Ben Smith Commits Long Term To The Eels

[Stagger eel]

lol eela i think it's time for your nap now. I've just wasted valuable Xbox time arguing over this, how could i live with myself.

that's alright I've just about missed the replay of underbelly..which I could watch 4 times over. ;-)

but hey that's cool..

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Imo 4 years is too long for a at risk average to good player recovering from injury and being forced to play out of his preferred position. 1 - 2year contract extension maximum would have been a better option Imo.....

Totally agree, my whole argument. TBH i wouldn't have re-signed him period.

We have come to know that every year brings in a few fresh young faces, last year it was Inu, Weller, Paulo etc this year hopefully Williams, KK, Tautai etc this is why prioritising and being extremely merticulous and thinking long term is vital!! i'm sure the coaches are, however sometimes i cannot not help but feel that friendships influence desicions, and why wouldn't it? the same happend in the workplace.

Anyway, i hope to god i'm wrong on this one, and i will have no problem in acknowling yet, hell i'll even let eela use it as his sig, but if i'm right.........the consequences will be a thread like the one for the souffs fans which were giving us ahit about Hayne ;-) well maybe not to that extent, but my ego will be even bigger;-)

 

[JessEel]

well just so everyone knows.... I'm happy!


i know that you were all waiting for it :lol:


im not wading into the arguement, im not saying a word, just expressing my feelings on the news! yay!

 

[Twizzle]

I think its a good signing

None of us know the terms of the contract yet some are willing to discredit it.

There seem to be a lot of posts on the first tow pages that start with the word "IF"

There seem to be a lot of Chicken Littles here

 

[dazeely]

I think it is a good signing but not overly keen on the 4 years. That is what some are trying to express as their opinion.

 

[The Colonel]

Personally with the way the interchange rule has now changed its a smart signing. A player capable of playing in the backs and quite possibly the forwards. In all likelihood the four year deal he has signed is going to be cheaper given its longevity than keeping him for one or two seasons. This will only help in the retention of Keating and Williams.

Given the likelihood we will lose Wagon to retirement or England at the end of the season we will hopefully have a player who takes over that similar role. Having lost Ian last year it will see us lose another worker.

I'm fully aware that not everyone liked the idea of Ian Hindmarsh, Robinson and Wagon in the team all at once but it certainly did work and allowed the likes of Mateo and Nathan to work wider. The likes of Williams and Hauraki will prosper with players like those in the team and I think Ben can take that role once Wagon has gone. It appears that Hagan thinks the same way.

 

[The Colonel]

I think it is a good signing but not overly keen on the 4 years. That is what some are trying to express as their opinion.

I can see that however four years may have been smarter than a lot of people think and could only increase the chances of retaining players like Hauraki and Keating.

The long term deals that both Inu and Hayne have signed are going to see some of our up and coming backs leave anyway as there chances at a first grade level are going to be blocked. Tautai is a centre more than a winger and while he may make his first grade debut at wing for us I would guess his longer term goals would see him at centre.

Tony Williams could alo see his future lying at centre rather than lock or second row as well. He may see lock as his preferred position however given long term it appears that Feleti may have that position he could also see his future elsewhere.

 

[Twizzle]

I think it is a good signing but not overly keen on the 4 years. That is what some are trying to express as their opinion.

very true

but without knowing the terms and get out clauses, he could be gone in two years

without knowing its hard to coment

 

[The Engineers Room]

Ben still has so much promise. I think 4 years is a good idea. If he can get his 2005 form back and improve further then we will all be happy. He has so much potential but the last two years have not been happy. Give him some time and he will come good.

 

[EELMAN JACK]

great great news, very happy with this. the premiership is ours, these boys are all sticking together, they know something special is soon going to happen...benny smith great club man, good to see him pledge his future to the blue and gold. Again great work by hagan

it certaintly does boost the confidence up. sheer bloody good news.

 

[spiderdan]

we wont know wether or not the four years is good or not right away.

ben has shown he can be a great player but that was before the three big injuries he's had in the last two years.

he will either be a great re-signing or another danny sullivan (ie. wasted potential due to injury).

i hope he can find his form and confidence of a couple of seasons ago.

 

[JessEel]

he will either be a great re-signing or another danny sullivan (ie. wasted potential due to injury).

and if he is a Danny Sull, no doubt we will set him free from his 4 years and move onto someone new

 

[Avenger]

I said 2 years ago that Benny would become a secondrower. Does that mean I'm as smart as Hagan ?

 

[strider]

I said 2 years ago that Benny would become a secondrower. Does that mean I'm as smart as Hagan ?

apparently it depends who you listen to whether he turns out sh*t or not - in which case you'll be as dumb as Hagan :lol: :lol:

 

[Angry_eel]

that's alright I've just about missed the replay of underbelly..which I could watch 4 times over. ;-)

but hey that's cool..

Do you imgine yourself to be Gangitano or Condello?

 

[Avenger]

I'm not saying anything against Ben, I am still wiping the egg off my face with Luke Burt.

 

[The Colonel]

I'll say now that we will lose at least one of Taulima Tautai, Tony Williams, Weller Hauraki, Kris Keating, Albert Kelly, Tim Mannah and Anthony Mitchell - if not two or three.

It certainly won't be because we signed Ben Smith for four years, have Michael Hagan as a coach or because Denis is still at the helm.

The age of our current team is a good indicator as is the depth in many of those positions, not to mention the impact of the salary cap. Hayne and Inu are our up and coming marquee players, Hindmarsh, Riddell and Cayless still have a few years in them and will still take up salary cap space as will Tim Smith and a few others.

The aim of most juniors is to play first grade and given the depth of talent we currently have, many of them will play first grade at other clubs if that is their aim.

 

[Stagger eel]

Do you imgine yourself to be Gangitano or Condello?

definitely Gangitano,

Prince Stagger...

 

[strider]

definitely Gangitano,

Prince Stagger...

does that make u dead? :-s

 

[The Colonel]

Well, there are the odd days that he smells like he is....