Chris Houston

[Guest]

NRL star Chris Houston cleared of drug charges

FORMER Newcastle Knights player Chris Houston has been cleared of all drug supply charges.
Accused of four counts of drug supply, Magistrate Elaine Truscott found there was insufficient evidence to prove any of the charges.

Houston resigned from his playing contract with the Knights last March after becoming the second Newcastle player charged with drugs offences.

Prop Danny Wicks pleaded guilty last month to three counts of supplying drugs and is due to be sentenced on March 8.






If cleared and no more doubts as to his convictions, sign him up i say. Smith obviously rates him being one of the players he brought to newcastle during their rebuild and was one of their best/future captain material. can play front and backrow so is versatile and is in the workhorse mold. I think he is the sort of player that could complement myles perfectly in the pack and take some work off his shoulders. He will be looking for a second chance, its the off season so an incentive based/inexpensive/backended deal could be easy to settle. thoughts.....

[theGman]

NRL star Chris Houston cleared of drug charges

FORMER Newcastle Knights player Chris Houston has been cleared of all drug supply charges.
Accused of four counts of drug supply, Magistrate Elaine Truscott found there was insufficient evidence to prove any of the charges.

Houston resigned from his playing contract with the Knights last March after becoming the second Newcastle player charged with drugs offences.

Prop Danny Wicks pleaded guilty last month to three counts of supplying drugs and is due to be sentenced on March 8.






If cleared and no more doubts as to his convictions, sign him up i say. Smith obviously rates him being one of the players he brought to newcastle during their rebuild and was one of their best/future captain material. can play front and backrow so is versatile and is in the workhorse mold. I think he is the sort of player that could complement myles perfectly in the pack and take some work off his shoulders. He will be looking for a second chance, its the off season so an incentive based/inexpensive/backended deal could be easy to settle. thoughts.....

Roz,
I immediately thought the very same thing when i read about him being cleared of all charges.
It wouldn't surprise me if Smith becomes interested in signing him but the Knights made it clear when he stood himself down that they would welcome him back if no charges were laid. Maybe getting away from that unpleasant drug scene in Newcastle is clearly what he needs to do in order to go forward and realise his potential - he has stacks of it.
On a downside, we have a stack of very capable and promising back-rowers whose noses might get out of joint if he arrives. I realise you can't keep them all but i get shitty when they flourish somewhere else i.e Hannant, Shillington.
Houston might return to the Dragons on an incentive based contract. He's a Bennett type of player.

[Cockadoodledoo]

NRL star Chris Houston cleared of drug charges

FORMER Newcastle Knights player Chris Houston has been cleared of all drug supply charges.
Accused of four counts of drug supply, Magistrate Elaine Truscott found there was insufficient evidence to prove any of the charges.

Houston resigned from his playing contract with the Knights last March after becoming the second Newcastle player charged with drugs offences.

Prop Danny Wicks pleaded guilty last month to three counts of supplying drugs and is due to be sentenced on March 8.






If cleared and no more doubts as to his convictions, sign him up i say. Smith obviously rates him being one of the players he brought to newcastle during their rebuild and was one of their best/future captain material. can play front and backrow so is versatile and is in the workhorse mold. I think he is the sort of player that could complement myles perfectly in the pack and take some work off his shoulders. He will be looking for a second chance, its the off season so an incentive based/inexpensive/backended deal could be easy to settle. thoughts.....

I am almost at the point of losing it.. We have an over abundance of backrowers and obviously little cap room and you want to sign this guy? Please, if we have any spare cash which is doubtful you would think we would use it to pick up someone in a position in which we are running short like a fullback/winger for depth... You do not sign players for the sake of it.. and whilst not guilty the guy still obviously has a question mark over him.

We just signed Lama Tasi who the club obviously rate highly who can play front/second rower, we have a workhorse in Maubs, Symonds who can play back row, Cherrington, Cordner, Conn, Myles of course and probably others i cannot think of now..

[Guest]

All our current players are far superior. Too much baggage ... no thanks.

[Rooster_6]

No thanks, his best position is in the backrow, we're more than covered there.

Gun player though.

