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Atkinson

Jubilee

Juniors
Messages
770
This is unexpected and brilliant news! I will be watching him closely this year with great interest.

I am now excited about the next couple years and it really is thanks to our wonderful coach who is a serious rugby league man, who like me, wants to win. Wins will start to come now, and a team of motivated players we can be proud of.

Overyjoyed.
I am writing a letteŕ to Fitzy right now, telling him not to let DA get hurt. I am going to send it registered mail so he can't pretend he didn't get it.
 

SAP58

Juniors
Messages
2,050
Messages
21,933
Amazing signing ...
Multi talented , best years ahead of him ..will light up our back line ..
Wondering if the Sharks may even release for next year to ease salary cap pressure
Cant come soon enough
Now for a Prop
depends what you guys offer i guess.

if i were making decisions at the sharks i wouldn't be doing anything to help shane flanagan out for any reason, ever
 

Victoire

Juniors
Messages
1,098
mfw I wake up and realise we've signed Daniel Atkinson

italy-portraits-rugby-league-world-cup.jpg


Feelin good

Such a fabulous signing. Not only for his significant talent on the field - his speed, his presence of mind, playmaking ability and his boot - but for those difference-making qualities that exist beneath the surface: drive, determination and resilience. One of those kids who didn't have a yellow-bricked road career handed to him on a plate. Was part of the Melbourne Storm system and got his debut in 2021 but then grafted as a part timer in the hard slog of the Queensland Cup and didn't play first grade again until 2024. I love this. He then broke out as a star.

And on top of all that, he's joining us for the right reasons too. Not strictly for money, although he's receiving a well-earned and deserved payrise to come on board. But for the opportunity to be a starting half and main man.

It's similar in many ways to his current (soon to be former) teammate Nicho Hynes. Now Hynes may be denigrated by some (not by me) but I'm hoping his journey is mirrored by Atkinson. A talented but battling squad player in a successful club is given the money, the position and the keys to the team at a lower club... Nicho Hynes went on to win a Dally M, make the finals consistently, helped turned Cronulla into a premiership contender and he seems to carve us up every time we play them.

Plus he's Italian, whats not to like
 

Slippery Morris

First Grade
Messages
7,875
Saints should have made a swap with Atko and Hunt and offered to pay half of Hunts salary to move to the Sharks. Pay 500k for Hunt and the remaining of Hunt's salary goes to Atkinson. But Sharks hey, the Sharks are to smart for that as they know they are getting the raw end of the stick with bringing in a such a super loyal, game managing, stat filler player like Hunt on board.
 

Parko1310

Juniors
Messages
1,458
I've seen some people (mainly in denial Sharks supporters) talking about 500k a season being some sort of exorbitant price. He's been bought to be a starting 5/8, whether it works out remains to be seen, but 500k isn't a huge percentage of the cap on one of your starting halves at all. In fact it's cheap for a starting 6. Baffling to me as it seems reasonable enough of a price for a key position, plus it's not going to be 500k each year anyway. 26' he will probably be on a lower rate, with the deal increasing each year.
 
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justadragon

Bench
Messages
4,074
Now I am hoping LKT doesn't decide to move on at the end of 2025. This is in fact good for him in the longer view as Atkinson could be his future halves partner.
LKT. Needs at least 12 months of development. I dare say Flanno would have already talked to the young fella. He can either take Flanno’s advice or follow in the footsteps of Sullivan. with Flanno players will learn he does not f$&k around like our previous 3 stooges.
 

justadragon

Bench
Messages
4,074
I've seen some people (mainly in denial Sharks supporters) talking about 500k a season being some sort of exorbitant price. He's been bought to be a starting 5/8, whether it works out remains to be seen, but 500k isn't a huge percentage of the cap on one of your starting halves at all. In fact it's cheap for a starting 6. Baffling to me as it seems reasonable enough of a price for a key position, plus it's not going to be 500k each year anyway. 26' he will probably be on a lower rate, with the deal increasing each year.
It’s only exorbitant because they couldn’t match it. It’s about time there was a payback.
 

Jubilee

Juniors
Messages
770
I've seen some people (mainly in denial Sharks supporters) talking about 500k a season being some sort exorbitant price. He's been bought to be a starting 5/8, whether it works out remains to be seen, but 500k isn't a huge percentage of the cap on one of your starting halves at all. In fact it's cheap for a starting 6. Baffling to me as it seems reasonable enough of a price for a key position, plus it's not going to be 500k each year anyway. 26' he will probably be on a lower rate, with the deal increasing each year.
$500k is only excessive if he doesn't play first grade. To compare, Sullivan is on $500k for four years (!) at wests and will play zero firsts. Sloan is on $500k for the next two years and may play firsts wing or only occasionally perhaps fullback, but we had no choice but to sign him at the time. Atkinson will play every game and will be a first grade linchpin. So he is value.
 

jak

Bench
Messages
3,462
Click on the link to Watch DA win a game for his team by kicking a field goal. Something "Thinking Ben" NEVER did. DA kicks goals as well.

Something Ben hunt never got done.
 
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TheRev

Coach
Messages
11,600
I've seen some people (mainly in denial Sharks supporters) talking about 500k a season being some sort of exorbitant price.
It's an absolute bargain, especially to pull a player out of a rival club... will probably need an upgrade in 1-2yrs if he goes better than expected.. but thats a good problem to have.

Just hope we can prise him free early.. I wanna get on with it and build combinations asap...... but it is what it is.
 
Messages
21,933
It's an absolute bargain, especially to pull a player out of a rival club... will probably need an upgrade in 1-2yrs if he goes better than expected.. but thats a good problem to have.

Just hope we can prise him free early.. I wanna get on with it and build combinations asap...... but it is what it is.
you will only get him this year if theres somebody coming back
even then, i personally wouldnt do it anyway
 
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