Prepare for some news

[Mixmasterreece]

By the way I hope we do sign Steve Matai....the rumor mill is all a buzz with suggestions that it may happen ( I have no inside info on that one ).

I think he's the only one where there's even a faint glimmer of hope. We've been linked with him for 2-3 years now ....

 

[Iron Lion]

Josh Hoffman is not over, they upgraded the offer again - and it is to play centre and Konrad would be played off the bench if they signed Matai also

 

[Cold Roses]

Konrad would be played off the bench if they signed Matai also

Personal opinion or part of the Chinese whispers? I find it very hard to believe that a. This decision has been made before a pre season has even started, or b. That Cappy would share it to the extent that it would become public knowledge.

I've been quite happy to give you the benefit of the doubt with all of your info. but seriously, give this last part some considered thought, and you'll see how ludicrous it sounds.

 

[Iron Lion]

Thats what is being said in my media circles, coaching staff believe Konrad has not got an effective 80mins in him and they are after both Hoffman and Matai to play centres with Konrad to be managed differently in 2016.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Thats what is being said in my media circles, coaching staff believe Konrad has not got an effective 80mins in him and they are after both Hoffman and Matai to play centres with Konrad to be managed differently in 2016.

An interchange back, completely incapable of playing in the forwards, is not a luxury we can afford.

I don't disagree that he doesn't have an effective 80 mins in him, before I go on.

But surely the onus is on our coaches to make him effective, not chuck it in the too hard basket and peel the cheque book out? Isn't that what coaching is?

 

[Juju]

Hmmm weird I didn't see Iron Lion posting about Adam Tuimavave Gerrard to the Cows.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Of course Konrad doesn't have 80 minutes of centre in him. After doing the forwards job he's too tired to do the job of a centre as well.

f**k me our recruitment is backwards. Lets get more backs to fix our forwards.

Don't see Hoffman coming at all, Matai would be nice though.

 

[MKEB...]

Hmmm weird I didn't see Iron Lion posting about Adam Tuimavave Gerrard to the Cows.

Surely not?

 

[vvvrulz]

Of course Konrad doesn't have 80 minutes of centre in him. After doing the forwards job he's too tired to do the job of a centre as well.

f**k me our recruitment is backwards. Lets get more backs to fix our forwards.

Don't see Hoffman coming at all, Matai would be nice though.

Spot on.

And McFadden is clearly working him hard on his fitness, and for periods of this season he was giving in full 80 minute performances. He got injured somewhere along the line and it clearly made a difference.

Talks about having a bench centre is just daft, you'd pull Matai off to give Hurrell some bursts?
Sounds like more of the usual bs

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Sounds like Hurrell will be an impact second rower rather than centre if it came true.

Still don't like it either way, but yeah, bench centre makes zero sense.

 

[sup42]

I think he's the only one where there's even a faint glimmer of hope. We've been linked with him for 2-3 years now ....

Matai has been accused of playing off the Warriors desperation to get a better deal at Manly.

There was that time he toured the club etc.

Some fans were like women scorned after that, to me if that is what he was doing then that's just smart business practice.

But those accusations don't wash.

Kieran Forans admission that the reason they support Steves request for early release is that he signed for unders quashes all those claims.

Conspiracy buffs need to look at that in the cold light of day and realize their logic was off a tad.

Are we to believe that had not Matai flirted with the Warriors he would potentially remained at Manly on minimum wages and played the way he has...if that is the case....we have to have that player.....and I don't care if he costs overs.

Isaac....was a Luke warm chance of becoming a Warrior. He did make some semi committal murmurings about wanting to come home yet ultimately leaving the decision in the hands of his business adviser ( his wife...like most sensible men ).

The difference between the Matai stuff and the Matai stuff past ( and even the recent Isaac Luke rhetoric) is that Matai has been less than sensitive to his current employer in declaring he wants out....Matai's team mates have rallied in support publicly to Lobby Manly to grant him early release.

That potential signing is as serious as it gets.

 

[Cold Roses]

Thats what is being said in my media circles, coaching staff believe Konrad has not got an effective 80mins in him and they are after both Hoffman and Matai to play centres with Konrad to be managed differently in 2016.

Again. No offence, but I put this down to Chinese whispers. Someone over heard something that someone passed on to someone else that eventually made it to your media circles. And by the time it got there, Hurrell was on the bench.

Don't dispute the potential recruitments themselves, but the rest of it? Grain of salt

But surely the onus is on our coaches to make him effective, not chuck it in the too hard basket and peel the cheque book out? Isn't that what coaching is?

Exactly.

f**k me our recruitment is backwards. Lets get more backs to fix our forwards.

Don't see Hoffman coming at all, Matai would be nice though.

At this stage I'd prefer Hoffman not to come. Not if he's going to impede our junior development. We're halfway there with Hurrell and Laumape. Why screw it up now?

And McFadden is clearly working him hard on his fitness, and for periods of this season he was giving in full 80 minute performances. He got injured somewhere along the line and it clearly made a difference.

Talks about having a bench centre is just daft, you'd pull Matai off to give Hurrell some bursts?
Sounds like more of the usual bs

Like I said. Chinese whispers. All this talk of 80min players? How many backs actually ARE 80min players. They need to get their hands on the ball in set play and attacking positions. That's up to the playmakers to get them into those positions. Centers shouldn't be going looking for 'work' , if they are then there are bigger problems than their perceived involvement.

