Legends hail Eels centres

[parra-matters]

As I said before he could play a Wagon type role where he could play lock/2nd row or centre from the bench. Wagon will most likely retire at seasons end so he would be a good replacement.

 

[parra-all-the-way]

but 2008 could be hard to crack it in 1sts for benny...i like him out there but the thought of inu and hayne in centres makes my mouth water.

 

[Stagger eel]

stagger, i thing it is a case of where do u put him if the team is performing well.

1 burt
2 grothe
3 hayne
4 inu
5 ?? reddy
6 finch
7 smith
8 cayless
9 riddell
10 fui
11 hindy
12 mateo
13 wqgon

Maybe a bench spot?

I take your point but does that automatically mean that he shouldn't be offered a contract? people have to realise that we're fielding a squad of 30 fulltime players not 17, we need to fit the best 25 to 30 allowable under the cap so if he shouldn't be in our squad at all than who should replace him?

 

[Ron Jeremy]

so is there any specific player he's holding back?

does it have to be specific? you do realise who is off contract for the 2009 season........

Do you want to retain our juniors? or would you re-sign a bloke with 2 knee reconstructions and only 1 great year in the NRL?

Thank god your not in charge with recruitment.

 

[Redback71]

bring on 2008. wonder how theyll go in the centres, as for ben smith id hate to see him go and i have said that about alot of former eels players but you always seem to get over it once the season kicks in. That being said i hope he stays and goes to lock or the 2nd row, he certanily built for it.

 

[strider]

does it have to be specific? you do realise who is off contract for the 2009 season........

Do you want to retain our juniors? or would you re-sign a bloke with 2 knee reconstructions and only 1 great year in the NRL?

Thank god your not in charge with recruitment.

probably depends on his asking price i'd say ........ he'll do it tough to push his way back into the top grade if we start the season well - I think Hayne and Inu have some issues in defense reading the opposition (they are young and inexperienced, reading the opposition comes with time), but if they are playing in the centres I think their defensive reads will be better (or be less of a problem than leaving the wing exposed)

plenty of water to pass under the bridge - if I were parra I wouldn't rush in to sign benny, but it'll all depend what he's asking and how things pan out this season with positional moves

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Ben Smith has problems defensively as well

 

[Stagger eel]

does it have to be specific? you do realise who is off contract for the 2009 season........

Do you want to retain our juniors? or would you re-sign a bloke with 2 knee reconstructions and only 1 great year in the NRL?

Thank god your not in charge with recruitment.

where have I said that I wanted to retain him?? I'll leave that up to the experts not wanna be experts like some...

All I'm saying is that if we're offering him a contract than it's probably because we want to fit him into a top 25 like every other player that we're offering a fulltime contract to. if he's not a priority like some he won't be offered a substantial amount only enough to fit him in and at the same time not sacrifise up and coming players but being the expert you are I thought I didn't have to point that out to you.

btw, he'll definitely be offered a contract...big or small?? who knows but he'll be offered a contract and it won't be me that will be offering it it'll be our coach and football manager.

so when was the first knee re-con...can't re call that one.

 

[parra-all-the-way]

i would offer him a contract, he is a good plyer and keeps the pressure on the 1st grade side and covers injuries, but as said, would depend on the $$ we have under the cap.

 

[Stagger eel]

i would offer him a contract, he is a good plyer and keeps the pressure on the 1st grade side and covers injuries, but as said, would depend on the $$ we have under the cap.

the latest I heard is that we're talking to him, which basically means that we're going to offer him a contract however I'm almost certain it wouldn't be any where near he could probably get elsewhere and considering that him along with Wags, Finchy and robo are the only recognised first graders off contract I would say that the chances of re-signing all of them are pretty slim or next to none but that doesn't meant that we won't offer them a token gesture which will definitely not make an impact on up and coming players within or the odd external player.

 

[Tizzun]

Parra does not seem short on back rowers so he may struggle getting a go there too? Maybe with a bit of work on his leg drive and off loads then front row?

 

[Suitman]

I don't know how they can be compared to Ella/Cronin, when they will never be a "centre pairing" as such.

Suity

 

[COACH STERLING]

the latest I heard is that we're talking to him, which basically means that we're going to offer him a contract however I'm almost certain it wouldn't be any where near he could probably get elsewhere and considering that him along with Wags, Finchy and robo are the only recognised first graders off contract I would say that the chances of re-signing all of them are pretty slim or next to none but that doesn't meant that we won't offer them a token gesture which will definitely not make an impact on up and coming players within or the odd external player.

