Rumoured/Confirmed Signings and More Crap XX

[Avenger]

I've got a funny feeling he will come back - and win that elusive premiership with us.

He will be back.

 

[Casper The Ghost]

My expression about the Titanic was more about the shuffling of players around from starting to the bench will not make that much difference.

We will finish somewhere between 6th and 16th, but I feel we have too much to improve on to be making the Top 8 at the end of the year.

The dogs game was extremely hard on our blokes, particularly the first 15+ minutes.
Some of our players looked and played as if they were still traumatised from the doggies game.
Warriors had something like 18 sets to five within the first 30 minutes or so.
Great tactics by the Warriors to throw everything at our pack in the first 20.
Sure helped to clock up plenty of points against a much slower worn out defensive line still under the deep-dark clouds of the doggies game.

Lets see what happens when and if we are able to compete on an equal footing for the first 20 minutes before deciding if we are not good enough for the top 8 this season.
I reckon we are.
I predict we will have at least two reasonable winning streaks this season.

 

[Casper The Ghost]

Those players will still struggle unless our forward pack learns how to consistently win the play the ball.

This is what we must rectify before round 12 if we are to be a worthy top 8 contender.

 

[Chipmunk]

The dogs game was extremely hard on our blokes, particularly the first 15+ minutes.
Some of our players looked and played as if they were still traumatised from the doggies game.
Warriors had something like 18 sets to five within the first 30 minutes or so.
Great tactics by the Warriors to throw everything at our pack in the first 20.
Sure helped to clock up plenty of points against a much slower worn out defensive line still under the deep-dark clouds of the doggies game.

Lets see what happens when and if we are able to compete on an equal footing for the first 20 minutes before deciding if we are not good enough for the top 8 this season.
I reckon we are.
I predict we will have at least two reasonable winning streaks this season.

So you've mentioned a serious flaw in the team with our starts two weeks in a row. You can now bet that it will be a tactic used against us all season now.

I decided we weren't good enough to make the Top 8 before the season started. Nothing in our play has changed my mind that we will now.

 

[Eelementary]

We've had some disruptions due to injury and suspension, but the attitude in the first half stunk.

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ub-glenn-stewart/story-fnp0lyn3-1227272700032

NRL BIDDING WAR TO KICK OFF FOR BIG IZZY

AT least four NRL clubs are stepping up their bids to get Israel Folau back to rugby league.

If you thought Kieran Foran was on the big bucks in his new deal at Parramatta, the money being thrown about for the Waratahs superstar is even more.

We’re told he is being offered around the $5 million mark for four seasons. And then there is the question whether Dave Smith is prepared to open his much publicised war chest to help one of the clubs get his signature.

The Canterbury Bulldogs were first off the mark, opening talks two months ago. Others have since contacted his player manager.

We’re told the Parramatta Eels, where his brother John debuted against the Warriors on Saturday, has also expressed interest. Even the Gold Coast Titans have made inquiries.

Folau’s contract is up after he completes his commitments this year for the Wallabies.

It’s unlikely the rah-rahs can get anywhere near the amount of money the NRL clubs are talking about, although he has a close relationship with coach Michael Cheika and enjoys playing football under the Waratahs and wallabies mentor.

 

[Eelpout]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ub-glenn-stewart/story-fnp0lyn3-1227272700032

What I posted elsewhere:

If I was in control of recruitment and retention I would be seriously going hard for Folau for fullback. Hayne is gone deal with it, don't save money for a possible return as much as it hurts and Hoppa is on good money which can also go to Israel. If we lose Hoppa so be it, but we need a genuine gamebreaker to be a force. Foran is great, but if you have no strike what do you do with great leadership, control and organisation?

With the discretionary money the NRL has stated that they will splash to poach individuals from other codes compounded with guaranteeing John Folau a top 25 spot, we'd be more than a chance.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Don't need him, his is ok but not worth the price

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...way-from-parramatta-eels-20150321-1m4ge1.html

Eels retain junior star Lavaka

Parramatta have re-signed promising winger Halauafu Lavaka until the end of 2016. The former Australian Schoolboy was the National Youth Competition's leading try-scorer last year and held his own in the Auckland Nines. There were several other clubs interested in the Griffith product but he was keen to remain in the blue and gold.

