Snake
Snake's Alive!
I've read some things concerning Jamie Buhrer leaving to free up cap space to upgrade the Turbo's and others wondering how we will be able to fit other new signings under the cap and if we can indeed fit other new signing under the cap then why didn't we just keep Buhrer etc...
It's not that straight forward...
First let me start by saying that I am fan of Buhrer and would prefer we had kept him, but...
rather ironically Uate is a good example of how clubs measure the worth of a player under the cap. Newcastle would like to have Uate on the books next year but don't think he is worth 500k. If the old administration had signed him for 250k he would more than likely have played a full season of FG this year and be ready to rock n' roll for the Knights next year.
However, he was signed for an inflated price and in order to better balance the cap he has been moved on. Likewise Jennings and Lewis who I am sure the Panthers would have loved to keep but the price was wrong and the cap unbalanced.
So...moving on to Buhrer. I could be wrong but I think the club (or Fulton) decided that Buhrer was not worth the money he was on and moving him off to the Knights would ease cap pressure. Let's say Buhrer was on 600k...the club can sign two players 300k each and fill two spots in the squad of 25...maybe the Curtis Sironen opportunity opened up and the club can fit Uate and Sironen under the cap for the same price it costs to keep Buhrer?!
Or... the club might have Matulino in their sights and deem a hard running prop to be a priority over a hardworking backrower (especially given we have Jake T who tackles himself to a stand still etc).
I am not suggesting that we should or shouldn't have released Buhrer, but I know it's not as black and white as some people think. All clubs have to juggle the cap and it's never as simple as wanting someone to stay or not wanting someone to stay...it's complicated. It's a case by case basis with a host of considerations to be made based on money and squad strength and weakness.
It's not that straight forward...
First let me start by saying that I am fan of Buhrer and would prefer we had kept him, but...
rather ironically Uate is a good example of how clubs measure the worth of a player under the cap. Newcastle would like to have Uate on the books next year but don't think he is worth 500k. If the old administration had signed him for 250k he would more than likely have played a full season of FG this year and be ready to rock n' roll for the Knights next year.
However, he was signed for an inflated price and in order to better balance the cap he has been moved on. Likewise Jennings and Lewis who I am sure the Panthers would have loved to keep but the price was wrong and the cap unbalanced.
So...moving on to Buhrer. I could be wrong but I think the club (or Fulton) decided that Buhrer was not worth the money he was on and moving him off to the Knights would ease cap pressure. Let's say Buhrer was on 600k...the club can sign two players 300k each and fill two spots in the squad of 25...maybe the Curtis Sironen opportunity opened up and the club can fit Uate and Sironen under the cap for the same price it costs to keep Buhrer?!
Or... the club might have Matulino in their sights and deem a hard running prop to be a priority over a hardworking backrower (especially given we have Jake T who tackles himself to a stand still etc).
I am not suggesting that we should or shouldn't have released Buhrer, but I know it's not as black and white as some people think. All clubs have to juggle the cap and it's never as simple as wanting someone to stay or not wanting someone to stay...it's complicated. It's a case by case basis with a host of considerations to be made based on money and squad strength and weakness.
Last edited: