Knock-on Effect NSW Cup - Eels Team

[emjaycee]

Jackson Topine is the player.

And we havent signed him.
How f**ked are our recruitment team.

 

[the phantom menace]

Does he play centre?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Are merkins still obsessed with signing outside backs? Whoever we bring in will be pushed back to reserve grade when we’re at full strength. That’s what we’re able to offer, so there’s nothing we can provide a bloke who is already a backup somewhere else other than a pay raise.

 

[JokerEel]

Are merkins still obsessed with signing outside backs? Whoever we bring in will be pushed back to reserve grade when we’re at full strength. That’s what we’re able to offer, so there’s nothing we can provide a bloke who is already a backup somewhere else other than a pay raise.

Depends who (or if) we sign really... If we get Lomax (no chance IMO) he will be starting in the NRL. but if we sign some one like Smith-Shields or Schoup the definitely will be in Cup..

 

[emjaycee]

Are merkins still obsessed with signing outside backs? Whoever we bring in will be pushed back to reserve grade when we’re at full strength. That’s what we’re able to offer, so there’s nothing we can provide a bloke who is already a backup somewhere else other than a pay raise.

Hey Troll boy,
I think the point everyone is making is that we dont need to sign a backup. We need to sign one of the top 10 centres in the game, for the cost of a backup.

Surely you and your mate Trolley Boy O'Neill can see that and if the Trolley Boy can't just get it done, he and his team are f**ken useless.

 

[the phantom menace]

NSW Cup forwards' minutes played Friday night v Panthers:

80mins Makatoa
80mins Moretti
71mins Guymer - off the bench, early due to Doorey's departure
64mins Arthur
60min Keir - off the bench
49mins Ogden
42mins Greig - a good enough amount of time for a first grade bench cameo?
32mins Parker - off the bench
16mins Luke - off the bench, relief for Arthur
9mins Doorey - played 80min last week, but went off early and never returned...

 

[Gronk]

Maybe he has I note that JJBM didn't play for Norths though Maybe he didn't get a contract anywhere

Don’t believe he did mate.

Team, I saw that said JJBM played in a trial for Storm and got a suspension for a crusher tackle.

Suspended or not signed ? I'm not saying I know .....

NRL Judiciary Report: Kiwi games counted in NAS ban

Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona will only miss one game at the start of the 2025 season after it was ruled that three of New Zealand's Pac Champs game would count as part of his ban.

www.nrl.com

 

[JokerEel]

Team, I saw that said JJBM played in a trial for Storm and got a suspension for a crusher tackle.

Suspended or not signed ? I'm not saying I know .....

NRL Judiciary Report: Kiwi games counted in NAS ban

Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona will only miss one game at the start of the 2025 season after it was ruled that three of New Zealand's Pac Champs game would count as part of his ban.

www.nrl.com

I assume he would have been back playing somewhere this week as it was only a 1 game ban.

 

[The Colonel]

Does he play centre?

Centre, hooker and back row.

And we havent signed him.
How f**ked are our recruitment team.

MON needs a good kick in the backside. Outside of the fact I believe that he can't sign with anyone at the moment due to the legal action being taken and he is still under contract.

 

[Delboy]

Hey Troll boy,
I think the point everyone is making is that we dont need to sign a backup. We need to sign one of the top 10 centres in the game, for the cost of a backup.

Surely you and your mate Trolley Boy O'Neill can see that and if the Trolley Boy can't just get it done, he and his team are f**ken useless.

Good try
Perhaps you can explain why you believe we are in the market to only sign a top 10 centre for back up salary. The reality is that we have a more than competent pack, good halves and full back, but bottom 5 overall in the 2-5 players, sure Russell and Penisini are more than adequate, the job is to be able to work to sign at least one elite back,
.The club has lacked that for more than 3 years, and that’s the issue, big clubs get these things done. It’s disappointing that this issue whilst not neglected in your eyes, has not been fixed. Given it’s possibly what moves the team from top 8 to maybe top 3/4 it’s understandable that It’s becoming a bigger question mark on our recruitment team each year it’s not resolved. Currently there is no one close to providing that even down to SG Ball level.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Penisini is borderline elite already and only 22 years old. Sivo has an elite tryscoring record and is very safe in the air. We are missing him big time.

