Chad Townsend - One year deal Report

[HunchoRooster]

Yeah exactly that, shown glimpses.
Not saying Townsend is good, but it’s experience & Sandon isn’t ready for a full season I don’t think. Hindsight Keary would have been better staying but I think there is more to that situation.

Can only show glimpses when you are given limited opportunities.

If he isn’t ready for a full season next year, when will he be? How would Townsend coming improve his long term development? It’s a shocking signing. I’d accept it if we got an elite half and told Sandon to look elsewhere. Townsend is not that.

[HunchoRooster]

To those of saying he will be playing reserves and is a depth signing, you are in coping mode. He will be playing as a starter.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

At $300k, he is a fantastic signing. His experience will be a tremendous asset for the youngsters Walker and Smith as they come through.

[elo]

Great signing, his deep kicking kept the Cowboys in the game against us in that first half and greatly assisted in their eventual win. Deep kicking has been an issue since Cronk retired, really like this move.

[ism22]

Can only show glimpses when you are given limited opportunities.

If he isn’t ready for a full season next year, when will he be? How would Townsend coming improve his long term development? It’s a shocking signing. I’d accept it if we got an elite half and told Sandon to look elsewhere. Townsend is not that.

Yeah even the Cheese for Verrills move has had enough critics (noting that the current rumour is that Wyane's very keen to take Verrills with him to Souffs). To me Sandon's a guy you wanna keep.

If we were talking about Dearden (23 and a gun) then it'd be a different discussion. Townsend though? I dunno! 33 and I feel as though 2016 was his year.

[BraveTheWorld]

For the alleged price, he is a good pick-up. Smells a bit like the Michael Gordon signing from 2017, if you ask me. Little stop-gap for a year. I wonder if we have a big target in mind for the year after (we signed Teddy right after Gordo), or if they're just wanting to take their time with Sandon.

[Rooster90]

I honestly can't believe the uproar about this rumoured signing..

There is a lack of halves around, especially this late for next year and experienced ones have shown they are worth their weight in gold.

He wouldn't be coming on bugger all dollars and will find himself as a depth player with Sandon & Sammy steering the NRL team around but if one if them goes down (remember our luck with injuries, it's bound to happen) we have a experienced playmaker who has won a comp and just steered his team to a W against the riff.

The club can't win sometimes. Don't sign anyone and Sammy goes down then we all would've wished we had am experienced half to partner Sandon. And if not Chad, then who? Curious to hear other candidates.

Legit the only other candidates on the market are:

Jayden Sullivan
Aidan Sezer
Sean O Sullivan
Tyson Gamble
Anthony Milford
Jesse Marschke

I can understand why we are signing Townsend ......

[Rooster89]

Some of the comments are assuming that Sandon will be the 2nd option for 5/8.

[King Salvo]

Chad "Pete" Townsend has played 258 NRL games, so obviously he is doing something right to be picked each week. He is obviously not there, just making up the numbers when playing in a pivotal role such as halfback. Has almost a 70% win ratio (69.1%).

Have to wait and see what the Coaching staff have in mind with this signing for 2025

[Thirteen]

Chad "Pete" Townsend has played 258 NRL games, so obviously he is doing something right to be picked each week. He is obviously not there, just making up the numbers when playing in a pivotal role such as halfback. Has almost a 70% win ratio (69.1%).

Have to wait and see what the Coaching staff have in mind with this signing for 2025

He’s a very solid player. Organises well and kicks well. Plus he is coming cheap. If Sandon or Walker go down next season it’s slim pickings. Plus Sandon is unproven as a regular NRL half.

Very astute signing.

[Steakface]

Lads, do not read too much into this signing.

Next year there is

- nothing worthwhile on the market in halves or even makeshift halves

- a bug shortage of experience in the squad

Townsend's purpose will be to keep the ball rolling in terms of Walker and Smiths development. Additionally, around a good squad, he is not a half bad choice. He has won a premiership.

There is a master plan. The bigger picture I see here is that there is definitely a big signing in 2025 or at latest 2026 planned. Knowing Uncle Nick, there may already be something locked in

My bet is on Ponga. And if you combine the Pong with an experienced Sam Walker, that is one hell of a combo. We'd have a shit hot attack.

[HunchoRooster]

Lads, do not read too much into this signing.

Next year there is

- nothing worthwhile on the market in halves or even makeshift halves

- a bug shortage of experience in the squad

Townsend's purpose will be to keep the ball rolling in terms of Walker and Smiths development. Additionally, around a good squad, he is not a half bad choice. He has won a premiership.

There is a master plan. The bigger picture I see here is that there is definitely a big signing in 2025 or at latest 2026 planned. Knowing Uncle Nick, there may already be something locked in

My bet is on Ponga. And if you combine the Pong with an experienced Sam Walker, that is one hell of a combo. We'd have a shit hot attack.

Ponga the bloke who plays 10 games a year and has more concussion issues than Luke Keary. Hasn’t been consistent for his entire career but is on 1.5m a season. Would be a terrible signing.

I do agree though that it seems like 2026 will have something big happen.

[HunchoRooster]

If it was DCE or Hunt I’d understand the one year stopgap. I reiterate, Townsend is not anywhere near their calibre.

He is Jamal Fogarty spec. Lower-mid tier halfback who is first grade standard but nothing else.

[Inflictor]

Lads, do not read too much into this signing.

Next year there is

- nothing worthwhile on the market in halves or even makeshift halves

- a bug shortage of experience in the squad

Townsend's purpose will be to keep the ball rolling in terms of Walker and Smiths development. Additionally, around a good squad, he is not a half bad choice. He has won a premiership.

There is a master plan. The bigger picture I see here is that there is definitely a big signing in 2025 or at latest 2026 planned. Knowing Uncle Nick, there may already be something locked in

My bet is on Ponga. And if you combine the Pong with an experienced Sam Walker, that is one hell of a combo. We'd have a shit hot attack.

Ponga is contracted to 2027. The Knights are letting go a few players and with the salary he is on plus his constant injuries, the value for money, you would think they would have told him to go looking elsewhere. So Ponga is 1.5M/1.

The talk is Dylan Brown who has a thousand clauses in his contract. Depending how much he would ask for he would be a decent acquisition.

I would still rather we give Sandon a shot next year and see what he can bring full time.

[King Salvo]

Lads, do not read too much into this signing.

Next year there is

- nothing worthwhile on the market in halves or even makeshift halves

- a bug shortage of experience in the squad

Townsend's purpose will be to keep the ball rolling in terms of Walker and Smiths development. Additionally, around a good squad, he is not a half bad choice. He has won a premiership.

There is a master plan. The bigger picture I see here is that there is definitely a big signing in 2025 or at latest 2026 planned. Knowing Uncle Nick, there may already be something locked in

My bet is on Ponga. And if you combine the Pong with an experienced Sam Walker, that is one hell of a combo. We'd have a shit hot attack.

Kalyn Ponga is signed up to 2027 with the Knights - be 30 in 2028.