Rumours and Stuff

[The Colonel]

It may be true, it may not true, but Jimmy Smith said on the BSB show this morning that big Sam Kasiano took $170k less then what the eels / dragons (and one other side, cant remember which one) were offering to sign with the storm (as he wanted to be coached by Bellamy).

So while all BA targets aren't known, he is definitely looking at other players. So just because it isn't reported, BA knows what we need and isn't doing nothing as some think he is!!

But..... he didn't sign with us so we obviously didn't even talk to him because if we had of he would have surely come to the club because that's how negotiations work.

 

[Glenneel]

Classic hand wringer. Sign all the superstars overnight or sack the coach. Drop the players I'm cross with even though there's no suitable replacement or sack the coach. Disagree with it? You're accepting mediocrity!!!!!

You blokes have done your damage. Enough is enough, seriously. Because of f**ksticks like you who are simply too thick to understand that building success takes time or too impatient to care, we changed our board like tissues when they failed to deliver an immediate premiership, and in turn all those inept self interested wankers destroyed our club.

I see all the posters who love mediocrity like your post Bazal.

You know nothing gets changed unless someone complains. Stay mute and you get the status quo. So you stay mute and continue following a mid table team.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Most change in our club's history has been for the worse.

Parramatta fans should be very wary about demanding change, given our history.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

I see all the posters who love mediocrity like your post Bazal.

You know nothing gets changed unless someone complains. Stay mute and you get the status quo. So you stay mute and continue following a mid table team.

Well done mate. Keep complaining and I'm sure the club will rectify the situation. Maybe start a change.org petition demanding we win a premiership.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He's not demanding a premiership (yet). Just that the coach acknowledge our choice of scapegoats and sacks them immediately with no payout and then comes out and publically declares the scapegoats to be shit, and the cause of all our failure.

Only then can we move forward as a professional organisation.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

But..... he didn't sign with us so we obviously didn't even talk to him because if we had of he would have surely come to the club because that's how negotiations work.

But if we only offered $170K more than what the Storm did then I don't think that really counts as having a go. merkins are just mad for moving interstate to play for Bellamy.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Probably $170k over the length of the contract rather than per year.

 

[Glenneel]

Who would you have recruited that we've missed out on? If we take it that we mostly needed a five-eighth, a prop or two, and a hooker....we have signed Moses and Evans, so the half and one prop are done already.

I'd have spoken to Matulino. But I wouldn't have got within 200k of what the Tigers paid him...is he worth 700k-odd?

Woods is quality but far too expensive. There are guys like Seumanufagai and Tof Sipley who are good players but nothing better than what we already have and no improvement size wise. I wouldn't want Russell Packer at the club and I don't think many would disagree.

Of the players who have definitely signed elsewhere, I would have liked Jordan McLean. Others like John Asiata have re-signed with their clubs.

Off contract for hookers we still have Peats and Lichaa available (and we seem to be talking seriously to Peats) as well as Tyrone Roberts who can do a good job at hooker and some decent quality youngsters like Sione Katoa and Karl Lawton. Available middle forwards at this stage of decent quality and/or size are Agnatius Paasi, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Albert Vete, Mose Masoe....young Jai Arrow is a bit smaller but a genuine quality youngster, Joe Ofahengaue is a big body with potential, and so on.

There are players available, albeit not a huge number. There are also persistent rumours of a couple of clubs in cap trouble. The Bulldogs will definitely have to shed players.

If we do sign Peats and, say, Paasi (chosen randomly because I like him and I believe NAS will stay at Melbourne) and add Willis Meehan as a project player, will you still be worried? I think we're sitting reasonably well in terms of signings given what's available right now. We've picked up one of the better available halves and the perfect player to fit what we're missing up front....

Now that's a decent post rather than ranting and raving about me. And you're talking about available players so have done your research. Very doubtful if Storm will let any further players go as have lost 2 forwards from next year. Doubt Brisbane will let any players they want go, their Brissy dollars sure stretch a long long way. Maybe out of that list Paasi could be available and Lichaa maybe, but will have to change his style of play. Don't know anything about Vete and Mosoe, a huge body, but can't crack the fg side. One player I would like us to try for is Luciano Laileua? who plays SR in St Geo reserves who looks a genuine first grader, high workrate, good offload and aggressive.

Well said.

I'm confident Arthur has a plan - he's previously recruited well, and as Joshuatheeel said, he was patient when looking for a centre, and we landed Jennings, so I think he should be given the benefit of the doubt.

Think we got lucky with Jennings. From what I heard we made a play for most of the centres on the merry-go-round and Jennings, who lives in Castle Hill, wanted to come here to be close to home. He asked for and was granted a release (or was just released).

 

[Glenneel]

It may be true, it may not true, but Jimmy Smith said on the BSB show this morning that big Sam Kasiano took $170k less then what the eels / dragons (and one other side, cant remember which one) were offering to sign with the storm (as he wanted to be coached by Bellamy).

