The Knights may have snared highly rated NSW under 19s hooker Matt Arthur this week for the next three years but the odds of his father Brad joining him in Newcastle on the club's coaching staff next season have blown out following suggestions the former Eels coach is now likely to stay in England.
It's understood Arthur had all but agreed to link with his close mate Adam O'Brien as an assistant coach, replacing the departing Rory Kostjasyn, if he ended his coaching stint at Leeds Rhinos at the end of the season to return home. But the mail is he is enjoying the relatively stress-free lifestyle in England and may extend his current short-term deal a further 12 months.
Hastings' survival battle
Is time running out for Knights halfback Jackson Hastings in the NRL? Given his fall from grace in recent times at the club, it's not an unreasonable question to pose despite him being under contract next season.
All the focus over the past six weeks has been around the futures of Daniel Saifiti and Jayden Brailey as the Knights seek to ease salary cap pressures heading into 2025. Yet, here is Hastings, seemingly so far out of favour that he has been relegated to playing out of position at lock in NSW Cup over the past few weeks at a time when the NRL side has been battling for their survival.
Not even Tyson Gamble's broken hand was enough to give him a reprieve this week with Jack Cooger to partner Phoenix Crossland in the halves against South Sydney on Saturday night. Unless there are further injuries, there is a strong chance Hastings may not feature at all in the final two rounds.
Where would that leave him going into the final year of a very lucrative deal worth close to $800,000 in 2025? We suspect there will be some serious conversations to be had in the off-season.
Hooker chasing new role
As late as last season with Jayden Brailey sidelined, Riley Jones was being ear-marked as a potential future NRL hooker with the Knights. But that looks a long way off now.
The signing of Matt Arthur and the emergence of young hookers Malachi Smith and teenager Diesel Hagan has left Jones facing the prospect of having to nail down another position next season in the final year of his current contract.
If Brailey signs elsewhere for next year, Arthur will become Phoenix Crossland's No.9 understudy with Smith, on a 2025 development contract, waiting in the wings for an opportunity.
Lift your game
Highly-regarded Leo Thompson is in the middle of contract talks with the Knights that have dragged on for months and we wonder if they are starting to affect his form.
Thompson, who is signed for next year but is negotiating a longer-term deal, had one of his poorest games against the Sharks last Sunday, making just 37 metres from six hit-ups in 44 minutes. Compare that to fellow starting prop Daniel Saifiti's 117 metres in 41 minutes and Mat Croker's 130 metres in 49 minutes.
Thompson also missed five tackles, gave away a crucial penalty and came up with a dropped ball in the second half just before the Sharks scored to level the scores.
Under the knife
Luckless Knights five-eighth Tyson Gamble had surgery this week after breaking a bone in his hand but could be back if the Knights miraculously qualify for the finals.
Another player with a surgery booking was young prop Cody Hopwood, whose outstanding season ended on a sour note when he suffered a syndesmosis injury last weekend.
Zeb on debut cusp
Knights' NSW Cup prop Zeb Su'a is closing in on an NRL debut. He's tipped to be 18th man against Souths on Saturday night.
Baz's Best
Rd 24: Knights v Sharks: 3 Dane Gagai 2 Adam Elliott 1 Mat Croker
Rd 23: Knights v Tigers: 3 Fletcher Sharpe 2 Kalyn Ponga 1 Phoenix Crossland
Rd 22: Knights v Panthers: 3 Greg Marzhew 2 Daniel Saifiti 1 Tyson Gamble
Overall standings
18 Gagai 17 Lucas 12 Best 10 Ponga 9 Pearce-Paul 8 Marzhew, Elliott 6 Daniel Saifiti 5 Armstrong, Thompson, Frizell 4 Sharpe, Hastings, Jacob Saifiti, Crossland 2 Tuala, Brailey, Croker 1 Jones, Mapapalangi, Hetherington, Gamble.