 

[sup42]

Local development has been grossly over estimated here for a long time in my opinion.

There are three and a half thousand adults who play the game here as registered players.

That is stuff all.

The pool of Juniors is not proportionately more significant than that. Our Juniors go well in the raw under twenties NRL product through their physicality.

As has been discussed here unpteen times I'm sure...once those lads hit the big boys level the playing field is even ( physically ).

The mental / intellectual and psychological part of the game turns to chess from the crude game our boys were raised in.

Strategy / tactics / and fortitude become what counts at senior level.

Our recruitment underestimated that maturing process and because of that we have been brewing Alcopop drinks to match the Aussies Malt Whiskey.

Laumape and Hurrell....Matulino and Packer.....Locke and Johnson.....Fisiahi and SLymankel.....Vete and Carlos Tuimavave.....all of these players.....to a man....have been dreamed of as future ' potential best in their position ' NRL players at one point or other.

None of them have actually got as close to in their position as someone like Matai or Joshn Hoffman consistently for years.

Every NRL club is proliferated with Laumape's and Fustitua's...even Hurrell types....not every club sees their dream with those players. We judge it based on winning Junior Grand finals.....well we've had a few of those now....how's the seniors going then ? top eight ?

Tony Williams was the Konrad Hurrell game breaker of his day....I bet with hindsight the clubs that Williams has played for would have invested in a Matai or Josh Hoffman in terms of week in week out bang for their buck over a Tony Williams.

Waffling a bit here and bound to get shot down because of it....but the Warriors have been banging on about potential since the first Whetu Taewa pulled on the jersey for them.

 

[Iron Lion]

Some see Hurrell as a David Solomona type, also it could be fire in the belly to make sure he turns up fit preseason as well. Nothing is for granted. If Hoffman signed he would not be at fullback and the warriors would not park him on the wing. Even with Matai coming Hurrell could be on the bench with Laumape taking Centre spot.

End of the day I dont think it is a bad thing for him to realize this now the value of starting in the warriors jersey.

If Hoffman signs elsewhere it is only because he has been handed the FB jersey. The Warriors money is very good

 

[Rich102]

Sup. Have to agree with you.
How much of this do you think is due to top-quality coaching in the early years?
Most Aussie clubs have a wealth of ex-NRL players turned to coaching available. Here we don't have the same skills. Many junior clubs here have well-meaning but inexperienced coaches and the full skill set is not put in place early enough.

Many of the skill must be put in place early so they become instinctive.

 

[Cold Roses]

Some see Hurrell as a David Solomona type, also it could be fire in the belly to make sure he turns up fit preseason as well. Nothing is for granted. If Hoffman signed he would not be at fullback and the warriors would not park him on the wing. Even with Matai coming Hurrell could be on the bench with Laumape taking Centre spot.

End of the day I dont think it is a bad thing for him to realize this now the value of starting in the warriors jersey.

If Hoffman signs elsewhere it is only because he has been handed the FB jersey. The Warriors money is very good

Not going to harp on about it, but this is a bit more realistic. As per my earlier point, I don't believe that those decisions have been made. If it got back to you that it had, then i believe it was because it was lost in translation. No first grade coach makes hard and fast decisions on selection based upon who they MAY sign, and then let's it out to the media.

 

[Skinner]

Sup. Have to agree with you.
How much of this do you think is due to top-quality coaching in the early years?
Most Aussie clubs have a wealth of ex-NRL players turned to coaching available. Here we don't have the same skills. Many junior clubs here have well-meaning but inexperienced coaches and the full skill set is not put in place early enough.

Many of the skill must be put in place early so they become instinctive.

This is so true, it's not funny. This is one of the overpowering differences between the good junior players on either side of the Tasman. Aussie juniors are very much exposed to coaching by the Senior Coaches of their clubs (or potential clubs). In NZ, they are basically left in the hands of their immediate grade coach, who are qualified but have little experience at higher levels. I know it is changing, but the changes are simply too slow.

 

[Cold Roses]

Local development has been grossly over estimated here for a long time in my opinion..

Absolutely. Don't disagree. Unlike others I am usually pleased when younger guys head to other NRL clubs as I feel it can only aid the Kiwis national team if their development is furthered in the sort of professional hard nosed environment that the Warriors are continually unable to provide.

However, in regards to Hurrell and Laumape, I maintain that those guys are almost there. To push them both into the background in expense of 2 established first graders, one of whom wants to play fullback no less, would be a massive failure by the club and current coach to develop talent that is on the cusp of providing what we need in that position.

Bring in Matai. Sure. Or Hoffman. We don't need both. Someone in the organisation is scrambling to try and save their Ass with a few big name signings. And we all know who that person is.

 

[Blair]

I'm not overly convinced that either Matai or Josh Hoffman would push Hurrell or Laumape out of any position.

Especially considering the latter two have had another season of first grade under their belts.

Another thing, Matai and Hoffman probably look a little better than they really are, cause they play for Manly and Brisbane respectively.

 

[Blair]

As for Beale:

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/article/-/25163666/wallabies-in-disarray-in-argentina/

Although this could hasten a departure from the Wallabies/rugby union. However, sticking to the point of the story, he seems troubled.