[TheLoneRooster]

... Please, if we have any spare cash which is doubtful you would think we would use it to pick up someone in a position in which we are running short like a fullback/winger for depth... You do not sign players for the sake of it.. and whilst not guilty the guy still obviously has a question mark over him.

We just signed Lama Tasi who the club obviously rate highly who can play front/second rower, we have a workhorse in Maubs, Symonds who can play back row, Cherrington, Cordner, Conn, Myles of course and probably others i cannot think of now..

Agree with the above. Signing Houston could possibly create unwanted ripples.

[Guest]

Now that he is cleared, he is expected to resign with the Knights, he is already back training with them now. You would be mad not to havea play at him, he was 18th man for the Blues in 09, if he reaches that form again, the only roosters foward ahead of him would be Myles.

[Guest]

Roz,
I immediately thought the very same thing when i read about him being cleared of all charges.
It wouldn't surprise me if Smith becomes interested in signing him but the Knights made it clear when he stood himself down that they would welcome him back if no charges were laid. Maybe getting away from that unpleasant drug scene in Newcastle is clearly what he needs to do in order to go forward and realise his potential - he has stacks of it.
On a downside, we have a stack of very capable and promising back-rowers whose noses might get out of joint if he arrives. I realise you can't keep them all but i get shitty when they flourish somewhere else i.e Hannant, Shillington.
Houston might return to the Dragons on an incentive based contract. He's a Bennett type of player.

Do you consider the eastern suburbs (area not club) drug scene to be pleasant? Newcastle equals a drop in the ocean.

[Guest]

Do you consider the eastern suburbs (area not club) drug scene to be pleasant? Newcastle equals a drop in the ocean.

In comparison to size and wealth Newcastle makes Bondi look like a light weight.....

Seriously ALL Newcastle has is drugs and football, and seeing as though its now off season.........

I bet Danny Wicks is feeling pretty damn stupid right about now for pleading guiltly straight off......

[theGman]

Do you consider the eastern suburbs (area not club) drug scene to be pleasant? Newcastle equals a drop in the ocean.

Sure, these days the drug scene is not confined to just the social "eastern suburbs" but throughout the metropolitan.
It's a known fact around league circles about the Knights and drugs (both recreational & performance enhancing). Many on this forum have indicated the same. Yes, no doubt it goes on at others clubs however, mud sticks when it becomes public for e.g A.Johns, B.Kennedy, D.Wicks.

[Guest]

I am almost at the point of losing it.. We have an over abundance of backrowers and obviously little cap room and you want to sign this guy? Please, if we have any spare cash which is doubtful you would think we would use it to pick up someone in a position in which we are running short like a fullback/winger for depth... You do not sign players for the sake of it.. and whilst not guilty the guy still obviously has a question mark over him.

We just signed Lama Tasi who the club obviously rate highly who can play front/second rower, we have a workhorse in Maubs, Symonds who can play back row, Cherrington, Cordner, Conn, Myles of course and probably others i cannot think of now..

I take your point in the sense that we do have a few players and decent depth in the forwards but i think the major criticism i have of our forwards is experience and workrate. yes cherro, symonds, leilua, maubs, JWH, Masoe, Tasi are all excellent players but statistically, they dont have the sorts of workrates that you need out of forwards. A lot of our young forwards imo, are all impact type players (Tasi, masoe, JWH, cherro, leilua etc) except for maybe cordner, maubs and symonds as well as obviously nate so i cant see the harm in adding someone for a bit of leadership in the short-term.

Now obviously they will develop and i too would hate to see them do it at another club but dont forget that BJ and Cordner and even cherro and symonds are still very young and raw. All have had a stack of injuries that have stunted their progress so i cant see whats wrong with trying to pick someone up who as others have pointed out, was on the verge of playing origin when you could potentially get him for good value. Like myles, i would also probably use him in more of a frontrowers capacity down the track as both will get a bit slower and bigger with age so would suit that role more as well as because we have so many props. even if the plan literally is to keep him for a couple of years until the younger brigade are truly ready to step up before letting him go elsewhere could be a sound idea. its just a thought.

