Rumoured and Confirmed signings - Part 4

[herbert henry1908]

So what you're saying is the Raiders halves have a better hooker and backline to work with yet combined have as many try assists as Nathan. (Or rather they have 10 combined to his 9)

But you also seem to be suggesting by defending them that try assists arent the be all end all for the Raiders halves... and yet for Nathan its the only thing that matters?

Nathan scored more tries, had more try assists, had more linebreak assists and forced more line drop outs than the grand final halves pairing. Oh and had a better tackle rate aswell.

He did so playing off a worse hooker, behind an inferior forward pack with a worse backline at only 21 years of age while battling an injury in a team that has had non-stop drama all season...

As for their pay packet... Nathan hasnt actually started his new massive contract yet. So there's a good chance his 2019 pay was not much more if anything to the Raiders halves yet. He didnt crack any of the highest paid players lists in 2019 despite people carrying on like he was taking up all our cap. But to be honest I dont know for certain he wasnt on his $1m contract yet. We dont know how his extension worked. But theres a very good chance he wasn't and was only on his previously extended contract still... or had it only upgraded slightly for 2019. No certainty one way or the other. The media who love to punish us for dumb contracts didnt have him on rich lists though. Bet that changes in 2020.

I’m not defending them, I’m simply saying that you can be successful without a superstar half. If you have the other ingredients.

Besides, I definitely think Cleary is better than Aidan Sezer. No question about that, but the raiders attack often went through Josh Hodgson.


True that Cleary’s big deal likely starts next season, but he’d have to improve dramatically to earn that pay packet. I’m talking close to doubling his try & line break assists. 10 try assists won’t cut it next year.

 

[MugaB]

If it wasn’t the expectation why’d he handle the ball more than Maloney? And importantly why’d he handle the ball more in the last 20m than Maloney?

The biggest mistake we made was not making Maloney the on the ball half, he should’ve had 60%+ of the touches between the two halves.

When Maloney played without Cleary we had a very good record. (I’m not suggesting we’re better without Cleary, I’m saying the roles were wrong)

Ive been saying Nathans a 5/8th for a few seasons now, he even plays like it at state of origin, get Luai into 1/2back
And burton as the back up half, if one of them get injured,
Maloney was our halfback this year, and most probably should have had the 7 on his back since day dot, Clearys assests as a running 5/8th, thats where he should be, not sure why they keep persistenting on playing him 1st receiver, id even have him at hooker if we could get both Burton and Luai on the field, getting good ball from dummy half is majorly important in the NRL these days

 

[Luke Bowden]

I thought Nathan’s best game this year (excluding the last game blow out) was against Cronulla with Burton at 6.

He hopefully that’s what we can expect next year, with either Luai or Burton at 6.

 

[Zampaa]

I thought Nathan’s best game this year (excluding the last game blow out) was against Cronulla with Burton at 6.

He hopefully that’s what we can expect next year, with either Luai or Burton at 6.

Cleary always has done better with a makeshift 5/8, so that's no shock.

 

[Luke Bowden]

Cleary always has done better with a makeshift 5/8, so that's no shock.

My point is, I believe that next year we will see how capable he is, on a regular basis as the dominant No.7.

 

[betcats]

I thought Nathan’s best game this year (excluding the last game blow out) was against Cronulla with Burton at 6.

He hopefully that’s what we can expect next year, with either Luai or Burton at 6.

Yep he did everything well that game. The attack was well organised, he ran the ball for a couple of good line breaks, his kicking game was perfect and he created a couple tries and picked up some illusive assists. He wont always come up with the tries and assists but if he can control the side like that most weeks we will be laughing.

 

[roofromoz]

Thanks for that. Says a fair bit doesn't it. Loved Maloney, love Cleary. Together though they didn't blend well.
Nathan needs to step up in 2020 and steer the team round. Either Burton or Lui will ably support him.

Me personally i'd like to see Lui as a 14 a super sub, and Burton as 6.

Agree 100%. Would love to see Burton get first crack at the 6 jersey.

 

[betcats]

Yeah I'm also keen to see Burton after a preseason.

 

[10Grand]

Matterson is known to be interested in joining Penrith but a hurdle could be the fractured relationship between the Panthers and Tigers over the Ivan Cleary coaching drama.
This is a quote from dailytelegraph

 

[betcats]

Matterson is known to be interested in joining Penrith but a hurdle could be the fractured relationship between the Panthers and Tigers over the Ivan Cleary coaching drama.
This is a quote from dailytelegraph

I was thinking the other day they aren't likely to grant him a release to come to us.

