Re: Gower - Going, going, gone? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 12:49 pm  

Like who? Everyone wants decent centres but there aren't any available.

The chances of us signing any Aussies will be all but gone when CG has his say about our club.

Re: Gower - Going, going, gone? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:01 pm  

This has a depressingly inevitable feel after the captaincy change.

Can't say I blame Gower. Look at the set-up. Look at the coaching. This is not a club moving forwards. Go for one last hurrah on home turf before hanging up your boots. Why end your career with a whimper in front of one man and his dog?

Re: Gower - Going, going, gone? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:10 pm  

Colly2 wrote:

As much as I am a fan of Gower, there is a possible silver lining if it means we can go and pick up a decent NRL centre for the remainder of this year and perhaps beyond that.

Well, according to one esteemed contributor to these boards, Kevin Naquima (?) is ripe for the picking. Not long ago this Knight was going to be our saviour, now apparently, we are going to be shut down next year. Maybe a swap deal JC ??????

Re: Gower - Going, going, gone? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:16 pm  

Gower had a fantastic rugby league brain, passing, and kicking skills. Now too slow to catch the opposition line breaks, and to have any real impact near the try line. Can't be replaced but we should be able to great another great set of skills for the money.

If all the below are out of contract Tony Rea should have some money options for next year's team.

1 Luke Dorn
2 Liam Colbon
3 Jamie O'Callaghan
4 David Howell
7 Craig Gower
9 Chad Randall
10 Mark Bryant
12 Chris Bailey
16 Chris Melling
19 Dan Sarginson
20 Matt Cook
25 Alex Hurst

Re: Gower - Going, going, gone? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:07 pm  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

It is hard to believe that Gower will be getting as much money as second string scrum half for Newcastle as he was getting as star player at London.

Bottom line: Gower has professional standards and cannot stand playing for a hopeless operation like London Broncos.

Plenty of other possibilities including:-

-family reasons
-always wanted to play for Newcastle (just a possibility - no inside info)
-wants to end his career at home
-has been offered a coaching role alongside his playing role
-Broncos looking to save wages as current crowds are poor and encouraged him to look elsewhere
-tired of living in London

Re: Gower - Going, going, gone? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:08 pm  

TaRL PaRL wrote:

Gower had a fantastic rugby league brain, passing, and kicking skills. Now too slow to catch the opposition line breaks, and to have any real impact near the try line. Can't be replaced but we should be able to great another great set of skills for the money.

If all the below are out of contract Tony Rea should have some money options for next year's team.

1 Luke Dorn
2 Liam Colbon
3 Jamie O'Callaghan
4 David Howell
7 Craig Gower
9 Chad Randall
10 Mark Bryant
12 Chris Bailey
16 Chris Melling
19 Dan Sarginson
20 Matt Cook
25 Alex Hurst

I think you'll find we''ll have a problem enticing anyone of any quality to come here from Oz. If Wigan and others are after the likes of Sargy and Channing it means they cant get better in Oz so why do people think we can do what wigan cant?
People should be well aware of the problems of getting english players to come south as being a 'last resort' so we may look at the players we have now as better than what we will end up with!

Re: Gower - Going, going, gone? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:24 pm  

From website over here in Oz.

THE combination of business interests back in Australia and a burning desire to end his career in the NRL culminated in Craig Gower agreeing to join the Newcastle Knights yesterday.

Six years after leaving the Penrith Panthers to join French rugby union, Gower will return to play under Knights coach Wayne Bennett, possibly as early as next weekend.

Gower, 35, is set to gain a release from English Super League club the London Broncos within the next 48 hours, following a falling out with coach Tony Rea.

The deal with the Knights is for the remainder of this season only.

Re: Gower - Going, going, gone? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:28 pm  

Gower has recently purchased a wholesale fruit and vegetables company in Australia called Back to Eden and is eager to use his profile in the NRL to build the company's brand.

His wife Amanda is also pregnant with the couple's second child.

Interestingly, Gower has been lured by the Knights to help fill the void of fellow veteran Danny Buderus, who is the oldest player in the game, born two months earlier than Gower.

The Knights also have skipper Kurt Gidley sidelined through injury

Re: Gower - Going, going, gone? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:36 pm  

I have read reports that he fell out with TR, and that he has 'abandoned' the Broncos. Sounds like a sinking ship to me!

Re: Gower - Going, going, gone? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:40 pm  

Thoughts that the club's being gradually wound down in preparation for a drop into the Championship occur to me.