Prepare for some news

[Mixmasterreece]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/10553007/Jailed-Russell-Packer-set-to-pocket-1m-in-deal

Meanwhile, it looks as if the Warriors will miss out on a bid to sign Kiwis fullback Josh Hoffman from the Broncos. Fairfax Media revealed last week that the Warriors and Canberra were the clubs most interested in picking up Hoffman who is surplus to Brisbane's requirements next season despite having a year left on his contract.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

But we're still getting that mystery union player right?

Israel Folau? Yip, signed, sealed delivered.

 

[Iron Lion]

The rugby player they approached is Kurtley Beale, 2 year deal offered.

 

[vvvrulz]

The rugby player they approached is Kurtley Beale, 2 year deal offered.

(Nothing to do with you Lion)
I can't imagine why in the blue hell we would chase Kurtley Beale

 

[Mixmasterreece]

That just seems utterly bizarre

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

If true then the Warriors are just throwing shit against the wall and hoping it sticks. That would be the definition of madness.

 

[JJ]

(Nothing to do with you Lion)
I can't imagine why in the blue hell we would chase Kurtley Beale

Why not? Assuming they are chasing a union player...

For the record, I wouldn't be chasing a union player full stop - perhaps Kaino, Messom, or Hooper - but to much risk regardless

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Kurtley Beale..I call bullshit. Mainly because that particular poster has come up with absolute donuts in this thread.

Then again, we did put in a massive bid for Robert Lui. I would've gone that close to disowning my club if that'd happened.

 

[Iron Lion]

Kurtley Beale..I call bullshit. Mainly because that particular poster has come up with absolute donuts in this thread.

Then again, we did put in a massive bid for Robert Lui. I would've gone that close to disowning my club if that'd happened.

Massive Donuts being ?

I said we were after Josh Hoffman - weeks later media confirmed we are
Matai and Watmough early release offer for Mateo,Nielsen and $-Mateo more than likely going to Manly Now, movement may still happen with Matai

I now have said Kurtley Beale was offered a deal and I am sure the media will pick up on it soon.

Where was I massively off ?

 

[vvvrulz]

Why not? Assuming they are chasing a union player...

You'd be absolutely off your rocker to gamble on a pure union centre/half-back of very good but not outstanding quality, let alone at the Warriors. A proven league player with exceptional skills should be the only thing worth chasing (Folau...)

Lets look at the context with the Warriors, where would he go? Centre? Most likely to succeed here, but I'm still not convinced we even have a big gap there. Fullback? Will take time for him to get the hang of that, something we've already done the hard yards for with Tomkins. It would be a waste to move Tomkins now. Halves? Way too steep a curve.

Its not a 100% guaranteed fail, but its a huge risk to take and he won't come cheap either.

I have a hard time believing that rumour, but if its true then our recruitment strategy is *really* off the map.

 

[ozbash]

Was on the radio a couple of weeks ago that we were after Kurtly. . He was in the shit with the ARU over something at the time.

 

[Iron Lion]

You'd be absolutely off your rocker to gamble on a pure union centre/half-back of very good but not outstanding quality, let alone at the Warriors. A proven league player with exceptional skills should be the only thing worth chasing (Folau...)

Lets look at the context with the Warriors, where would he go? Centre? Most likely to succeed here, but I'm still not convinced we even have a big gap there. Fullback? Will take time for him to get the hang of that, something we've already done the hard yards for with Tomkins. It would be a waste to move Tomkins now. Halves? Way too steep a curve.

Its not a 100% guaranteed fail, but its a huge risk to take and he won't come cheap either.

I have a hard time believing that rumour, but if its true then our recruitment strategy is *really* off the map.

Kurtley Beale is a far greater player than you give him credit for. He would go close to being the best back on the warriors books if they did sign him. Maybe Johnson would shade him but not in terms of creativity.

 

[JJ]

You'd be absolutely off your rocker to gamble on a pure union centre/half-back of very good but not outstanding quality, let alone at the Warriors. A proven league player with exceptional skills should be the only thing worth chasing (Folau...)

Lets look at the context with the Warriors, where would he go? Centre? Most likely to succeed here, but I'm still not convinced we even have a big gap there. Fullback? Will take time for him to get the hang of that, something we've already done the hard yards for with Tomkins. It would be a waste to move Tomkins now. Halves? Way too steep a curve.

Its not a 100% guaranteed fail, but its a huge risk to take and he won't come cheap either.

I have a hard time believing that rumour, but if its true then our recruitment strategy is *really* off the map.

I agree on not chasing a union player at all...

Just wasn't sure whether you were specifically saying Beale was hopeless

 

[vvvrulz]

Massive Donuts being ?
...
Where was I massively off ?

To your credit some of your rumours did surface (none came true but that's not your fault)

But there was never going to be a Pokemon card trade of Manly & Warriors players.
Didn't see Watmough ever linked here
What happened to the ESL guys?
Beale sounds like complete bs
+ many others already mentioned

Remember you've sold yourself as the bringer of *big news* and these were supposed to be done deals. Call a spade a spade, these are random whispers with very little substance.

 

[vvvrulz]

Kurtley Beale is a far greater player than you give him credit for. He would go close to being the best back on the warriors books if they did sign him. Maybe Johnson would shade him but not in terms of creativity.

