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ROOSTERS-bound Brian Smith is preparing to reprise the Edward Scissorhands role that turned Newcastle's fortunes, admitting yesterday he may not "want" all the players he will inherit next year.
And in an ominous warning to the glamour club's under-performing stars, Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce has refused to guarantee that any contracts are safe.
The 2009 wooden spoon favourites have virtually the entire squad of 25 under contract for next season, leaving Smith with no room to move in the recruitment stakes.
The former Eels coach was given a charter for mass change at Newcastle as the club prepared for life after Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus.
While Noyce said there were no plans to cut contracts and Smith indicated he will "inherit what's there", the Knights mentor left little doubt he was not happy with everything at Bondi Junction.
"There's very few decisions about players to be made," Smith said, before adding ominously: "They may not all be the players I want."
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Noyce said while there were no plans for a mass cleanout, no guarantees could be made about contracts. He said Smith would share contract decisions with recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan.
"Brian has indicated he is happy with the roster. We have 90 per cent of the players under contract," Noyce said.
Asked whether he could guarantee contracts will be honoured, Noyce said: "I don't really want to get involved in that. At this stage we have about 90 per cent of the roster contracted and that's factual.
"Moving forward now, we need to set goals and engage Brian in the remaining 10 per cent and how we get there. These are the things we are going to work through with him in the next months, subject to his involvement in Newcastle."
Told Smith had already indicated he may not be satisfied with the roster, Noyce responded: "You are getting ahead of yourself."
Smith was castigated by Knights fans when a host of home-grown stars headed by Clint Newton and Josh Perry were shown the door as part of a mass cleanout following Johns's retirement.
And in an ominous warning to the glamour club's under-performing stars, Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce has refused to guarantee that any contracts are safe.
The 2009 wooden spoon favourites have virtually the entire squad of 25 under contract for next season, leaving Smith with no room to move in the recruitment stakes.
The former Eels coach was given a charter for mass change at Newcastle as the club prepared for life after Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus.
While Noyce said there were no plans to cut contracts and Smith indicated he will "inherit what's there", the Knights mentor left little doubt he was not happy with everything at Bondi Junction.
"There's very few decisions about players to be made," Smith said, before adding ominously: "They may not all be the players I want."
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Noyce said while there were no plans for a mass cleanout, no guarantees could be made about contracts. He said Smith would share contract decisions with recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan.
"Brian has indicated he is happy with the roster. We have 90 per cent of the players under contract," Noyce said.
Asked whether he could guarantee contracts will be honoured, Noyce said: "I don't really want to get involved in that. At this stage we have about 90 per cent of the roster contracted and that's factual.
"Moving forward now, we need to set goals and engage Brian in the remaining 10 per cent and how we get there. These are the things we are going to work through with him in the next months, subject to his involvement in Newcastle."
Told Smith had already indicated he may not be satisfied with the roster, Noyce responded: "You are getting ahead of yourself."
Smith was castigated by Knights fans when a host of home-grown stars headed by Clint Newton and Josh Perry were shown the door as part of a mass cleanout following Johns's retirement.
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