After observing the Jesse Ramien punting last week, it's difficult to conclude it's not a factor. How else does a young player with so much talent and promise go from such high expectations to being shown the door before the season is out? And all when he's needed most.

Was he in trouble with the law? Has he breached a term of his contract? Is he a liability to the team? None of the above seem to apply.

Read more: Knights coach Nathan Brown has told Jesse Ramien he is free to leave and go elsewhere in 2020

The club, for its part, has been on the front foot explaining this controversial decision, knowing for most fans it makes little sense.

Unlike Ramien, who is constrained by good manners and presumably by a contract that remains live until October 31, the Knights have inferred the young bloke was variously greedy, disloyal, and a loner who, according to comments ascribed to his teammates, "didn't try hard enough".

Talk about a hatchet job.

Now I'm not saying young Jesse had it all together.

More obvious to fans are some poor showings on the field. Off it, he wasn't the first young bloke at the Knights to have needed support and mentoring in their younger days. His domestic situation, in particular, is challenging with a young daughter living on the Central Coast. But the Knights knew this when they signed him. Whatever support was provided was evidently inadequate.

Leaving Coonamble as a 14-year-old to break the nexus between his mates and drugs and alcohol, the quiet young man moved to Newcastle and Hunter Sports High. Plotting his way through the system, his work ethic and determination was obvious. Despite attracting no interest from the Knights, he eventually found a home at Cronulla.

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At no stage can those who were part of that journey reconcile the characterisations provided by the Knights as the reason for his shock exit. Indeed, veteran Sharks straight shooter Paul Gallen asserted this week, when assessing the reasons for Ramien's departure, he never saw any of the traits in his time at the Sharks given now as the reasons relied on by the Knights.

On reflection, Ramien is one in a conga line of former Knights players in recent years who were shown the door before their contracts had expired. A common thread in explanation for many of those was they "didn't want to be here". I'd suggest that may be true for some, but why so many?

Most are now playing good footy elsewhere. Still to come is the ongoing ousting of Danny Levi and Herman Ese'ese. Despite holding contracts, they're being told their prospects are better elsewhere. I gather for Levi, he may well honour his contract despite talk of playing reserve grade. This could create problems for the Knights, who recently signed Sharks hooker Jayden Bradley.

How will they fit him, or others in the Knights' sights, into the salary cap if Levi, Ese'ese and company won't play ball?

As for the timing and immediate extraction of Ramien so close to make-or-break games, this can't be good for the players left to pick up the pieces. Granted, it's difficult to link a poor performance with off-field dramas, but if the reported "shock" in the playing ranks has not had a detrimental impact on some of Ramien's former teammates, then 35 years around serious sports teams has taught this columnist nothing.

All in all, a low point for the club, in my humble view.

* SINCE it's retro-round, this week enjoy my top five:

1. Fifty minutes in and the Knights were looking competitive last week against the Sea Eagles. Then the floodgates opened. Disappointing for all connections, given the importance of the outcome. Still, there's always Saturday night against the Eels. But after that, I fear, it's all over for the season. A grand final come early, you could say. Knights by two.

2. Former Knights coach Rick Stone has steered the Newcastle women's team into this week's grand final at ANZ Stadium. Hannah Southwell and captain Rebecca Young will lead a side bristling with talent. Towering prop Caitlin Johnston is sure to skittle a few on her way to a historic win. Go girls. Meanwhile, Dudley Primary School punched way above their weight to finish third in the state at the all-schools knockout on Wednesday in hot conditions. A small school with lots of goers, they've done themselves and the Hunter proud.

3. Rabbitoh Sam Burgess has again earned the ire of the NRL judiciary but got off with a wrist slap.

The owner of the jaw he clipped, Matt Moylan, needs a week's enforced leave to recover. Go figure.

More confusing still is that the head knock was missed by officials completely as a struggling Moylan pushed on. Blame was laid at the feet of a technological glitch, but surely it was obvious to relevant others. That he wasn't replaced immediately hints at clubs still not taking the issue seriously.

4. Slightly more disciplined is Dragons hard man and fellow Pom, James Graham. Set to make his 400th first-grade appearance this week after a long stint with St Helens and locally, his feat becomes more noteworthy when considering his position and the gusto he brings to every encounter. Articulate, considered and caring, if he wasn't so menacing he may have been kicked out of the front-rowers' club by now.

5. First plays fourth and second plays third in a dress rehearsal this week of what may likely be the top four teams at the end of the premiership proper.

I'm tipping the Raiders to prevail in freezing Canberra, while the last game of the week should be a bottler. The Storm remain favourites, rightfully, but if Wayne Bennett and the Rabbitohs are to be taken seriously this season it's Sunday arvo that they must stake their claim. Enjoy!

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