Lachlan Coote

[Exsilium]

This is the issue, Coote imo can only be bought to the club @ fullback, there is no guarantee he could succeed at 5/8 and even if he could.. we really dont need another 5/8, we have Benji/Widdop/Mann/Nona/Quinlan/Wallace/Dufty and possibly Hutch all looking to fit in either the #1 or #6 Jersey.. they are all nippy litte runners, but none have proven they can lead a 1st grade football side (Benji does ok, but its still not his natural position).

However.. Coote would instantly be our #1 fullback (proven at first grade level, which the others are not), the Duges can go back to Centre where he is supposed to be.. but we still dont have that halfback we have been craving.. and we would need to offload a bunch of blokes, in particular Mann.. who is on a long contract.. if we can shake him, then sure Coote is great... but its 1 or the other, cant afford 2 of em.

TLDR - Coote only useful if we can offload Mann (was same story with Jack Bird), too similar.

To be fair he was a fullback in the lower grades, right up till NSW cup when he moved to the back to accommodate players coming in. He played in the 6 for us a few times and for NQ. Elliott moved him to fullback to accommodate wade graham who you may remember was a 6. Also, he was due to return to the halves then Blake Austin came through.

 

[Dragonslayer]

To be fair he was a half in the lower grades, right up till NSW cup when he moved to the back to accommodate players coming in. He played in the 6 for us a few times and for NQ. Elliott moved him to fullback to accommodate wade graham who you may remember was a 6. Also, he was due to return to the halves then Blake Austin came through.

The issue with unloading players is that if we do before their contract expires we can be asked to pay a significant part of their salary, really biting our own salary cap. Mann was signed for decent coin and most of the squad is signed until the end of 2017.
Players off contract are Benji, Thompson, Rein who are worth any coin (Benny Creagh will retire at this years end) who we can look to unload.
For Rein we have Havili (McCrone to back up as he's signed until end 2017)
For Thompson we have Lui. Thommo plays good but injuries???? plus he wants an upgrade to his salary.
Benji well who??????????
Creagh well Mose will come in and possibly Ika 5 O or even one of the junior Cutters players.

So signing Coote wouldn't be an issue, the issue is a genuine #7

 

[TheRev]

To be fair he was a half in the lower grades, right up till NSW cup when he moved to the back to accommodate players coming in. He played in the 6 for us a few times and for NQ. Elliott moved him to fullback to accommodate wade graham who you may remember was a 6. Also, he was due to return to the halves then Blake Austin came through.

I hear you.. but im still nervous about recruiting him as a hallfback (wont be cheap) and unproven at 1st grade level, Quinlan is a good example of a bloke who should be a gun half.. but he hasnt been able to step it through to 1st grade.. but he also spends most of his time at fullback, so I dont know how he can be expected to excel in a position he hasnt trained in for years, likewise Coote would be that risk... he is replacing Benji who has played his career there..

One factor might be Cootes leadership skills, thats one thing they see in McCrone, which is why he has first crack over the other young halves, hes not going to shy away.

 

[TheFrog]

Coote is not a half and has to date not played any half as far as I am aware.

He played five-eighth at Penrith in 2012-13, about 10 games, before suffering a serious injury. He did OK in the halves.

 

[duck]

How can you be taken seriously with a user name like that!

Speaking of jubileeboy, where is Vasilesvsky lately. Did he take the win that hard?

 

[duck]

Coote would be a great signing. Although it wouldn't surprise me if Mann bounced back. The kid has talent.

 

[watatank]

I think Coote is the type of player that can really help us whether he plays fullback or halves. Whether he plays at fullback or halves shouldn't really matter that much because he's good enough for both and we would expect him to be a key player in our attack. I like the comparison with Hornby who was playing as a half from fullback, and Coote has more all round ability.

If we get Coote I'd have him at fullback and then probably go with Mann or Hutchison in the halves with Widdop. Yeah they might not be fantastic but hopefully serviceable, which is what we'd need with Coote at fullback. Alternatively would have no problem with Coote in the halves with Widdop and keeping Dugan at fullback. Would also look for a more all round hooker in that scenario too.

 

[Dragonslayer]

I think Coote is the type of player that can really help us whether he plays fullback or halves. Whether he plays at fullback or halves shouldn't really matter that much because he's good enough for both and we would expect him to be a key player in our attack. I like the comparison with Hornby who was playing as a half from fullback, and Coote has more all round ability.

If we get Coote I'd have him at fullback and then probably go with Mann or Hutchison in the halves with Widdop. Yeah they might not be fantastic but hopefully serviceable, which is what we'd need with Coote at fullback. Alternatively would have no problem with Coote in the halves with Widdop and keeping Dugan at fullback. Would also look for a more all round hooker in that scenario too.

that's a good scenario. I think Mann in the halves would be much better, I'm afraid Hutch has had his chance, very good in reserve grade but just can't step up to the 1st grade standard.
Coote and f/b, Nighty and Milne on the wings, Duges and Eui in the centres and widdop and mann in the halves......that's got good potential.

 

[betcats]

Coote has more to offer than any of those you've mentioned. He can play 7, 6 & 1 with little to no issue. He'd even be better than Rein at 9 *tongue in cheek*. He is a left footer and can kick off the right. His defence at fullback is just as good as Dugan's and his running game is on par. Kick returns are similar. Best thing is, he can pass left AND right!!!!