I hear Wagon will be off to France in 2009....
Of the remaining 3, I'd say we'll look at kepping Robbo and Benny.
Finch is an interesting one, I cant see him staying but you never know, especially if something were to happen to Timmy :shock:

 

[cardinal]

I don't know how they can be compared to Ella/Cronin, when they will never be a "centre pairing" as such.

Suity

Correct they will never play side by side, although Nathan Brown was thinking about doing that with Cooper and Gasnier a few years ago. Since Inu and Hayne resigned plenty of people have been expresing their love for Hags, well guess what Hags loves Ben and I bet he stays for another contract and also is in first grade as soon as he is fit. I have no problem with this I think Big Ben has plenty of good footy left in him and trust me Hags loves his size, ability to slip a ball to his winger and agression in defence.

 

[parra-all-the-way]

all i know is i want the season to start, cant come soon enough for mione..really we have mateo to cover for wagon and weller and junior maybe for robo, i thought finch was a short term answer until kris is ready, if this is the case then all 3 will go, freeing up maybe enough for ben.

 

[Stagger eel]

I hear Wagon will be off to France in 2009....
Of the remaining 3, I'd say we'll look at kepping Robbo and Benny.
Finch is an interesting one, I cant see him staying but you never know, especially if something were to happen to Timmy :shock:

ideally, that would be the case but I keep hearing that we're got hardly any dosh left, but Hages did say on PTV that they're looking at keeping those off contract before they look elsewhere.

if everything goes according to plan the I think both Wags and Finch will depart while Smith and robo will hang around while tony Williams, Tim Mannah and Marty Lewis will be the guys coming up.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

where have I said that I wanted to retain him?? I'll leave that up to the experts not wanna be experts like some...

All I'm saying is that if we're offering him a contract than it's probably because we want to fit him into a top 25 like every other player that we're offering a fulltime contract to. if he's not a priority like some he won't be offered a substantial amount only enough to fit him in and at the same time not sacrifise up and coming players but being the expert you are I thought I didn't have to point that out to you.

btw, he'll definitely be offered a contract...big or small?? who knows but he'll be offered a contract and it won't be me that will be offering it it'll be our coach and football manager.

so when was the first knee re-con...can't re call that one.

He has had numerous knee problems in 3 years in the NRL. Yeah those alledged 'experts' have given us 20 years of sweet F/A, let numerous high quality players leave our club and given us the tag of chokers for a number of years, but hey there experts right? that's the problem with this club, they dont make the hard decisions as much as they should( actually it isn't).

Don't need to be an expert to see that, actually just watch fox and the evidence is for all to see if he's generally that good.


Even if we have money left over why f**king sign him? the guy will be lucky to even make it on the park this year by rd 12 then we'll have to wait another year before he regains abit of his speed. Why take that risk? that's atleast $100,000 saved for someone else, maybe even upgrading KK or Tony Williams contract, and reckon they're far more of a priority then a guy with serious knee problems.

If he's offered a 2 year contract i'll be absolutely shocked, he's an average player who can occasionaly stop a backline movement by coming out of the line, what people seem to forget is that that same thing he does has often not worked and left Eric stranded with a 2 on 1 situation and he's the one that gets the blame. And as for attack? dont even get me started.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

OMG re-signing veteran Wagon now? Wagon is worth a pinch of sh*t but geez why don't we just bring back Gary Larson and David Westley FFS.

 

[Stagger eel]

He has had numerous knee problems in 3 years in the NRL. Yeah those alledged 'experts' have given us 20 years of sweet F/A, let numerous high quality players leave our club and given us the tag of chokers for a number of years, but hey there experts right? that's the problem with this club, they dont make the hard decisions as much as they should( actually it isn't).

Don't need to be an expert to see that, actually just watch fox and the evidence is for all to see if he's generally that good.


Even if we have money left over why f**king sign him? the guy will be lucky to even make it on the park this year by rd 12 then we'll have to wait another year before he regains abit of his speed. Why take that risk? that's atleast $100,000 saved for someone else, maybe even upgrading KK or Tony Williams contract, and reckon they're far more of a priority then a guy with serious knee problems.

If he's offered a 2 year contract i'll be absolutely shocked, he's an average player who can occasionaly stop a backline movement by coming out of the line, what people seem to forget is that that same thing he does has often not worked and left Eric stranded with a 2 on 1 situation and he's the one that gets the blame. And as for attack? dont even get me started.

you should direct this to Hages, he's the one talking to him for next year, tbh the moment INU put pen to paper I'm no longer concerned who we re-sign for next year...

 

[Stagger eel]

OMG re-signing veteran Wagon now? Wagon is worth a pinch of sh*t but geez why don't we just bring back Gary Larson and David Westley FFS.

you appear to be the only person talking anout re-signing him...