Rumor Mill

[Rich102]

Fair enough.

 

[Rich102]

Cappy gone back to the Raiders.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

I would have been concerned in years gone by if we let Luke go like this at the end of the season without a backup, BUT the fact that we have Brian Smith and Peter O'Sullivan overseeing all things recruitment and retention, I feel like they have an adequate plan. Maybe we are targeting a big name in 2020 and tried to get Luke on a 1 year deal but he went for extra security.

Who knows, but those 2 blokes are pretty switched on and would be doing some wheeling and dealing in the background..

 

[Matua]

Cappy gone back to the Raiders.

Good news. Did he suggest he was taking Kata with him?

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

See ya Isaac

Cheers for 1 great season outta 3

 

[Penrose Warrior]

If we get either of those two that's me done for the Warriors, which without an adequate replacement for Luke wont be an issue as we'll be hopeless anyway.

We will be. It's all well and good for someone to say O'Sullivan and Smith are smart operators so we'll be fine, but it's a short time frame to get someone to play 9 next year when there's no one on our books who is capable - even Roache, as talented as he might be, he's got no history of playing big minutes as a starting hooker.

We do have a history of bringing under-rated/bargain basement hookers to NZ and making good on them (Death, Mears, Marsh, Gatis, Henderson, Heremaia etc)..these are the off-contract hookers as per Zero Tackle:

Kurt Baptiste, Billy Brittain, Manaia Cherrington, Josh Chudleigh, Craig Garvey, Harry Grant, Cameron King, Apisai Koroisau, Issac Luke, Dylan Phythian, Kaysa Pritchard, Mitch Rein, James Segeyaro, Tom Starling, Jake Turpin, Zac Woolford

 

[Penrose Warrior]

See ya Isaac

Cheers for 1 great season outta 3

Is a bit that way eh. Shit he talks a big game, not sure he backed it up with one good season - and even then one where he went missing in the finals match.

 

[JJ]

We will be. It's all well and good for someone to say O'Sullivan and Smith are smart operators so we'll be fine, but it's a short time frame to get someone to play 9 next year when there's no one on our books who is capable - even Roache, as talented as he might be, he's got no history of playing big minutes as a starting hooker.

We do have a history of bringing under-rated/bargain basement hookers to NZ and making good on them (Death, Mears, Marsh, Gatis, Henderson, Heremaia etc)..these are the off-contract hookers as per Zero Tackle:

Kurt Baptiste, Billy Brittain, Manaia Cherrington, Josh Chudleigh, Craig Garvey, Harry Grant, Cameron King, Apisai Koroisau, Issac Luke, Dylan Phythian, Kaysa Pritchard, Mitch Rein, James Segeyaro, Tom Starling, Jake Turpin, Zac Woolford

Koroisau would be great

 

[Fufu Andronez]

We will be. It's all well and good for someone to say O'Sullivan and Smith are smart operators so we'll be fine, but it's a short time frame to get someone to play 9 next year when there's no one on our books who is capable - even Roache, as talented as he might be, he's got no history of playing big minutes as a starting hooker.

To be fair, since Bully has come here no one has had the chance to show whether or not they are up to playing big minutes at hooker as he has had a mortgage on that spot.

Sometimes all these kids need is an opportunity and an extended run at the position and they could end up surprising all of us..

Of course they could also shit the bed, but that's also kind of what Luke did in year 1 and 2.

Still though I reckon a 1 year deal for Bully is pretty fair from the clubs perspective and he is well within his rights to look for something better as well. Will be interesting to see how it all pans out aye

 

[Philip_Smith007]

We will be. It's all well and good for someone to say O'Sullivan and Smith are smart operators so we'll be fine, but it's a short time frame to get someone to play 9 next year when there's no one on our books who is capable - even Roache, as talented as he might be, he's got no history of playing big minutes as a starting hooker.

