Rumoured/Confirmed Signings 2011/2012

[boxhead]

We've signed;

Chris Sandow
Ben Roberts
Esi Tonga
Matt Ryan
Daniel Penese
Taulima Tautai
Joseph Paulo

That's not a bad recruitment list at all, to fix issues we need to fix we are well on the way to doing that; we've fixed our halves and signed a good young centre, and boosted our forwards depth even more (its' downright crazy now).

Issues still to be considered; one wing spot in the first-team and general outside-backs depth (we have a lot of good young kids coming through though).
First-team second rower, though this won't be necessary if Maitua/Lasalo/Horo keep improving and complement Smith and Hindmarsh.

 

[boxhead]

It suggests on twitter that Joseph Paulo has been picked up immediately, or was that pointed out yesterday and it got lost in all the star wars posts?

He was signed immediately, you can tell from Sandor's (who broke the news) twitter post, he clearly indicates to Paulo to do well at the Eels; this indicates he was signed on an immediate transfer.

 

[Gronk]

We've signed;

Chris Sandow
Ben Roberts
Esi Tonga
Matt Ryan
Daniel Penese
Taulima Tautai
Joseph Paulo

That's not a bad recruitment list at all, to fix issues we need to fix we are well on the way to doing that; we've fixed our halves and signed a good young centre, and boosted our forwards depth even more (its' downright crazy now).

Issues still to be considered; one wing spot in the first-team and general outside-backs depth (we have a lot of good young kids coming through though).
First-team second rower, though this won't be necessary if Maitua/Lasalo/Horo keep improving and complement Smith and Hindmarsh.

Soon it will be spot the caucasian at the eels. Do Aboriginal and polynesian players have the genetic edge and will it lead to a premiership ? Yeah white man can't jump.

Throw it a few angry rangas and booom !

 

[Gronk]

Will Matt Rogers return to the Tits before 30 June ? Hmm ?

 

[Bigfella]

We've signed;

Chris Sandow
Ben Roberts
Esi Tonga
Matt Ryan
Daniel Penese
Taulima Tautai
Joseph Paulo

That's not a bad recruitment list at all, to fix issues we need to fix we are well on the way to doing that; we've fixed our halves and signed a good young centre, and boosted our forwards depth even more (its' downright crazy now).

Issues still to be considered; one wing spot in the first-team and general outside-backs depth (we have a lot of good young kids coming through though).
First-team second rower, though this won't be necessary if Maitua/Lasalo/Horo keep improving and complement Smith and Hindmarsh.

Let's not kid ourselves Boxy.

That's nowhere near enough.

That hasn't addressed the massive dearth in class in our outside backs. It hasn't given us any punch on the fringes in attack or defence. It hasn't addressed the fact that we are short one class propo or backrower from our rotation.

It still leaves a big questionmark over 9 and 6 - half of our spine.

I certainly hope recruitment isn't considered anywhere near being completed and I doubt that it is.

The blokes we have signed are a good start - but mainly for depth. Only Sandow and tonga are first grade options in a side that is throwing up about 4-5 players who are barely first grade standard let alone being top first grade players.

 

[spartan2153]

We've signed;

Chris Sandow
Ben Roberts
Esi Tonga
Matt Ryan
Daniel Penese
Taulima Tautai
Joseph Paulo

That's not a bad recruitment list at all, to fix issues we need to fix we are well on the way to doing that; we've fixed our halves and signed a good young centre, and boosted our forwards depth even more (its' downright crazy now).

Issues still to be considered; one wing spot in the first-team and general outside-backs depth (we have a lot of good young kids coming through though).
First-team second rower, though this won't be necessary if Maitua/Lasalo/Horo keep improving and complement Smith and Hindmarsh.

They are the only guys worth 2 bob the rest are waste.

 

[Suitman]

They are the only guys worth 2 bob the rest are waste.

No, the rest are depth.

Suity

 

[Casper The Ghost]

Some interesting thoughts in these past few pages

For me, I look back at teams who have won the premiership over the last 5 years, cheating or not, and look at the sorts of players they have signed. With perhaps an absolute quality signing sprinkled in here and there, mostly, teams have either developed from within, or gone looking for undervalued talent. I think we are doing both as well. We needed an absolute quality half, and I believe we got the best available. We also went and chased quality in other positions of need such as a backrower (blair, Harrison, etc) and a centre (hoppa). They didn’t come off and so be it. Doesn’t mean we need to go and pay 300k for Beau Champion, or sign an Andrew Fifita for big $$ when prop isn’t an area we need to strengthen in.
In saying all of that, these same teams have been coached by Bennett Belamy and Hasler, the 3 best coaches in the game currently IMO, so whilst we are perhaps following the right plan, theres obviously no guarantee it will work.

In contrast, lets look at a team who has gone out and spent the big bucks, more then once recently, the bulldogs, and look at how great they are going.

