Next year does not concern me. Can Walters get to the level of KPP? Can Keighran get to the level of King? Can Thompson get to the level of Smithies? Easily. In the Wigan setup, with the young lads NickyKiss has mentioned having a confidence boosting year under their belts - we'll go really well next year and I feel we will be favorites to add to the 125 trophies we've won as a club...

My concern is 2025. Harry Smith, Bevan French and Jai Field all out of contract in 2024. Field and French are exceptional players for us, but I tell you - securing Harry Smith to a long term contract could be the most important bit of business we do if we are to have sustained success over the next few years. He is the best in play kicker in the competition. He was outstanding in that run to the Grand Final and his kicking game lays the platform for our forwards to play on the front foot and our backs to play in good field position.

And the other side of the coin...



rlhttps://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-newcastle-knights-salary-cap-overhaul-players-told-they-are-free-to-leave-adam-obrien-peter-osullivan-isaac-moses-conflict-of-interest-news-videos-highlights/news-story/fd234ccd6124a1c50935ab92b27108ecrl

I agree and that the salaries offered to entice players over to the NRL are excessive, and even though KPP is a very talented young kid then £400K per season is a ridiculous amount of money.
It will be interesting to see if it is money well spent by the Knights or if he eventually gets cut down the line to free up salary cap space

Converting KPPs salary to GBP is irrelevant as their salary cap is miles higher so its no comparison.

His reported salary next year is about 8% of the salary cap. Equivalent % in England would be £168k per year which doesn't sound out of the question if he is one of your best players? £168K would probably put him in the top 3-5 earners at a club like Wigan, Saints, Warrington I would guess?

Wonder which academy players will join the first team squad next year ?

Junior and Hill will replace Cooper and Isa but who will replace them?

Kian McDermott, Lukas Mason and Taylor Kerr all seem to England academy regulars. A proper, a backrower and a loose forward.

Wonder if they are seen as big prospects?

I remember Nathan Lowe a winger/centre joined the first team in preseaon whilst Marshall was away.

Not seen much of McDermott but in the bits I've seen of the other two, I've always been hugely impressed with Kerr. He looks a real talent, with good hands and will be a good size once he fills out. I've never seen much in Mason to think he'll go on and become a top player but he might've just had quiet games in the ones I've seen. The other who always impressed me is Tom Ratchford, a young hooker. He will have a lot of players to get past at Wigan in the next few years mind.