Rumoured/Confirmed Signings and General Drivel XV

[Someone]

He's already proven he can play anywhere in the backline - and kill it.

He's big, strong and fast enough to take hit-ups - in fact, he did so on several occasions on Saturday night.

And his passing game is brilliant - I'm sure he could tweak it to make it work at hooker if we really needed him to (which we don't).

I'm sorry, but Jarryd Hayne is good enough to play pretty much anywhere. He has size, speed, strength, skill...

And he's not a John Morris type of utility who is good but not great - he's been NSW's best from the wing; man of the match in the World Cup Final from centre; and a Dally M Medallist from fullback.

The dude should get paid pretty highly and rightly so.

I was talking about Buhrer.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

That's cool.

But does that mean Andrew Ettingshausen, Steve Rogers, Nathan Hindmarsh, Johnathan Thurston and David Peachey, to name a few, don't deserve to be ranked in the list of their respective clubs' best players?

Sharks and Cowboys haven't won a premiership yet, so not a good comparison.

 

[lingard]

I don't think he will get that title unless he wins a premiership. Just a personal opinion.

Ken Thornett never won a premiership. I think more than Hayne not winning a premiership (which he may never do) is the competition he is up against for best ever Parra player. Guys like Thornett and Sterling and Price (in particular) and Mick Cronin, would all give Hayne a run for his money.

 

[EelsFan05]

That's cool.

But does that mean Andrew Ettingshausen, Steve Rogers, Nathan Hindmarsh, Johnathan Thurston and David Peachey, to name a few, don't deserve to be ranked in the list of their respective clubs' best players?

Cronulla and North Queenland are in the unenviable position of never winning a premiership.

We had fantastic players, two or three that I rate in front of Hayne, that won premierships. I think a premiership/s certainly come into the equation when trying to decide a clubs greatest player.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Harrison played a total of 19 first grade games for Manly before we offered him ridiculous money. Is 19 games now a sufficient sample size for you?

It is, and it was sufficient for the people trying to fill our roster and our salary cap for 2013. That's a lot more management experience than all the death riders.

The fact that he only played a further seven games for us and was not picked up by another NRL club says more to me. By your logic we should be trying to get Horo back...

Horo has also proven at Manly that he's a decent first grader. As for Harrison, we might not have gotten flogged so many times last year if he'd played more. Tough, solid defenders were something we didn't have much of last year, and our season was derailed by Sticky trying to move too many players on.

Harrison did the job for Manly and he did the job for us when he played. The fact he was on overs just reflects the tax we had to pay for being a shit club that no merkin wanted to play for. Every player we've signed recently would be on overs, and the more expensive the player the higher the 'overs' component we are paying.

If you want to whinge about poor management, Hopoate is probably the worst signing of the Kearney period, but because he is playing solid NRL footy no merkin says boo. But for what he is reportedly on he should be starring every week, and not stuck out at centre. Playing good football each week doesn't justify what Hopoate's on any more than playing at a decent NRL standard justifies what Harrison was getting paid. It's all relative.

We needed to sign Harrison for last year because nobody could have known Tanginoa would be ready for first grade until the end of pre-season. You'll notice Sticky also got rid of another Eels reserve grader in Horo, who seemed to go ok at Manly. The problem wasn't these players (Harrison and Horo); the problem was our club.

 

[lingard]

So Toutai was injured not dropped? Will he be back or Sio keeps his spot?

I'd bring Toutai back. I think he's better (and has more potential) than Sio.

 

[Someone]

personally i disagree on two counts here, firstly he cant play anywhere in 17, most likely only second row, prop if needed, lock, hooker and bench,and secondly a jack of all trades master of none should be paid moderately but i wouldnt offer him more than what he is just cause he can fill in here and there. Its not like he excels at hooker (practically doesnt ever play there), hes a strong ball runner but he really isnt worth breaking the bank.

In all serious re: Buhrer being a 'utility', how many positons has he actually played and what are the percentages of those positions over his first grade career? i swear labels like Versatile and skillful grow like wildfire on this forum because one person says it.

I looked it up...albeit im one game out according to the rugby league project, regardless....

Buhrers career from 2010-2013

Bench - 66 Games
Second Row - 10 Games (7 wins, 3 losses)
Lock - 4 Games (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
Centre - 2 Games (2 Losses)
Five Eighth - 1 Game (1 Loss)

Judging from when he actually started games and the periods they were in looked to be injury forced. His history shows he is a solid bench player but with Manlys brittle and some what aging roster the fact he hasn't moved into the 13 yet is worrying. Also from these stats i wouldn't offer him more because of his so called utility value.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

personally i disagree on two counts here, firstly he cant play anywhere in 17, most likely only second row, prop if needed, lock, hooker and bench,and secondly a jack of all trades master of none should be paid moderately but i wouldnt offer him more than what he is just cause he can fill in here and there. Its not like he excels at hooker (practically doesnt ever play there), hes a strong ball runner but he really isnt worth breaking the bank.

In all serious re: Buhrer being a 'utility', how many positons has he actually played and what are the percentages of those positions over his first grade career? i swear labels like Versatile and skillful grow like wildfire on this forum because one person says it.

He has played edge forward, middle forward, centre, hooker and in the halves (including being named in the 6 jersey) in his NRL career.

 

[Someone]

Sorry Elementary i thought you were talking about Buhrer.

 

[El Diablo]

Brent Read ‏@brentread_7https://twitter.com/brentread_7/status/450514704507498497
Wests Tigers have every right to be concerned at moment. Lots of talk around traps that Bulldogs might have a red-hot lash at James Tedesco

 

[caylo]

I looked it up...albeit im one game out according to the rugby league project, regardless....

Buhrers career from 2010-2013

Bench - 66 Games
Second Row - 10 Games (7 wins, 3 losses)
Lock - 4 Games (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
Centre - 2 Games (2 Losses)
Five Eighth - 1 Game (1 Loss)

Judging from when he actually started games and the periods they were in looked to be injury forced. His history shows he is a solid bench player but with Manlys brittle and some what aging roster the fact he hasn't moved into the 13 yet is worrying. Also from these stats i wouldn't offer him more because of his so called utility value.

so in other words he is a backrower who is able to fill into the centres when required. I've watched him play and he is not skillful enough to cover 5-8 properly and probably was only there for his defence in a one off game. We have all seen his ability to cover hooker is only sparingly rather then a true ability to play there regularly.

In out squad with Hoppa and Hayne I think someone like Loko or Uaslei who can play edge backrow/centre would be enough utility value.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

outside of Buhrer one game he started in the centres when he made 111meters and 42 tackles he has done nothing. So he made 41% of his meters and 45% of his tackle in one match, that is called a statistical anomaly and would be removed from any statistical analysis. You should know that pou

What I know is it shows what he's capable of. So no we don't exclude it just because it's his best game of the year. Also, he didn't play centre, he played right edge forward, which is his best position. He also set up the match winner.

To be honest we wouldn't look at this year at all because it's only four games old. But you're the one who brought up minutes played this year.

Irrespective of where Buhrer plays, Harrison was picked ahead of him on the right edge in 2012 when stewart was injured and considering Watmough played on the left edge as much as he played through the middle Buhrer could have always been picked in the middle ad Horo on the bench. Both Hasler and Toovey have continually picked him on the bench and play him generally around 30min which is similar to the minutes Kelepi and Pauli have been given to give them experience. So Buhrer is getting pitty minutes essentially and Horo is playing full 80min, i.e Horo>>Buhrer

Buhrer and Horo are different players. Horo plays on the left and hit gaps and can't tackle. Buhrer plays on the right and in the middle and defends well. Horo is better off out on the left edge forming combinations with Foran and Matai. Buhrer plays a different role and it includes higher involvement and more defence. Plus he has a right foot step, which is much less useful on the left side of the field.

Buhrer is at least as important to Manly as Horo. But he comes off the bench for his utility value.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Exactly. Look at how well Tinklers private enterprise is going.

He is probably the worst businessman in Australia! He bought a rugby league club for f**ks sake!!!

Here's a hint - if you've heard of them then they're not good examples of what business people are like.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

That's cool.

But does that mean Andrew Ettingshausen, Steve Rogers, Nathan Hindmarsh, Johnathan Thurston and David Peachey, to name a few, don't deserve to be ranked in the list of their respective clubs' best players?

He won a premiership on 2004.

 

[Delboy]

Not that is in the pipeline, but Fifita's wife worked at my company, and they still live in the Blacktown area and she hated the drive he had to do to get to Cronulla

She said , with a smile, would be good of he played for Parra as that would suit the family , but money will be the decider

 

[84 Baby]

Not that is in the pipeline, but Fifita's wife worked at my company, and they still live in the Blacktown area and she hated the drive he had to do to get to Cronulla

She said , with a smile, would be good of he played for Parra as that would suit the family , but money will be the decider

So what you're saying is he doesn't listen to his missus? He's the kind of merkin we need

 

[Someone]

He won a premiership on 2004.

You know that has nothing to do with what eele is saying. He wont be considered a club hero for Canterbury, He will for the NQ Cowboys where he hasnt won anything. Thats the point Eele is trying to make.

 

[caylo]

What I know is it shows what he's capable of. So no we don't exclude it just because it's his best game of the year. Also, he didn't play centre, he played right edge forward, which is his best position. He also set up the match winner.

To be honest we wouldn't look at this year at all because it's only four games old. But you're the one who brought up minutes played this year.

Buhrer and Horo are different players. Horo plays on the left and hit gaps and can't tackle. Buhrer plays on the right and in the middle and defends well. Horo is better off out on the left edge forming combinations with Foran and Matai. Buhrer plays a different role and it includes higher involvement and more defence. Plus he has a right foot step, which is much less useful on the left side of the field.

Buhrer is at least as important to Manly as Horo. But he comes off the bench for his utility value.

ok I looked at this year to show he was a bench player that plays low minutes but your the stat person why dont you look how many minutes he has played in the last 3 years. It might not help your argument which is why you probably wont

I also like that you ignored my comments about Harrison who started a whole year (19games) over buhrer even though they are both RHS players. You also ignore the fact that I said Watmough could play on the LHS and Buhrer in the middle similarly to how Edwards was moved to the LHS for Paulo to play through the middle but yet they chose to play Horo for 80min and Buhrer for 30. If Buhrer was as valuable he would start fullstop!!

What you also fail to consider if Horos ability to run decoys and kick chase game which Buhrer is fairly poor at.

Anyway even if Buhrer is equal to a Horo or Harrison they are both fringe first graders at best, gap fills if anything not quality first grade players. Buhrer is on the same level, while his experience and versatility could be useful be is not worth pay more then an average wage.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

You know that has nothing to do with what eele is saying. He wont be considered a club hero for Canterbury, He will for the NQ Cowboys where he hasnt won anything. Thats the point Eele is trying to make.

Fair point.

 

[Tommy Coco]

At first I could see reason for the burher talk but when you consider players available and coming through, you could realistically cover the many positions that burher could logically fill in 2-3 times over....

Hooker: peats, Pritchard, zdc, Edwards

Edge: ma'u, Edwards, tanginoa, Pauli, ualesi, folau, loko

Halves: sandow, Norman, Hayne, zdc

Centre: hoppa, tonga, morg's, loko, folau

Fullback: Hayne, hoppa etc

I know the expected retort is zdc and Pritchard aren't proven but I hold it in the same regard as burher's origin and grand final reasoning.

I personally prefer every single selection above before I do burher's as well.

He need to be cheap, unlikely, or the greatest leader of men, also unlikely.