In NSW Cup LKT backs up well, puts himself where the ball is and passes well but that also might describe KF. Between the two of them there is not a lot of creative threat (acceleration, step, speed, guile) and neither has a big boot.
Recruitment and Retention for 2026
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RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
He takes the ball in both hands right to the line. Last year he passed almost every time. Needs to do the same but run himself a bit more often. Being a bit older, stronger, I think he can take his game to another level. KF can't. He's passed his best already. He's much faster than KF. Don't know where this idea comes from that he's slow. I'd bet he's similar in speed to Munster.
A bit more confident too but seems Flanno is intent on sucking every little bit of confidence out that he can.
His long kicking is better than KF's but still bad. Suitable for a back up only which is the case for most 5/8s. And long kicking is something a good coach can train a 20 year-old in. He's never going to be a good long kicker. Seems like it's like speed. Once can train and get faster but only so much. If he trained and improved his long kicking, it'd be suitable for a back up.
jodragon40
Staff
People especially supporters have high expectations of their young rising stars they will them to reach great heights even though their 1sts careers have just started.
To my eye the young fella needs developing in the areas of defensive choices and in attack developing his speed and kicking games.
That said any half no matter how good they are depend on their pack moving forwards and giving them time to move and time to think.
This didn't happen and I believe that he suffered as a result. So now it appears he has been given more time to develop these required skillsets and doing that in ressies.
He is contracted until the end of 2027 so will have ample opportunity to develop. He is certainly not a lost cause but because of the signing of Atkinson and of course Flanagan still being there he has fallen down the pecking order.
Not is all lost for the young fella. Hes only 20 so has time.
If he is going to the line with runners and options that is good. But that has to be drilled at training and he has to have the authority to demand support. I doubt that he has that currently.
George Sancti
SGI Jersey Flegg
I agree completely, Kim. He’d be an ideal addition, and it’s great to see the front office targeting positions we need now, and those we’ll need to strengthen in the coming years.
jodragon40
Staff
I agree somewhat but put yourself into his boots. The coach has drilled into him, I want you to slide and link in attack, that's the structures we are running with. If you see an opportunity open up then go for it. Just communicate with your linkman.
As a 20 yr old you are most definitely not going to go against the wishes of your coach. Trust me on that.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
I can tell you for a fact KF doesn't have it and doubt Atkinson has. Hope he has but if he did, I think he'd have cemented a spot in first grade before now. That's okay. If Atkinson was doing a lot of kicking, tackles well and breaks tackles running the ball while LKT does more creative stuff, that's okay. Should work but:
Things Which Bug Me Part III
Why don't you expect KF goes back to reserve grade to develop his game? So willing to accept mediocrity, at best, just cause the coach has a vested interest? Is that what you did in the police force? Just go with the flow and not make any waves?
jodragon40
Staff
Hmm actually I ended up being a whistle-blower and having some very much more senior officers charged so I hope that answers that. Spent 3 yrs in hell as a result but when you are letting down the people who are asking for your help and you turn your back on them to further your own careers, then that's not on. I paid a very heavy price but that was the way my parents bought me up and the oath I swore on a bible.
RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
Good. Shady cops are bad news. As JDB would tell you. But the questions remain:
- Why don't you expect KF goes back to reserve grade to develop his game?
- So willing to accept mediocrity, at best, just cause the coach has a vested interest?
jodragon40
Staff
Crooked cops are bad news. As JDB found out, that was my pet hate but things were different when I started in the 80s.
Anyway back to KF so last season he played 7, he was never a 7, he was sub standard in attack didn't take on the line avg 6 runs per game but neither did LKT, 8 runs a game. But the pack weren't making the metres.
I dont accept mediocrity but that has been the team as a whole for some years now. According to the stats KF at this time is a better player than LKT and he should be.
In defence he avg 2 missed tackles,
LKT , 3.per game. The difference is KF is the more senior player therefore higher in the pecking order . That's the way it works in the real world of RL.
Sending him to Ressies won't assist him in improving any of his skillset, that is a senior player being dropped.
Whereas sending a much younger and inexperienced player in LKT makes all the sense in the world to me as an old coach. He will still get his opportunity. You just have to have patience.
Just my views
Justadragon
SGI NSW Cup
I think the question you are asking is pretty much a loaded question mate, my personal opinion is everyone expects KF to be dropped if he is not cutting it.
The fans are not willing to accept mediocrity, the people running the club are, and yes we all realise by the comments made by certain individuals that the coach has a vested interest in the matter, no argument from me.
As I have said before and maybe its way overdue but the media and even the club CEO/board are onto it now, there is no hiding, there are no more excuses. One way or another Flanno will be forced to move KF out of there and possibly LKT or Oneill will be there, if they are firing in ressies. So as long as the boys are killing it in ressies the pressure is on and will be for the whole season. We just have to wait to see how they go and what our pack can provide for the halves.
