Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

Where did I say he was on big money? He's on 300-400k at the Dogs by all reports. It doesn't have to be huge money to be overs....

All reports hey?

 

[Obscene Assassin]

All reports hey?

All of them except yours.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'm reporting right now that I reckon Lichaa would be on about $250k. That's good money for a 21 year old hooker who had only played one NRL game when his signing was announced.

 

[Happy MEel]

It depends how much they're contracted for. I'm sure we wouldn't be happy with two backup hookers on top 17 money.

True, but I don't think both of them would be keen to stay purely as back ups. I'd say at least one of them would go looking for another opportunity. If we were to pursue lichaa I'd dare say we'd let them go.

 

[Happy MEel]

Maybe. But I'm certain he and Pritchard are both top 25. How many backup hookers do you expect a team to carry in their top 25?

we carried three hookers into this year with Peats, De Gois and Kaysa. Regardless of who actually plays in the game, BA seems fine to carry three hookers on top 25 money. At the moment we have 2 so there's opportunity for a third.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

True, but I don't think both of them would be keen to stay purely as back ups. I'd say at least one of them would go looking for another opportunity. If we were to pursue lichaa I'd dare say we'd let them go.

I look at it the other way - because we have committed to them (both re-signed while Arthur was coach) we probably won't be pursuing Lichaa.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'd say we carried three hookers into this year with Peats, De Gois and Kaysa. Regardless of who actually plays in the game, BA seems fine to carry three hookers on top 25 money. At the moment we have 2 so there's opportunity for a third.

But this implies a top 17 setup with two hookers in it. Of course you'd have three in your top 25 if that was the case. But with Lichaa's upside being 80 minute performances, you only have one in your top 17. Therefore there's only room in your 25 for two (one being a backup). When we had three hookers in the 25 we still only had one backup, because two of them were top 17 players.

 

[Happy MEel]

I look at it the other way - because we have committed to them (both re-signed while Arthur was coach) we probably won't be pursuing Lichaa.

Probably not, which is a shame as I don't think IDG offers enough as a first grade hooker. I was just offering an opinion and option if it was something we were looking at. If we were smart we should have signed IDG for the 25th highest salary so that if another option did come he'd move into the 2nd tier. Unfortunately I don't think that's what happened.

 

[Noise]

IDG can't be on much. How many offers from other clubs would he have got? I reckon sweet f**k all. Surely there is a chance he is on the 25th ranked salary....But this is Parra..

 

[hybrideel]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...-incredibly-hard/story-e6frf3uc-1226860465521



Sharks hooker Michael Lichaa says his decision to sign with the Bulldogs was “incredibly hard”
Nick Walshaw The Daily Telegraph March 20, 2014 11:00PM SHARE

DUMPED Cronulla hooker Michael Lichaa was finding his decision to leave the club “incredibly hard” — but remained convinced he could still be the Sharkies No.9 hooker by the end of the year.

Before announcing his impending switch to Canterbury on Wednesday, which saw him subsequently shipped back to NSW Cup by coach Peter Sharp, Lichaa opened up to The Daily Telegraph about contracts, his NRL debut and becoming the Sharks’ first-choice rake.

Asked on Monday night about rumours he was set to follow Kangaroos prop Andrew Fifita to the Bulldogs, Lichaa said: “My manager has said he’ll sort everything out and I’m leaving it all to him.

“Obviously it’s been hard, incredibly hard because I’ve lived here my whole life in the Shire. There are a lot of things to weigh up and, no, it hasn’t been easy.

“But that’s footy isn’t it? Everyone is in the same boat when they come off contract.”

Lichaa also revealed his goal of becoming the starting No.9 by the end of the year.



“I think every player wants to start and, yeah, that’s the goal of mine,’’ he said. “Right now, though, my goal is to keep a place in this team.

“It’s what I’ve been chasing since the pre-season — my goal was to be there for round one and, while I didn’t quite make that, getting to debut in round two was good.

“Hopefully when we get all the troops back I’ll still be here. Having guys like Gal, Fifita, that would make my job a bit easier and I could start to play a bit of footy. Even coming off the bench I’d like to make an impact.”

