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Fifita to Sharks

C

Craigshark

First Grade
Messages
6,896
hybrid_tiger said:
:lol:

WTF. I have bagged Sheens more than most on here. Can you answer my question?

We are not letting Fifita go to sign Blair. We are letting Gibbs go to sign Blair, and even if we did not sign Blair, we would not match a $300K+ offer to a 21 year old front rower who has played 30 odd games.

Don't get me wrong, it is a big loss, but I don't see what else could have been done?

For years everyone (myself included) complains about our side underperforming, we finally look to sign a big player, probably the best forward in the world, and move some players on and people are up in arms about it. You can't have it both ways. The joint is stale and in need of a revamp. It should have happened years ago.
Click to expand...

Best forward in the world? Yes Blaire is a good player but nowhere near the best forward in the world.. I could think of a few more I'd prefer to him..
 
D

DanOz

Juniors
Messages
1,419
hybrid_tiger said:
:lol:

WTF. I have bagged Sheens more than most on here. Can you answer my question?

We are not letting Fifita go to sign Blair. We are letting Gibbs go to sign Blair, and even if we did not sign Blair, we would not match a $300K+ offer to a 21 year old front rower who has played 30 odd games.

Don't get me wrong, it is a big loss, but I don't see what else could have been done?

For years everyone (myself included) complains about our side underperforming, we finally look to sign a big player, probably the best forward in the world, and move some players on and people are up in arms about it. You can't have it both ways. The joint is stale and in need of a revamp. It should have happened years ago.
Click to expand...

I hear you but see it differently. I think we have a class back row with Ellis, Heighnington, Dwyer. I think we have a solid front row with Fifita, Woods, Galloway, Gibbs (Groat & Begovich). If I was going to sign a forward it would have to be a specialist strike front rower who is a metre eater.

Our main deficiencies are in our backs - we need a fullback, winger and halfback, and we need a goalkicker. Destroying the nucleus of our forward pack makes no sense to me. If you thought we struggled for some go forward now, take Gibbs, Fifita and Heighno out for Blair and we are 1 step forward, 2 steps back imo.
 
hybrid_tiger

hybrid_tiger

Coach
Messages
11,684
DanOz said:
I hear you but see it differently. I think we have a class back row with Ellis, Heighnington, Dwyer. I think we have a solid front row with Fifita, Woods, Galloway, Gibbs (Groat & Begovich). If I was going to sign a forward it would have to be a specialist strike front rower who is a metre eater.

Our main deficiencies are in our backs - we need a fullback, winger and halfback, and we need a goalkicker. Destroying the nucleus of our forward pack makes no sense to me. If you thought we struggled for some go forward now, take Gibbs, Fifita and Heighno out for Blair and we are 1 step forward, 2 steps back imo.
Click to expand...

Personally I think our side is overrated. Heighington is a very solid player, but not a world beater and a step below a rep quality player. I like him, don't get me wrong, but he is replaceable. As are Gibbs and Fulton. These players have not kicked on - they are solid first graders but not class. Gareth Ellis is class. Adam Blair is class.

Front row is clearly our strength, I agree. Woods is going to be a super player, Galloway is IMO on the verge of rep selection and Groat looks like a big talent. Begovich is unproven but by all accounts is another super talent, as is BMM who can play front or back row. I know for a fact that BMM is rated higher than Fifita at the club.

As for halfback, Lui, Moltzen and Miller is more depth than most clubs have. I think Miller will end up being the one, though I still think that Lui will end up a very good player.

As for go forward, only Galloway, Ellis and Heighington consistently provide it in our side. Take out Heighington and add Blair and we are strengthening in this area IMO. Gibbs and Fulton are very good defenders but don't offer much go forward. Add BMM and Groat and it looks even better - even if both are relatively unproven in FG.

I am very disappointed we are losing Fifita, but paying him $350K is madness.
 
G

gronkathon

First Grade
Messages
9,266
With his form in State Cup Flanagan would be an equal replacement for Fulton at a reduced price if we keep him
 
R

R2Coupe

Juniors
Messages
1,520
That's why the Tigers have an experience coach and good CEO. Let them make the decision or in Fifita's case, it was made for the club. $350k for Fifita would mean the loss of x number of our talented juniors.