 

[the phantom menace]

Penisini is borderline elite already and only 22 years old.

He's seriously not borderline elite. He's a decent centre with potential, but still inconsistent - and not close to adult rep level considerations imo.

Sivo has an elite tryscoring record and is very safe in the air. We are missing him big time.

"Elite" must be the word of the day...

 

[Poupou Escobar]

the job is to be able to work to sign at least one elite back

If it’s elite backs you want, you might like our number 6. He is pretty good, and no doubt very expensive. I’d say we might have the most expensive halves in the NRL. Maybe we should have saved some money there and signed the elite outside back you might be referring to.

 

[the phantom menace]

"elite" "elite" lol.

All people want is for a signing in the outside backs who's not a scrapheap plodder or a back-up replacement. Elite implies consistent rep selection over time and dally m winner.

The long needed improvement to our backline stocks doesn't have to be (cough) "elite" level as you keep claiming - just someone who deserves a guaranteed NRL starting centre position.

 

[Avenger]

Hey Troll boy,
I think the point everyone is making is that we dont need to sign a backup. We need to sign one of the top 10 centres in the game, for the cost of a backup.

Surely you and your mate Trolley Boy O'Neill can see that and if the Trolley Boy can't just get it done, he and his team are f**ken useless.

Who says it’s for the cost of a back up? If we are to believe reports in the media we are ready to take Lomax now. You reckon he is coming for $130k a year?

 

[emjaycee]

Good try
Perhaps you can explain why you believe we are in the market to only sign a top 10 centre for back up salary. The reality is that we have a more than competent pack, good halves and full back, but bottom 5 overall in the 2-5 players, sure Russell and Penisini are more than adequate, the job is to be able to work to sign at least one elite back,
.The club has lacked that for more than 3 years, and that’s the issue, big clubs get these things done. It’s disappointing that this issue whilst not neglected in your eyes, has not been fixed. Given it’s possibly what moves the team from top 8 to maybe top 3/4 it’s understandable that It’s becoming a bigger question mark on our recruitment team each year it’s not resolved. Currently there is no one close to providing that even down to SG Ball level.

I don't believe we are trying to sign a top 10 centre for the price of a backup - I think we have an amount in mind that we are willing to pay for a centre and we won't go over that amount or it risks upsetting our salary cap. What is obvious is that the club are trying to sign someone where their current club will carry some of the costs (like an early departing Lomax) and this is the probably the only way we get that elite level player without losing someone else we value higher (Moses, Paulo, RCG, Brown, Hopgood, Penisini, Gutho, Matto, etc.).

Decisions on who to sign and how much to pay aren't made in the isolation of having a need and just plugging it. Unfortunately there is not only the complexity of the salary cap to balance, but also committments made for future years and the fact we cannot simply get rid of someone because they are no longer wanted/needed/or able to perform.

And yes, I am disappointed it hasn't been solved however it hasn't been neglected - we simply haven't been able to get the right player, at the right time, for the right price. This totally sux and like everyone I wish it wasn't the case however do you honestly think that the people that matter in the club aren't aware of this failing?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We need to sign one of the top 10 centres in the game, for the cost of a backup.

I suppose at this point of the season they will be a lot cheaper than if we’d signed them prior to November. Which makes you wonder why their existing club would let them go. f**k paying a bloke to do the preseason and get fit enough for some other club to benefit from the business end of the season at half price under the cap.

He would need to be a @Legal Eel level toxic influence for that equation to make sense.

 

[emjaycee]

Who says it’s for the cost of a back up? If we are to believe reports in the media we are ready to take Lomax now. You reckon he is coming for $130k a year?

If we get Lomax it's because St Merge will be carrying some of his salary for the next 2 years or because we replace some off-contract players with cheaper options.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Merkins around here are going to love those ‘cheaper options’

 

[Avenger]

If we get Lomax it's because St Merge will be carrying some of his salary for the next 2 years or because we replace some off-contract players with cheaper options.

So much would that be? How much are we under for this year?