I love the loyalty to Dugan, he is an exceptional player but be honest folks, Coote bring so much more. When we released him I was thinking it would bite us but after two very interrupted seasons and Moylan waiting we had little to no choice. It's no surprise he is one of the form players, he's bloody good and always has been.

He would transform your attack and be one of your genuine match winners. You've been a side which doesn't quite have that cohesion or threat in attack. He's a player who would give you that.

Coote can play in the halves but he was playing FB in Harold Mathews, SG Balll and NYC he didn't move there after the junior grades.

 

[giboz71]

I think Coote is the type of player that can really help us whether he plays fullback or halves. Whether he plays at fullback or halves shouldn't really matter that much because he's good enough for both and we would expect him to be a key player in our attack. I like the comparison with Hornby who was playing as a half from fullback, and Coote has more all round ability.

If we get Coote I'd have him at fullback and then probably go with Mann or Hutchison in the halves with Widdop. Yeah they might not be fantastic but hopefully serviceable, which is what we'd need with Coote at fullback. Alternatively would have no problem with Coote in the halves with Widdop and keeping Dugan at fullback. Would also look for a more all round hooker in that scenario too.

Could work, but still sceptical about Mann in the halves.

FB is supposed to be his preferred position is it not, and he didn't prove to be great. Would he be any better in the halves?

He may have talent, but seems timid and lacks confidence which is surprising seeing he's played a good number of FG games at the Storm. You need a confident player at 7, directing the team around the park like a conductor.

JT, Cronk and Adam Reynolds are the best examples.

 

[BrissyRedV]

Could work, but still sceptical about Mann in the halves.

FB is supposed to be his preferred position is it not, and he didn't prove to be great. Would he be any better in the halves?

He may have talent, but seems timid and lacks confidence which is surprising seeing he's played a good number of FG games at the Storm. You need a confident player at 7, directing the team around the park like a conductor.

JT, Cronk and Adam Reynolds are the best examples.

Harsh to judge Mann on only 2 appearances in the Red V as a fullback especially when in one of those games the whole side bar 1 or 2 players had a shocker.

 

[Get2dachopper!]

JT, Cronk and Adam Reynolds are the best examples.

Takes a few years though doesn't it? Reynolds is the youngest of the 3, yet he has been playing FG for 4-5 seasons now. In fact he made his debut in 2012, right about when Hornby announced his retirement. What did we do? We replaced Hornby with an older Fein and tried to turn him into a halfback.

Total lack of planning and foresight.

 

[giboz71]

Harsh to judge Mann on only 2 appearances in the Red V as a fullback especially when in one of those games the whole side bar 1 or 2 players had a shocker.

True, but then he ended up in the Cutters at FB and from all reports he was far from impressive there as well.

I know it's early days but sign aren't good.

It's a tough gig this NRL business, perform or perish. Te Marie Martin did it for the Panthers when he got his chance, and Aitken has done it for us when his spot was in question.

Mann has really not made a compelling case to keep picking him and probably won't get another chance until Origin.

 

[giboz71]

Takes a few years though doesn't it? Reynolds is the youngest of the 3, yet he has been playing FG for 4-5 seasons now. In fact he made his debut in 2012, right about when Hornby announced his retirement. What did we do? We replaced Hornby with an older Fein and tried to turn him into a halfback.

Total lack of planning and foresight.

Agreed.

That's why from all the players available, Keary would be a good option. as he is a 7 playing out of position at the Rabbits.

He's won a premiership and has 3 years solid experience. And still only just turned 24 with plenty of years left in him.

800k is pretty steep though.

 

[BrissyRedV]

True, but then he ended up in the Cutters at FB and from all reports he was far from impressive there as well.

I know it's early days but sign aren't good.

It's a tough gig this NRL business, perform or perish. Te Marie Martin did it for the Panthers when he got his chance, and Aitken has done it for us when his spot was in question.

Mann has really not made a compelling case to keep picking him and probably won't get another chance until Origin.

Most likely not especially if we start to win and score points in particular. My point being is that it is harsh to write him off after just those 2 games, one of which he performed ok.

 

[giboz71]

Most likely not especially if we start to win and score points in particular. My point being is that it is harsh to write him off after just those 2 games, one of which he performed ok.

Hope he gets better too.

But this supposed interest in Coote (who is effectively a more proven version of Mann), can't be a good sign either.

 

[BrissyRedV]

Hope he gets better too.

But this supposed interest in Coote (who is effectively a more proven version of Mann), can't be a good sign either.

It depends on where they want him to play. I saw some reports suggesting we are looking at him to play in the halves so who knows.

 

[barry]

We are signing coote as a five eight... Don't ask why

 

[betcats]

He can play 5/8 no worries. The only thing that ever held Cootey back was injuries and he has put that behind him since leaving Penrith, he is a fantastic player. One of those guys who the ball always bounces his way.

 

[Exsilium]

Coote can play in the halves but he was playing FB in Harold Mathews, SG Balll and NYC he didn't move there after the junior grades.

Correct. My post was meant to say he was a fullback but moved to accommodate others in the lower grade sides right up till nsw cup where he had a few runs in the halves but was pushed back for the likes of graham and Austin.

Glad you highlighted that.