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2019 Discussion

mxlegend99

Referee
Messages
23,327
what is they turned out to be decent? They are gone after this season, Unlike RCG who still has years left to stink it up.
I know you seem to think the top 30 has no meaning and we can just pick anyone we want. But while we have fit players we aren't going to get an exemption for anyone outside of our top 30 and through this injury crisis will be stuck with these rejects in our top 17.

We're a development club and we've wasted a bunch of spots on guys who weren't good enough for top 30 spots at their previous clubs. While letting the likes of Keighran, Sivo, Waddell etc. go because they are too good for reserve grade. We have sabotaged our own depth to give players better opportunities elsewhere and then throw contracts at players no one wanted... yet somehow people think it's a good thing our roster is rounded out with proven failures instead of potential stars?

RCG is massively overpaid and underperforming. That doesn't make him shit. It makes him a bad investement. Fuimaono and Winterstein are both shit and bad investments. Those top 30 spots could have been put to better use.

What bothers me most is that these signings have gone full circle and are the same type of signings we made when Gus first arrived. I hated them back then aswell but there was a logic behind them... Gus brought in a bunch of journeyman to take the losses while we waited on guys to develop without it being in a losing environment. Once our junior base was setup we started filling our squad from that to compliment our NRL squad... and should only be hitting the market to fill in the gaps with players who fill in the gaps of what we can't develop.

Winterstein and Fuimaono do not fill a gap we couldn't cover. But hey if everyone here is happy watching them run around in our jersey then good on them. If there's a game we could possibly win with a reserve grade line-up it's this one against the Tigers. Be a nice way to bookend our losing streak. With wins against Tigers either side of it.
 

Abacus

Juniors
Messages
2,128
I don't understand the point of these rules at all. If they are contracted to us somewhere in our system, why can't they play? Wages are then included in the salary cap for those games. If their salary is less than Nrl minimum wage (which it might be if they are in Flegg or such like) then include the pro rata minimum wage in the cap. Simple. This top 30, development player crap is baffling.
I think it was intended to stop stockpiling of players. So teams couldn't have 40 NRL-capable players. Now guys don't want to be player 31 at a club so they look to move - balancing talent.
 

Pomoz

Bench
Messages
2,989
I think it was intended to stop stockpiling of players. So teams couldn't have 40 NRL-capable players. Now guys don't want to be player 31 at a club so they look to move - balancing talent.
Still makes no sense if you want to bring a player up from u20's or Jersey Flegg. You can't stockpile players unless they are the right age in the juniors. Fair enough for the NSW/Qld cup.
 

Abacus

Juniors
Messages
2,128
Still makes no sense if you want to bring a player up from u20's or Jersey Flegg. You can't stockpile players unless they are the right age in the juniors. Fair enough for the NSW/Qld cup.
Thats why there's the development players. Again, after 5 of those in your Top 30 any NRL-capable player (whatever age) will look for a spot in a top 30. Let's face it, if your not in the top 5 players in your age group at your club then you're a long shot to crack NRL there.

Not saying I agree with the logic but I think that was the intention.
 

Pomoz

Bench
Messages
2,989
What evil are they trying to stop at junior level? Players could improve dramatically, as juniors tend to do, and suddenly be needed. Pick 5 and hope you get it right. Sounds like contrived bollox to me.
 

Panfa

Juniors
Messages
1,265
Maloney fighting his charges as we speak if hes not guilty free to play if found guilty will miss 2 weeks.
 

franklin2323

Immortal
Messages
33,546
I know you seem to think the top 30 has no meaning and we can just pick anyone we want. But while we have fit players we aren't going to get an exemption for anyone outside of our top 30 and through this injury crisis will be stuck with these rejects in our top 17.

We're a development club and we've wasted a bunch of spots on guys who weren't good enough for top 30 spots at their previous clubs. While letting the likes of Keighran, Sivo, Waddell etc. go because they are too good for reserve grade. We have sabotaged our own depth to give players better opportunities elsewhere and then throw contracts at players no one wanted... yet somehow people think it's a good thing our roster is rounded out with proven failures instead of potential stars?

RCG is massively overpaid and underperforming. That doesn't make him shit. It makes him a bad investement. Fuimaono and Winterstein are both shit and bad investments. Those top 30 spots could have been put to better use.

What bothers me most is that these signings have gone full circle and are the same type of signings we made when Gus first arrived. I hated them back then aswell but there was a logic behind them... Gus brought in a bunch of journeyman to take the losses while we waited on guys to develop without it being in a losing environment. Once our junior base was setup we started filling our squad from that to compliment our NRL squad... and should only be hitting the market to fill in the gaps with players who fill in the gaps of what we can't develop.