As for the banter about us being thin in the outside backs etc, i think that statement truly is based on false premis. The only sorts of outside backs id be after would be young ones. our right edge (SKD, pez) is settled; our halves, (carney, pearce) are settled; our fullback, (mini) is settled so it only leaves our left edge. For left centre we have carney, linnett and even BJ in the main with graham more than capable of covering with the likes of fine, moga and blair all coming through. For left wing, not only can linnet/carney play there but we have graham who provides a capable experienced option as well as younger players like naughton (who was rated ahead of linnett this time last year and trained better than linnett only to have his season damaged by injury), kherillah, wells etc. The issue with our backs imo is not whether we have enough depth but more a matter of settling on a permanent combination.

To be brutally honest, we dont really need anymore depth anywhere - from now on its more about being able to capitalise on an opportunity to do a great deal (ryles, piggy and maybe houston) and continuing to bring young superstars through. I would not be adding any further stocks to our outside backs in our first grade squad unless we shed someone for them to replace ie dump graham and bring in a fresh face but atm there arent really any options so its best we stick with what we have. As for the forwards, whilst the depth there may be just as good if not better, if there is a good deal to be done i dont think you can ever have enough forwards especially when the majority of the players named as depth have less than 10 games under their belts.

[Guest]

I take your point in the sense that we do have a few players and decent depth in the forwards but i think the major criticism i have of our forwards is experience and workrate. yes cherro, symonds, leilua, maubs, JWH, Masoe, Tasi are all excellent players but statistically, they dont have the sorts of workrates that you need out of forwards. A lot of our young forwards imo, are all impact type players (Tasi, masoe, JWH, cherro, leilua etc) except for maybe cordner, maubs and symonds as well as obviously nate so i cant see the harm in adding someone for a bit of leadership in the short-term.

Now obviously they will develop and i too would hate to see them do it at another club but dont forget that BJ and Cordner and even cherro and symonds are still very young and raw. All have had a stack of injuries that have stunted their progress so i cant see whats wrong with trying to pick someone up who as others have pointed out, was on the verge of playing origin when you could potentially get him for good value. Like myles, i would also probably use him in more of a frontrowers capacity down the track as both will get a bit slower and bigger with age so would suit that role more as well as because we have so many props. even if the plan literally is to keep him for a couple of years until the younger brigade are truly ready to step up before letting him go elsewhere could be a sound idea. its just a thought.

As for the banter about us being thin in the outside backs etc, i think that statement truly is based on false premis. The only sorts of outside backs id be after would be young ones. our right edge (SKD, pez) is settled; our halves, (carney, pearce) are settled; our fullback, (mini) is settled so it only leaves our left edge. For left centre we have carney, linnett and even BJ in the main with graham more than capable of covering with the likes of fine, moga and blair all coming through. For left wing, not only can linnet/carney play there but we have graham who provides a capable experienced option as well as younger players like naughton (who was rated ahead of linnett this time last year and trained better than linnett only to have his season damaged by injury), kherillah, wells etc. The issue with our backs imo is not whether we have enough depth but more a matter of settling on a permanent combination.

To be brutally honest, we dont really need anymore depth anywhere - from now on its more about being able to capitalise on an opportunity to do a great deal (ryles, piggy and maybe houston) and continuing to bring young superstars through. I would not be adding any further stocks to our outside backs in our first grade squad unless we shed someone for them to replace ie dump graham and bring in a fresh face but atm there arent really any options so its best we stick with what we have. As for the forwards, whilst the depth there may be just as good if not better, if there is a good deal to be done i dont think you can ever have enough forwards especially when the majority of the players named as depth have less than 10 games under their belts.

I take your point, and you've put a lot of thought in that post, but I reckon you're missing something.

You say Houston would be brought in for experience and workrate, which is, in effect, a forward's version of consistency.

Where is our consistency and experience in the (outside) backline? Mini, while experienced, could unfortunately break down at any moment. SKD has had one good season, but needs to show this form over a long period of time. Perrett is consistent, but still leaves a little to be desired, especially with some of his decision making. Graham has big question marks over his physicality, although I think he'd be much better in the centres. Leilua, Naughton, Fine etc. are all very young and very raw. They have not (bar Leilua, although there are question marks as to his suitability as a winger/centre) made the transition to first grade. And this transition would be infinitely easier with a classy, experienced, reliable player inside them. That is why we need a centre, someone like a Willie Tonga, a Chris Lawrence... an established, consistent first grade (or rep standard) centre.

