Rumoured/Confirmed Signings and More Crap XX

[Poupou Escobar]

We haven't really got a weak pack anymore Pou. It is our backs that are letting us down at the moment.

There's a big grey area between strong pack and weak pack. It isn't one or the other. Against Manly's weak pack we were awesome but our pack didn't create much space against the Dogs. We didn't lose that battle but we certainly didn't win it either.

 

[Craig Johnston]

If sandow and foran are the halves, I'm not sure Norman would be the best fit at fullback, with quality halves we'd need a runner rathe than another playmaker,...unless Norman could demonstrate he could lift his work rate back there, that's what would seperate him for someone like moylan

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Norman and Foran are the way to go. Possibly Alex Johnston or James Roberts at fullback?

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Proofs in the pudding.

The guy's a backup/fringe first grader who we now find is higher up the depth chart than intended when we signed him. He's had one crap game, and one quite fair game. Come to think of it, the team has had a good win v Manly and put in a fair effort v the dogs after losing our half-back during game (and 2 other players). Yep, our depth is going to be tested and probably found wanting, but people are going off their trees pretty early me thinks.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

We'll be right in a few weeks time. We'll have Jnr Paulo and Pauli coming back at the same time, that'll be a big boost for the team if Wicks keeps playing the way he did in Round 2.

 

[TheRam]

There's a big grey area between strong pack and weak pack. It isn't one or the other. Against Manly's weak pack we were awesome but our pack didn't create much space against the Dogs. We didn't lose that battle but we certainly didn't win it either.

Well Pou, in your own words, we didn't lose the forward battle. At the very least we drew. Against probably the equal strongest pack in the world. Lets not forget, they made the GF on the strength of that pack last year, definitely not on the merits of their back line.

However any player that need a stronger pack then a pack that can equal the best packs in the world, isn't worth the paper we signed him on.

If you can't do well in attack with the space presented by a good to great pack and if you can't defend well with the stability that should bring right across the field that the same pack provides, then I for one think you shouldn't be there.

Hey, I don't think he is our only problem either. Champion wasn't anything to write home about out there either.

To tell you the truth, I am kind of pleased (From a development perspective only)that Champion & Radradra(I love Semi) got injured, only because it has forced Arthur's hand to experiment with the backline.

Mind you I am more then a little disappointed that he has opted to go with Vai Toutai and Ryan Morgan, who we all know by now will never be first grade option in the long term. Or at least shouldn't on past performances.

I was really hoping that he would of filled at least one of those spots with a rookie. This is the season to really test our juniors. I hope Arthur doesn't miss this opportunity. But he obviously doesn't feel anyone else is ready at this point in time.

I find it very disheartening to tell you the truth, because there are a few that should be ready by now if they are as good as everyone in the "know" has been telling us all this time.

I know that Arthur said that whoever he picks needs to stay there for a few weeks to give them a decent shot and opportunity in the NRL, but really he went for Morgan? I mean he knows exactly what he is going to get there. When the going gets tough, Morgs will only offer more instability in defense.

Boy I'm getting a dreaded feeling that we have very slow developing juniors or even worse, they are a bunch of over hyped nothings.

Time will tell.

But back to Robinson Pou, he is a train wreck waiting to happen.

 

[TheRam]

The guy's a backup/fringe first grader who we now find is higher up the depth chart than intended when we signed him. He's had one crap game, and one quite fair game. Come to think of it, the team has had a good win v Manly and put in a fair effort v the dogs after losing our half-back during game (and 2 other players). Yep, our depth is going to be tested and probably found wanting, but people are going off their trees pretty early me thinks.

Who's going off their tree? This is a discussion forum, therefore we give opinions on how we feel our team is going and where we think it can go better.

Hardly going off our tree.

Robinson sucks. As for his kicking game, last weekend as soon as he felt the burden of expectation due to the praise that was heaped on him for kicking so well, he went to pieces. Not a good omen on his ability to handle pressure me thinks.

Robinson is a great athlete that loves to run when defenses are going backwards or at sixes and sevens. But he will never win you a tight hard brutal game unless everything goes his teams way.

 

[TheRam]

We'll be right in a few weeks time. We'll have Jnr Paulo and Pauli coming back at the same time, that'll be a big boost for the team if Wicks keeps playing the way he did in Round 2.

I really am hoping that Danny Wicks maintains the brilliant rage that he showed last week. He has that Fui line speed that gives a big man a real advantage when collisions take place. He was a real beast out there, especially when you think of the caliber of the opposition and that it was his first game back in the NRL for five years.

If he maintains that type of form, I have no doubt that he will cement his sopt in the top 17. If that happen, I hope that when Junior Paulo comes back or even sooner,(Pauli Pauli) takes Joseph Paulo's spot.

If that happens, boy will we have a great bench. Up there with any in the league.

14. Issac De Gois
15. David Gower
16. Junior Paulo
17. Danny Wicks

18. Pauli Pauli

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Who's going off their tree? This is a discussion forum, therefore we give opinions on how we feel our team is going and where we think it can go better.

Hardly going off our tree.

Robinson sucks. As for his kicking game, last weekend as soon as he felt the burden of expectation due to the praise that was heaped on him for kicking so well, he went to pieces. Not a good omen on his ability to handle pressure me thinks.

Robinson is a great athlete that loves to run when defenses are going backwards or at sixes and sevens. But he will never win you a tight hard brutal game unless everything goes his teams way.

Yeh, fair enough. My point is that turn around in some people's (not yours) perspective after one game is quite remarkable. Of course it's a discussion forum....where did I suggest that people shouldn't give opinions....I just gave mine.

