Summary:
- The Newcastle Knights have secured a major signing, landing forward Marata Niukore on a three-year deal starting in 2027.
- Niukore leaves the New Zealand Warriors seeking a fresh opportunity amid rising competition and is seen as a versatile, high-quality addition to Newcastle’s pack.
- The move is viewed as a significant boost for the Knights, who are building momentum and strengthening their roster for the future.
Replies
Niukore was very close to BA and his family (BA's wife looked after the kids so Marata could train, his wife was bedridden at the time).....why am I saying this, I can only guess but I think he sees himself being loyal to BA because of those commitments, otherwise I think he would have approached us through that loyalty.
Obviously still a lot of bad blood over BA's sacking.
Though he didn't leave due to BA going, left way before that. But fair claim who knows.
No he left because he had family in NZ and needed them to look after his children, whilst his wife continued her recovery.
It was all before the sacking of BA. I'm saying the loyalty was to BA not to Parramatta.
Frankly I am surprised he has come back to Aussie at all, other than him being squeezed out of the Warriors side.
I noted he was on the run on last week despite having 15 on his back, watching him closely since he went back, he had a good first year and pretty ordinary after, don't know of he had any specific duties. His toughness is what we need, he doesn't offer much more than that though.
Speaking of Toughness does any one know who number 16 was in that Warriers pack, he was a beast and destroyed his Storm opponents? History and why he is not in the run on side?
Penrith never buy 31 or 32 year olds. Not in the past 7 years where they've had success.
They have a few now but those are players that they developed.
Thats totally different. When.they add new players thats what counts. We add 33 year olds. And over the hill Kelly
Liam martin and murray tualagi linked to the roosters. While everyone else is building stronger rosters our r&r are twiddling their thumbs
Liam Martin has one or two good years left.
I was agreeing Chief haha. Was saying the only 30 year olds they usually have they developed.
Niukore is like a metaphor for potential issues in the preseason for the Eels. He always had some mongrel and hit hard. Often too high and got into suspension problems. Lost his starting spot at Warriors, back to bench, and in the Storm game it was brutally obvious the Warriors had worked on first contact as they were legally bashing the Storm.
Is it possible the Eels over-corrected in the off-season, aiming to meet the NRL edicts about lowering contact zones, and have ended up with ineffective tackling? No I am not saying go high to be effective. Neither Warriors nor Dogs went high in smashing Storm or Panthers on the weekend. But surely it's not a coincidence that the entire Eels forward pack is failing to win collisions (as BA users to say)? All the talk about fitness and spirit might overlook over-coaching as another potential cause?
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