I truly believe that under the current salary cap system, if we are playing fairly, you cant just go out and buy a premiership, it does take patience and development under the right structure

Well said :thumb

 

[spartan2153]

No, the rest are depth.

Suity

Ok so basically our starting team & bench are good enough now with the exeption of robson.

Whats the excuse for our failure if we are only buying players for depth at the moment

 

[Gronk]

sefapaulo Joseph Paulo



Well I'm excited. I start a new journey with a new team @TheParaEels . Looking forward to the opportunity. Cheers for the support.

39 minutes ago

http://twitter.com/#!/sefapaulo/status/85590318996660224 http://twitter.com/#http://twitter.com/#http://twitter.com/#http://twitter.com/#

 

[Gronk]

Ben Roberts picked on the bench for the Dogs this week.

Tautai on the bench for the Sharks as well.

 

[Suitman]

Ok so basically our starting team & bench are good enough now with the exeption of robson.

Where did I say that?

Suity

 

[Stagger eel]

I find it remarkeble that Spartan wasn't this vocal after last years recruits were announced...

tbh other than the fact that I would prefer another outside back with fg experiance I'm quite with our gains thus far..

 

[spartan2153]

Whats irks me is that we are supposedly signing for depth. It has been proven either kearney cannot get these guys to perform or they are just not good enough. So then replace them with proven talent. You never buy players for potential. 1 or 2 ok but not the whole bunch.

Since kearney came in as coach grothe, tahu have left. People can say whatever they want but our coach had a say in it. We signed hicks, whaitura & walker under his watch for depth & they have been terrible.

We had a shot at beau champion proven perform & kearney knocked him back even though we are supposedly a million under the cap.

We need proven performers. We have the money so that should not be a issue. Apart from sandow we really havent hit the ball truly out of the ball park yet. I just hope they have something that will get us fans excited about next year.

Plus dury is still out on sandow at the moment.

Just get us a big x factor to compliment hayne please

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Some interesting thoughts in these past few pages

For me, I look back at teams who have won the premiership over the last 5 years, cheating or not, and look at the sorts of players they have signed. With perhaps an absolute quality signing sprinkled in here and there, mostly, teams have either developed from within, or gone looking for undervalued talent. I think we are doing both as well. We needed an absolute quality half, and I believe we got the best available. We also went and chased quality in other positions of need such as a backrower (blair, Harrison, etc) and a centre (hoppa). They didn’t come off and so be it. Doesn’t mean we need to go and pay 300k for Beau Champion, or sign an Andrew Fifita for big $$ when prop isn’t an area we need to strengthen in.
In saying all of that, these same teams have been coached by Bennett Belamy and Hasler, the 3 best coaches in the game currently IMO, so whilst we are perhaps following the right plan, theres obviously no guarantee it will work.

In contrast, lets look at a team who has gone out and spent the big bucks, more then once recently, the bulldogs, and look at how great they are going.

I truly believe that under the current salary cap system, if we are playing fairly, you cant just go out and buy a premiership, it does take patience and development under the right structure

Great post.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We've signed;

Chris Sandow
Ben Roberts
Esi Tonga
Matt Ryan
Daniel Penese
Taulima Tautai
Joseph Paulo

3. Tonga
4. Ryan
5. Tautai
6. Roberts
7. Sandow
12. Paulo
13. Chewbacca
15. Penese

 

[IFR33K]

I find it remarkeble that Spartan wasn't this vocal after last years recruits were announced...

tbh other than the fact that I would prefer another outside back with fg experiance I'm quite with our gains thus far..

In defence of last years recruitment drive, it all revolved around trying to lure Cooper Cronk, then Quade Cooper. A good quality half was all we needed, as we still had Tahu and Guru, for 2011.

When those two signings didnt come off, some questionable decisions were made. Maybe just for the sake of spending the cap.

Last years recruitment should be taken into consideration for this year. We cannot win the comp with average players.

Question to you stagger. Has it ever crossed your mind, that Taulima has been bought as a starting center?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Ok so basically our starting team & bench are good enough now with the exeption of robson.

Whats the excuse for our failure if we are only buying players for depth at the moment

Mate, there's no quick fix.

I'm certain we will only be siging players for 'depth' for the rest of this year. Several of next year's first grade team will emerge from this group plus NYC/Wenty.

Kearney's here to build a club, not buy a team.

 

[spartan2153]

Mate, there's no quick fix.

I'm certain we will only be siging players for 'depth' for the rest of this year. Several of next year's first grade team will emerge from this group plus NYC/Wenty.

Kearney's here to build a club, not buy a team.

To a point he is. So this year he has been given a pass as next year is where he is gonna be judged.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Plus dury is still out on sandow at the moment.

It's really not. Sandow's already a match winner and he's only going to get better.

And isn't 'dury' a TV personality?

Just get us a big x factor to compliment hayne please

We've got Hayne and Sandow next year. That's nearly a million dollars worth of player. Any more 'big x factor' players and we won't be able to afford any depth.