Honestly, I believe we have most of the key ingredients of a fantastic backline. We have brilliant young halves, and a heap of potential, with Mini holding it together. But we lack a genuine classy outside back, who is both safe in defence and dangerous in attack.

Our forward pack is perfect as it is. We have an experienced metre-eater in Ryles, who after a full season, should be raring to go. We have a young hooker in Friend, whose defence and workrate are second to none, and whose running game is developing nicely. We have two massive props who've shown they can handle first grade in Masoe and Kennedy. We have an enforcer in JWH, a Fitzy-in-the-making in MAubs, and leaders in Myles and Anasta. On top of that, we have a ridiculous amount of young forwards (Tasi, Cherrington and co.) trying to grab a spot. We probably have an excess of talent as is, Houston would be surplus. With Anasta, Myles and Ryles, we have plenty of experience, and workrate.

Post-Fittler, our tendency for signing talented, but UNNECESSARY, players was highlighted. We're leaving this reputation behind, and signing players (like Riddell) who are REQUIRED, as opposed to just being talented and available. Houston is a very good backrower. But we have a LOT of good backrowers, and a LOT of kids who will be fantastic in a year or two. All we are missing is a genuine outside back.

[Guest]

In comparison to size and wealth Newcastle makes Bondi look like a light weight.....

Seriously ALL Newcastle has is drugs and football, and seeing as though its now off season.........

I bet Danny Wicks is feeling pretty damn stupid right about now for pleading guiltly straight off......

I disagree (and I'm refering to Eastern Suburbs not just Bondi), but not a topic worth arguing over or discussing at length.

[Guest]

I take your point, and you've put a lot of thought in that post, but I reckon you're missing something.

You say Houston would be brought in for experience and workrate, which is, in effect, a forward's version of consistency.

Where is our consistency and experience in the (outside) backline? Mini, while experienced, could unfortunately break down at any moment. SKD has had one good season, but needs to show this form over a long period of time. Perrett is consistent, but still leaves a little to be desired, especially with some of his decision making. Graham has big question marks over his physicality, although I think he'd be much better in the centres. Leilua, Naughton, Fine etc. are all very young and very raw. They have not (bar Leilua, although there are question marks as to his suitability as a winger/centre) made the transition to first grade. And this transition would be infinitely easier with a classy, experienced, reliable player inside them. That is why we need a centre, someone like a Willie Tonga, a Chris Lawrence... an established, consistent first grade (or rep standard) centre.

Honestly, I believe we have most of the key ingredients of a fantastic backline. We have brilliant young halves, and a heap of potential, with Mini holding it together. But we lack a genuine classy outside back, who is both safe in defence and dangerous in attack.

Our forward pack is perfect as it is. We have an experienced metre-eater in Ryles, who after a full season, should be raring to go. We have a young hooker in Friend, whose defence and workrate are second to none, and whose running game is developing nicely. We have two massive props who've shown they can handle first grade in Masoe and Kennedy. We have an enforcer in JWH, a Fitzy-in-the-making in MAubs, and leaders in Myles and Anasta. On top of that, we have a ridiculous amount of young forwards (Tasi, Cherrington and co.) trying to grab a spot. We probably have an excess of talent as is, Houston would be surplus. With Anasta, Myles and Ryles, we have plenty of experience, and workrate.

Post-Fittler, our tendency for signing talented, but UNNECESSARY, players was highlighted. We're leaving this reputation behind, and signing players (like Riddell) who are REQUIRED, as opposed to just being talented and available. Houston is a very good backrower. But we have a LOT of good backrowers, and a LOT of kids who will be fantastic in a year or two. All we are missing is a genuine outside back.

Beau Champion imo would be the one to get, he is a good player and the most important thing is he is available now. Let Phil Graham go to the eels to free up the cash to get Beau.

[Guest]

Junior Sau is off contract soon, he would be perfect for the Roosters, him and Kenny Dowall would be a devastating centre pairing. However, I would hate to see him leave Newcastle