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Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

Aliceinwonderland

First Grade
Messages
7,840
He's crazy fit playing such large minutes consistently. There's no way he doesn't work hard. The guy played 80 in a finals match against the Broncos where he was probably our best player. He was Parra's best player this year in a struggling team.

that's more a reflection of how bad Parramatta went this year.
Always good for ill discipline, or dropped balls. Makes poor decisions under fatigue.
 

maple_69

Bench
Messages
4,575
I think Croker would be worth a 1 year deal if he is happy to be depth and hope for his shot in a good system. He’s not perfect but he’s a good reliable player coming into his prime and there are not a stack of better options to beef up our middle stocks for next year. Reg and Tevaga are the only other first grade options available and one will be $500+ and the other is rumoured to have signed with Manly already.
 

Original Name

Juniors
Messages
1,400
Just read Tom Jenkins 23 yo 6'3" ex Panthers winger and Mat Croker 25 yo 6'3" Prop both being released by Newcastle immediatly. Should we be interested??
Tom just lacks punch when he takes hit ups and gets dominated physically a fair bit in first grade. If he had that he'd be fine but he doesn't despite being pretty tall. Crocker would be good value for money.
People value defence but you also need attack. And you need 3 in your spine that can offer regular attack.

In most teams it is the fullback or in some cases like the Storm with Grant it is the hooker.

We haven't needed that because Luai has been so good that if Cleary is tackled or having an off night Luai in most cases steps up.
Everything comes with drawbacks even Grant as great as he is. He's a spot to run at. Players (some) try to avoid running at Mitch Kenny and will rather run at Yeo because they know they won't get smacked by Yeo which funnels them towards the guy who is the best at putting people onto their back in wrestling in our team and maybe the entire comp. It's a world of difference in defence just like it is in attack. The middles have to body guard Grant. Kenny not all the time but for the large part is just another middle to guys like Fish and Leota.

I would virtually guarantee if Robson goes down Kenny will get called into the Origin squad because Madge is all about what Kenny does with his tackling. That's why Robson got picked who has similar strengths over Api. I would go as far as to say Madge would pick Robson over Grant because that's the style he loves.
 
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WestyLife

First Grade
Messages
7,337
Tom just lacks punch when he takes hit ups and gets dominated physically a fair bit in first grade. If he had that he'd be fine but he doesn't despite being pretty tall. Crocker would be good value for money.

Everything comes with drawbacks even Grant as great as he is. He's a spot to run at. Players (some) try to avoid running at Mitch Kenny and will rather run at Yeo because they know they won't get smacked by Yeo which funnels them towards the guy who is the best at putting people onto their back in wrestling in our team and maybe the entire comp. It's a world of difference in defence just like it is in attack. The middles have to body guard Grant. Kenny not all the time but for the large part is just another middle to guys like Fish and Leota.

I would virtually guarantee if Robson goes down Kenny will get called into the Origin squad because Madge is all about what Kenny does with his tackling. That's why Robson got picked who has similar strengths over Api. I would go as far as to say Madge would pick Robson over Grant because that's the style he loves.

The way the game is right now it seems a hooker who can defend and do the fundamentals well is more beneficial than being flashy. The best performances and teams are when halves are getting good clean ball (yes Yeo counts here he's better than most halfbacks right now). I'd go so far to say if Kenny can give away less penalties he'd be the most valuable hooker in the comp. His defence is top tier he's worked a ton on giving good service (attacking close to the line his passing has improved demonstrably) he can run, kick etc. But does it sparingly so the players who should be demanding the ball are actually getting it when they need it. Robson is similar and like you said it got him an origin jersey.
 

Big Mick

Referee
Messages
26,316
I think Tom's future is in the ESL for a couple of years. He'd be good over there.

For Croker - he'd be an interesting option but for mine we need impact players rather than toilers.
 

Iamback

Coach
Messages
19,891
Tom just lacks punch when he takes hit ups and gets dominated physically a fair bit in first grade. If he had that he'd be fine but he doesn't despite being pretty tall. Crocker would be good value for money.

Everything comes with drawbacks even Grant as great as he is. He's a spot to run at. Players (some) try to avoid running at Mitch Kenny and will rather run at Yeo because they know they won't get smacked by Yeo which funnels them towards the guy who is the best at putting people onto their back in wrestling in our team and maybe the entire comp. It's a world of difference in defence just like it is in attack. The middles have to body guard Grant. Kenny not all the time but for the large part is just another middle to guys like Fish and Leota.

I would virtually guarantee if Robson goes down Kenny will get called into the Origin squad because Madge is all about what Kenny does with his tackling. That's why Robson got picked who has similar strengths over Api. I would go as far as to say Madge would pick Robson over Grant because that's the style he loves.

Even when we played Trent.

Kenny stayed on, So it isn't an either or situation. It is a while Talagi develops and we need to give Cleary a hand with the the odd kick where do we turn? Or Cleary is out we saw Schneider can only really tackle and kick

Edwards and a big back are too vital to not go with, Yeo is in that same boat but Kenny can run as middle and the side doesn't lose too much
 
Messages
2,899
Craig Gower summed up our future perfectly, it's been a concern of mine and I'm sure it is for some of you.

"The next few years will be testing time for Penrith, Other clubs are coming in and taking players from their lower grades and the current lower grades not going so good and are knocked out already"

2 years ago we won it all. Not expecting that to happen all the time, but from the ground up we need to find that winning ways.. not playing at Penrith for 2 years is abit of a distraction and probably doing it at the wrong time.
 

Iamback

Coach
Messages
19,891
Craig Gower summed up our future perfectly, it's been a concern of mine and I'm sure it is for some of you.

"The next few years will be testing time for Penrith, Other clubs are coming in and taking players from their lower grades and the current lower grades not going so good and are knocked out already"

2 years ago we won it all. Not expecting that to happen all the time, but from the ground up we need to find that winning ways.. not playing at Penrith for 2 years is abit of a distraction and probably doing it at the wrong time.

It has to end at some stage. The loss of Luai might be the end, So promising guys but are far away from regular NRL. Huge off season coming up
 

Chins get the wins

First Grade
Messages
7,826
Even when we played Trent.

Kenny stayed on, So it isn't an either or situation. It is a while Talagi develops and we need to give Cleary a hand with the the odd kick where do we turn? Or Cleary is out we saw Schneider can only really tackle and kick

Edwards and a big back are too vital to not go with, Yeo is in that same boat but Kenny can run as middle and the side doesn't lose too much
We might get even better with Alamoti on the wing for Turuva
 

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