Newcastle Knights CEO Matt Gidley says Ben Barba doesn’t fit into the club’s future plans
DESPITE coming off one of the worst season in the club’s history, the Newcastle Knights say they won’t be tempted by the X-factor value of sacked Sharks star Ben Barba.
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THEY may be coming off one of the worst seasons in history but the Newcastle Knights say they won’t be tempted by the X-factor value of sacked Sharks star Ben Barba.
The Knights are one of the few clubs in the NRL without an established fullback with coach Nathan Brown using four players — Dane Gagai, Jake Mamo, Jaelen Feeney and Peter Mata’utia — in the position at various times last season.
DUMPED: Sharks release Barba after positive drug test
Mamo, recovering from a broken ankle following a Bali mishap, is in negotiations with English Super League club Huddersfield and is no certainty to remain at the club.
But according to CEO Matt Gidley, the Knights won’t be going down the Barba path.
“I would have thought playing rugby league would be the furthest thing from his mind at the moment,” Gidley said at the club’s 2017 membership launch.
“From our point of view, we won’t be going down that path. It’s probably not the way we are trying to build the club and take it forward.”
Originally published as Newcastle Knights CEO Matt Gidley says Ben Barba doesn’t fit into the club’s future plans
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