Return of gaz

[saint_marto88]

He's only getting $50K plus match payments, that's less than half a seasons money

 

[Cagey Mac]

I had a rough night with the my youngest coughing a lot and keeping me awake
Whilst being a huge fan of Gaz, I started doing the old team shuffle, trying to work out who to move where and who to leave out in order to accommodate Gaz.
Scott obviously has to move our of right centre and so we need to ensure that our RH defence is somehow bolstered to make up for Gaz deficiencies in this area (compared to Scott)
To me that means having Smith defend is his traditional spot and Scott with greater speed than Deano at lock as a cover defender? Creagh has left 2nd row locked up so where does that leave Deano (On the bench I guess as replacement back rower or hooker or in a pinch 5/8)
That leaves 3 bench spots for
Costigan
Emmett
Green
Greenfield
Merrin
Prior
This assumes that Hunt gets the starting spot as prop and I rule Saffy out as he has already committed elsewhere and whilst a hard man and reliable, is no stand-out over the others mentioned
Given the current blend of the team, I’d favour Costigan for his intimidation factor, Merrin because he’s getting better every week and knows his way across the try line and Prior because his big, fast and versatile. Those who miss out should feel unlucky especially Green I think but ultimately I think Merrin is the keeper of the two.
Ultimately and sadly I think that Smith would be the player that I’d let go in order to accommodate Gaz inclusion. He’s a gun player but (like Gaz I guess) prone to injury and affords less X-factor than Gasnier. He would be the one of the most costly players in the squad and our depth in back rowers is the strongest part of our arsenal

I didn’t thing that I’d be saying this but maybe Gaz is just too hard a fit
I wouldn’t mind a 2010 commitment to the Dragons for the cheap package and him moving on to someone else in 2011, having absolved his debt to the Dragons by helping us to a premiership this year

Bennett so do damned good that all of our players are fulfilling their potential and it’s hard to see any of them miss out. This may mean however that Gaz has not yet achieved anything like his potential as a player and would shine even brighter under our great coach’s tutelage

 

[Bring back choc]

I think costigan will go. He'll head to the broncos.
I agree there will be a problem when Gaz comes back, but to be fair Ita a great problem to have. Scott has to start. So back row would have to be creagh, smith and Scott. But I find it hard to believe young will be pushed to the bench. I just hope young doesn't move bak to hooker and priddis to bench.
Young would really be shattered if moved to the bench so there's a potential issue there.
I think initially the pack (given smith has missed some football) may look like this;

weyman
priddis
hunt
young
Scott
creagh

bench: smith, prior, costigan, Emmett.

So that means merrin, green, Saffy all miss out.
But in saying that, If that's not the best bench in the NRL then I'm not here.

 

[intercept]

With so much depth around we'd be in the position of being able to rotate the forwards around week to week to freshen up the squad as a whole leading into the finals. We won't be as fatigued come September this time around.

 

[Cagey Mac]

I think costigan will go. He'll head to the broncos.
I agree there will be a problem when Gaz comes back, but to be fair Ita a great problem to have. Scott has to start. So back row would have to be creagh, smith and Scott. But I find it hard to believe young will be pushed to the bench. I just hope young doesn't move bak to hooker and priddis to bench.
Young would really be shattered if moved to the bench so there's a potential issue there.
I think initially the pack (given smith has missed some football) may look like this;

weyman
priddis
hunt
young
Scott
creagh

bench: smith, prior, costigan, Emmett.

So that means merrin, green, Saffy all miss out.
But in saying that, If that's not the best bench in the NRL then I'm not here.

I agree with most of what you say but a couple of questions
Is Costigan worth enough to mitigate Gaz big numbers? (that’s why I chose Smith who would be on big money by comparison I imagine)
Does your bench give us enough go forward? I really think that Merrin will be carrying players forward for bigger metres as he matures

 

[Cagey Mac]

With so much depth around we'd be in the position of being able to rotate the forwards around week to week to freshen up the squad as a whole leading into the finals. We won't be as fatigued come September this time around.

Agreed and with hotter levels of competition for spots, attitudes will be in the right place
I’ve always found the people perform a little better when they know that they need to

 

[Daniel Dragons]

weyman
priddis
hunt
young
Scott
creagh

bench: smith, prior, costigan, Emmett.

Bennett always carries at least one true specialist prop on the bench - Green, Merrin or Thorby will be there every week. I imagine Emmett would miss out from that list (which is unfortunate, as he has been doing excellent lately) - but i can't see Prior or Smith getting dropped. Costigan offers a bit more aggression than Emmett, so I imagine he'd be the one to make room - just like Saffy probably would too if he wasn't injured/moving on.

Also, Scott is 11; Creagh is 12; Young is 13.

 

[TheRev]

He's only getting $50K plus match payments, that's less than half a seasons money

You need to measure the money over 3 years, 50k+450k+500k = 1mill over 2.5 seasons, thats 400k (+ the match payments) per season.

Silly figures imo.. no way we should be paying more than low 300's for an injury-prone centre returning to league... id pay it for Inglis, but I think Gasnier should take less, especially if he wants to retain a side that can win him premierships.

