Adam Blair linked to Wests Tigers
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Michael :P
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Scooter wrote:Cashed up Knights may make late play for Blair.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl- ... 6038873476Melbourne Storm star Adam Blair tops Newcastle Knights' targets for Wayne Bennett era from 2012
By Stuart Honeysett The Australian April 14, 2011 7:44AM
In demand ... Newcastle Knights join race for Adam Blair's services. Source: Michael Dodge / News Limited
A strike backrower is all that is standing between Wayne Bennett and his $1 million bonus for delivering Newcastle Knights a premiership from next season.
That is the consensus from NRL insiders who believe Bennett already has the framework for a successful team at Newcastle. A few key men and Bennett's own considerable influence are all that is needed.
St George Illawarra fullback Darius Boyd is expected to follow Bennett to Newcastle and Cronulla's representative prop Kade Snowden has long been a target of the Knights.
Melbourne Storm backrower Adam Blair is shaping as the No 1 target. However, Ryan Hoffmann, Joe Picker or Tom Symonds may also come under Bennett's gaze.
The $1m bounty is part of a lucrative $10m deal Bennett struck with mining magnate Nathan Tinkler before agreeing on Tuesday to join the Knights.
Former Brisbane Broncos five-eighth and Bennett's son-in-law Ben Ikin said Bennett's ability to make players better was the key factor.
"Privately he's quite a funny bloke, what stands him apart, is that he genuinely cares for his players, when you're in his care, he really does go in to bat for you, he wants to help you become the best player and best person you can," Ikin told Triple M.
"Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday those blokes that don the jersey want to go out and die for him."
Taking the success at his past two clubs into account, and given Bennett's deal at the Knights includes a $500,000 bonus for every season they make the finals as well as $1 million for the first premiership he delivers, Tinkler might be dipping into his pockets on a regular basis.
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Of course, there is a school of thought that Bennett has a much tougher job on his hands at the Knights than he did when he took over the Dragons in 2009. The Knights finished a disappointing 11th last season.
The Knights' roster is handy. They already have plenty of strikepower in captain Kurt Gidley, who has been a regular fixture in representative teams, and halfback Jarrod Mullen, who is in the running to wear the No 7 jumper for NSW this season.
It is widely known Bennett will take Dragons fullback Boyd with him when he leaves at the end of the season and it is believed that he could slot into the centres with Adam MacDougall and Junior Sa'u both off contract at the end of the season.
The five-eighth position could be a problem. Rookie Beau Henry was given first crack at the No.6 jumper this season before suffering an injury but it is understood that the former Dragons Toyota Cup Player of the Year was released by the club because Bennett didn't rate him.
Bennett has built his success at the Dragons on the back of prop Weyman. The Knights could deliver the master coach a similar platform to build a premiership on if Cronulla's Snowden heads up to the Hunter.
All this is missing is a strike backrower. Melbourne backrower Blair is the hottest property in the game at the moment. He has been strongly linked to the Tigers and wants a taste of Sydney life but could be swayed to join Bennett after playing under him for New Zealand at the 2008 World Cup.
Hoffman was forced out of the Storm as part of last year's salary cap scandal at the club and headed over to Wigan but only signed a one-year deal.
Symonds is off contract at the Sydney Roosters and is currently negotiating his future while Canberra is also in talks with Picker about extending his time at the Raiders.
Bennett seems to have no shortage of options to turn the Knights into a powerhouse. He may only need one to earn himself another million dollars.
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Storm Spirit
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WOW ! 
Where'd this come from all of a sudden
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 1doqs.html
Balir looking to re-sign with Storm "sooner rather than later".
Sensational news if true.
Where'd this come from all of a sudden
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 1doqs.html
Balir looking to re-sign with Storm "sooner rather than later".
Sensational news if true.
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Michael :P
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It may be a case of Beau goes, Adam stays.
Id doubt he stay for under 300k though, he's looking to re-coup what he shouldve got the past few years.
Id doubt he stay for under 300k though, he's looking to re-coup what he shouldve got the past few years.
their was a good Article on foxsports regarding Bennett and Snowden, and how Bennett doesnt think any forward is worth paying more then 300k for. If Adam has been aproached by the knights then maybe the figure they offered him is around the 300k mark also.
Which would leave Wests as the highest bidder, if the rumored figure of 500k is acurate. If it was youd think he woudl have signed by now,
maybe he is going to stay with melbourne after all.
Which would leave Wests as the highest bidder, if the rumored figure of 500k is acurate. If it was youd think he woudl have signed by now,
maybe he is going to stay with melbourne after all.
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Storm Spirit
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Granted that you usually "know" stuff Big G.BigG wrote:He will not be here next year!
[ Post made via iPhone ]
That is a very disappointing outcome.
It sounded like he was making all the right noises about staying, but maybe that was just to deflect the short term heat.
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Michael :P
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Hellelujah ! Bout time you threw us a boneBigG wrote:He will not be here next year!
[ Post made via iPhone ]
.Now what about your boy ?
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Michael :P
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Btw thanks for everything Blairy, I wish we did things different so you could stay.
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Storm Spirit
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What's going on with Adam ??
Anyone got any inside news
There must be a sh#t load of wheeling and eelaing going on in the background from numerous clubs.
Hopefully Storm is in the dealings up to their eyeballs.
Anyone got any inside news
There must be a sh#t load of wheeling and eelaing going on in the background from numerous clubs.
Hopefully Storm is in the dealings up to their eyeballs.
Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time
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Storm Spirit
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oooops...meant "wheeling and dealing" of course.
Why doesn't the Edit button work for me when I try to edit a post
Anyone know at all ??
Why doesn't the Edit button work for me when I try to edit a post
Anyone know at all ??
Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time
Yeah, its been a while now and no announcment. WithKnights picking up Snowdan and most likely
Boyd, i think they wont be in the race for Blair any more.
And as for Wests, with their Salary Cap issues at the moment, they must have alot of players they arnt going
to re-sign if they are serious about throwing 500k at Blair. Their Cap is maxed, they have to drop quite a few players
to get Blair and then more to fill up their Squad again.
With the New TV deal not far off, Blair would be stupid to go anywhere, he will be able to stay at Storm,
be viable for long serving concessions then a pay rise from the TV deal.
His manager is probally working out a deal with Melbourne now!
Boyd, i think they wont be in the race for Blair any more.
And as for Wests, with their Salary Cap issues at the moment, they must have alot of players they arnt going
to re-sign if they are serious about throwing 500k at Blair. Their Cap is maxed, they have to drop quite a few players
to get Blair and then more to fill up their Squad again.
With the New TV deal not far off, Blair would be stupid to go anywhere, he will be able to stay at Storm,
be viable for long serving concessions then a pay rise from the TV deal.
His manager is probally working out a deal with Melbourne now!