Roundtable: Transfer winners & losers Pt 2
CK: The other team with a lot of names in the 'incoming' column is the Warriors. No need to dwell on how disastrous they were in 2017 but do Tohu Harris, Adam Blair, Peta Hiku, Vaha Pulu and Gerard Beale correct what was wrong with them?
Tony: I'm not convinced.
Gabz: Nor I.
Dom: It's impossible to tell with the Warriors. People have rated them a top-four team based on star recruits in the past, and they haven't come close.
CK: Well I don't want to death-ride them this early because I'd love to see them realise their potential but I can see them battling for the spoon next year.
Tony: It's ridiculous to suggest that group of players added to an already strong roster shouldn't make them a better team but we won't know for sure until about Round 6.
Gabz: I've got them getting the spoon. Harris is a great get on the left edge but I'm not overly sold on some of the other purchases. The loss of Kieran Foran hurts. I appreciate he wasn't at his best in 2017, but he was the player Shaun Johnson needed. I'm not sure they have the right personnel to replace him.
Tony: They've got six players in the current Kiwi team and we're talking about them getting the wooden spoon. Incredible.
Dom: Yeah I can't quite fathom a team with that quality and someone like Shaun Johnson pulling the strings finishing last, but again, it's impossible to predict what the Warriors will do.
Gabz: I want them to success. Maybe it's a reverse mock after years of tipping them to do well.
Gabz: Succeed*
CK: I want them to success as much as anyone.
Dom: Ha
Alicia: It's interesting because
I wrote a story after talking to Elijah Taylor in September and he said they needed more Australian-based players at the club who have come through strong Australian systems. Kearney has bought three in Blair, Beale and Harris who are either premiership winners or grand finalists in the last three years.
And they're all Kiwis too.
CK: They've bought a ton of Kiwis – Beale, Blair, Harris, Hiku, Love-Henry, Pulu, Cherrington. Given that stance from Elijah it's a concerning recruitment strategy.
Alicia: And lost Ryan Hoffman and Jacob Lillyman. Agree it's the total opposite Elijah is talking about.
Dom: Any other picks for impressive recruitment efforts? A couple of others have gone with quality over quantity so far.
Tony: One for me; the Roosters. And imagine if they add Cronk into the mix.
Gabz: Can a team with one signing win the trade period? I vote yes.
CK: Quite a few in that category. Jordan McLean to Cowboys, Tedesco to Roosters, Jack Bird to Broncos. Kane Evans looks a good fit for an Eels team that was low on size in 2017. But agree, throw Teddy into the 2017 Roosters and it's scary what they could do in '18.
Dom: I've got them equal favourites with the Cowboys to win it in 2018 – both good teams who have added one excellent player to the mix.
Gabz: Tedesco was unstoppable in a struggling team. Imagine how he'll go playing behind a representative pack!
Alicia: Do we underestimate who the Roosters lost though or think they'll be fine? Guerra, Watson, Kane Evans....
CK: Roosters do have some big names outgoing but they weren't using Watson much outside injuries and Evans less so. Guerra came good but their pack is still ridiculous without him.
Gabz: Nat Butcher and Victor Radley are waiting in the wings.
CK: Yeah Roosters will be fine.
Potentially Foran and Woods to the Dogs could be massive too. But Foran has hardly been the panacea for his past two clubs...
Gabz: How long have you been waiting to use that word?
Dom: The Dogs will be really interesting next year, for a few reasons.
Alicia: Cowboys welcoming back Scott and Thurston is like two key signings in itself. They're solid pick-ups, I'd say.
Dom: Massive, considering Michael Morgan has become a legit superstar in the meantime.
CK: Agree, not only adding JT and Scott back in but adding them back in to a team that has evolved impressively in their absence.
Tony: So which teams are potentially on the slide? They will somehow find a way to finish top four regardless but a lot of quality leaving Melbourne this off-season.
Dom: The Storm will be pretty fascinating next season without Cronk. At least they've kept Slater for another year.
Gabz: True, but Sam Kasiano will probably captain the Kiwis next year and Ryan Hoffman will play Origin given Craig Bellamy's ability to find the best in his players. Brodie Croft was also outstanding when he was called upon. If Cronk stays on as a halves consultant then he'll be fine.
CK: Yeah they've got Hoffman back very late in his career. Will be interesting to see if Pat Kaufusi can find something like the improvement Felise found this year.
Tony: The Broncos also look very light-on up front unless they can get Matt Lodge over the line with Blair, Ese'ese and Arrow all departing.
Alicia: I wouldn't say they'll be on the slide as such because they're traditionally a dominant club but Brisbane are taking a bit of a risk with the Jack Bird signing for mine and have lost some depth in the forwards. He'll likely move to lock and free up Josh McGuire into the pack but with no halfback depth too after losing Hunt and Marshall it will be interesting.
Gabz: Yeah the halves situation looks worrying. They had too many playmakers last season. Now they're stretched.
Tony: There's not an obvious half/hooker back-up at the Broncos now at all.
CK: Lots of talk about Bird playing 13. Surely not?
Gabz: He wants to be 'on the ball' so I wouldn't be surprised to see him shift to lock or even five-eighth if need be.
Tony: I think that's the way they'll go. You can't pair Milford and Bird in the halves I don't believe. Given his form in Q Cup and the fact that he is an absolutely massive human having Lodge could solve a couple of issues. Got great hands for a big bloke too.
CK: Five-eighth looks his best spot for mine. But Milford is much more a 6 than a 7. A Milf-Bird halves combo doesn't look the answer.
Gabz: Bennett can always go left field and play him at FB and shift Boyd to the halves.
Dom: They're a team of five-eighths all of a sudden...
Alicia: It doesn't sound like much thought went into the signing from a Broncos angle.
Tony: He's a wonderful player. Wayne will work out where he best fits and shuffle the team to suit. If only Ash Taylor were available...
Dom: Before we finish up, any bold predictions for player moves to expect between now and next March?
Tony: Cameron Smith to the Rabbitohs would help their prospects no end.
Dom: Wow. Although that probably could be said for a lot of teams.
Gabz: I'll go out on a limb and say Cronk retires.
CK: Suspect there will be plenty more movement. Knights still with considerable cap space. Eels and Sea Eagles with enough room for some solid signings.
Alicia: Knights to nab a centre. Let's go with Josh Morris.
Tony: I would have loved to have seen James Maloney go to the Knights. Thought that was a great fit for both parties that would have made them top eight contenders almost overnight.
Alicia: Didn't a lot of it depend on whether Cronk went there? So much speculation out there.
Gabz: Bodene Thompson has to sign somewhere, Lichaa will extend his stay at the Bulldogs and I'll say Brett Morris will end up at Souths.
Tony: Darius Boyd to sign with the Broncos at some stage before Christmas.
Gabz: Also Jayden Nikorima back to the Broncos.
CK: Manly will get a back rower. Bodene and Joel Thompson both mooted. Eels will get another prop. Knights will definitely get at least one more three-quarter.
Tony: It will be criminal if Joel Thompson has to leave the Dragons.
Alicia: Oh yes, one more... Matt Moylan won't be at Penrith. My tip is Wests Tigers.
Tony: Bombshell!
Dom: OK thanks guys let's wrap it up there.
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