under salary cap pressure and an underachieving 2024 season the Newcastle Knights front office is planning a massive cleanup to offload the contracts of a number of bigname veteran players and also sack the head coach to start the rebuilding process Daniel sici is first on the chopping block the prop has 2 years left in his $850,000 Pere contract but he is reportedly set to be released and to sign a long-term deal with the dolphins the knights will pay $200,000 per year for the transfer fee Queens land Center Dane gagar could be next gagar is contracted until the end of the 2026 season with a mutual option for The Following season however he too could be released early since the club is looking to rebuild with young centers coming next year the third veteran is Tyson fral the second rower has a player option in his contract for next season and a mutual option for the 2026 season however due to the club's ongoing salary cap issues he could be out earlier than expected the fourth player is Jaden Braley the hooker was reportedly told he was free to leave the knights earlier this season due to how he has struggled in recent years coping a number of devastating injuries it's reported the eels are interested in him the fifth player is Leo Thompson he's contracted to the knights in 2025 but he will test the open market come November 1st the knights want him to stay but given how they want to clean out the vets and rebuild he may be forced to ask for an early release journeyman Jack heatherington has also been linked with an exit from from the club head coach Adam O'Brien is in the firing line two due to a clause in his contract that he'd get fired if the knights fall to 13th Place after three rounds in the 2025 season given a number of their state of origin veteran players and kiwi International player are leaving I doubt head coach Adam O'Brien will be there next year because I don't think the knights would win that many games since they are rebuilding regardless the Newcastle Knights got a group of promising Young Guns that could prove everyone wrong so here's all the players that are officially contracted next year that aren't leaving and their potential 2025 starting 17 men lineup Kalen ponga is the man this whole rebuilding process will be centered around the club in my opinion is doing the right thing by clearing out the veterans to free up cap space the knights can't compete with the top four teams with their current roster so instead of spending money unnecessarily on players who are out of their primes or looking for a contract with no passion playing for the club and its fans they are doing the best thing longterm by developing the Juniors and young players the knights got a solid halves combination with Premiership winning playmaker Jack coger and Phoenix Crossland they're both still in their 20s and with pommer by their side they have the potential to form a solid spine with the Young Guns in the team they have to trust the rebuilding program set in place by recruitment Guru Peter O Sullivan who has initiated it all ever since his recent arrival this young team looks very promising and I predict great things for the knights in the near future are the knights making the right call rebuilding let me know your honest opinion in the comments plus your 20257 men predicted lineup and if you're a true Die Hard Newcastle Knight supporter type go the knights in the comments don't miss out on all the latest updated lineups by Smashing the like button and subscribing to the channel for more your daily dose of rugby league thank you