What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

Original Name

Juniors
Messages
1,286
100%.

And have the brains trust identified a younger, cheaper player that can do the role beyond Hopgood in 1/2 years time? I don’t know; I’m not there watching training etc.
It's pretty much the role Scott Sorenson does right with some passing right but a bit bigger. The gritty clean up work of a smaller more agile middle forward is his main thing when Hopgood steps up to play first grade. Well we didn't produce Scott Sorenson as a junior. Plenty of guys would have been told they're too small for first grade 10 years ago but aren't now. With the game's changing not every team has adapted. There's probably still players like Sorenson who came through under the slower ruck speed with ability suited to now with the necessary tough mentality to play as a smaller prop floating around.
 
Last edited:

Iamback

Coach
Messages
16,988
It's pretty much the role Scott Sorenson does right with some passing right but a bit bigger. The gritty clean up work of a smaller more agile middle forward is his main thing when Hopgood steps up to play first grade. Well we didn't produce Scott Sorenson as a junior. Plenty of guys would have been told they're too small for first grade 10 years ago but aren't now. With the game's changing not every team has adapted. There's probably still players like Sorenson who came through under the slower ruck speed with ability suited to now with the necessary tough mentality to play as a smaller prop floating around.

Look at Ruben Cotter.
It is all about leg speed these days
 

Girds89

Bench
Messages
2,852
Not ready for regular FG
Hes much more ready than mav or lisati are tho. Like a lot more.

I think he deserves a chance during origin. I like hes skill set. He isnt kikau but hes skills whilst nowhere near that level are more similar to him than say chris smith..

Smith is just a good hard line running safe back rower.

So i think in planning for next year riki definitley should see some fg mins as he is well ahead of others..

Hes also very mobile for his size.. im suprised not more has been made of him. Hed be playing fg at the bottom 8 clubs imo.

I know some have said hes signed with the dolphins but ive seen nothing.

Hes one we should try keep imo.
 

Iamback

Coach
Messages
16,988
Hes much more ready than mav or lisati are tho. Like a lot more.

I think he deserves a chance during origin. I like hes skill set. He isnt kikau but hes skills whilst nowhere near that level are more similar to him than say chris smith..

Smith is just a good hard line running safe back rower.

So i think in planning for next year riki definitley should see some fg mins as he is well ahead of others..

Hes also very mobile for his size.. im suprised not more has been made of him. Hed be playing fg at the bottom 8 clubs imo.

I know some have said hes signed with the dolphins but ive seen nothing.

Hes one we should try keep imo.

Is he though?

He hasn't had the best year and at 24 and never done a pre season. I'd back the guys 3 years younger over him

There was an u18's City v Country game 2 weeks ago. Hassett who got our Player of the year was Man of the match in that.

So we have guys coming even behind the Flegg players
 
Last edited:

Girds89

Bench
Messages
2,852
Is he though?

He hasn't had the best year and at 24 and never done a pre season. I'd back the guys 3 years younger over him

There was an u18's City v Country game 2 weeks ago. Hassett who got our Player of the year was Man of the match in that.

So we have guys coming even behind the Flegg players

He is yes. Mavs been back down in flegg for a reason.

Mav needs to work on his defence. Wasmt getting big mins in cup yet tackle % was about 75. Wheres riki is about 95% which is about equal with hopgood for best in the team.

He makes a few tackle breaks a game and has a good offload when its needed..

But the fact is most our nsw cup forwards stats arent that fancy.

Hopgoods killing but only averaging just over 100m a game....

We are that dominant in cup that we just spend 75% of time down in the attacking end and score relativley easy tries in the backs. So the forwards arent required to do a lot coming out of trouble.

Rikis defence is good, hes big strong mobile can offload and play big mins.. and yes he hasnt done a preseason so imagine when he does!!

Im not saying hes going to be a world beater but hes in front of others imo atm. He deserves a chance if the oppurtunity arises to show what hes got..
 

Iamback

Coach
Messages
16,988
mHe is yes. Mavs been back down in flegg for a reason.

