AFB/BHU the swap is on

[Frenzy.]

Jack Williams is still off contract end of the season, wonder how that'll play out too.

He'll be re signed fo sho!

Round 1 will be his 100th game for the Sharks. He's going to get better.

 

[Tiger Shark]

Very keen on watching this blokes progress.

I’m not. Been far from impressed the games I saw when he played for the Jets. He’s not a first grader imo.

Probably turn out to be a gun.

 

[Frenzy.]

I’m not. Been far from impressed the games I saw when he played for the Jets. He’s not a first grader imo.

Probably turn out to be a gun.

Didn't do much for me either. Interested due to comments CF made about him. Seems to be he thinks more of him than any of us.

 

[sladden road]

Im with the Doc. This is ducks and drakes. AFB in Feb and BHU to Nz.
f**k yeah.
we win this trade.
Get AFB now. It is written.
Any other malaky..don’t give a fug.

AFB now.

 

[R-15-3]

Agree showed very little last year but if his fitness improves 10 fold and can give us 15-20 min of his best week in week out could be very handy off the bench

 

[Tiger Shark]

Didn't do much for me either. Interested due to comments CF made about him. Seems to be he thinks more of him than any of us.

What would he know

 

[Mr Angry]

Jack Williams is still off contract end of the season, wonder how that'll play out too.

Hopefully somewhere else and we keep Uele.

 

[Mr Angry]

Apparently Fitz thinks very, very highly on J.Williams. I doubt he moves on.

Disappointing, but unsurprising.

 

[Cheese sandwich]

Hopefully somewhere else and we keep Uele.

I used to agree with you about williams but thought he was quite good last season.

 

[imasharkie]

I used to agree with you about williams but thought he was quite good last season.

Williams is a bit on the small side and gets manhandled and gives away penalties in his tackles, he looks bigger than Macinnes but doesn't tackle as strongly.

 

[Tiger Shark]

He'll be re signed fo sho!

Round 1 will be his 100th game for the Sharks. He's going to get better.

If we have tabled BHU an offer I'd be surprised if we haven't or aren't going to table WIlliams one.

 

[Stake Removed]

Let's say Uele goes and considering the offer put forward by Warriors we will not match that he is 29 this will be biggest contract he will get, in replacing him.
Off contract this year forwards are Colquhoun and Williams assuming they stay and we have AFB here in 2025, we are already stocked well.
I believe the offer for Uele is around $550k who could we get for that and what type of prop are we wanting 55-60 mins or 25-40.
A quick look these are the the possibles I can see of course all won't agree.
If looking at signing one
T.Burgess is 31 linked to UK would be some extra aggression 1-2 year deal
S.Hughes the young Bulldogs player ex shark junior shapes as good young prop
Terrell May this kid has agression rooster don't normally lose players though
F.Molo not popular I am guessing but makes big metres in a bad team a chance to play at sharks
O.Ogden has done well off bench could do similar job here
JWH will probably retire but 1 year here taking Roosters don't win comp this year, might be the extra key to get us over the line

 

[coolumsharkie]

I'll go against the grain and say we hang on to BHU. His best years are infront of him imo. There's a fair bit of loyalty within the squad with some belief to go all the way, which will be in the back of Uele's mind knowing AFB is coming.

 

[Frenzy.]

Let's say Uele goes and considering the offer put forward by Warriors we will not match that he is 29 this will be biggest contract he will get, in replacing him.
Off contract this year forwards are Colquhoun and Williams assuming they stay and we have AFB here in 2025, we are already stocked well.
I believe the offer for Uele is around $550k who could we get for that and what type of prop are we wanting 55-60 mins or 25-40.
A quick look these are the the possibles I can see of course all won't agree.
If looking at signing one
T.Burgess is 31 linked to UK would be some extra aggression 1-2 year deal
S.Hughes the young Bulldogs player ex shark junior shapes as good young prop
Terrell May this kid has agression rooster don't normally lose players though
F.Molo not popular I am guessing but makes big metres in a bad team a chance to play at sharks
O.Ogden has done well off bench could do similar job here
JWH will probably retire but 1 year here taking Roosters don't win comp this year, might be the extra key to get us over the line

Contracts start on November 1. We've already paid him 3 months. Means we don't have $550k. More like appro $412k. AFB has been paid 3 months as well of course so we'd be in for him for less but remember he's on a million for this year and he can't be paid less. So that's approx $750k still owed to him for the remainder of 2024. We also still have a spot to fill before June.

