Rumoured and Confirmed signings - Part 4

[franklin2323]

I enjoying what is happening in 2018. Today is enough to worry about. Management will do all they can to keep Cleary. But if he chooses to leave to be with his dad. So mote it be.

Flegg down have quality that in 2 years will be pushing FG. There is always players released elsewhere so we have options if Cleary goes

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Flegg down have quality that in 2 years will be pushing FG. There is always players released elsewhere so we have options if Cleary goes

Totally agree.

 

[franklin2323]

Totally agree.

Sometime over the off season we will have the NSW half locked up or have $1m + to spend... Either way we are fine

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Sometime over the off season we will have the NSW half locked up or have $1m + to spend... Either way we are fine

I've followed league long enough to realise that stressing about 2 years time, (or 2 months time) is wasted energy.

Remember all the stressing done in the off season about Panthers and were they were headed ? I know it's only early June, but the signs looks very good.

So how worthwhile was the gnashing of teeth, and renting of clothing during the off season.

 

[franklin2323]

I've followed league long enough to realise that stressing about 2 years time, (or 2 months time) is wasted energy.

Remember all the stressing done in the off season about Panthers and were they were headed ? I know it's only early June, but the signs looks very good.

So how worthwhile was the gnashing of teeth, and renting of clothing during the off season.

It is so stupid missed. Enjoy the next 2 years we have a great team. Worry about 2020 when it comes

 

[MrBlack]

Worst case scenario is we lose Cleary.

My question is what do we do with the massive war chest that we have accumulated then (ie what is our plan B).

I would like to think we would go after Munster. But interested in everyone's thoughts????

 

[OldPanther]

It is so stupid missed. Enjoy the next 2 years we have a great team. Worry about 2020 when it comes

It's being spoken about because this year the negotiations start.

 

[Pomoz]

Check the halves pairings for the last ten grandfinals. You don’t need the best halfback in the game to win premierships. It took JT till his twilight years to win one as the best halfback in the game and that didn’t happen till he had a beast forward pack to play behind, how many did johns win? Having the highest paid player in the game does not equal lots of success.

To dominate over a number of years you need a good spine and a good forward pack. If keeping Cleary gets to a point where it’s costing us too much let him walk.

This is a great point. It should be said though, you don't have to have the best halfback, but you need a decent spine that can create tries. A Burns/Walsh combo is not going to cut the mustard even if you put them behind 6 Taumololos. You need a bit of game management, a reasonable kicking game and somebody who at least knows when to give the ball to another player (not when they are about to be gang tackled into the middle of next week, eh Luke Walsh?).

Adam Reynolds is a classic example of that for South's GF win. Not too young, did what was needed, but he wasn't running into gaps or putting people through holes with trickery. He ain't no JT or even a Cleary (who also has yet to prove he is at JT class).

 

[mxlegend99]

Flegg down have quality that in 2 years will be pushing FG. There is always players released elsewhere so we have options if Cleary goes

Because we have a long list of halves who prove themselves in first grade?

Nathan Cleary is the only successful half we have developed in over a decade. 2 decades since Gower hit first grade. Wallace is next best since then and he was only solid. We have had countless promising players who never kicked on.

Cleary doesnt need a good partner in the halves either. He has won with numerous halves of varying qualities and abilities. With him at 7 we can use temporary 6s like Storm have done partnering Cronk.

He's the best defensive half in the game. He's the best goal kicker in the game. He's arguably the most consistent half in the game and he's now the NSW halfback.

The salary cap is constantly going up and he would be about the easiest player in the game to get TPAs for. He doesn't drink or fo drugs. He's the ideal role model.

Good halves dont leave clubs very often. Last year was a freak year as Cronk left a club for love which caused Pearce to leave Roosters. Both would have stayed put otherwise.

We cant expect to develop another Cleary. Or hope to get lucky and buy another half of similar quality. Look ay the ogher hslves earning sround $1m a season. None of them are as consistent or reliable as Cleary.

In 3 years he has never been terrible. Bad games from him are not that bad. We have made the finals each year since his debut with a shitload of personnel changes around him.

This year we have 2 quality halves which is a rarity. But we have no way of knowing how long Maloney can play at this standard for. His second years at clubs hsve been worse than his firsts. Hes in his 30s now.

We lose Cleary and we could have a brand new halves pairing and hooker in 2020. Starting from scratch basically.

 

[mxlegend99]

Most of those halves listed weren't rep halves until after they won the comp.

We were winning games with Peachey at 6. Either of the halves in Flegg will be better halves then Peachey. Brooks will need to leave if Cleary goes there. He will do a decent enough job if we keep the rest of the side

We won because we had a great rrp half as his partner.

Maloney can carry an average half. Cleary can too. But 2 average halves together are going to be lucky to have one half decent season in a long career.

A consistent high quality half is rare and helps a club achieve consistent results. Not a flash in the pan seadon where worlds need to align.

 

[franklin2323]

Worst case scenario is we lose Cleary.