 

[Whino]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/d5b53fbe8c7d6e1b8768716a5f8ae20c

Ryan Matterson now talking to South Sydney as Tigers exit looms

South Sydney are now genuine players in the race to sign out-of-favour Wests Tigers utility Ryan Matterson.

The Daily Telegraph understands the Rabbitohs are planning a preliminary meeting with Matterson’s management as early as Thursday as they look to replace retired club legend John Sutton.

No offer has been made but Souths are interested in Matterson, who wants to quit the Tigers two years before his deal concludes.

Matterson has already met with Parramatta officials this week, while Canterbury, Newcastle, St George Illawarra, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Cronulla and Penrith are also keeping a keen eye on the movements of the player who was 18th man for the Blues this year.

Matterson is known to be interested in joining Penrith but a hurdle could be the fractured relationship between the Panthers and Tigers over the Ivan Cleary coaching drama.

The Rabbitohs believe the ball-playing Matterson can be a perfect replacement for edge playmaker Sutton.

However, the Tigers will complicate any Matterson negotiations with a request for compensation — either financial or in the form of a player in return.

Souths football manager Mark Ellison is overseeing recruitment while head of football Shane Richardson is overseas and head coach Wayne Bennett is coaching England in the World Cup Nines.

Matterson left the Sydney Roosters after last season to sign a three-year deal with the Tigers worth around $350,000 a year.

The Parramatta junior now believes he can secure more money elsewhere, and the interest in him suggests he is right.

His Tigers teammates are understandably angry with Matterson over his desire to quit the club mid-contract.

There are those at the Tigers who don’t want him back, even if he can’t do a deal with another club. Just last week, retired Tigers legend Robbie Farah said Matterson’s dispute with the club was “beyond the point of return”.

It is understood Matterson will fly to the Gold Coast next week to meet new Titans coach Justin Holbrook.

However, insiders claim Parramatta are the early favourites to sign the 25-year-old.

Fed-up with his attitude, the Tigers gave Matterson permission last month to negotiate with rival clubs. Now Tigers coach Michael Maguire has now lost two of his better players from this season in Matterson and centre Esan Marsters, who has signed with North Queensland.

The Tigers are keen to have the Matterson drama concluded before the new NRL financial year starts on November 1.

 

[Whino]

Typical Telegraph they have linked him to half the league!

 

[betcats]

The Tigers are in for a tough year next season, I'm calling it early Macguire wont see out his contract there.

 

[AlbertRoss]

I was thinking the other day they aren't likely to grant him a release to come to us.

On the contrary. Tigers will ask for an exorbitant transfer fee and we would pay it. Sound familiar?

 

[betcats]

On the contrary. Tigers will ask for an exorbitant transfer fee and we would pay it. Sound familiar?

Sounds like a Phil Rothfield exclusive.

 

[Coastal]

My point is, I believe that next year we will see how capable he is, on a regular basis as the dominant No.7.

He played 7 all year when he was available. Where does this "dominant" 7 come from?

 

[herbert henry1908]

He played 7 all year when he was available. Where does this "dominant" 7 come from?

The theory is that Maloney got in his way somehow.

I don’t agree with the theory, though.

 

[mxlegend99]

He played 7 all year when he was available. Where does this "dominant" 7 come from?

He has always been second in the playmaker pecking order though.

This was Moylans team. He chimed in at 1, 6, 7 and 9 from fullback as he saw fit. Whenever and wherever he wanted the ball. He got it. Once he left Maloney came in and Nathan went from our best player before injured in 2018 (he was the guy making things happen) to taking a backseat to Jimmy once he returned. Which is what everyone on here said he needed to do as when Nathan was the dominant player Jimmy was not effective.

There havent been many games where he was missing a senior playmaker. But the few that have his form is very different and many of his better games came when he needed to be the man.

So in 2020 he is for the first time in his career starting the season as our primary playmaker. Which changes what is expected of him from both us and the team. Maybe he fails miserably having to be the man every week rather than on a few occassions. Maybe he thrives knowing he's not stealing the thunder from a teammate who is more experienced than he is.

 

[franklin2323]

On the contrary. Tigers will ask for an exorbitant transfer fee and we would pay it. Sound familiar?

Well transfer fees don't count on the cap so much better than having to take a dud with him

 

[herbert henry1908]

He has always been second in the playmaker pecking order though.

How do you judge this?

take this year, wouldn’t the no.1 playmaker touch the ball more?

Cleary had 6 touches more a game than Maloney, and importantly had more touches in the last 20m.



The only thing that makes Maloney the no.1 playmaker is he was more successful at it. They mostly played a left/right side field configuration.

At worst he was on an equal footing with Maloney this year.