 

[Daniel Dragons]

You need to measure the money over 3 years, 450k+500k+50k = 1mill over 2.5 seasons, thats 400k + the match payments this year.

Silly figures imo.. no way we should be paying more than low 300's for a centre returning to league.

They're just rumoured figures. Nobody would really know other than Gaz, Doust and Bennett (although if you believe the Melb Storm, then Gaz and Bennett shouldn't know either).

 

[stg666]

imo greenfield showed on friday night that he is one to retain in the side.he might be about to realise his potential. big and strong and can hold onto the ball.the more time on the field the better he will become.

 

[LazyDreamer]

They're just rumoured figures. Nobody would really know other than Gaz, Doust and Bennett (although if you believe the Melb Storm, then Gaz and Bennett shouldn't know either).

:thumb

 

[saint_marto88]

Even if those figures are correct, some of it could be 3rd party payments and wont necessarily be coming out of the cap

 

[muzby]

simple solution to all of this..

we have jersey sponsors... sleeve sponsors.. back sponsors.. shorts sponsors..

just let gasnier erect a giant billboard on his chin & he can have his own chin sponsorship... the money can be all his, and it doesn't have to be part of the cap or 3rd party payments...

 

[Guvner]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/different-dragons-court-gaz-20100519-vfbe.html

 

[Guvner]

Dragons' pay cuts small price for Gaz

ST GEORGE Illawarra's senior players could be prepared to take pay cuts if it means creating room for former teammate Mark Gasnier under the salary cap.


Although Dragons centre Matt Cooper said the extreme measure had not been discussed, he conceded it could be an option if the players felt Gasnier could help the joint venture secure its maiden premiership.

Gasnier is locked in talks over his future and, despite persistent rumours he is in the sights of the Sydney Roosters, the former NSW and Australian centre is expected to return to St George Illawarra provided a deal can be struck.

Cooper, who spoke to Gasnier last week, is relishing the thought of being reunited with his long-time teammate and admitted the senior players could discuss sacrificing some of their own money to help facilitate his return.

"I don't know how our situation with the salary cap is," Cooper said.


"Hopefully, it doesn't come to that. It's something down the track, if that comes up, we might have to have a talk about.






"If you're saying he will help us win a premiership, I am pretty sure if you ask most of the players they would be willing to give up a little bit of money to win a premiership, that's for sure. I wouldn't say it's out of the question."

The Dragons have limited room to move under the cap and things are tight in coming years given they have re-signed Jamie Soward, Matt Prior, Beau Scott and Mick Weyman this season.

Boom forward Trent Merrin is expected to sign a new deal soon, as is captain Ben Hornby. Given as much, Gasnier is expected to sign a contract worth as little as $50,000 for the remainder of this season, although it would be enhanced with third-party deals.

"Gaz is one of the best players I have ever played with," Dragons forward Ben Creagh said.

"I think if the senior players all agreed -- you would all have to sit down and have a chat about it and ask what everyone wanted to do."

Since leaving the NRL two years ago, Gasnier has been playing with Top 14 rugby union side Stade Francais. He was expected to return to Australia to play rugby union for the Melbourne Rebels or Queensland Reds, but last week it emerged he was longing for a return to the NRL.

Newcastle, the Roosters and Cronulla were immediately linked with Gasnier but the Dragons remain the clear-cut favourites given one of the conditions of his release two years ago was that he was not allowed to play for any other NRL side until 2012.

"He was excited to be back home and excited I think to be back in rugby league," Cooper said.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/dragons-pay-cuts-small-price-for-gaz/story-e6frg7mf-1225868877327

 

[Divine]

"Hopefully, it doesn't come to that. It's something down the track, if that comes up, we might have to have a talk about."...
I'd draw the line WELL before that, X factor or no.

 

[j0nesy]

"He was excited to be back home and excited I think to be back in rugby league," Cooper said.

This line interests me. And it's from the Australian too, a reliable newspaper.

 

[TheRev]

The only way to make a successful club is to have quality players playing for "less than they can get elsewhere", in order to maintain a stronger roster than your competitors.

In order to do that you need a strong coach & winning culture where players know that a premiership is a real possibility at that club, and we have that now under Bennett.

Other examples are the glory days in Brisbane where origin/international players signed on for less to stay at the club, and also in Melbourne (though we later found out they were cheating to achieve it).

 

[ingles]

The only way to make a successful club is to have quality players playing for "less than they can get elsewhere", in order to maintain a stronger roster than your competitors.

In order to do that you need a strong coach & winning culture where players know that a premiership is a real possibility at that club, and we have that not under Bennett.

Other examples are the glory days in Brisbane where origin/international players signed on for less to stay at the club, and also in Melbourne (though we later found out they were cheating to achieve it).

I think you mean NOW under Bennett !!! ( I hope !! )

 

[TheRev]

I think you mean NOW under Bennett !!! ( I hope !! )

hahaha thats a really bad typo thanks! Yes I think that 1.5 years into Bennetts reign, we dont have a premiership, but there is a real respect for our side that when given a choice of playing for StGeorge or playing for Cronulla/Knights/Roosters for 50k more, that they would choose StGeorge.

Depends on your outlook on money vs success I guess.