Ton... No, mustn't do that.

Who's this chaps agent?

Whilst on that subject, who is McDonnell's agent too?

Could be anyone know the Howes and Riolo days are over.

McDonnell, some bloke called Steve Gillis back in 2009, couldn't be bothered looking Taulapapa, not your researcher am I?

No.

I didn't ask for Taulapapa, asked for Con Meeks didn't I?

Yes. Well, assumed I did on the basis it's his very own thread. :-p

meeks-good god

Don't know if anyone has seen this, but here are some clips of the guy in action, looks good off loading the ball and a big hitter too.

No YouTube please
GML

So, the Mika career so far asI remember it.

In 2008 he was one of the best players in the Warriors under 20s with a reputation as a fearsome defender.
In 2009 he was the big junior recruitment for the Newcastle Knights and played many roles in the Knights under 20s, including games as a playmaking 5/8 (he wasn't as good as he thought he was).
In 2010 he joined the senior squad and played some good games in firstgrade, including a few in the starting team. At the end of the season he had a leg injury i think, which meant he took virtually no part in the off season.
In 2011 he played in the last pre season trial, which was basically the reserve graders against some local players, and he was so unfit he was owned by the local guys. As the season went on he improved to the point he was selected for NSW residents (basically the best players in the NSW cup who aren't getting any firstgrade games) and played against Qld residents. When Wayne Bennett was appointed coach for next season it became obvious he wasn't wanted for next year, but to his credit he picked up his game another notch and was playing his heart out in the reserves.
I'd say he is now fully fit and in career best form. An off season under Sandercock would see him up to NRL starting standard IMO, since he was near that standard before missing the last off season, so I think you have a bargain.

I could swear you asked about girls name Shannon.



Ah, you did.



You expect me to talk about people on the correct thread?

You're gangster tripping boss man.

I know what you mean [ihomie [/i(might annoy 'the worm thing' that), I can hardly find the motivation to reply let alone stay on topic half the time. The majority of topics just end up dull - It was dire here while you were on your jolly hols, appreciated the cheeky visits toward the back-end though.

A media update re Mika & McDonnell www.theherald.com.au/news/local/ ... 22119.aspx

A media update re Mika & McDonnell www.theherald.com.au/news/local/ ... 22119.aspx

Quote ="Paul T - HKR"A media update re Mika & McDonnell www.theherald.com.au/news/local/ ... 22119.aspx'" Quote ‘‘There were a few clubs, then Sandy called me at the last minute ... Obviously I’ve known Sandy for a couple of years now and there’s a few other boys there, like Shannon, so it looks like that’s where I’m going to go.’’'" What a statement to finish on, does this confirm Shannon?

Quote ="Paul T - HKR"A media update re Mika & McDonnell www.theherald.com.au/news/local/ ... 22119.aspx'" Quote ‘‘There were a few clubs, then Sandy called me at the last minute ... Obviously I’ve known Sandy for a couple of years now and there’s a few other boys there, like Shannon, so it looks like that’s where I’m going to go.’’'" What a statement to finish on, does this confirm Shannon?

Con says a few blokes?????

Don't know if you guys can fit in more players, but i'd love to see you give Sinbad Kali and Simon Williams a run.

Both are in their early 20s and would kill it in the ESL.

Sinbad played one firstgrade game for Melbourne as a 19 year old, then missed a season and had a slow recovery after getting injured playing for Tonga in the WC. He is a 112kg prop who hits like a train.

Williams has been the best back in the Knights reserves for 2 seasons since coming up from the juniors. He's scored 30 odd tries, and he is great at setting up his winger. Wingers outside him score a try a game.

I assumed he just meant people he knew rather than people who are going with him.

Have you seen any SL, from reading your posts you think to seem that every reserve grade NRL player will "kill SL? Think you are being a bit disrepectful to the compeittion. Hopefully most coachs in Sl don't think the same and will only try and sign decent NRL players for the future, they are some reserve NRL players come and do a good job like Dobson and Moa, but lots others fail.