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/se...to-join-the-eels/story-e6freuy9-1227266834341

Sea Eagles playmaker Kieran Foran answers questions about why he is leaving the club he loves to join the Eels

DEAN RITCHIE
The Daily Telegraph
March 18, 2015 12:00AM

Kieran Foran tells Daily Telegraph league reporter DEAN RITCHIE the answers to the questions Manly fans want answered.

RITCHIE: Why Kieran? Why did you leave the club you love?

FORAN: That’s something I tossed and turned over. It was the hardest thing in making the decision. I’ve got so many great memories here and so many great mates. I have been here since I was 16. It’s not something you enjoy doing.

Keiran Foran and Daly Cheery-Evans chat before a Sea Eagles training session. Picture Gre

Keiran Foran and Daly Cheery-Evans chat before a Sea Eagles training session. Picture Gregg Porteous

RITCHIE: You say you have great mates here. How could you possibly leave them?

Foran: It’s not something I wanted to do. I had to take all different factors into account. For me, the opportunity Parramatta presented was one that I liked and one that I thought would be good me.

RITCHIE: What if I was to say this. ‘You have had so many great times here but once the club hit a few obstacles you walked away.’

Foran: I can understand that people would be thinking that but I don’t look at it that way. I see myself as a bloke who tries to put his best football forward week in, week out. I will always love Manly. They gave me my start and I will always have a soft spot for them in my heart. But at this stage of my career I felt the opportunity at Parramatta was one that I liked.

RITCHIE: Has the departure of you and Cherry-Evans left Manly in turmoil?

Foran: I don’t believe that. This is a great footy club. I will say it again and again. Manly doesn’t revolve around two players. We have so many world-class players still here. The club will also continue to buy world-class players. This is a strong club that was around a long time before we rocked up. It will continue to be a winning side, a successful side. They will move on from me and Daly pretty quickly.

RITCHIE: Your friendship with Eels coach Brad Arthur was a key reason you signed. Could that be deemed a criticism of Toovey?

Foran: Not at all and that’s one thing I want to make clear. It’s not about my relationship with Brad Arthur. Yes, we get on well but I can’t speak highly enough of ‘Tooves’ and the coaching staff here. Their results speak for themselves.

RITCHIE: Is there a clause in your Parramatta deal stating you can leave if Brad Arthur leaves?

Foran: I’m not prepared to dive into that.

RITCHIE: Would you have stayed had Glenn Stewart been re-signed?

Foran: It’s a tough one. Me and ‘Gifty’ are great mates. I’ve had a lot to do with him since I’ve been here. I’m not sure. It’s in the past now and too many what ifs.

RITCHIE: Was it the catalyst for your decision?

Foran: There were things that went on last year that took a toll on me and weighed me down a little.

RITCHIE: What exactly weighed you down?

Foran: I was very public last year when I came out and spoke about the events of last year. It took a toll. But I have moved on.

RITCHIE: Contracts being signed by players who still have a year to run at their current club. You’ve done it, do you agree with it?

Foran: No, I don’t like the process to be honest. The way it happens and the way your contract negotiations get played out before the season even starts.

RITCHIE: The fans hate it.

Foran: They (NRL) need to do something about it and listen to the fans. They need to ask fans what would be the best solution. I haven’t thought too much about it but I don’t like the current way. It’s too much hype and speculation before a season.

 

[El Diablo]

RITCHIE: Is there a clause in your Parramatta deal stating you can leave if Brad Arthur leaves?

Foran: I’m not prepared to dive into that.

wonder why he wouldn't answer that

 

[TheRam]

wonder why he wouldn't answer that

Didn't Seward say there wasn't?

 

[Parra Pride]

Norman and Foran are the way to go. Possibly Alex Johnston or James Roberts at fullback?

I wouldn't go for James Roberts, he hasn't really shown much apart from being faster than every other merkin.

 

[Craig Johnston]

I wouldn't go for James Roberts, he hasn't really shown much apart from being faster than every other merkin.

Next Todd carney and I'm not talking about his football ability.

The titans would pay overs to keep him anyway, he's their best player at the moment

 

[Craig Johnston]

If we didn't have a no dickheads policy to protect Paul carter would be a very good pickup

 

[Jake the snake]

wonder why he wouldn't answer that

In another article it spoke about Foran nearly changing his mind at the last moment but was put to ease about his concerns by the eels on the Monday morning. That could've been the BA clause being inserted into the contract at the last second.

Manly would've put doubts in the mind of Foran (to try an convince him to stay) by saying that Parra would sack the coach if another board was re-elected. So a last ditch BA clause would've been likely to snag the deal!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yep. If a Brad Arthur clause was what was required to get him over the line at a reasonable price why wouldn't we include the clause?

 

[El Diablo]

regardless of whether there is or isn't i still don't know why he would just answer the question

i hope there is a clause there so those board members wanting Anderson back realise what a blunder it would be

 

[Craig Johnston]

regardless of whether there is or isn't i still don't know why he would just answer the question

i hope there is a clause there so those board members wanting Anderson back realise what a blunder it would be

He's consistently refused to answer any specific contracts with the same answer, everyone is just guessing

 

[hindy111]

I agree with what Ram is saying . There are plenty of young backs that at age 18-19 are ripping it up in first grade.Like DWZ -ma'atuia -Johnson. With forwards i understand its usualy 19-22 when they make there debut.Some make it later but the real good ones usually in this age bracket.As far as backs go IMO its 18-21. The great ones are probably in first grade by 20. Thats leads me too think that Goodal-Lavaka are just average.Especially if they cant get a start at wenty over faraimo Toutai or Morgan.
I mean some on here where predicting them to start in the NRL.And they where " guns" Davis was our best back since Lyons, well he is turning 20 by the end of this year so if he really is that good he should be better than Robinson/Morgan/Toutai now. Its not like he is trying to take jennings or morriss spot.