Do we have cash to buy....

[theicemandanno]

...Luke Dorn.

Apparently the Eagles have told Dorn to 'shop around' (like we did with Solomona) for next year.

Like you all remember Parra went hard for this kid at the end of 02 and were close to signing him. Is there a chance we may go for the former AUstralian schoolboy (he is only 20) especially considering we would only have to pay a portion of his contract for next year (rumoured to be no more than $120K)

 

[The Colonel]

Could be a good buy but with Thorman, Dykes and Witt in the halves plus Tim Smith in the reggies would it be wise to spend money onother halfback/five eight?

I wouldn't mind seeing them chase Logan Swann or possibly hold the money in reserve

 

[theicemandanno]

Another injury to Dykes = No first grade 5/8 experience. We dont want to move Morris back there, after all, we saw how effective he was later in the season playing hooker.

I really see a future for the kid. I think he could be a big improver led by BS.

 

[The Colonel]

Thorman has been playing Super League in England so its not exactly Metro Cup we are talking. :roll:

The kid has been good but if Manly are giving him the flick whilst being considered as one of their future stars there must be a handle with care sticker attached or something? :?

 

[theicemandanno]

I think the Eagles are looking for $$$ to buy other players. Logan Swann comes to mind.

They are also trying to offload Ben Walker.

I feel that if we can get Dorn for say 60K we should go for it. Remember he still is contracted for 2004 with Manly, and we would only have to pay a portion of his contract.

 

[The Colonel]

Walker's knee injury has his playing future in doubt apparently so I can understand them flicking him.

Dorn would be good however if Logan Swann is on the market he would beef our pack up to no end - he'd look good in blue and gold beside Hindmarsh and he's pretty tough too..

It may only be $60k a season but who would be the better buy - an established first grader like Swann or someone like Dorn who has been in and out of first grade. We haven't bought an established first grader since Dykes - I know that Drew, Morris and so on have been playing first grade but they were looking at oppurtunities. It would make more sense in the long run.

Swann gives GF experience, International experience and a presence in the pack that we haven't had since Dean Pay.

 

[half]

the established stars of our forward pack are still young, and swann would help immensely

i don't think dorn would be worth it. he's really not that good. if he was, why would manly be prepared to let him go?

 

[Disco]

i don't think dorn would be worth it. he's really not that good. if he was, why would manly be prepared to let him go?

Dorn was last years Micheal Witt

This year he has (on his day) been excellent in attack, tho his defense has been paper thin all year long, that said, i would have like Manly to give him one more year to prove himself, as he could go either way

 

[half]

sounds like a case of second year syndrome

but still, parra has dykes, thorman and then a bunch of stars who can slot in at 5/8th

 

[Ron Jeremy]

I say we give Dorn a miss......his form apart from 1 pass this year has been ordinary and as Disco said his defence is paper thin!!

This is the scenario for next year

Half back options

1. Michael Witt
2. Chris Thorman
3. John Morris
4. Adam Dykes
5. Tim Smith

5/8 Options

1. Adam Dykes
2. Chris Thorman
3. John Morris
4. Tim Smith
5. Michael Witt
6. Daniel Wagon
7. Shane Muspratt
8. Jemima Pai
9. Lee Hopkins (possibility??)

Hooker Options

1. John Morris
2. Lee Hopkins
3. Chris Thorman
4. James Webster
5. Jemima Pai
6. Michael Witt (unlikely though)

So you see we all these positions which Dorn is suited to are more then covered......why would we purchase him when our stocks in these positions are more then sufficent!!

If i where the head coach or had an eye for another recruit i would look at the possibility of purchasing an out side back as back up for the likes of Lyon, Vaealiki, Grothe, Burt etc.....this is where i feel we need a tad more depth......there's talk about John Wilson comming back.....i don't no how true these theories are but he would be an ideal recruit as he can cover the backs & forwards!!