I agree on not chasing a union player at all...

Just wasn't sure whether you were specifically saying Beale was hopeless

Beale is class rugby union player, not one of the greats like Larkham but very very good.

But it is a complete unknown if he will succeed in rugby league and at the Warriors, this isn't even the ESL which is at least the same sport.

It *may* work, but why on earth would the Warriors consider the gamble?
Especially for positions we have reasonably well covered.

 

[jaseg]

You'd be absolutely off your rocker to gamble on a pure union centre/half-back of very good but not outstanding quality, let alone at the Warriors. A proven league player with exceptional skills should be the only thing worth chasing (Folau...)

Lets look at the context with the Warriors, where would he go? Centre? Most likely to succeed here, but I'm still not convinced we even have a big gap there. Fullback? Will take time for him to get the hang of that, something we've already done the hard yards for with Tomkins. It would be a waste to move Tomkins now. Halves? Way too steep a curve.

Its not a 100% guaranteed fail, but its a huge risk to take and he won't come cheap either.

I have a hard time believing that rumour, but if its true then our recruitment strategy is *really* off the map.

Ooook. I'll have to agree with Iron Lion in saying that you're underrating Kurtley Beale in a major way. He is an extremely good player - struggling to be a regular in the Wallabies is entirely the fault of the Wallabies coach/system - by rights he should be among the first picked (only Folau & Hooper would clearly be first). I'd look at Super Rugby this year for a better indication of where Beale is at in terms of ability.

He was also a league junior before Joeys snapped him up on a scholarship and the Waratahs signed him up - so it's not quite the same as converting a NZ union player who likely has never played league before.

As for position... he's not a centre. Just no, absolutely no way, no how. He would play either 1 or 6, depending on a range of factors.

All this said, I'm not sure we want a player like that who isn't really known for having a good disciplinary record.

 

[vvvrulz]

Ooook. I'll have to agree with Iron Lion in saying that you're underrating Kurtley Beale in a major way. He is an extremely good player - struggling to be a regular in the Wallabies is entirely the fault of the Wallabies coach/system - by rights he should be among the first picked (only Folau & Hooper would clearly be first). I'd look at Super Rugby this year for a better indication of where Beale is at in terms of ability.

I'm not doubting the guys ability to play union at all.
Moving him to the 10 jersey for the Wallabies was an extremely dumb movie given his Super Rugby form at the centres. But again, not the point.

He was also a league junior before Joeys snapped him up on a scholarship and the Waratahs signed him up - so it's not quite the same as converting a NZ union player who likely has never played league before.

I didn't know that, fair enough.
That said its a big step up from league juniors to the NRL.

No matter how you cut it, its going to be an expensive gamble which will require a learning curve switching between codes. Half a season to a season like it was for Tomkins. Do we really need that? We need to recruit solutions, not maybes.

 

[jaseg]

Union and League are not terribly different games outside of the pack and set pieces. I would expect top players to almost always transfer between the two very well. Beale is one of those top players. And yeah, Beale plays 2nd receiver like another playmaker, rather than a real centre role. That's pretty clearly his best position in Union, though life at the back might suit him better in League - I'm not sure, would have to really think it out.

Ok, he's not a 100% sure thing - but here's the issue: there are no sure things available. Frankly, we aren't a top team right now. We need to gamble a little bit - no risk, no reward. So long as it doesn't affect our ability to bring in another prop (I'm now hoping Mose Masoe, given what appears to be currently available), I really can't be disappointed if this sort of move was to go ahead (I doubt it will). For me the bigger concern is his disciplinary record - as I mentioned before.

 

[Iron Lion]

I'm not doubting the guys ability to play union at all.
Moving him to the 10 jersey for the Wallabies was an extremely dumb movie given his Super Rugby form at the centres. But again, not the point.



I didn't know that, fair enough.
That said its a big step up from league juniors to the NRL.

No matter how you cut it, its going to be an expensive gamble which will require a learning curve switching between codes. Half a season to a season like it was for Tomkins. Do we really need that? We need to recruit solutions, not maybes.

Yeah but the problem is Warriors are struggling to get anyone in, they are offering contracts to few players in the market at the moment and no one wants to sign on. I believe Bell is fairly weak in his role as a recruitment agent. Its a salesman's job.

Beale would make a very dangerous standoff and the change of scenery may be worth it in Auckland. Im told anyhow is if he did sign he would only ever come in 2016.

 

[vvvrulz]

Yeah but the problem is Warriors are struggling to get anyone in, they are offering contracts to few players in the market at the moment and no one wants to sign on.

Ok, he's not a 100% sure thing - but here's the issue: there are no sure things available. Frankly, we aren't a top team right now. We need to gamble a little bit - no risk, no reward..

Which might be fine if we had a squad which had *no* options in the halves or backs.
But we have them, not all game breakers but good enough and on song if the forwards are making metres for them.

Why are we chasing an unproven gamble?

At least with a signing like Matai you'd know you'd get an immediate upgrade and not a long term 'potential' signing.

I keep saying this, I don't see why recruitment is such a top priority especially for backs.
We have an under performing pack, chasing a good prop makes total sense but that's really about it. Our roster isn't the big problem here.