Official Thomas Hazelton

[Sevshark]

Hes not worth the $500k+ Knights will pay him imo

Id offer him 3 yr deal, $400k take it or leave it, then try offload Rudolf

I could see Toby getting a tap on the shoulder at some point this year.

If everyone else is fit to start the year he's going to find it tough to get back into the line-up once healthy

I'm cautiously optimistic BHU starts the year strongly after birth of first child and full pre-season but if he doesn't I'd hope he gets a tap as well.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

When you rely on momentum in your attack because Ponga is your only threat, a prop that takes 30 seconds to play the ball isnt going to help

 

[Super Impose]

Hes not worth the $500k+ Knights will pay him imo

Id offer him 3 yr deal, $400k take it or leave it, then try offload Rudolf

Is Fitzy capable of the Robbo approach in regard to Toby ?

 

[Thresher]

Yeah I'd probably agree.

On bold, for me it's the Ben Kennedy nostalgia when they were going well up there. Makes sense.

I'd definitely keep Kaufusi. I think he has more to give despite not being the same try scoring threat.

I had Ben Kennedy thoughts as well, mostly because of the chrome dome.

 

[The Punisher]

Is Fitzy capable of the Robbo approach in regard to Toby ?

The problem i see,and have seen 1st hand is that Toby doesnt seem to have the necessary respect towards Fitzy.
Like when i said to him about him being gutted to miss Vegas - he was like 'oh well me an Fitzy will be having seious issues and relationship will be irreparable if im not on that plane' - like dude, firstly you're injured and should be focusing on rehab instead of partying for 10 days, and secondly - you're not really that good

 

[puma1355]

The problem i see,and have seen 1st hand is that Toby doesnt seem to have the necessary respect towards Fitzy.
Like when i said to him about him being gutted to miss Vegas - he was like 'oh well me an Fitzy will be having seious issues and relationship will be irreparable if im not on that plane' - like dude, firstly you're injured and should be focusing on rehab instead of partying for 10 days, and secondly - you're not really that good

Let Toby go after his contract expires

 

[puma1355]

Hes not worth the $500k+ Knights will pay him imo

Id offer him 3 yr deal, $400k take it or leave it, then try offload Rudolf

100%

 

[bort]

Is Fitzy capable of the Robbo approach in regard to Toby ?

If you mean May then no
Fitz isn’t capable of making other clubs not just want Toby, but actually even be willing to pay him even more.

 

[Super Impose]

The problem i see,and have seen 1st hand is that Toby doesnt seem to have the necessary respect towards Fitzy.
Like when i said to him about him being gutted to miss Vegas - he was like 'oh well me an Fitzy will be having seious issues and relationship will be irreparable if im not on that plane' - like dude, firstly you're injured and should be focusing on rehab instead of partying for 10 days, and secondly - you're not really that good

Can’t argue with you there ..

 

[Thresher]

I think Toby feels like he has a close enough relationship with Fitz to say that.

It's now up to Fitz to put him back in his place.

 

[andrew's_sharks]

Can't see us keeping him and we shouldn't get into a bidding war to keep him either given our forward stocks. I am looking forward to seeing Tuks develop.

 

[Sevshark]

It'd be kind of funny if he also ended up at the Bulldogs
Gus loves him so you never know

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Can't see us keeping him and we shouldn't get into a bidding war to keep him either given our forward stocks. I am looking forward to seeing Tuks develop.

If Tuks can develop into a player thats as good as he is big, he and AFB is a ****in scary thought

 

[andrew's_sharks]

If Tuks can develop into a player thats as good as he is big, he and AFB is a ****in scary thought

Yeah I see him having a Royce Hunt type roll this year and honestly given the minutes AFB plays that is perfect. He can play 20 minutes and just focus on impact.

 

[bort]

Yeah I see him having a Royce Hunt type roll this year and honestly given the minutes AFB plays that is perfect. He can play 20 minutes and just focus on impact.