 

[Eelpout]

Don't need him, his is ok but not worth the price

Lets say we have Hoppa in the books for 600k with additional third parties. I reckon we could get Izzy for maybe 50k more with the help of the NRLs 'war chest'. Are you saying Hoppa is worth the price and Izzy is not?

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Lets say we have Hoppa in the books for 600k with additional third parties. I reckon we could get Izzy for maybe 50k more with the help of the NRLs 'war chest'. Are you saying Hoppa is worth the price and Izzy is not?

Obviously a lot comes down to cost but also I don't think izzy is going to be the great NRL fullback that everyone expects he may be. Actually I don't reckon he will be better then Hoppa at fullback. He has bugger all player making skills. He may be going ok in Union, but league is totally different.

And I reckon izzy would want close to a $1 million but I dont reckon Hoppa will be anywhere near that - - fullbacks cost more then cebtres. Everyone reckons hoppa wants a shit load but what clubs really need him? Manly are full 1-5, dogs no longer need a fullback, penrith no way, sharks maybe. Tigers / dragons don't need a fullback

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Hopoate has been good at fullback. He's no Jarryd Hayne but he'd be half the price.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Cowboys could use a fullback, Titans could use a fullback.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

True and his wife is from qld

 

[Bazal]

Obviously a lot comes down to cost but also I don't think izzy is going to be the great NRL fullback that everyone expects he may be. Actually I don't reckon he will be better then Hoppa at fullback. He has bugger all player making skills. He may be going ok in Union, but league is totally different.

And I reckon izzy would want close to a $1 million but I dont reckon Hoppa will be anywhere near that - - fullbacks cost more then cebtres. Everyone reckons hoppa wants a shit load but what clubs really need him? Manly are full 1-5, dogs no longer need a fullback, penrith no way, sharks maybe. Tigers / dragons don't need a fullback

Uwot? Folaus major value to the Waratahs is his ability to chime in to the backline as a passing player, as well as his power and footwork in the same kind of moves. Probably bar Francois Steyn (who rarely gets a run at 15 these days anyway given his utility value) he's the best at that in rugby at the moment, the ability to come in from the back and create doubt. Maybe it's not out and out playmaking but it's almost exactly what the likes of Slater and Stewart have built careers on.

If it came down to Hoppa or Folau for similar cash, I'd take Izzy in a heart beat. That said if it came to shedding one of Norman/Sandow and having both (hypothetical, obviously) then that's an entirely new issue

 

[Poupou Escobar]

In what universe would Folau and Hopoate command similar cash?

 

[Avenger]

Foran deal done

Kieran Foran says he is a man of his word and any attempt to get him to flip on his deal before round 13 will be a waste of time. "I've made my mind up and I won't be backing out on the deal," he said. As for a clause in his contract that he can exit if Brad Arthur is not coach? "I don't have a coach clause in my deal."



Foran said Arthur was a factor, as was the non-signing of Glenn Stewart. "It weighed on me," said Foran. The truth is the writing was on the wall for the Eagles 12 months ago when the old management failed to take action when so many players were off-contract. What upsets the players is that the damage is done and they are cranky with the predicament the club is in but there is now no one to get angry at.


http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-double-standard-on-show-20150321-1m4nr7.html

 

[Casper The Ghost]

In what universe would Folau and Hopoate command similar cash?

Only in a make-believe uni-verse fairytale would this happen.

 

[Casper The Ghost]

Foran deal done

Kieran Foran says he is a man of his word and any attempt to get him to flip on his deal before round 13 will be a waste of time. "I've made my mind up and I won't be backing out on the deal," he said. As for a clause in his contract that he can exit if Brad Arthur is not coach? "I don't have a coach clause in my deal."



Foran said Arthur was a factor, as was the non-signing of Glenn Stewart. "It weighed on me," said Foran. The truth is the writing was on the wall for the Eagles 12 months ago when the old management failed to take action when so many players were off-contract. What upsets the players is that the damage is done and they are cranky with the predicament the club is in but there is now no one to get angry at.


http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-double-standard-on-show-20150321-1m4nr7.html

:thumb:thumb

 

[Avenger]

:thumb:thumb

We should send the quote to Matty Johns and tell him to shove it in his agenda driven arse.