We also have to be humble enough to say well done if KF and Atkinson are actually going well.
jodragon40
Staff
Agree it's going to be a different set up this season. The big questions yet to be answered would include :
How will a 6 go as a 7
Will our new 7 be up to speed in stamina seeing he has played very little 1sts in the last few seasons
How will our 6 who played 7 go back as a 6.
Will they gel,
Will their individual playing styles compliment each other,
What will their chief responsibilities be.
Plenty of questions need to be answered. Time will tell
Ryan
SGI NSW Cup
When LKT took the line on, it did sometimes look like he was nearly getting something going. Like he made us lean forward in our seats. Maybe not jump up but lean forward.
Well said but I agree with
RedV01. LKT should be getting first crack with Atkinson. We all know what Kyle is going to bring.
Eric
Staff
My view 100%. Things have reached the point where he's going to be much better and the teams going to be winning or he's going to get dropped. I think we'd all prefer we win with Kyle in the team than lose, right? Someone just needs to relax a little.
jodragon40
Staff
Unfortunately that's not the way it works. You are right when he decided to run with ball in hand it was a nearly moment. Increasing his pace, his skillset and his confidence may change those nearly moments to cheering moments.When LKT took the line on, it did sometimes look like he was nearly getting something going. Like he made us lean forward in our seats. Maybe not jump up but lean forward.
Well said but I agree with
No Surrender
SGI Jersey Flegg
Unsure any of the halves on the roster can be considered outstanding.
KF lacks creativity
LKT lacks acceleration needed to threaten the line
Atkinson had his development hindered because Cronulla saw no reason to select a player not staying.
O’Neill is an unknown
Reed will either swim or sink in 2026/2027
Many young halves unlikely to challenge for the next 2-3 years.
All halves will perform considerably better if our forwards provide them with space and time
KF lacks creativity
LKT lacks acceleration needed to threaten the line
Atkinson had his development hindered because Cronulla saw no reason to select a player not staying.
O’Neill is an unknown
Reed will either swim or sink in 2026/2027
Many young halves unlikely to challenge for the next 2-3 years.
All halves will perform considerably better if our forwards provide them with space and time
jodragon40
Staff
Agree with all those points. In saying that at training both appear to be gelling and know their roles. If the engine room can consistently make the advantage line and provide some room and time we will see if this halves combination is any better than the previous 3 years
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
I am not convinced of Bulla being "elite" or worth 900K a season, but won't put a line through him either. He didn't debut until 21 years old. As I have previously pointed out, the really good ones, especially backs debut in their teens. 900K is a lot of money per salary cap, if we don't get the right ones. I would rather we sign Purdue for a mil a season and play him at fullback, that is if we don't play him in the halves. Fullback, halfback, 5/8 and prop are the positions to pay 1 mil a season.
I had a quick look at the current NRL fullbacks and there are not many young ones besides Walsh and Sharpe who I think are million dollar fullbacks. Walsh is signed long term with Brissy. I would pay 1 mil a season for Fletcher Sharpe, but he is under contract with Newy until 2028. We can't even offer him a mil a year, but he currently has Ponga blocking his pathat fullback and they have signed Brown, who's best position is 5/8. So he could want to move from Newy to play fullback for a mil a year. Maybe we could work out a swap deal with Newy for him? Isaiah Iongi from Parra also looks like one of the best young fullbacks in the game. Parra let Gutho go for him, which I think was smart on their part. I thought Selwyn Cobbo was a future million dollar fullback, until he put on weight. If he can slim down, he could also be a million dollar fullback. He knocked us back mid last year. I would look to sign Papenhuyzen to play fullback for us in 2027 as a short term fill in, until we can sign an elite young one or one in their prime.
Sharpe debuted at 20 years and 20 days old. Cobbo debuted at 19 years and 30 days old.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
Bulla is now 24 years old. His birthdate is 30th January 2002.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
At first, I would have agreed with you regarding signing Gutho on big money for 3 years, but after giving it further thought, I realised in signing Gutho we were not just signing a fullback, but we signed a leader and captain. We were severely lacking leadership on and off the field and Gutho has provided that. We also were lacking a fullback and Gutho was a short term solution. Gutho also provided us with a fullback who has a very good passing game and who can organise the defence. Who else could we have signed to play fullback for us last year and this year? I do think 3 years for Gutho was too long and 900K was a bit much. I wasn't really a Gutho fan when he was at Parra and thought they needed a fullback who could provide more X factor.
My posts where I saying signing Gutherson for 3 years on big money is a very bad move, were denounced. Even more so than Frank messages talking about dropping the JV. Nothing against Gutherson but a fullback in the modern game at his age? Not going to work for 3 years. No way. Shame Flanno couldn't see it but another reason why Watsford took recruitment and retention out of Flanno's hands.