I reckon we'd need a minimum wage player and/or another release or non retention.

 

[Frenzy.]

I'll go against the grain and say we hang on to BHU. His best years are infront of him imo. There's a fair bit of loyalty within the squad with some belief to go all the way, which will be in the back of Uele's mind knowing AFB is coming.

If BHU can stay fit, avoid getting broken and get back to his best does 2025 look better with starting props of BHU and AFB or AFB and a nuffie?

 

[Dragon Slayer]

The fact the Sharks tabled an offer to BHU whilst negotiating for AFB says we can afford both at the money we are offering BHU. This also says they would like to have both here for 2025 and beyond.

But all depends if BHU is satisfied with the offer and dreams of a Premiership charge with the Sharks. Also if the Club has any wriggle room to close the gap on the Warriors offer and if they even want to up their offer. At 29 with his injury history he may see the Warriors offer too good to pass up.

Sounds exciting possibly getting AFB this year but also sounds even better if we can have both in 2025 to really solidify our middles. I doubt this drags on for too long. I reckon this is sorted before Round 1.

 

[Mr Angry]

I used to agree with you about williams but thought he was quite good last season.

T'was his best season, serviceable, far from our best forward, not a blip on any rep radar, did a decent job off the bench.

Forwards do take time to mature.

Anyway, more interested in the backs.

 

[Special K]

How do you get to a certain level in the sport and be that unfit?

I think it is just the size of the guy. The stories of him (and another fringe guy) floating around the shire about the effort I think are encouraging.

Also factor in Fitz spent 2-3 years before the last 18 months at the Sharks with him. He must see something.

 

[fizman]

Our beloved Toby is not a Prop in my view, his very best football was when he was playing in the 12 for Redcliffe QRL - wide running 2nd Rower - Briton Nikora-esque in terms of running lines.

He is the player I would be moving on. I love him, he works and trains hard, great character - all good things, but he isn't a Prop.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion around the Lock position which I believe is still a problem for us. I proposed that Sifa may be a solution in the mold of a Gallen (Not there yet!) but I certainly don't believe McInnes or Finucane are the solution.

Ideally, I want my Lock to be able to kick, pass and run - a bulked up Blayke Brailey may be a possibility.

 

[Frenzy.]

Our beloved Toby is not a Prop in my view, his very best football was when he was playing in the 12 for Redcliffe QRL - wide running 2nd Rower - Briton Nikora-esque in terms of running lines.

He is the player I would be moving on. I love him, he works and trains hard, great character - all good things, but he isn't a Prop.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion around the Lock position which I believe is still a problem for us. I proposed that Sifa may be a solution in the mold of a Gallen (Not there yet!) but I certainly don't believe McInnes or Finucane are the solution.

Ideally, I want my Lock to be able to kick, pass and run - a bulked up Blayke Brailey may be a possibility.

The balance of the pack is still off. Trindall (90kg/5'11") could probably play lock and before everyone says he's too small he's pretty much the same size as Cam Murray (90kg/6') and Vic Radley (92kg/5'11") with a kicking game which they don't have. But what the Roosters and Rabbits have that we don't is behemoths in front of the lock to balance their packs. Although I would love to have a 5th spine player in the form of a lock The Sharks have to play a bigger and/or harder body to balance out the deficiency in size ahead of the lock.

My concern is that Sifa would lose some of his silk and be a pack horse. Has the skills to be a Spine 5 player but also has the build and strength to fill a Finucane/McInnes type role.

I wonder if anyone else has an elephant in the room. I do. I think suggestions need to be made to Finucane about retirement. He hasn't gone forward in any way since he came to us really and in terms of onfield role The Sharks have only gotten 30 games out of him in 2 years and 2 were semis. He's in the crock pot and very nearly done.