General Discussion Thread

[age.s]

They've been playing like Sam Tarly.

 

[Fangs]

They've been playing like Sam Tarly.

God I hated that bloke. How on earth did he not get eviscerated early on?

 

[West Nowra Panther]

Iongi is a fullback.

We have the Australian fullback with years to go on his contract

JRR Tolkien couldn't write a fantasy universe in which Iongi stayed.

Correct. The point is some clubs just seem to find a way to keep ALL the good ones so when injury hits at least the back up is quality.

 

[Munky]

Correct. The point is some clubs just seem to find a way to keep ALL the good ones so when injury hits at least the back up is quality.

Which clubs?

 

[West Nowra Panther]

Which clubs?

Souths, Melbourne, Manly, Gold Coast all have decent backup fullbacks for a start. Maybe it's because the starters are injury prone but the second choice quality is pretty good.
And as I said, we couldn't keep Iongi. He must have wanted heaps.

 

[WestyLife]

Correct. The point is some clubs just seem to find a way to keep ALL the good ones so when injury hits at least the back up is quality.

TPAs is your answer and it's legal under the salary cap.

 

[West Nowra Panther]

TPAs is your answer and it's legal under the salary cap.

I suppose that's the way.

 

[WestyLife]

I suppose that's the way.

Broncos are especially strong with it which is how they can afford hunt.

 

[Fangs]

I do think we have a decent one in Laurie. At his best he is a full time fullback.

Just recent form which has been poor. He just has a shocker in him from time to time and it holds him back. Takes him below decent.

 

[snickers007]

Top 17 spots are extremely limited, and NRL careers are short. Can't blame anyone for taking the cash when it's offered, versus playing NSW Cup for the Panthers and hoping. Especially when you play in a position like Fullback, Halfback or Lock, and you're stuck behind the best of best.

For some players in this position, it's far less about the money, but the opportunity.

Should J'maine Hopgood have waited until the end of 2027 when Yeo retires before taking his spot? Hopgood will be 28 years old at that stage! And all reports on this one indicate that of the 3 clubs interested in him (Panthers, Cowboys and Eels), he chose the least paying - because he could slot straight into the gap in their roster. I reckon Isaiah Iongi, Ryley Smith and Isaiya Katoa would be in a very similar situations money wise.

For others, it absolutely is about the money. Charlie Stains for example. His career peaked in his first 40mins of NRL, and he found a desperate club to give him far more money that he deserved. Within 2 years, he's back playing NSW Cup, and will probably find himself back in the Central West next year.

And then you have the unicorns, who absolutely take the money, but also have the skills to make it work, and find a club who need them, and will built the team around them - eg, Matt Burton.

We can't stockpile talent in reserve grade, the salary cap doesn't allow it. Fringe players don't care about potentially being part of a dynasty by biding their time for years - they just want their shot - and they want it yesterday.

So when you have a 5 year stretch like we've had, where most positions are really locked down - our lower grades are going to see a massive turnover. And the ones who do stay, probably aren't that good. Hell, half of the players we've lost haven't gone on to bigger and better things: The Puru boys, Brad Fearnley, Ativalu Lisati, so many more that I've already forgotten about - all flamed out.

 

[West Nowra Panther]

Top 17 spots are extremely limited, and NRL careers are short. Can't blame anyone for taking the cash when it's offered, versus playing NSW Cup for the Panthers and hoping. Especially when you play in a position like Fullback, Halfback or Lock, and you're stuck behind the best of best.

For some players in this position, it's far less about the money, but the opportunity.

Should J'maine Hopgood have waited until the end of 2027 when Yeo retires before taking his spot? Hopgood will be 28 years old at that stage! And all reports on this one indicate that of the 3 clubs interested in him (Panthers, Cowboys and Eels), he chose the least paying - because he could slot straight into the gap in their roster. I reckon Isaiah Iongi, Ryley Smith and Isaiya Katoa would be in a very similar situations money wise.

For others, it absolutely is about the money. Charlie Stains for example. His career peaked in his first 40mins of NRL, and he found a desperate club to give him far more money that he deserved. Within 2 years, he's back playing NSW Cup, and will probably find himself back in the Central West next year.

And then you have the unicorns, who absolutely take the money, but also have the skills to make it work, and find a club who need them, and will built the team around them - eg, Matt Burton.

We can't stockpile talent in reserve grade, the salary cap doesn't allow it. Fringe players don't care about potentially being part of a dynasty by biding their time for years - they just want their shot - and they want it yesterday.