I still think he is down the pecking order a bit and when he comes up into the side it will mostly be for 10-15 minute games.
Someone like BHU for example was way down on minutes last season and hopefully will be back in form and healthy this year.

Rough middle depth chart:
AFB
McInnes
Kaufusi
Talakai
Hamlin-Uele
Rudolf
Hazelton
Hau Tapuha
Colquhoun
Burns
Puru
Bradbury

Where Atkinson as a bench utility fits in here it is hard to say. Sounds like if he stuck around he is considered in best 17 and we make it work, but I don't think (with him leaving) we lose much by using a 4th forward and restricting him to backup.

So with everybody fit I think THT is next man up, now we know to start the season not everybody will be fit and we also know not everybody will stay fit, so I expect he gets decent number of games still. Once Hazelton is confirmed out if THT is playing well he may jump him. Rudolf could also slide.

I could see Atkinson taking Rudolf's bench spot for round 1 to have a faster player on the pine when players game fitness will be down a bit, but shifting out once Rudolf is back and then maybe not playing any more utility in NRL for us.

Assuming Hazelton leaves I could see THT and Colquhoun both jumping up to around 5th and 6th on that list by 2026 though, and being every week players and 'as required' starters. (If they develop faster than my guess, great!)

 

[stormshark]

Hopefully the Big Nut has a future role IN the team,rather than a roll away.

 

[Sparkles]

I still think he is down the pecking order a bit and when he comes up into the side it will mostly be for 10-15 minute games.
Someone like BHU for example was way down on minutes last season and hopefully will be back in form and healthy this year.

Rough middle depth chart:
AFB
McInnes
Kaufusi
Talakai
Hamlin-Uele
Rudolf
Hazelton
Hau Tapuha
Colquhoun
Burns
Puru
Bradbury

Where Atkinson as a bench utility fits in here it is hard to say. Sounds like if he stuck around he is considered in best 17 and we make it work, but I don't think (with him leaving) we lose much by using a 4th forward and restricting him to backup.

So with everybody fit I think THT is next man up, now we know to start the season not everybody will be fit and we also know not everybody will stay fit, so I expect he gets decent number of games still. Once Hazelton is confirmed out if THT is playing well he may jump him. Rudolf could also slide.

I could see Atkinson taking Rudolf's bench spot for round 1 to have a faster player on the pine when players game fitness will be down a bit, but shifting out once Rudolf is back and then maybe not playing any more utility in NRL for us.

Assuming Hazelton leaves I could see THT and Colquhoun both jumping up to around 5th and 6th on that list by 2026 though, and being every week players and 'as required' starters. (If they develop faster than my guess, great!)

Should be a big pre season. Your pecking order looks pretty solid but I would would say spots are definitely up for grabs

 

[bort]

Should be a big pre season. Your pecking order looks pretty solid but I would would say spots are definitely up for grabs

For sure, and hopefully for most of the season we can select on form rather than availability.

Tommy would be in biggest danger of a freefall if he played poorly having (presumably) signed elsewhere.

BHU and Toby need some course correction but we pay them too much to not hope they achieve it.

Talakai’s role is up on the air a bit too, whether he plays 13 or prop.

 

[Sparkles]

For sure, and hopefully for most of the season we can select on form rather than availability.

Tommy would be in biggest danger of a freefall if he played poorly having (presumably) signed elsewhere.

BHU and Toby need some course correction but we pay them too much to not hope they achieve it.

Talakai’s role is up on the air a bit too, whether he plays 13 or prop.

Hadn't heard this one..? I sort of see where you could be coming from, seeing as second row doesn't offer much opportunity, but I think he'd be wasted there, especially given the other cattle we have available

 

[bort]

Hadn't heard this one..? I sort of see where you could be coming from, seeing as second row doesn't offer much opportunity, but I think he'd be wasted there, especially given the other cattle we have available

Think of it more as just a bench impact role than strictly prop. But if he’s not starting at second row and we have two 80 minute edge players locked in he’s wasted trying to sub on there - except in specific match ups perhaps

Obviously covers edge and centre still