Just 48 hours after making his debut, Lichaa told Sharks officials he would be leaving the club to join Canterbury on a three-year deal worth $1 million. However, his subsequent axing means he will now miss Saturday night’s local derby against St George Illawarra at Shark Park.

Despite being born in Wollongong, Lichaa moved to the Shire aged three and had been pumped for the impeding Dragons clash.

“I don’t like the Dragons and they don’t like us -- it’s great,’’ he said. “As a kid, my mates and I would always get onto the Family Hill for home games, it’s just the best atmosphere you can get.

“Even playing 20s last year against the Dragons at home, it was crazy. We had about 15,000 watching us. I really want to be part of that, running out with 25,000 at Shark Park going crazy.”

 

[Happy MEel]

IDG can't be on much. How many offers from other clubs would he have got? I reckon sweet f**k all. Surely there is a chance he is on the 25th ranked salary....But this is Parra..

The only thing that has me a little optimistic about that possibility is the fact he was signed for two years instead of 1. Let's say he wanted $120k for next year. Unlikely, but perhaps we offered $85k for two years so the total package was $170k.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

IDG can't be on much. How many offers from other clubs would he have got? I reckon sweet f**k all. Surely there is a chance he is on the 25th ranked salary....But this is Parra..

Don't reckon he would be the 25th ranked salary as that would be close to the minimum which I doubt Degois is on.

I reckon he is on something around $150k.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Anyhow with all this talk about hookers, I reckon if Pritchard stays fit ( and he played 16 games this year so is getting close) he will become our no.1 hooker.

And he willl surprise a lot of people. Better then some think!!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Don't reckon he would be the 25th ranked salary as that would be close to the minimum which I doubt Degois is on.

I reckon he is on something around $150k.

Like Happy MEel said, he might have taken a per year reduction in exchange for that extra year. He is on the decline, and there can't have been that much demand for him.

 

[strider]

Anyhow with all this talk about hookers, I reckon if Pritchard stays fit ( and he played 16 games this year so is getting close) he will become our no.1 hooker.

And he willl surprise a lot of people. Better then some think!!

I keep waiting for him to stay fit and live up to the expectation

 

[Poupou Escobar]

THEN WAIT LONGER merkin!!!

 

[caylo]

You're the one telling the story, merkin. I just gave you the fact that he wasn't a regular half until the year he turned 24. Prior to that he was a bench utility.

I think there's a fair difference between a young player of 22 and one of 24 - the latter has been a full time professional footballer for about twice as long. It's a big difference.

Anyway, not saying I don't rate Hunt - he is a good footballer. But he is not a natural playmaker, he is manufactured. At 26 he is pretty much at his peak. Cronk won Dally M halfback of the year before he had turned 23 and DCE had won a premiership at the same age.

Same way Cronk was manufactured? DCE had Foran on his inside and an amazing pack. Yet now at 27 DCE is behind Hunt as a halfback. Early success doesn't equal a career I would say most halves peak between 28-29, Hunt has plenty of growth still. Hasting is a massive unknown, as someone else mentioned he may have a equal ceiling but probably a much lower basement

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

The only thing that has me a little optimistic about that possibility is the fact he was signed for two years instead of 1. Let's say he wanted $120k for next year. Unlikely, but perhaps we offered $85k for two years so the total package was $170k.

I think Lingard mentioned this a while ago as a possibility. Or OMC? Anyway, I agree with the theory but 85k for the kind of punishment an NRL player goes through each year seems low. And he's possibly a first-choice spine player. Is 85k being suggested as it's about the threshold for top 25?

 

[Wicked Witch Of The West]

Didn't know Tim had a son?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I think Lingard mentioned this a while ago as a possibility. Or OMC? Anyway, I agree with the theory but 85k for the kind of punishment an NRL player goes through each year seems low. And he's possibly a first-choice spine player. Is 85k being suggested as it's about the threshold for top 25?

Top 25 minimum salary is $82500. I'd say De Gois is on more than that, but surely not too much more. After all, he offers no threat in attack and only plays about 50 minutes. He's obviously not a key player in our structure, even if he's our starting dummy half.