Rumoured and Confirmed signings - Part 4

[MrBlack]

Ah yeah every off season people whinge. To me who cares as long as the convo keeps going despite no footy

I hate the off season - hate it even more that it has started so early for us......

 

[hindy111]

Dugan is certainly on the older side but at 29 not finished. He would still be a great option at centre or fullback and would provide experience and wont cost too much. Just like MJ and his new deal for the eels.

 

[ACTPanthers]

Dugan is certainly on the older side but at 29 not finished. He would still be a great option at centre or fullback and would provide experience and wont cost too much. Just like MJ and his new deal for the eels.

The bloke gets injured wiping his nose... Any money spent on him is a waste for the most part

 

[hindy111]

The bloke gets injured wiping his nose... Any money spent on him is a waste for the most part

22 games from 24 this year.

 

[ACTPanthers]

22 games from 24 this year.

1 season out of how many? You can't honestly say that given his injury history, you wouldn't be hesitant to sign him?

 

[mxlegend99]

I dont rate Dugan highly. But he's sadly still an upgrade on Whare and Naden as a centre. Definitely a downgrade on Blake though.

If we cant sign a genuinely good young centre like Scott ... I would prefer we tried to develop our centres from the likes of Crichton, Burns, Luai etc. Hell even Yeo with a busted shoulder could match Dugan at centre.

But if we did add Dugan and it meant Naden or Whare not in the centres it would be a slight improvement atleast

 

[Tronald Crump]

22 games from 24 this year.

More like 19 games. 3 times this year during games he has broken down and not finished the match.
He has done that a lot over the years.

No way to Dugan he is selfish injury prone sook.

 

[MrBlack]

I dont rate Dugan highly. But he's sadly still an upgrade on Whare and Naden as a centre. Definitely a downgrade on Blake though.

If we cant sign a genuinely good young centre like Scott ... I would prefer we tried to develop our centres from the likes of Crichton, Burns, Luai etc. Hell even Yeo with a busted shoulder could match Dugan at centre.

But if we did add Dugan and it meant Naden or Whare not in the centres it would be a slight improvement atleast

Naden just needs a good off season to iron out a few creases in his game. We've all seen the potential, just need to see some consistency and a few better options taken in his game.

Whare, has been great for the club, but now it almost time to call stumps. Dugan would not be much of an upgrade here. To think he will earn $800k next year at the sharks..... For that kind of money, he will dig in so far that you wont be able to see his legs.

My vote is for Scott, or even our forgotten man Peachy (still a chance??)

 

[herbert henry1908]

Centre is definitely the biggest puzzle for next year. There’s some options for developing a centre from our young players, but would we go with two inexperienced centres? It’s an important defensive position.

Chricton makes the most sense as he’s played the spot through the ranks. Naden is prefer to see moved to the wing. I know he isn’t the fastest, but neither is Mansour and Naden offers more than Mansour in attack.

Other centre spot would be great if we could recruit.

 

[franklin2323]

Centre is definitely the biggest puzzle for next year. There’s some options for developing a centre from our young players, but would we go with two inexperienced centres? It’s an important defensive position.

Chricton makes the most sense as he’s played the spot through the ranks. Naden is prefer to see moved to the wing. I know he isn’t the fastest, but neither is Mansour and Naden offers more than Mansour in attack.

Other centre spot would be great if we could recruit.

I still think we need a centre but there is options if we don't. I'd go after Oates and Scott but atm I would have this as our top backline:

Edwards
Naden/Crichton
Luai/Burton
Burns
To'o
Burton/Luai
Cleary

If no one is left to get if we stack the forwards with Mansour to go back from the Pack and Whare and MWZ in NSW we would have enough out wide..Assuming we stack the rest of the side.

Though backs would be top of my list

 

[Kilkenny]

I still think we need a centre but there is options if we don't. I'd go after Oates and Scott but atm I would have this as our top backline:

Edwards
Naden/Crichton
Luai/Burton
Burns
To'o
Burton/Luai
Cleary

If no one is left to get if we stack the forwards with Mansour to go back from the Pack and Whare and MWZ in NSW we would have enough out wide..Assuming we stack the rest of the side.

Though backs would be top of my list

If the above is the backline we have to rely on in 2020 we are almost certainly doomed.

I’ll never understand why some of you have this infatuation with picking back rowers in the centres and or five eights now as well.

 

[mxlegend99]

If the above is the backline we have to rely on in 2020 we are almost certainly doomed.

I’ll never understand why some of you have this infatuation with picking back rowers in the centres and or five eights now as well.

Because Whare is well beyond his best and Naden lacks the defense and passing game of a centre... and really doesn't read the game well either.

I think we would all prefer to sign a specialist centre. But failing that just seeing anyone who might have less flaws get a crack is all we are hoping for.

Naden has a lot of talent but looks better suited to wing. Him replacing Mansour should atleast give us a decent back 3 again. But our centre options suck unless we think outside the box about fixing them. Peachey made a handy centre shifting from the backrow.