So when you have a 5 year stretch like we've had, where most positions are really locked down - our lower grades are going to see a massive turnover. And the ones who do stay, probably aren't that good. Hell, half of the players we've lost haven't gone on to bigger and better things: The Puru boys, Brad Fearnley, Ativalu Lisati, so many more that I've already forgotten about - all flamed out.

Great views on the actual happenings.

It would just be nice to have some of the lads who never played first grade and moved for the opportunity, and or the money still at home in reserve stocks to keep this roll going.

 

[BossleyPanther]

My point exactly. How do you think these last few weeks would have been with Katoa and Iongi. A lot different I would say.
I know Bennett threw lots at Katoa but what would it have cost, even keeping under the cap, to have kept Iongi?

I think we would be 4/5

Top 17 spots are extremely limited, and NRL careers are short. Can't blame anyone for taking the cash when it's offered, versus playing NSW Cup for the Panthers and hoping. Especially when you play in a position like Fullback, Halfback or Lock, and you're stuck behind the best of best.

For some players in this position, it's far less about the money, but the opportunity.

Should J'maine Hopgood have waited until the end of 2027 when Yeo retires before taking his spot? Hopgood will be 28 years old at that stage! And all reports on this one indicate that of the 3 clubs interested in him (Panthers, Cowboys and Eels), he chose the least paying - because he could slot straight into the gap in their roster. I reckon Isaiah Iongi, Ryley Smith and Isaiya Katoa would be in a very similar situations money wise.

For others, it absolutely is about the money. Charlie Stains for example. His career peaked in his first 40mins of NRL, and he found a desperate club to give him far more money that he deserved. Within 2 years, he's back playing NSW Cup, and will probably find himself back in the Central West next year.

And then you have the unicorns, who absolutely take the money, but also have the skills to make it work, and find a club who need them, and will built the team around them - eg, Matt Burton.

We can't stockpile talent in reserve grade, the salary cap doesn't allow it. Fringe players don't care about potentially being part of a dynasty by biding their time for years - they just want their shot - and they want it yesterday.

So when you have a 5 year stretch like we've had, where most positions are really locked down - our lower grades are going to see a massive turnover. And the ones who do stay, probably aren't that good. Hell, half of the players we've lost haven't gone on to bigger and better things: The Puru boys, Brad Fearnley, Ativalu Lisati, so many more that I've already forgotten about - all flamed out.

Lasati is another one, he isn't in Melbournes 17, but he would be above Eisenhuth here.

 

[BossleyPanther]

He has put on the kilos https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSr5vE9Cw/

 

[The Realist]

He has put on the kilos https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSr5vE9Cw/

He isn't playing this year. Also what a silly boy dropping 17K on a watch like that!

 

[BossleyPanther]

He isn't playing this year. Also what a silly boy dropping 17K on a watch like that!

He looks like he is on something

 

[Goonji]

I found these comments from Peter Fitzsimmons in todays SMH interesting:

The most astute analysis of how it has all come apart so quickly came from Cooper Cronk on Fox League. When you’ve lost players of the ilk of Jarome Luai, Api Koroisau and Stephen Crichton (among others), they’re difficult to replace, but Cronk’s theme was that what’s compounding their losses is that the team has failed to adapt.

Grosso modo (roughly speaking), he said: “They’re still calling the same plays as if those kind of players were there, and when they were, those plays worked. But the players who have replaced them just can’t do what they did, and so the plays don’t work. They need to come up with new plays.”

Put a fork in the Penrith Panthers. They’re done

A fourth-straight grand final win came just six months ago for the Panthers. Right now, it seems like an eon.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Fangs]

Old rag head can even see it.

Still not going to watch Rugby.

 

[Chins]

I found these comments from Peter Fitzsimmons in todays SMH interesting:

The most astute analysis of how it has all come apart so quickly came from Cooper Cronk on Fox League. When you’ve lost players of the ilk of Jarome Luai, Api Koroisau and Stephen Crichton (among others), they’re difficult to replace, but Cronk’s theme was that what’s compounding their losses is that the team has failed to adapt.

Grosso modo (roughly speaking), he said: “They’re still calling the same plays as if those kind of players were there, and when they were, those plays worked. But the players who have replaced them just can’t do what they did, and so the plays don’t work. They need to come up with new plays.”

Put a fork in the Penrith Panthers. They’re done

A fourth-straight grand final win came just six months ago for the Panthers. Right now, it seems like an eon.

www.smh.com.au

What would that absolute merkin know about anything?

 

[age.s]

Fitzsimmons is the most odious sports journo going around and it's an unbelievably strong field.

 

[Goonji]

What would that absolute merkin know about anything?

Firzsimmons or Cronk?