Winterstein and Fuimaono do not fill a gap we couldn't cover. But hey if everyone here is happy watching them run around in our jersey then good on them. If there's a game we could possibly win with a reserve grade line-up it's this one against the Tigers. Be a nice way to bookend our losing streak. With wins against Tigers either side of it.

Waddell was gone before we signed anyone. Family ties there along with his injury last year meant he was low on the list.

Of course it matters who is top 30 but we currently have 28 players. Had to name 3 injured guys to make 21 this week. So have flexibility.

Who'd play in their place if those 3 weren't here counted Sele in there 2? Come June 30 the development squad can play.

Burns and Blore look long term prospects but say you put them in top 30 and they aren't ready. You have choice to play them this way you have 30 the coach will use.

But then have 3 extra spots the next year... Or you take the punt on a kid long term and have no roster flexibilty if they are a dud
 

The Realist

Juniors
Messages
1,884
All I'm trying to say is we rolled our dice with certain players and to our misfortune, it has backfired.

Some clubs tend to do well with their rolls of the dice, ours traditionally does poorly. It is all about having good management making smart choices. We don't have good management. We drift from bad, to indifferent, to appalling.
 

age.s

First Grade
Messages
7,811
Wintersteins actually been decent for us the couple of games he’s played. Definite value for money - pending no major injuries.

Yeah this. He's not a dude you build a team around but I seriously doubt we're paying him like one.
 

Aliceinwonderland

First Grade
Messages
7,868
Particularly given he was released by Manly just before season start so we won't be paying full freight.



Exactly.

I think Dylan Edwards is probably on the way out. North Qld very keen. As long as he goes 'freehold' without us paying, that's fine by me.

Good player but behind atekins and DWZ

Is any thereone special Daz comming up from junior ranks to give some depth ?
 
Messages
21,880
Exactly.

I think Dylan Edwards is probably on the way out. North Qld very keen. As long as he goes 'freehold' without us paying, that's fine by me.

Good player but behind atekins and DWZ

Is any thereone special Daz comming up from junior ranks to give some depth ?


I think it'd be a mistake to give up on Edwards so easily. He doesn't cost a huge amount, and Aekins & DWZ are versatile players in the backline. If Edwards regains form & confidence we could easily look at moving Aekins to the centres & DWZ back on the wing.

He probably should've returned via reserves after such a significant injury.
 

Aliceinwonderland

First Grade
Messages
7,868
I think it'd be a mistake to give up on Edwards so easily. He doesn't cost a huge amount, and Aekins & DWZ are versatile players in the backline. If Edwards regains form & confidence we could easily look at moving Aekins to the centres & DWZ back on the wing.

He probably should've returned via reserves after such a significant injury.




I totally agree. The problem is players get the 'poops' when put back to reggies. At the moment he's very low on confidence and wasn't playing great in NRL. Think Atekins offers more at the moment. As Edwards doesn't have a kicking nor passing game.
 
Messages
21,880
I totally agree. The problem is players get the 'poops' when put back to reggies. At the moment he's very low on confidence and wasn't playing great in NRL. Think Atekins offers more at the moment. As Edwards doesn't have a kicking nor passing game.

Some players react badly, others use it as inspiration. He deserved to be dropped, but finding him another club so easily is a touch drastic.

Aekins looks solid so far, but I would't say anything more than that.
 

pantherbhoy

Juniors
Messages
2
Some players react badly, others use it as inspiration. He deserved to be dropped, but finding him another club so easily is a touch drastic.
t.

Exactly this, we all know what he is capable of when right.
Form is temporary, not sure I would be going to the extreme of moving him on at this stage.
Still only very young. Not prepared to write him off yet, that could come back and bite us
 

Crashtest

Juniors
Messages
1,189
The SMH reporting that we have given Edwards permission to look around. Unless they have identified a replacement, seems a stupid idea to me to leave Aekins as our only genuine fullback:


https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/panthers-attempt-to-squeeze-out-dylan-edwards-20190508-p51la8.html

After starting at fullback in the opening four rounds, he was shifted to the wing before being dropped altogether to reserve grade. With Caleb Aitkens now coach Ivan Cleary’s preferred fullback, the Panthers are allowing Edwards to explore his options despite him having more than two-and-a-half years to run on his contract.

North Queensland, yet to settle on a full-time fullback, have emerged as a potential destination.
Another option is the Gold Coast, where veteran custodian Michael Gordon is off contract and nearing the end of his career. It’s understood both Queensland clubs are watching Edwards’ situation at the foot of the mountains with interest.
 

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