Joey puts heat on star as $2m Knights cleanout looms

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Newcastle icon Andrew Johns has put the heat on one player as the Knights embark on a roster overhaul.
The Hunter club has given a number of players permission to leave – per various reports – in an attempt to freshen up the squad and become a premiership contender for the first time in two decades.
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Hulking prop Daniel Saifiti confirmed he is in talks with the Dolphins, while hooker Jayden Brailey, veteran centre Dane Gagai, and front rower Leo Thompson have all been linked to potential moves.
Combined, those players are earning more than $2 million a year and it’s believed the club wants to free up salary cap space in order to attack the market.
Two-time premiership legend Johns agrees there is a need for fresh blood, but he wants to see one position in particular shaken up.
Knights players including Jayden Brailey (middle). Getty
“I think they need some zip out of dummy half. They need someone with speed out of dummy half,” Johns told Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth.
“If they’re going to keep Jayden Brailey then you need the (Danny) Buderus-(Craig) Wing (combination), someone who can get out of dummy half off the bench.
“(At) Newcastle there is no real threat.”
Brailey, 28, was a star signing for the Knights four years ago but his time in the Hunter has been badly hampered by serious injuries, and he has struggled to find his best form this season.
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Many top rugby league teams feature a quick, crafty hooker who can tear up tired opposition defences late in games and create points.
The Storm have basically perfected the ploy in recent years with Brandon Smith and then Harry Grant running riot from the play-the-ball.
But Newcastle’s attack has been bland this season and much of the blame has been placed on the struggling halves.
All of Jackson Hastings, Tyson Gamble, Jack Cogger, Will Pryce, and Phoenix Crossland have spent time in the six and seven jumpers in 2024, but none have impressed enough to cement a spot in the side.
Johns thinks the club has too many halves but says coach Adam O’Brien needs to decide who his two best options are before next season.
“So they go back to training… Adam just goes ‘this is our seven and six, next year we’re going to lock it in’,” Johns said.
“And you’re going to train all off-season together, time on the paddock.
“If you look at the top three teams – Penrith (has) Nathan (Cleary), Jarome (Luai), and (Dylan) Edwards, time spent at training, on the paddock. Roosters – (Sam) Walker, (Luke) Keary, (James) Tedesco, spent a lot of footy together. Melbourne – (Cameron) Munster, (Jahrome) Hughes, (Ryan) Papenhuyzen, Harry Grant, they have played together as a group up to 100 games.
“It’s finding the right players and putting them in there, and leave them in there.”
The Knights sit 11th on the NRL ladder with two games remaining, and are relying on other results – as well as winning their own – in order to qualify for finals.