Luai IMO has the attributes of a great attacking centre... and should be able learn to defend better at centre than Naden has. But until we see him given a real shot we cant know for sure. He certainly wasnt bad in replacing Naden against Knights. And even did well on wing when asked to move.

 

[Kilkenny]

Josh Dugan and the likes simply ain’t gonna happen and nor should it.

Same deal with Curtis Scott we simply aren’t going to sign the likes of him and I suspect he will stay with the Storm.

Looking at someone like Solomone Kata from the Storm would be a better idea, low cost, low risk, plenty of first grade experience and is capable of being a damaging centre. Still young at 25 and given he hasn’t had a look in at the Storm could be someone well worth looking at.

 

[Kilkenny]

Because Whare is well beyond his best and Naden lacks the defense and passing game of a centre... and really doesn't read the game well either.

I think we would all prefer to sign a specialist centre. But failing that just seeing anyone who might have less flaws get a crack is all we are hoping for.

Naden has a lot of talent but looks better suited to wing. Him replacing Mansour should atleast give us a decent back 3 again. But our centre options suck unless we think outside the box about fixing them. Peachey made a handy centre shifting from the backrow.

Luai IMO has the attributes of a great attacking centre... and should be able learn to defend better at centre than Naden has. But until we see him given a real shot we cant know for sure. He certainly wasnt bad in replacing Naden against Knights. And even did well on wing when asked to move.

Disagree 100% picking makeshifts may work for a game or two but rarely long term.

I assume we are almost certainly going to recruit one or two outside backs, who they are time will tell, but if we don’t we would be better looking at a specialist like Matheson Johns than a makeshift in Laui/Burton/Burns.

 

[herbert henry1908]

I still think we need a centre but there is options if we don't. I'd go after Oates and Scott but atm I would have this as our top backline:

Edwards
Naden/Crichton
Luai/Burton
Burns
To'o
Burton/Luai
Cleary

If no one is left to get if we stack the forwards with Mansour to go back from the Pack and Whare and MWZ in NSW we would have enough out wide..Assuming we stack the rest of the side.

Though backs would be top of my list

Has burns played centre in the juniors?

I’m not convinced about Luai at centre, he has a big enough frame, but his defence leaves a bit to be desired. He’ll really need to improve on it.

 

[franklin2323]

Disagree 100% picking makeshifts may work for a game or two but rarely long term.

I assume we are almost certainly going to recruit one or two outside backs, who they are time will tell, but if we don’t we would be better looking at a specialist like Matheson Johns than a makeshift in Laui/Burton/Burns.

There isn't a single player in the NRL that hasn't played in several positions. Some like Wade Graham are actually better playing in their new position.

Curtis Scott would be my centre to target but no idea the cost of him or even if he will get released as rumoured

 

[franklin2323]

Has burns played centre in the juniors?

I’m not convinced about Luai at centre, he has a big enough frame, but his defence leaves a bit to be desired. He’ll really need to improve on it.

He played at centre on his NYC debut. For me I am a pick your best 17 and go from there way of thinking. Hopefully we sign Scott and we don't need to worry

 

[franklin2323]

Because Whare is well beyond his best and Naden lacks the defense and passing game of a centre... and really doesn't read the game well either.

I think we would all prefer to sign a specialist centre. But failing that just seeing anyone who might have less flaws get a crack is all we are hoping for.

Naden has a lot of talent but looks better suited to wing. Him replacing Mansour should atleast give us a decent back 3 again. But our centre options suck unless we think outside the box about fixing them. Peachey made a handy centre shifting from the backrow.

Luai IMO has the attributes of a great attacking centre... and should be able learn to defend better at centre than Naden has. But until we see him given a real shot we cant know for sure. He certainly wasnt bad in replacing Naden against Knights. And even did well on wing when asked to move.

I see it as also Burton better 6 than Luai.

Yeo, Kikau, Martin backrow

So do we put Burns and Luai in NSW Cup and play inferior specialist centres or move someone that can probably do the role? i'd rather get the best 17 guys in the team if it works.

If not then Naden and Whare come back in

 

[Kilkenny]

There isn't a single player in the NRL that hasn't played in several positions. Some like Wade Graham are actually better playing in their new position.

Curtis Scott would be my centre to target but no idea the cost of him or even if he will get released as rumoured

Scott would be great, just what we need (other than the fact he has had some off field issues) but but would come at a cost and the Storm aren’t about to let him leave anyway.

There are many examples of outside backs who have transitioned into the forwards but not many examples of forwards who have transitioned the other way.

We would be doing a disservice to the likes of Laui/Burton/Burns to try and turn them into something they simply aren’t capable of long term.

 

[Kilkenny]

At the end of the day this discussion is probably best answered once we find out the two outside backs Ivan Cleary brings in because clearly we are going to recruit outside backs. I assume we will know who are recruits will be in the very near future particularly if they are from sides no longer in the running.