There is plenty of talent in the lower grades with Groat, Begovich, Spence and co.
 
M

Magumba

Juniors
Messages
42
It is a rumour only at this stage and where is this +300k coming from that the Sharks are apparently offering him?
 
O

Old Time Tiger

Bench
Messages
3,310
Is the whole makeup of the forward pack changing? After Gallen was selected at prop many ‘experts’ were saying that he plays like a prop and all his football is around the ruck, how many teams have a team of giants in the forwards?

Many ‘experts’ speak about big men taking it up but the same experts say that the old style front rower is dead, it confuses me.


I’d say we have too many back rowers, Heighington, Fulton, Murdoch-Masila, Ellis, Dwyer and Schirnack. Add Blair to the mix and that’s 7 for next year. Then we have a Payten who is good enough to change his role as required and can play prop or second row. Fortunately Todd has announced that he will retire this year.

Then there are the true props we have in, Galloway, Gibbs Fifita and Woods

So we learn that Fifita, Gibbs, Fulton and maybe Heighington may be moving on. Using my calculator, that means we’d have 5 back rowers and 2 props. I have not included Moors or Flanagan as they have not been sighted this year at all.

So moving forward Sheens may give the U20 guys a run in the next 2 years but what happens when a guy goes down in battle and misses many weeks? Picking 2 players from the above, can we afford to lose Ellis and Woods for 4 weeks each (and at the same time)?

If as mentioned Blair and Murdoch-Masila are going to end up in the front row, that leaves only Ellis, Dwyer and Schirnack as signed back rowers and that is not going to work, is it?

So maybe there is the likely hood that someone or 2 will stay and there may be a new signing or 2, who knows?

Further to the bit about Gallen starting at prop above, The Tigers actually have that type of player now and I’d propose that we retain Heighington and ask him what jumper he prefers 8 or 10? If he doesn’t like those numbers well maybe a 13 elsewhere would be fine.

In regards to Gibbs and Fulton, maybe we should be looking at the NRL long service discount (does Fulton count seeing as he had a break?) and so try and retain at least Gibbs I’d introduce him to a 14, 15, 16 or 17 jumper as a permanent all round forward replacement – it will extend his playing life as well.

I think that others in the squad could be moved on and still retain Gibbs & Heighington, Others such as Fifita and yeah I was surprised but now I’m thinking like Bennett, is any prop worth that much? Then there’s Fulton, Moors, Flanagan, Ryan, Utai, McKinnon, Daniella, & Payten surely there are a few dollars there? Even if they were all on $50k each 50*8 is $400k

Leaving my forward pack of:
Galloway
Farah
Heighington
Blair
Ellis
Dwyer

Reserves
Gibbs covers lock to front row
Woods front row
Murdoch-Masila second row & front row
Schirnack back row – I’d assume that his contract is being paid from the Balmain Ryde club anyway?
New Signing TBA

Then you have the chance to blood the 2 young U20 guys – say 2 reserve spots each this year? And a few more next year?
 
Fordy20

Fordy20

Juniors
Messages
2,300
I'll be really disappointed if we lose Fifita. With blokes like Fifita, Groat, Woods and BMM all coming through, I thought we were finally starting to move away from the small mobile forward pack that only seemed to work properly in 2005.
 
S

ShanghaiCharlie

Juniors
Messages
321
I think this is a really good move by the Tigs. 350K is madness for Fifita.
Finally we are in a position strong enough to trade power players. Think of Brisbane and Melbourne and Roosters over the years and the amount of superstars that have come and gone. They don't 'lose' players. They trade players. They have players leave at or before their peak and get someone else in with the same capabilities that will fit the team better or have the right junior ready to step up. I think it's a positive move and the players coming in will outweigh the players going out.

We no longer are a place quality players don't want to come to and now we have the luxury of being able to trade players and upscale without paying massive overs like in the past and not being held ransom when other clubs want to pay massive overs to poach our players.
 
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