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New recruits for 2023

S

slippery5

Juniors
Messages
1,704
be55 said:
Through the week someone reported that, other than Liddle, we were taking a look at Jake Turpin for next year as well. I hope the club were watching the first 20 mins last night because his service out of dummy half has to be the worst in the NRL. His passing and pass selection is terrible. As soon as Walters came on they looked much better around the ruck.

I won't make comment on whether to re-sign him or not, but with all the talk of what to do with Hunt's contract, the one thing i hope the club is doing is making sure we have enough room in the salary cap to make a serious play to bring Reece Robson back to the club in 2024. He was outstanding again last night.

Robson has speed and vision out of dummy half, and his service is arguably the best in the league. The speed of his pass and the fact he can throw a long ball, off the deck, to either side of the ruck and hit his man on the chest consistently, is invaluable. If i had anything to do with the club's recruitment, I'd be knocking on his door at 12:01 a.m. on November 1st with a contract in hand asking him to state his terms. Offer him a long term deal on good money. Even as a junior the kid was destined for the highest levels of the game and he'd be a wise investment as he is still only 24. You'd be buying a future Blue, as when Koroisau and Cook retire, he'll be the next one to wear the 9 jersey for NSW.

The Cowboys must be borderline with the salary cap, with players like Holmes, Taumalolo, Leilua and Townsend on big coin and they've just extended Drinkwater till 2026 on 650 a year as well. With the right offer, that he deserves, we might be able to pinch him. He'd be a terrific investment and exactly what we need.

If he'd want to return to the club is another question entirely. Fingers crossed the club can get it done...
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Robson's game has grown leaps & bounds under Payton, why the hell would he, or anyone think, he would come back here???
 
SnowDragon

SnowDragon

Juniors
Messages
911
Old Timer said:
All the criticism re the Woods, Mybe, Moga, Burgess signings beggars the very simple question

If we didn’t sign them then who would have filled the vacant spots we had in the roster?

All well & good to criticise their form / playing ability or lack their of but in the end we had to fill 30 spots.

All this waxing lyrical about this one and that one and how we didn’t do this or do that the simple fact remains that we got what we got because that’s all we could entice to join our club.
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it’s not that we signed these guys, it’s how we used them.

Burgess was a gamble, low cost in the end and not a problem. Woods use in 18 games so he qualified for the option is ridiculous in itself, but like the others, stopped young guys being given experience and being tested.
 
P

Parko1310

Juniors
Messages
1,458
Not so much a signing but a small possible squad change for next year. I’m sure everyone noticed that hook moved Lomax to left centre last night which moved Feagai back to the wing. Seemed a bit random really unless it was a trial. I think Lomax played well on the left and aside from the obvious negative that he won’t be able to utilise his right foot step as much I feel like there’s a few positives. I’m a bit iffy because what if Suli doesn’t defend well on the right? He did a great job for us defensively this year.

but still, the positives I see if they were to switch sides are:

1. if suli’s defence is still solid on the right we won’t have Lomax rushing out of the line on the right which discourages Ravalawa from flying in

2. Both of our halves are right-footed, so they’d prefer kicking right to left. Their kicks to this side are more accurate and so Lomax might be able to utilise his jumping ability to more effect.

3. as good as hunt is, his variation in play in providing Suli ball was non-existent. He was used as a battering ram. A few unders balls back on the angle I think would have seen Suli score more often. Amone being on the right, I’ve noticed doesn’t mind an inside ball. Maybe suli would benefit from a bit of variation in how he receives the ball? Using him as a battering ram could be coaches game plan, but if so that’s just plain dumb to not utilise Suli better.

4. Lomax is clearly more comfortable passing right to left.
 
Adolf_Spritzer

Adolf_Spritzer

Juniors
Messages
637
Parko1310 said:
Not so much a signing but a small possible squad change for next year. I’m sure everyone noticed that hook moved Lomax to left centre last night which moved Feagai back to the wing. Seemed a bit random really unless it was a trial. I think Lomax played well on the left and aside from the obvious negative that he won’t be able to utilise his right foot step as much I feel like there’s a few positives. I’m a bit iffy because what if Suli doesn’t defend well on the right? He did a great job for us defensively this year.

but still, the positives I see if they were to switch sides are:

1. if suli’s defence is still solid on the right we won’t have Lomax rushing out of the line on the right which discourages Ravalawa from flying in

2. Both of our halves are right-footed, so they’d prefer kicking right to left. Their kicks to this side are more accurate and so Lomax might be able to utilise his jumping ability to more effect.

