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Knights attempting to sign Napa for 2018

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  • Knights attempting to sign Napa for 2018

    SYDNEY Roosters enforcer Dylan Napa has emerged as a possible X-factor in the Newcastle Knights’ bid to sign Mitchell Pearce.



    While Napa is contracted until the end of 2019, the 25-year-old could join the Knights next year if the Roosters permit him to sign with another club.

    The Roosters are chasing young South Sydney back-rower Angus Crichton and letting Napa go to the Knights early could benefit both clubs.

    Pearce and Napa are good mates and Pearce recently posted a photo on Instagram of the two catching up while on holiday in New York.

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    Pearce wore the brunt of criticism for the Roosters’ disappointing finals exit that led to Cooper Cronk’s signing.

    But the performances of Napa and fellow front-rower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also came under heavy scrutiny at the Bondi club.

    Napa would add grunt to a Newcastle pack that recently acquired veteran forwards Aidan Guerra, Chris Heighington and Jacob Lillyman.

    The Knights also have some gun youngsters coming through, including the Saifiti twins and young Brisbane recruit Herman Ese’ese.

    If the Knights can’t sign Napa early, they are prepared to wait until he is available.
    Napa would be an imposing signing for Newcastle. (Photo by Zak Kaczmarek/Getty Images)
    Pearce and Napa are managed by the same player agent, Steve Gillis, who is due to meet with the Knights this week when Phil Gardner, the boss of the powerful Wests Group that now owns the Knights, returns from business in New Zealand.

    Pearce met with Nathan Brown in Newcastle last Friday and it is understood he went home impressed with the coach’s vision for the future.

    While the Knights are yet to make an official offer to Pearce, money is not an issue.

    Newcastle still have the best part of $2 million available in their salary cap for next year.

    And they have also signed Pearce’s former Roosters teammates Guerra, Connor Watson and Shaun Kenny-Dowall.





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    Jillaroos through to the GF



    While Manly are said to be in the box seat to sign Pearce, they are still trying to offload players despite releasing Blake Green to the New Zealand Warriors.

    The Daily Telegraph has been told the Knights have been approached about their interest in signing Manly pair Darcy Lussick and Brian Kelly.

    But the Knights want to sign a top playmaker and a prop — and Pearce and Napa fit the bill perfectly.

    Newcastle chased hard for Matt Scott and James Graham but couldn’t convince either to make the move.

    While Napa doesn’t have their experience, at his best he is one of the game’s most feared enforcers.

    Against South Sydney last year, he pinned a target on Sam Burgess and convincingly came out on top.

    It was rated one of the most outstanding performances from a front-rower in the modern game but some people at the Roosters question his consistency.

  • #2
    Won't happen unless we have another prop lined up to sign, maybe another 2.

    Comment


    • #3
      Every good team has a ranga. Napa is our ranga.

      keep and develop deficiencies. Just like you can’t teach speed, you can’t teach tough
      Written and published on behalf of the Liberal Party, Queensland

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      • #4
        Napa can go, he has lived on his one tackle for long enough.

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        • #5
          Lol they mentioned the 'Burgess game' for Napa.

          But then what other match would they mention seeing as it's his only great performance in 2 years.

          No way should we release Napa unless we have a better option available.

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          • #6
            The 'Newcastle Roosters' draws closer to reality.

            Comment


            • #7
              Very happy to see him go if we have a half-decent replacement.

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              • #8
                I reckon he will be gone, if not next season, then in 2019. SST has to be one starting front rower next year. Forget about him being excellent on the 4th hit up crap, his first or second hit up is better than Napa's. Issac Liu will be the 4th hit up guy (he already is anyway when starting) and SST is too good to be limited to sharing 40 minutes with Liu. He needs to play 50 minutes a week. Get a big metre eater for the other 30 minutes and it won't be Napa on $700K a season. Liu will split time with Nat Butcher I dare say.

                There is no doubt Nick took the Prelim final loss hard and has called for changes as a result. IMO this is a good thing as players can see they are accountable for their efforts. Some supporters prefer that the players (and coaches) should not be responsible for poor performances and should be kept regardless to keep themselves and teammates happy. Then they sit around and wonder why we keep losing big games each year. Funny that.
                Last edited by Cockadoodledoo; 11-27-2017, 08:15 PM.
                ...

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by The Axe View Post
                  Every good team has a ranga. Napa is our ranga.

                  keep and develop deficiencies. Just like you can’t teach speed, you can’t teach tough
                  Yep 100%.

                  It's amazing how quickly some turn on players after 1 season.

                  He only just turned 25 two weeks ago and in his first 2 seasons leading up to now as a regular starter he was averaging 115 & 120m a season & was considered one of the most exciting front row prospects.

                  You don't just lose that ability over night.

                  Too many entitled kiddies who are bored of their old toys and want the illusion of a new shiny one.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    SST has a crook knee?
                    Can he play 'meter eater' ever game?

                    If Napa wants to stay, I'd be keeping him.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Not sure if the chooks will be able to field a team next year. We should be good enough to play with a couple short like in little league, as long as the 14 or 15 players we have on game day show some passion, we might be even better off than with a full team of 17.

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                      • #12
                        quote " Napa would be an imposing signing for Newcastle " laughable but then again Newcastle is closer to Qld.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Rooster_6 View Post

                          Yep 100%.

                          It's amazing how quickly some turn on players after 1 season.

                          He only just turned 25 two weeks ago and in his first 2 seasons leading up to now as a regular starter he was averaging 115 & 120m a season & was considered one of the most exciting front row prospects.

                          You don't just lose that ability over night.

                          Too many entitled kiddies who are bored of their old toys and want the illusion of a new shiny one.
                          he likely did lose his ability over night - the night he was on the receiving end of a iron bar.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by bondi paul View Post

                            he likely did lose his ability over night - the night he was on the receiving end of a iron bar.
                            Also desire once he got his big contract. Watch the effort he put in hitting the ball up for Queensland and compare it to how he plays for the Roosters. His hitups and play the balls are just too slow at NRL level to have any real impact. Remarkably when playing for Queensland he managed to find something extra. Maybe some people are just happy he saves himself for Queensland.
                            Last edited by Cockadoodledoo; 11-27-2017, 09:02 PM.
                            ...

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Johnny Tobin View Post
                              Very happy to see him go if we have a half-decent replacement.

                              Yeah hes going to be hung over from origin for the next ten years . Hes the new nate miles

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