 

[eloquentEEL]

If we didn't want Steve Witt, why would we want Dorn?

My guess is that Brisbane might be interested. Even though they've already signed Motu Tony, their depth in the halves is fairly poor by Bennett's standards.

 

[Misty Bee]

Dorn did throw the pass of the year where he span in a tackle and sent it over to Hoppa. Twas v Brisbane, from memory.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

If we didn't want Steve Witt, why would we want Dorn?

My guess is that Brisbane might be interested. Even though they've already signed Motu Tony, their depth in the halves is fairly poor by Bennett's standards.

Exactly!!!......in saying this S Witt wasn't proven at First Grade level so the comparison might be abit premature!!

I don't care what anyone says.....CHRIS THORMAN WILL BE THE BUY OF THE SEASON NEXT YEAR!!

Peole can piss & moan all they like about Super League is this..Super League is that..."it's equialent to First Division here" but??....the skills this bloke has from what i've seen of him have nothing to do with standard of competition but individual skill!!

This bloke has a magnificent kicking game.....better then Witt!!, he has a great long ball and very elusive & can put a player threw a gap so beautifully it makes me want to say "pinch me Gibbsy im dreaming" :lol: ,

I can't wait to see this bloke play for us....and let's hope he makes the British side!!, also a great achievenment in it's self for a player outside the top 5 in England to get representitive honours!!

 

[PARRA_FAN]

We'll wait and see Ron, hes been carving them up for the Broncs in SL. Hope he gets a start somewhere.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Ron - Its exciting to hear that Thorman has a good kicking game. I think its one of the things we have been missing.

 

[Parraren]

I'll second that Thorman has an excellent kicking game. Infact he's pretty damn good with the boot all round, being an excellent goal kicker as well.

If you check out the stats section on the Super League website he is in the top 3 in the league in "Attacking Kicks" just behind Sean Long (St Helens) & Paul Deacon (Bradford). He's also in the top ten for points scoring and 2nd in the league for try assists. Pretty darn good stats for such a young guy.

check it out....

http://www.superleague.co.uk/opta/tens.asp

 

[Stagger eel]

I'm also excited at the prospect of having Thorman at the club. But not for a minute would I knock back a young star in the making and Dorn fits that bill.

With the resent speculation of the club being linked to Amos Roberts [who I believe will be wearing a Panthers Jumper in 04] and John Wilson and the fact that we have released Solo to Wakefield makes me think we have more than enough for atlest 1 more quality player. I'm also lead to believe we have 1 spot left in our fulltime squad.

 

[Eelectrica]

Could we be negotiating with Chris Walker? As a person I've got no respect for him after the stunt he pulled with Souths. But as a player he could be just what we need.
- He has been a member of winning Grand Final teams so knows what it takes.
- He knows his way to the try line and can create something from nothing.
- At the Roosters he appears to have learned something about tackling.
- He will be highly motivitated to get into the QLD origin sqad so we should see some of his better form if signed.
With the money freed up from the Solo deal we could possibly sign him up for one year - keep him lean and mean.

Don't flame me for this I'm just throwing it up here and seeing what happens.

 

[Alan Shore]

If you have the money and room for Dorn then you should've re-signed Steve Witt.

 

[Parraren]

If you have the money and room for Dorn then you should've re-signed Steve Witt.

Yeah exactly right mate. I see the same problems in Dorn's game that the club was concerned about with Steve Witt - Defense & Consistency. Makes no sense letting one of our own go to sign a similar type player from another club. Ironically, the Knights, who signed Steve Witt, are also chasing Dorn and it wouldn't surprise me if he went there :shock:

On Amos Roberts, we backed off signing him after we re-signed Ronald Prince and then the Panthers came into the picture and thats exactly where he'll be next year, in a black jersey at the foot of the hills.

As far as I've heard we are still a very strong chance of getting John Wilson back from the Tig's as they haven't shown much interest in retaining him (money wise).