Orford

[westie]

Is it obvious to every one now that if we want to be a genuine force in this comp we need a half. We would have won that game if we could attack inside the 20. Orford is the perfect player for this. He is the player to take us to a premiership. Having two 5/8 simply doesn't work. We are great at attacking from long range but we have absolutely no idea of how to score a try after sustained pressure on the opposition line. Orford showed last night that he is the best in the world at it and single handedly won the game. If Orford was in black, white and gold last night we would have won by 30.

 

[brook]

Westie I don't often agree with you but I do on this.

Prince is fantastic - but he's a 5/8th not a halfback

and so is Benji.

If we don't make ox an offer we are kidding ourselves

 

[Vicious]

The problem is,Prince is on good money and there`s no way Orford will leave Melbourne unless he goes to a genuine Premiership contender like the good old Roosters or maybe Brisbane.The only hope of getting Orford would maybe if the Central Coast is given the 16th spot and Orford wanted a 1 year deal before joining his hometown team in 2006!

 

[yappy]

There is a world of difference between a half that's played Origin and an Origin quality half. If you can't see that after last night you never will.

Even without a 5/8 outside him Ox had too much class. Imagine if Hill had played with Orford taking all the pressure off him to just let him weave his magic. No doubts about it that Orford in a Tigers jersey would make them a genuine top four side. Prince would be a much better player with a guy like Orf inside him. But then almost every player in the squad would be a much better player with Orford there.

 

[Vicious]

Maybe if the Tigers confirm Gosford as their 3rd home ground,Orford might be a chance of signing with us!

 

[yappy]

fifth home ground Vicious.

But hey I don't think the Tigers are totally out of it if they really wanted him. They have certainly done enough this year to show they are going forwards not backwards. The pack could be strengthened but is far from the worst going around. And he'd know he'd have some quality out side him esp at 5/8 wing and FB. I cannot see too much wrong with having Benji in the centres for a few years if he's got a guy like Orford putting the ball on his chest.

He could easily live on the coast and commute to Concord as heaps of other people do every day. If he wants $400k I say it's a good deal.

Of course you'd want more than a year, but say you give him a good contract with a release for the Bears and a reduced payment if he takes it up.

 

[gr8_1]

There is 400,000 reasons why Orford won't be with the Tigers in 2005 and beyond.

 

[yappy]

If you ain't prepared to pay that for a player of his class, then you're prepared to not win premierships.

If you want to talk stupid numbers then how about the idea that Parra are offering Pig 270K and the Sharks are right behind with a $250K offer. Now that is throwing money away.

 

[Vicious]

There is 400,000 reasons why Orford won't be with the Tigers in 2005 and beyond.

The Tigers should be able to come up with $400,000 as well if they really wanted him.Plus,who`s really going to want to play under Brian Smith?

 

[gr8_1]

Orford will even play for Souths if the money is there.

I dont think we can afford Orford unless we dont re-sign a few players.

 

[yappy]

Orford will even play for Souths if the money is there.

I dont think we can afford Orford unless we dont re-sign a few players.

That's true, but there are plenty of players that the Tigers don't need to re-sign. Even Satts might be amenable to taking a small payout and going up the coast.

The kids are coming through faster and you can't keep holding them back. They're hardly gonna be thrown to the wolves when you have guys like Orford, Prince, Hodgson, Skandalis, O'Neill, Payton, and even the likes of Boof and Elford forming the nucleus of the side. Guys like Fulton, Gibbs, De Gois, Collis, McMahon, Hampson, and Roberts are all very good future players and that's just from the Magpies Flegg age squad.

Having Orford as your half makes retaining these guys easier as they'll get more chances and will take less to play for a side led by a gun like him. He also makes recruitment cheaper. Players take less money to play with stars.

 

[gr8_1]

I would like to have Orford in the side. I just cant see it happening though.

With the re-signing and upgrading of current contracts I dont see us been active in the player market for next year. Maybe a few lower graders.

As a few of you have said Orford would bring to the club the missing link.

 

[SouthernTiger]

we wont be signing orford. as good as he is it would put to much of our money in the halves. What with Prince on good money, and Im certain Benjie's contract will be upgraded siginificantly

cheers

s. tiger

 

[yappy]

I don't disagree ST, but I think they should.

One caveat though is that Sheens has the opportunity for the rest of the year to put Prince in a 6 and give Keiran the 7. Kerr is no Orford (at least not yet) but he seems the best half at the organisation. If he can make it his own and strike up a good partnership with Scotty then the focus can move elsewhere. But it's a case of a possibility v a certainty for mine.

 

[SouthernTiger]

as much as I love Kerr even I wouldnt dare suggest he is as good as Orford ... i actually think he has similar potential but that is all

cheers

s. tiger

 

[yappy]

my point exactly, but if he comes up to anything like his potential the only ones with problems will be the Magpies.

 

[Mad Tiger]

Anyone who thinks we don't need orford is kidding themselves...

Give him his 400k cause as far as im concerned he is worth every bloody cent of it...

 

[magpiemax]

Look, you guy's on here make lot's of SENSE with who we should sign and who will stay if we sign...etc....etc and that is great in theory.
But the only weakness and floor you guy's have with your arguement is that you are not the people that make the CENTS as in dollars! that the club makes,as we have allocated plenty of money to other player's that we are expecting big things and substantial upgrades to keep,we are on a strict budget and we cannot afford to be in a position were we pay plenty for one individual and then should he get injured we are on the verge of bankruptcy.
And believe me we are on a strict budget.Dont be fooled by a couple of sponsors joining on board,because that money is spent before it even arrives. #-o

 

[westie]

Look, you guy's on here make lot's of SENSE with who we should sign and who will stay if we sign...etc....etc and that is great in theory.
But the only weakness and floor you guy's have with your arguement is that you are not the people that make the CENTS as in dollars! that the club makes,as we have allocated plenty of money to other player's that we are expecting big things and substantial upgrades to keep,we are on a strict budget and we cannot afford to be in a position were we pay plenty for one individual and then should he get injured we are on the verge of bankruptcy.
And believe me we are on a strict budget.Dont be fooled by a couple of sponsors joining on board,because that money is spent before it even arrives. #-o

I havn't kept up with the news lately. Am I to assume that our 3 leagues clubs all burnt down? If we want to get some where in this competition we need a top class half no matter how much he costs. We don't exactly have a high budget team, there should be room for a 4-500k player.