to not being able to see family. Being garbage in the uk since then. But so has plenty of players at Warrington. If Woolf wants him that’s good enough for me
 
Gary said:
Correct Josh , he went well the first year then Covid hit and his partner was pregnant and couldn’t settle due to not being able to see family. Being garbage in the uk since then. But so has plenty of players at Warrington. If Woolf wants him that’s good enough for me
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excatly and with kodi future not sealed in yet will be very intresting if stays or goes, and how they play both woolf would seen enough in uk , and would know how get best outta him and morgie age has nothing to do with it lotta halfs play on longer just let woolf work his magic
 
mr_c said:
excatly and with kodi future not sealed in yet will be very intresting if stays or goes, and how they play both woolf would seen enough in uk , and would know how get best outta him and morgie age has nothing to do with it lotta halfs play on longer just let woolf work his magic
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You said Donoghoe wouldn't be re signed and never see NRL when Woolf said he'll be in the 17 every week he's available :)

As for Woolf seeing him in UK you know for the first 1.5 years of his 3 years there George Williams was at Canberra. He's got progressively worse at Warrington stepping up to the NRL is a massive ask if you haven't been it or if you're from UK not at the peak of your career.
 
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