Speculation in the Newcastle section of the Sunday Telegraph (Sydney paper- not online - the paper is, but the Newcastle supplement isn't) that Rick Stone is trying to sign Newcastle Knights fullback Jake Mamo and Hooker Tyler Randell.

Jake the Snake is the fittest player at the Knights and a fullback or wing who was the under 20s player of the year 2 years ago. He is a bit small and has always had poor hands, but he is very fast and very fit.

Tyler Randell was Stone's fair haired boy when he coached reserve grade. As a junior his main position was 5/8, but stone used him as Mr fix it in reserve grade, using him at centre, 5/8, halfback, lock, second row and hooker at various times. Randell is very fit and has excellent defence for a guy who isn't very big. He was able to play in the forwards because of his excellent technique in defence. He has played as a firstgrade hooker for the last 2 years, but he sees himself as a 5/8 and always does his extras to keep up his kicking and playmaking skills.

Both these guys are on the small side, and coach Nathan Brown seems very keen on bigger players in every position. They are the two best trainers at the Knights. The only two guys to ever beat Kurt Gidley in a beep test.

They sound good if we could have Paul Gallen and slamming Sam to look after them.!!

Mamo scored a great try today. Not the complete player, but would be a good signing for us.

hooker and full back, two positions we have struggled this season.. at least stone can see that too!

all depends if we stay up i suppose and someone would have to leave for two more aussies to come in, overseas cap?

wardle might be part of a deal to go to newcastle ?

Fast and fit and Has always had poor hands- sounds perfect for our fullback......
So we would then have 7 overseas players in our squad (providing we don't lose Taai) when last season we only had one.

looks like mamo could be on his way , just need to stay up ! would solve the full back dilemma we have

Would it solve the dilemma? He's a Winger turned FB, did well in the lower grades but he's young and not an established FB in the NRL, not a regular FB. If we are going to go young and unestablished may as well stick with brierley! - Sounds like Newcastle Knights fans won't be fussed in the slightest to see him go...

but he's Australian? so that means he's automatically a world class RL player and better than anyone in the UK.

That's how it goes.....

That's rubbish he's a player known to our new coach who was successful coaching that type/level of player in Australia.

Hodgson, Skandalis, Drew, Costin, Russell, De Vere, Fa'alago, Faiumu etc etc. We've had some bloody good ones and mainly not the biggest names.

Whilst we know Jool's would want to keep Grix and as such has been any potential new FB's biggest critic we have employed Stone and have to trust he knows what he is doing !!

We gave Anderson far too long this season but yet after just a few weeks it seems in certain quarters Stone has had too much time already !!

What rubbish comparing him to Hodgson, skandalis, drew Faalogo etc! This guy is 22, been playing first grade just over 1 year and even then not been making The first grade side consistently- he's not even played FB consistently.
But Rick stone knows bests you say, he's successful you say Has Rick stone coached successfully? Has he been any more successful than Anderson? What silverware has he won when coaching a top flight side? They've both won the wooden spoon.....
I've still to make my mind up about him as its early days- EITHER WAY!
It seems some people make an assumption that because someone is Australian and involved in RL they are automatically going to be be world beaters. As I've said Newcastle Knights fans couldn't care less that they are losing a "young prospect" in Mamo. Compare that to the reaction when it was announced Connor was going to Hull. That to me speaks volumes. from what I can see he was a promising youngster who hasn't Kicked on and hasn't won the hearts of the fans. If he's coming we will be paying him well above what one of our own 22 year old players would be getting and that's the issue as far as I see- we wouldn't pay Connor but we will pay an Aussie. why take on an Australian youngster that will be earning more than some of our more established squad player! We've gone from a team who could boast a full English line up and are moving towards a team full of second rate Southern Hemisphere players....

I have to agree with Jools on this one. Stone has a way to go yet to convince me, so bringing in an untried Aussie over the heads of our youngsters smacks of desparation.