We do have a history of bringing under-rated/bargain basement hookers to NZ and making good on them (Death, Mears, Marsh, Gatis, Henderson, Heremaia etc)..these are the off-contract hookers as per Zero Tackle:

Kurt Baptiste, Billy Brittain, Manaia Cherrington, Josh Chudleigh, Craig Garvey, Harry Grant, Cameron King, Apisai Koroisau, Issac Luke, Dylan Phythian, Kaysa Pritchard, Mitch Rein, James Segeyaro, Tom Starling, Jake Turpin, Zac Woolford

Need to be looking this list:

Mitchell Allgood, Tyrone Amey, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, JJ Felise, David Gower, Charlie Gubb, Jack Hetherington, Sam Hoare, Max King, Vincent Leuluai, Matthew Lodge, Thomas Mikaele, Kayleb Milne, Patrick Sipley, Sam Tagataese, Peni Terepo, Lachlan Timm, Siosaia Vave, Eloni Vunakece, Jai Whitbread

Not much to choose from as props listed on zero tackle.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Not devastated re Luke if it’s true.

Sure his upside is he’s been great this season and he plays 80, but he’s also given us two pretty rubbish seasons and has a shoulder that’s on borrowed time for reconstructive surgery that’d put him out for a season, when he probably only has 2-3 more years total left in him. Plus there have been plenty of rumours about him being disruptive and needing to be kept on a short leash. it could be that we’re parting ways at the right time.

Will be disappointed if we let Lino go, would be good to keep him after Greens time is up.

 

[VillaTheGorilla]

Shieeeeet. Huge news if it's true.
When Luke was playing well this year we went great.

However, with the rumours about his behaviour, his injuries and age, it's not the worst news in the world.

Roache probably not ready as some have said, but if we were able to get a top tier prop for Luke's money then I think it's worth the risk.

Top tier prop
Paasi
Bunty
Ah Mau
Roache
V
Paasi
Bunty
Ah Mau
Gavet
Luke

I think the first one has far more of an upside

 

[WellsNZ]

They don't have the money for a top tier prop even if one did want to come here. They can't give Luke a big offer, so they don't have enough to get an elite prop.

 

[Rich102]

They should have money with Mannering retiring. Plus Ah Mau won't be on top dollar.
Didn't the cap just go up?

 

[JJ]

They should have money with Mannering retiring. Plus Ah Mau won't be on top dollar.
Didn't the cap just go up?

Probably had back ended contracts?

 

[SpaceMonkey]

They don't have the money for a top tier prop even if one did want to come here. They can't give Luke a big offer, so they don't have enough to get an elite prop.

Cant give him a big offer or won’t give him multiple years?

 

[Iron Lion]

They should have money with Mannering retiring. Plus Ah Mau won't be on top dollar.
Didn't the cap just go up?

Ah Mau is on very good money!, there were several NRL clubs and some superleague side who were after him. He was a stand out NRL prop over the last 3 years and arguably close to the best in 2018. Awesome signing and even though he did want to come home he still took up some cap.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Need to be looking this list:

Mitchell Allgood, Tyrone Amey, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, JJ Felise, David Gower, Charlie Gubb, Jack Hetherington, Sam Hoare, Max King, Vincent Leuluai, Matthew Lodge, Thomas Mikaele, Kayleb Milne, Patrick Sipley, Sam Tagataese, Peni Terepo, Lachlan Timm, Siosaia Vave, Eloni Vunakece, Jai Whitbread

Not much to choose from as props listed on zero tackle.

Gubb is in England
Lodge has extended at Bronx

Id take Tagataese and Sipley any day

 

[BLN2]

Terepo in a heartbeat. Been linked to us before, but doubt he’s available. Did a shit tonne of work in the middle filling in for Brown.

Edit, signed a new deal mid season. Is Zero tackle rubbish or what.

 

[Benek]

Rumour Lino is being allowed to look around? Why on earth would they let him go? We needed him quite a bit last year!