My question is what do we do with the massive war chest that we have accumulated then (ie what is our plan B).

I would like to think we would go after Munster. But interested in everyone's thoughts????

Depends what we have in the ranks at the time. Munster isn't an organiser and we would need a 7.

 

[franklin2323]

It's being spoken about because this year the negotiations start.

It does but he said no talks this year. Gus said he expects an answer around xmas. So enjoy the ride now and that is a discussion for later

 

[OldPanther]

It does but he said no talks this year. Gus said he expects an answer around xmas. So enjoy the ride now and that is a discussion for later

Oh I am enjoying it. Speculation is fun though.

 

[franklin2323]

MX Matt Orford is more successful then JT. He is also more successful than any half we have had despite not being as talented as Brandy or Gowie. So rep halves are good to have but if you have a great team around even a basic half they job can get done

 

[betcats]

Because we have a long list of halves who prove themselves in first grade?

Nathan Cleary is the only successful half we have developed in over a decade. 2 decades since Gower hit first grade. Wallace is next best since then and he was only solid. We have had countless promising players who never kicked on.

Cleary doesnt need a good partner in the halves either. He has won with numerous halves of varying qualities and abilities. With him at 7 we can use temporary 6s like Storm have done partnering Cronk.

He's the best defensive half in the game. He's the best goal kicker in the game. He's arguably the most consistent half in the game and he's now the NSW halfback.

The salary cap is constantly going up and he would be about the easiest player in the game to get TPAs for. He doesn't drink or fo drugs. He's the ideal role model.

Good halves dont leave clubs very often. Last year was a freak year as Cronk left a club for love which caused Pearce to leave Roosters. Both would have stayed put otherwise.

We cant expect to develop another Cleary. Or hope to get lucky and buy another half of similar quality. Look ay the ogher hslves earning sround $1m a season. None of them are as consistent or reliable as Cleary.

In 3 years he has never been terrible. Bad games from him are not that bad. We have made the finals each year since his debut with a shitload of personnel changes around him.

This year we have 2 quality halves which is a rarity. But we have no way of knowing how long Maloney can play at this standard for. His second years at clubs hsve been worse than his firsts. Hes in his 30s now.

We lose Cleary and we could have a brand new halves pairing and hooker in 2020. Starting from scratch basically.

No one is saying we shouldn't try very hard to keep him. But there is not a player in the game that is worth breaking our salary cap for, we have to be prepared to walk away rather than having an attitude of 'sing him no matter the cost" . Also our player development has changed so much the last 6 years, if we lose Nath we will have another good young half available to pair with Maloney, im confident of that.

 

[TheFrog]

how many did johns win? Having the highest paid player in the game does not equal lots of success.

It equalled spoon in 2005 when he got injured. Came back mid-season, killed Origin, won something like 8 from 11 when he came back but were so useless without him that they still ran last.

 

[franklin2323]

No one is saying we shouldn't try very hard to keep him. But there is not a player in the game that is worth breaking our salary cap for, we have to be prepared to walk away rather than having an attitude of 'sing him no matter the cost" . Also our player development has changed so much the last 6 years, if we lose Nath we will have another good young half available to pair with Maloney, im confident of that.

technically we could pay him $7m a season and have min contracts around him but we'd struggle. We should try to sign him but for me no one should be on a teams books for more than $1m. TPA's on top of that is still a huge deal

 

[Pomoz]

No player is bigger than the club. Greats like Alfie and Ricky Stuart and Brandy had great teams around them. If Cleary thinks the grass is greener elsewhere he should peer over the ditch to Auckland. Shaun Johnson is probably the most talented half in the game he has it all. He plays in a team of donkeys with poor recruitment, poor coaching and poor culture. In spite of of all his talent, he has won nothing at club level. Not even come close to winning something.

 

[mxlegend99]

MX Matt Orford is more successful then JT. He is also more successful than any half we have had despite not being as talented as Brandy or Gowie. So rep halves are good to have but if you have a great team around even a basic half they job can get done

Matt Orford is also better than all but 3 halves we have ever developed.

Average halves wont get a team to the finals regularly no matter how good the rest of the tesm is. They might have a random appearance. But the best halves regularly take their tesms to the finals regardless of who is slotted in around them.

We arent going to be regular finals contenders or premiership threats in 2020 if we are replacing 3/4 of this years spine.

We have had many quality centres, wingers and forwsrds come off our production line. Quality halves are lucky to be once a decade.

 

[mxlegend99]

Whatever it costs to keep him. If he stays we are better off IMO.

I think weve already sacrificed enough we wouldn't need to lose much more. If any at all.

Cartys money and Peacheys money. Wallace and Browne. We havent signed anyone yet. $1.4m in 3 years wouldnt be anywhere near as much under the cap as it is now. In 5 years it could be a average half money. Assuming it evrn costs that. $1.1m could possibly keep him.

By the time his new contract starts you start replacing Mez, Tamou and Maloney with guys on half there wsge