So while all BA targets aren't known, he is definitely looking at other players. So just because it isn't reported, BA knows what we need and isn't doing nothing as some think he is!!

Glad we didn't get him. Just plain lazy, battling to get 30 mins out of him, but does have silky skills when puts his mind to it. At Storm will probably be a world beater.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Probably $170k over the length of the contract rather than per year.

Could be. And it divides neatly by two so let's say two years. $85K a year is still a fair bit less.

 

[I bleed blue & gold]

ACL injury but don't think he had a full knee reconstruction

IIRC he did some damage to the ACL but not a compete rupture.

Could come out in 2018 and completely tear it or or never tear it again.

I had a partial tear then a couple years later did the complete rupture.

 

[Avenger]

But..... he didn't sign with us so we obviously didn't even talk to him because if we had of he would have surely come to the club because that's how negotiations work.

It's obvious he needs help in his negotiating because all BA seems to do is take a gamble on up and coming players like Gutherson which has worked, some obviously haven't or play overs for has beens like Watmough.

For a coach that was banned by the NRL, Shane Flanagan seems to get his man. James Maloney being one who is apparently on $600K tops. I just think that besides the old Manly connection Arthur's recruiting skills are way overrated as is our team and his coaching.

I'm not saying to sack him but if he doesn't jag a top 8 position this season he has failed, miserably. Next year will be his 5th year here and if he fails again his contract should not be renewed. assuming it ends this time next year.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

One player I would like us to try for is Luciano Laileua? who plays SR in St Geo reserves who looks a genuine first grader,

How is signing a reserve grader in a position we don't need who can't crack the first team at another mediocre club going to help?

 

[parra-matters]

maybe the coach isn't the problem maybe it's the who is in charge of the NRL level recruiting.
I know Dragons had to get someone else in with better negotiating skills as they were missing out on players and paying overs for others. If the recruitment manager can't communicate with the player managers in a certain way the managers will push players elsewhere unless the money is much better there than anywhere else.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

maybe the coach isn't the problem maybe it's the who is in charge of the NRL level recruiting.
I know Dragons had to get someone else in with better negotiating skills as they were missing out on players and paying overs for others. If the recruitment manager can't communicate with the player managers in a certain way the managers will push players elsewhere unless the money is much better there than anywhere else.

There's no problem. The problem is that the coach/club is not signing 'forum approved players' all the time for 'forum approved dollars'.

 

[hineyrulz]

How is signing a reserve grader in a position we don't need who can't crack the first team at another mediocre club going to help?

But but But he had size.

 

[parra-matters]

There's no problem. The problem is that the coach/club is not signing 'forum approved players' all the time for 'forum approved dollars'.

ha ha yes i see what you mean, some so called supporters find problems that aren't there.

 

[Glenneel]

He's not demanding a premiership (yet). Just that the coach acknowledge our choice of scapegoats and sacks them immediately with no payout and then comes out and publically declares the scapegoats to be shit, and the cause of all our failure.

Only then can we move forward as a professional organisation.

Well Pou I not sure if you're having a go at me or someone else. A have never mentioned scapegoats EVER but have mentioned some players who need to go as in Kelly and Jo Paulo. So your statement above, irrespective of who you are having a go at, is absolutely ridiculous which you already know.

Now when you have followed Parra for over 50 years, largely without success, and get absolutely belted on a regular basis, you too might like a tiny little bit of success. You know, like featuring regularly in the finals and every now and again challenging for the title. I know these things, for you and a few other members, are foreign to you and you think this is normal. But its NOT. Some teams have a habitual habit of playing in the finals and this is a habit we have to foster. Identifying deficiencies and recruitment at the appropriate time is the way to go, something we have done badly at for some time. And our position on the ladder has had a lot to do with it.

Also I don't assume that every time we make a play for someone we will be successful, we are probably more unsuccessful than successful there, again to do with our table position. So all in all until we become more successful on the field will we be more successful in luring the players we need to the team.

What I am disappointed in is the perceived notion that BA is building the team on a shoe string, saving the pennies. As such we have under-performing forward pack which is not consistent. Imo they are the key in the team and backline performing well. But once they get dominated they stay dominated for the whole match. If we had decent forwards we'd lose by a small amount, not get slaughtered. That is what good teams do, fight and scrap for the entire match and not give up. That is what I want from this team and until we open the cheque book and buy the appropriate players we will continue to be inconsistent.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Think we got lucky with Jennings. From what I heard we made a play for most of the centres on the merry-go-round and Jennings, who lives in Castle Hill, wanted to come here to be close to home. He asked for and was granted a release (or was just released).

Is it luck when you don't offer overs to every off contract player, thus ensuring you have cap space available to take advantage of these opportunities?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Could be. And it divides neatly by two so let's say two years. $85K a year is still a fair bit less.

It could also be over three (or more) years.