3. as good as hunt is, his variation in play in providing Suli ball was non-existent. He was used as a battering ram. A few unders balls back on the angle I think would have seen Suli score more often. Amone being on the right, I’ve noticed doesn’t mind an inside ball. Maybe suli would benefit from a bit of variation in how he receives the ball? Using him as a battering ram could be coaches game plan, but if so that’s just plain dumb to not utilise Suli better.

4. Lomax is clearly more comfortable passing right to left.
Click to expand...
Have Suli running a similar line to Corey Oates when he comes charging back on the inside
 
BLM01

BLM01

First Grade
Messages
9,935
Parko1310 said:
Not so much a signing but a small possible squad change for next year. I’m sure everyone noticed that hook moved Lomax to left centre last night which moved Feagai back to the wing. Seemed a bit random really unless it was a trial. I think Lomax played well on the left and aside from the obvious negative that he won’t be able to utilise his right foot step as much I feel like there’s a few positives. I’m a bit iffy because what if Suli doesn’t defend well on the right? He did a great job for us defensively this year.

but still, the positives I see if they were to switch sides are:

1. if suli’s defence is still solid on the right we won’t have Lomax rushing out of the line on the right which discourages Ravalawa from flying in

2. Both of our halves are right-footed, so they’d prefer kicking right to left. Their kicks to this side are more accurate and so Lomax might be able to utilise his jumping ability to more effect.

3. as good as hunt is, his variation in play in providing Suli ball was non-existent. He was used as a battering ram. A few unders balls back on the angle I think would have seen Suli score more often. Amone being on the right, I’ve noticed doesn’t mind an inside ball. Maybe suli would benefit from a bit of variation in how he receives the ball? Using him as a battering ram could be coaches game plan, but if so that’s just plain dumb to not utilise Suli better.

4. Lomax is clearly more comfortable passing right to left.
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All good points especially No 3
We over used the drop back inside to Suli or jkust give it to Sul;i this year to break tackles teams were waiting for it. Although like oue dearly departed EA his first thought is to run over people.
We do need to vary it and have Suli hitting the ball with pace against his opposite (more one on one) and get more pass into his game as well to mix it up or when he busts a tackle which he does often someone off his shoulder rewady for the little pass.
 
possm

possm

Coach
Messages
15,923
Crush said:
This thread is thoroughly pointless.
Who cares who we should or shouldn’t recruit or retain for 2023.
It actually makes no difference until we find a real coach.
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To sign a new coach we need:
A real Board who works in the best interest of the club; not themselves.
We need a plan for the future that demonstrates a possibility to move forward on and off the field.
We need certainty that old boys' tricks are a thing of the past e.g. appoint Dean Young as head coach.
And yes we need TPA's for players and lots of cash for facilities and prerks.
 
possm

possm

Coach
Messages
15,923
Gareth67 said:
Well we have tried everywhere to buy ourselves some half decent players , buuuuut they all knock the Dragons back .

So I reckon the time has come for our recruiting to use their brains and look outside the usual cattle yards , places like Tasmania or even South Australia - what have we to lose ? ? ? 😳
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Your are on the right track but I would be looking for players in South Africa, England, France, Ireland, Pacific Islands and from NZ Rugby. Look for their best prop, best backrower and possibly their best halfback.
 
K

Kolum Kid

Juniors
Messages
334
possm said:
Your are on the right track but I would be looking for players in South Africa, England, France, Ireland, Pacific Islands and from NZ Rugby. Look for their best prop, best backrower and possibly their best halfback.
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I think the untapped resovoir of players is PNG. Watching the recent test match, they had some hard running forwards a la Justin Olam. A couple of props and second rowers with half his talent and ferocity is what we need.
 
D

denis preston

First Grade
Messages
8,759
possm said:
Your are on the right track but I would be looking for players in South Africa, England, France, Ireland, Pacific Islands and from NZ Rugby. Look for their best prop, best backrower and possibly their best halfback.
Click to expand...
How about 6 ft 5 , 130 kilo Gridiron players who couldn't make the NFL. Just play them as front rowers to take the ball up , don't pass and tackle everything that moves ! Surely Manfred Moore wont be a one off !
 
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