I have.
It's .
You are kidding yourself.

Kali and Williams are young guys who are very close to cracking NRL firstgrade, but due to Newcastle suddenly having deep pockets and a choice of all the young talent going around, are not wanted for next year.
These aren't old reserve graders looking for a pension in the ESL, they are guys with a future.

Your system over there of signing guys with firstgrade experience means you will only ever get has beens and never was's.

If I were a coach over there i'd be looking for guys like Kali, Williams, Mika, McDonnell and maybe even younger guys like half the Warriors under 20s side. All young guys looking to improve.

Quote ="dum-dum" appreciated the cheeky visits toward the back-end though.'" off to new York in a couple of weeks, won't be happening again, cost me a flipping fortune in roaming. Silly goose. Quote ="Paul T - HKR"A media update re Mika & McDonnell www.theherald.com.au/news/local/ ... 22119.aspx'" Sounds positive, obviously never heard of them before being linked but agent roopy has more than sold Mika to me. Quote ="roopy" Don't know if you guys can fit in more players, but i'd love to see you give Sinbad Kali and Simon Williams a run. '" Doubt we can, although we should sign Sinbad purely because he's called Sinbad. Love those films me, especially when the skellington's pop up out of the ground. Brill. If we did sign Sinbad, I'm going to go in a Sinbad costume to every game, I don't think it says anything on the signs outside CP about not being able to take scimitar's into the ground so that should be fine. Quote ="roopy" I have. It's poop. You are kidding yourself. '" Cut to the chase mate, no need to be ambiguous! Quote ="roopy" Your system over there of signing guys with firstgrade experience means you will only ever get has beens and never was's. If I were a coach over there i'd be looking for guys like Kali, Williams, Mika, McDonnell and maybe even younger guys like half the Warriors under 20s side. All young guys looking to improve.'" I've seen you make this point a couple of times and I think it's potentially got legs, maybe it's worth having a scout out there? I suppose the biggest thing would be getting youngsters to move half way across the world with no real guarantee of first team football. We did it with Lovegrove, so why not a few others?

Quote ="dum-dum" appreciated the cheeky visits toward the back-end though.'" off to new York in a couple of weeks, won't be happening again, cost me a flipping fortune in roaming. Silly goose. Quote ="Paul T - HKR"A media update re Mika & McDonnell www.theherald.com.au/news/local/ ... 22119.aspx'" Sounds positive, obviously never heard of them before being linked but agent roopy has more than sold Mika to me. Quote ="roopy" Don't know if you guys can fit in more players, but i'd love to see you give Sinbad Kali and Simon Williams a run. '" Doubt we can, although we should sign Sinbad purely because he's called Sinbad. Love those films me, especially when the skellington's pop up out of the ground. Brill. If we did sign Sinbad, I'm going to go in a Sinbad costume to every game, I don't think it says anything on the signs outside CP about not being able to take scimitar's into the ground so that should be fine. Quote ="roopy" I have. It's poop. You are kidding yourself. '" Cut to the chase mate, no need to be ambiguous! Quote ="roopy" Your system over there of signing guys with firstgrade experience means you will only ever get has beens and never was's. If I were a coach over there i'd be looking for guys like Kali, Williams, Mika, McDonnell and maybe even younger guys like half the Warriors under 20s side. All young guys looking to improve.'" I've seen you make this point a couple of times and I think it's potentially got legs, maybe it's worth having a scout out there? I suppose the biggest thing would be getting youngsters to move half way across the world with no real guarantee of first team football. We did it with Lovegrove, so why not a few others?

This might come across as a bit gay, but Sinbad is built like a god.

I've stood next to him, and he makes me feel like 110kg of marshmallow. He looks like a cross between Brad Pitt and big Arnie carved out of ebony. That guy is cut.

Yep our academys off and sign players from the Toyota cup.

Visas might be a issue.

