Riccio forecasts “brewing storm” headed Newcastle’s way at season’s end

The Newcastle Knights are set for a massive roster review at the end of the 2024 season in order to address their serious salary cap issues.

A number of players including Daniel Saifiti and captain Jayden Brailey have been advised to look for potential suitors to clear some salary cap space.

The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio told SEN the first issue that needs to be rectified is the excess of playmakers currently on Newcastle’s books.

“The Knights have got a brewing storm,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“It won’t rain today or tomorrow but they will press pause at the moment on their halves dilemma.

“Post finals series, we will see plenty of discussion in and around the state of the Newcastle Knights roster and mainly the halves which includes Jackson Hastings, Tyson Gamble, Jack Cogger (and Will Pryce).

“They are good halves and I’m not disrespecting them but they are void of an elite half.

“They have major salary cap issues which is why they have tapped Daniel Saifiti and Jayden Brailey on the shoulder. Leo Thompson will go on November 1 to test the open market.

“Give it a month and we will see a lot of movement around not just their halves but their entire roster.”

The Knights have struggled to settle on a halves combination with all four playmakers featuring in the six or seven jerseys throughout the season including hooker Phoenix Crossland who is the current halfback.

SEN’s Greg Alexander believes the Knights’ strategy of building a roster around back-up playmakers has not paid dividends.

“They can’t continue to rotate the halves,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“I don’t know if Will Pryce is going to solve any problems for them and I don’t know if he is going to become an NRL halfback.

“They have four halves there that are really back up halves.”

“That’s the honest way of putting it,” SEN’s Andrew Voss added.

“They can give you service for half of the season across the full 24 games.

“They are not starting halfbacks.”

The Knights are still a mathematical possibility to qualify for finals and host the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday.