Rumoured/Confirmed Signings and General Drivel XV

[Poupou Escobar]

Same argument didn't seem to work when people pointed out that SK had built last years squad......

This side was built over several years from the low point of 2011. Most of the guys playing well this year were at the club last year but were injured (Hayne, Tonga), unwell (Sandow) or unable to play due to the second tier cap being chewed up by 20 year olds (Edwards, Ma'u). A few of them were rookies (Terepo, Radradra, Junior Paulo).

 

[Poupou Escobar]

They were fine, just had a shit coach.

If they were fine they would have done better than an eighth place finish between 2008 and 2010.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

If they were fine they would have done better than an eighth place finish between 2008 and 2010.

Ok then sure.

 

[mickdo]

Oh and I reckon Peats is now on par with Hayne in terms of 'keep at all costs' for the spine.

Our 1 & 9 are on par with the best in the comp.

Well, its early days with Peats but if he keeps his form going then he is definitely a keeper. It's not often you pick up two spine players from the same club, and they both actually work out...

 

[Poupou Escobar]

This is Ricky's side. Looking good so far Ricky. You can't judge a coach in his first year. Poupou can explain.

Not just Stuart, though he did some good things. This side has been building since 2011.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Not just Stuart, though he did some good things. This side has been building since 2011.

Bullshit. Stuart had to clean out most of all the shit from 2011.

 

[emjaycee]

Mate it was said tongue in cheek. The players we have assembled arent the results of BA but by god the attitude, the approach and the comraderie surely are and hats off to him in a big way

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Ok then sure.

So obviously they were ordinary, but that doesn't mean anyone 'built' the 2011 side that Kearney/Arthur/Nolan inherited. It was just the result of neglect through our lower grades in the preceding years. Did you know the NYC team ran last in 2010?

We're lucky we had some luck with injuries in 2011 or we would've ran last for sure. Just like how injuries killed us these past two years.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

When we were coming last in the lower grades under Kearney it was ok because we were playing players up in grades, or so we were told. Results in the lower grades don't always tell the true story.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Bullshit. Stuart had to clean out most of all the shit from 2011.

They were temporary signings - whatever was available, on two year contracts - while our youngsters developed. As we can see, a lot of them weren't ready until this year. A few more won't be ready until next year.

It's a shame we didn't have any quality youngsters ready for first grade in 2011. Our best were Allgood and Morgan. Loko was only 18 years old. The only ones that appeared in 2012 were Blair (signed from outside) and Sio.

We had a lot more talent come through last year. Just well coached hey?

 

[Maroubra Eel]

f**k where did the young talent come from? You know we finished 14th and 15th the last two years in NYC.
Maybe ladder position in the lowers grades isn't that important afterall.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Mate it was said tongue in cheek. The players we have assembled arent the results of BA but by god the attitude, the approach and the comraderie surely are and hats off to him in a big way

Absolutely. Arthur's is obviously doing better with the squad he's got than did previous coaches, but he's also inherited the best squad since Hagan in '07.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

f**k where did the young talent come from? You know we finished 14th and 15th the last two years in NYC.
Maybe ladder position in the lowers grades isn't that important afterall.

It's the quality of players in the lower grades that matters. When the youngsters aren't actually playing in the NYC team of course the team's results don't matter. But when they do play the results are indicative of their quality.

 

[strider]

Umm Papali wasn't the first choice dummy half though. Robey from the UK was.

wasn't robey a possible signing for 2015? .... so my point is just that the money used for peats only became available via other merkins not able to be signed .... still good work, but not plan A

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Luckily someone figured out we needed a new hooker. Keating had to go.

 

[Eels Dude]

wasn't robey a possible signing for 2015? .... so my point is just that the money used for peats only became available via other merkins not able to be signed .... still good work, but not plan A

Yeah but in all fairness Peats wasn't even off contract, he'd signed a contract extension with Souths prior to the season starting. Peats may not have been off contract, but perhaps would have been first choice target if available. Anyway, I'm just happy to see him going great guns, I thought he'd be an improvement but I didn't think he'd be playing this good.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Luckily someone figured out we needed a new hooker. Keating had to go.

I reckon they knew but Casey McGuire was the only merkin available. At least Keating would've been cheap.

 

[emjaycee]

We approached Robey for 2014 and gave him 3 months to decide. He wanted to come in 2015 and we said no and left it with him for the final decision. When he hadnt responded by 30th June we moved on Peats who we had already sounded out as he was Plan B from early May.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Sounds like there was a pretty good system in place.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Of course, Ricky knew how to make a signing.