This photo doesn't look that impressive - but i think it's one of the best i've taken given the moment it captured.

It's Sinbad Kali playing for the Storm feeder club in 2008 as a teenager making a tackle on Knights lower grade prop Toa Asa.
Asa was as hard a runner as I've seen and ran this ball back 30 metres from a goal line dropout and ran right into the shoulder of Kali.
It was one of those moments when the whole crowd draws in breath - two 110kg guys hitting with maximum impact.
Massive hit that shook the ground.

The RFL clearly don't care about development, not the national coach, why should I?

I've been paying my money to support the national team and seeing them lose for over twenty years, if the governing body was really all that bothered they could have done something radical in that time. Swimming and cycling seem to have managed that and they're hardly the most watched, participated or wealthy (or used to be) sports in this country.

I take the visa point.

Knights sign 18 year olds from NZ every year, and just about every club in the NRL does these days.
We picked up Con Mika as a 19 year old from Auckland.
We tried to sign a 17 year old from Fiji this year, but Wests got him first. That was after the Fiji under 18s were flown over to play some games against our under 17s, just so we could get a look at them.

We have great success with juniors 'scouted' from all over, but mostly NZ these days.

To be honest, i'm surprized we aren't over there pinching your best juniors.

Surely if he is as brilliant as you make out he should have played more than 1 1st grade game in the last 3 years? If he hasn't broke into the 1st team at 24 when will he?

I can't remember what his injury was, but he missed the whole 2009 season and just played some park football in 2010 I think.
He played most of the 2011 season as an uncontracted player with the Central Coast Centurions (Knights feeder club). I think his form was good enough to play firstgrade this year, but he couldn't be used without being given a contract, and the salary cap didn't allow it.
As far as i know he is back to the Wyong Roos next season, unless Melbourne chuck him a lifeline.

Ah thanks for the info couldn't really find much about him on the net with him not really playing much.

Quote ="Sandra The Terrorist"off to new York in a couple of weeks, won't be happening again, cost me a flipping fortune in roaming. Silly goose. Sounds positive, obviously never heard of them before being linked but agent roopy has more than sold Mika to me. Doubt we can, although we should sign Sinbad purely because he's called Sinbad. [uLove those films me, especially when the skellington's pop up out of the ground. Brill.[/uIf we did sign Sinbad, I'm going to go in a Sinbad costume to every game, I don't think it says anything on the signs outside CP about not being able to take scimitar's into the ground so that should be fine. Cut to the chase mate, no need to be ambiguous! I've seen you make this point a couple of times and I think it's potentially got legs, maybe it's worth having a scout out there? I suppose the biggest thing would be getting youngsters to move half way across the world with no real guarantee of first team football. We did it with Lovegrove, so why not a few others?'" Ah yes what a great film, although it was produced by the same people who made the Sinbad films it was actualy Jason and the Argonauts that you refer to with the skeleton scene, www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4187095321/ Jason and the Argonauts

Quote ="Sandra The Terrorist"off to new York in a couple of weeks, won't be happening again, cost me a flipping fortune in roaming. Silly goose. Sounds positive, obviously never heard of them before being linked but agent roopy has more than sold Mika to me. Doubt we can, although we should sign Sinbad purely because he's called Sinbad. [uLove those films me, especially when the skellington's pop up out of the ground. Brill.[/uIf we did sign Sinbad, I'm going to go in a Sinbad costume to every game, I don't think it says anything on the signs outside CP about not being able to take scimitar's into the ground so that should be fine. Cut to the chase mate, no need to be ambiguous! I've seen you make this point a couple of times and I think it's potentially got legs, maybe it's worth having a scout out there? I suppose the biggest thing would be getting youngsters to move half way across the world with no real guarantee of first team football. We did it with Lovegrove, so why not a few others?'" Ah yes what a great film, although it was produced by the same people who made the Sinbad films it was actualy Jason and the Argonauts that you refer to with the skeleton scene, www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4187095321/ Jason and the Argonauts