Seems like a few things are starting to go our way with the Ado Carr negative sample, best and knights dispute and even grabbing Luai for half price for a season. Not used to all these little things going our way lol. Bring on 2027
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Can also add in the Spencer Lienu and roosters falling out, just heaps of things falling into our lap
I'm not ready to say Best is coming. I feel he is pushing Newcastle to every cent then signing with them. If we lose him we lose chance with Bostock as he will sign with Saints or Cronulla before Best makes his choice I reckon.
To be honest he'd be a complete dope not to sign there . In his position It'd take me at minimum 250k extra a season to sign with us .
I agree, the Knights were on the cusp of a premiership without Dylan Brown on the field. The Eels are knee deep in a rebuild.
Best would be mad to leave the Knights unless we're offering him insane money or terms.
What would you have said this time last year? Positions can change quickly and tbh I think they are going to have issues paying 2 players 1.4 mil each per year especially when the one signed for 9 more years is the only 1 mil + player in the comp who doesn't move the needle if he's in or out of the side .
This time last year theyd signed Holbrook and i was adamant theyd slip into the semis . I most certainly didnt think theyd be playing in a GF in 2026 , but i did say they are on the way up .
My prediction was 7th or 8th , which they achieved . But yes , like all , id have said you had rocks in your head if you said theyd make the GF .
I also said early in the season when they were doing well that this was in spite of Dylan Brown and not because of him whilst our Brown undies brigade were crediting him for " unlocking " the Knights attack 🤣. There were some laughable posts on here asking how the anti Dylan fools were feeling about his obvious brilliance now ...
in the end Dylan received a free coaching clinic from a unwanted discard in Sandon Smith . Imagine what Holbrook should be able to do with Brown if Brown knuckles down and manages to force his way back into the starting side .
He'll walk straight back when fully fit he's a better player than Sandon Smith and I think Holbrooks move of getting him into first reciever and playing on the right side is the beginning of him moving him back to halfback full time.
Holbrooks not stupid he understands the club and himself have to commit to Brown for the near future or what really was the point bringing him to Newcastle.It's like us keeping Moses just a different scenario if we don't put talent around our guy we are screwed.I think Holbrooks move was the move DB needs to go to the next level in his career.
He wasn't a better player than Smith in 2026. He may have a higher ceiling but that's totally useless if you fail to reach it or can't maintain it consistently. Brown at his best this season wasn't as good as Smith at his best. Browns problem has never been how good he can be, its the fact he isn't consistently that good. When a teams investing his kinda coin in a player you're weakening another position, you need the guys on the big bucks to be able to compensate for that. Otherwise you're better off with a bloke like Smiths who's plays above his weight on a third of Browns salary and then you can keep a guy like Best.
What's the stronger side a side with 2026 Brown and no Best , or a side with 2026 Smith and 2026 Best.
Browns not good enough to cover the loss of Best . It's not even a debate in hindsight they'd have been better off for the future if they'd left Brown with us.
Paying a specialist centre insane money is a really fast way to unbalance your cap and roster. Bradman Best is a quality player, but he isn't the reason the Eels could possibly improve enough to play finals football. Im a huge fan of Best and would love see him at the Eels, but the price needs to be right. Quality centres are a want, not a need. When braking the roster into groups, ( for example, your spine, middles, edge forwards and outside backs) your centres are closer to the bottom of the list. I think today's wingers have become at least as valuable, if not more valuable than centres.
That new cap increase thing probably factors in, if it takes 1 million to get best probably have to do it. Outside backs are an issue for Parra for sure
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