Newcastle Knights have kicked off preliminary negotiations to re-sign utility back Tex Hoy and are expected to hold talks to potentially extend winger Hymel Hunt within the next few weeks.
Hoy's manager Steve Gillis confirmed he has had a brief discussion with the Knights over the 21-year-old's future.
"It hasn't gone anywhere as yet but the club has indicated they want to keep Tex so we'll see what transpires there," Gillis said.
Hoy, currently deputising for Kalyn Ponga at fullback, is still developing and can play in a number of positions and the coaching staff see him as an asset in that regard.
Retaining Hunt has become more of a priority now following the club's decision not to offer Origin winger Edrick Lee a new deal for 2022 given the dollars he is expected to command.
Hunt had a really strong 2020 season and was outstanding in the win over the Warriors in round 2, scoring two tries off the end of Bradman Best, returning the ball back strongly and coming up with some strong defensive reads.
He is also highly regarded culturally off the field around the playing group.
Pearce's big week
It has been a big week for Mitchell Pearce in the build-up to tomorrow's milestone 300th NRL game against the Wests Tigers.
Such has been the interest, on Monday he was involved in more than 5 hours of one-one interviews with a host of print, electronic and on-line media outlets.
Then on Wednesday after training, the club put on a surprise lunch for him at their Mayfield headquarters with former Knights assistant coach Allan Bell, a close personal friend and mentor of the Knights halfback, on hand to speak and present him with his 300th jersey.
Pearce was overwhelmed with all the love and support shown from teammates, staff and ex-teammates and was understandably emotional when he was asked to say a few words.
Knights 300 club
Mitchell Pearce is not the first player to play for the Knights to reach the remarkable 300 game mark. Brett Kimmorley, who played six games for the Knights in 1995-96, finished with 307 all up while current Sharks coach John Morris played 300 games, 31 of which were with the Knights in 2001/02.
Charity marathon
Former Central player Jacob Hosking has spent the past 12 months shedding 25 kgs and has been training for 4 months to run his first marathon for charity on April 11.
Hosking, the son of former Manly legend David 'The Mule' Hosking, is a sales agent at Creer Property, fantastic charity supporters, and is raising money for Wings4Kids, a charity that flies sick regional and outback kids to Sydney for medical treatment.
Hosking will run the 42.2 km course alongside his boss, Creer Property partner Brendan Walsh, who is taking on his 10th marathon.
"Jake chose the charity and has been just so committed so hopefully, the rugby league community will get behind him,"Walsh said.
Donations to Newcastle's Wings4Kidz Run on Facebook, click on this link or call Jake direct on 0423098332 or Brendan on 0410651072 to show support.
Birthday wishes
If getting the business done against the Wests Tigers tomorrow because it's his milestone 300th NRL game wasn't enough motivation, Mitchell Pearce could do worse and make it about family.
In a nice coincidence, Pearce's mum Terri, who rarely misses watching her son play, whether it be in Newcastle or Sydney, just happens to be celebrating her birthday tomorrow.
And he could make it a double celebration with his dad Wayne turning 61 on Monday. "She's a bit of a cougar," Pearce senior told Toohey's News:The Podcast, giving away his wife's age. "She is a year and a day older than me."
Belated Knights' best
We are obviously more than two weeks late with this but better late than never, right?
Due to popular demand [the boss suggested we do it] and at the risk of starting a weekly Dally M-type brawl over player-of-the-match points, here is this column's Knights' 3-2-1 from the opening two rounds of the NRL premiership.
Round 1 v Bulldogs:
3 Daniel Saifiti 2 Mitch Barnett 1 David Klemmer
Round 2 v Warriors:
3 Bradman Best 2 Jayden Brailey 1 Mitch Barnett.
Progressive:3 Daniel Saifiti, Bradman Best, Mitch Barnett 2 Jayden Brailey 1 David Klemmer.
