First 8 games of the season

[Magpies Forever]

Fairly certain that all fans can see that some guys need to be set free & we need to actively sign some new players to the team but why am I reading that Koroibete is off contract and not signed yet? I hope this isn't another one of the players that we should sign but ends up elsewhere.
Is Vatuvei an option for us?
What about Frank Paul Nuuasala at Prop?
Can feleti Mateo offer anything at lock for us?
Still think we need an established half,maybe Finch or Mortimer just to guide young Brooks through.
Any Thoughts??

Weststigers is a poisoned chalice for any halfback coming in from outside. Maybe will change, maybe not. I suspect benji at number 6 has a lot to do with their failure rate. Apart from the Teflon tim sheens, the only other constant is benji.

I think we may just be ok for props, it's a weak back row that worries me. Oh for a gallen, watmough etc.

 

[leoc]

I acknowledge the problem in the backrow but can't see how we are well off for props? Woods yes, outside of him we are in trouble! Galaway is now injury prone. Buchanen is inexperienced and realistically just filling a gap at the moment. Serious doubts that Groat is of NRL level. Have i missed anyone?

 

[BuffaloRules]

I think some people are saying the same things as they did about the Sheens situation, and it looks like we are going to pay him his full contract.

You can't just cut players, 'tap them on the shoulder' or 'set them free' when they have valid contracts for years to come.

The only way that the contracts can be voided is if both parties ( the player and club) agree.

Gibbs moved on when he had a valid contract for 3 years because he knew he wasn't wanted , but also because another club offered him more or at least the same money.

Can anyone imagine other clubs offering Blair, Lawrence and Moltzen similar money to what the Tigers are paying them?

I can't, so to think they will move on is optimistic.

 

[madunit]

I think people are being very hasty in wanting Lawrence & Ayshford gone.

no chance i'd get rid of them. We need stability in the halves & solid back rowers to see those 2 playing well

 

[gronkathon]

Sit Lawrence for the rest of the season, lose some muscle mass off him and re-assess. Because as he is right now you wouldn't want him near our NRL side

 

[madunit]

I agree his form is poor, but a few seasons of consistent high quality footy tells me he isn't some flash in the pan, one season wonder, or that his best is behind him.

Again our halves have been dicked around, a few tries scored on his side have been due to inside men not sticking to the defensive structure, leaving Lawrence to cover his man as well as his inside.

Ayshford has been better than last season.

Look at how well these two played when we had a better back row & stable halves, they were both in red hot form.

I mention the back row, because both Ayshford & Lawrence have been forced to defend further in field to help our back rowers.

 

[BrotherJim05]

We really just need to sign a quality prop and quality back rower. We have Anasta for another year so we may aswell keep him as Halfback untill Brooks comes of age and let Benji continue as 5/8. Miller has been dicked around too much and will prob leave.

 

[macnaz]

Face facts. Lawrence is washed up and his best years are well behind him. He may improve but still not to a standard worth fighting to hold on to.

 

[leoc]

Pretty clear that Lawrence has never returned to what he was prior to the hip injury. Seriously doubt he ever will as his agility and speed to have disappeared.
Ayshford had one season where he looked the goods, this year he looks better than last year but still only a fringe nrl player.
Top this with Utai (tries extremely hard) who is well past his prime and our backline looks bleak. Maybe I'm being harsh but after 3 - 4 seasons of seeing them it would appear that a change is needed. Some comments about not being able to top contracted players on the shoulder is valid however the errors of the Tigers way is to offer people long contracts that really haven't earned them.