Mav needs to work on his defence. Wasmt getting big mins in cup yet tackle % was about 75. Wheres riki is about 95% which is about equal with hopgood for best in the team.

He makes a few tackle breaks a game and has a good offload when its needed..

But the fact is most our nsw cup forwards stats arent that fancy.

Hopgoods killing but only averaging just over 100m a game....

We are that dominant in cup that we just spend 75% of time down in the attacking end and score relativley easy tries in the backs. So the forwards arent required to do a lot coming out of trouble.

Rikis defence is good, hes big strong mobile can offload and play big mins.. and yes he hasnt done a preseason so imagine when he does!!

Im not saying hes going to be a world beater but hes in front of others imo atm. He deserves a chance if the oppurtunity arises to show what hes got..

Mav went down for game time. which was justified

Correct most aren't fancy and hence why very few will be re-signed. No one is demanding to be re-signed

Riki also goes to cover in the centres too and still doesn't gain many metres.

A couple of plodders will get signed and a few younger guys to hopefully take Kik's role
 

Girds89

Bench
Messages
2,852
Mav went down for game time. which was justified

Correct most aren't fancy and hence why very few will be re-signed. No one is demanding to be re-signed

Riki also goes to cover in the centres too and still doesn't gain many metres.

A couple of plodders will get signed and a few younger guys to hopefully take Kik's role

The issue is that theres not a lot on the market in the 2nd row and we are going to be well short next year. Like probs 3 2nd rowers short..

Riki is on minimum wage. Knows the system and game plan and the players now. He has skills.

Why would we move him on just to sign someone on minimum who isny as good?

Burns isnt going to be minimum if we go after him. Will be 175 to 200 id say..

Rikis got a lot of upside for a bloke on minimum. Hes ahead of geyer and liasati who still need time in between grades to develop. They are an 18 month project.

The idea of letting a minimum player go to bring in another of possibly less ability is silly.

If he goes because he can get an oppurtunity in the top grade somewhere good for him we cant help that.

But whats left on the market at minimum value.... especially in that kind of mould that he is, being big strong mobile with an offload and can play 80 with a 95% tackle rate....

Its a no brainer imo.

Whilst hopgood realistically isnt much chance of playing fg next year with us as he is a middle, riki is a good chance id say. Especially if he can nail down a full pre season and get through this year uninjured. We are going to be short for edge players no matter which way you look at it..

Even if we sign burns and resign c smith will still be short at least 1 more.

Say we get burns and resign c smith and riki

That leaves us with;
Martin a lock to start on an edge.

Garner, c smith, riki, billy burns fighting it out for the last 2 or 3 edge spots depending on how we role with the bench.

Not a lot of depth really. Burns should be a target for sure.

Mav has more to work on than just fitness.. 75% tackle rate in cup is probably 60% in the nrl... which is nowhere near good enough..

He will get there but hes a work in progress and is a far way off nrl level atm
 

Iamback

Coach
Messages
16,988
The issue is that theres not a lot on the market in the 2nd row and we are going to be well short next year. Like probs 3 2nd rowers short..

Riki is on minimum wage. Knows the system and game plan and the players now. He has skills.

Why would we move him on just to sign someone on minimum who isny as good?

Burns isnt going to be minimum if we go after him. Will be 175 to 200 id say..

Rikis got a lot of upside for a bloke on minimum. Hes ahead of geyer and liasati who still need time in between grades to develop. They are an 18 month project.

The idea of letting a minimum player go to bring in another of possibly less ability is silly.

If he goes because he can get an oppurtunity in the top grade somewhere good for him we cant help that.

But whats left on the market at minimum value.... especially in that kind of mould that he is, being big strong mobile with an offload and can play 80 with a 95% tackle rate....

Its a no brainer imo.

Whilst hopgood realistically isnt much chance of playing fg next year with us as he is a middle, riki is a good chance id say. Especially if he can nail down a full pre season and get through this year uninjured. We are going to be short for edge players no matter which way you look at it..

Even if we sign burns and resign c smith will still be short at least 1 more.

Say we get burns and resign c smith and riki

That leaves us with;
Martin a lock to start on an edge.

Garner, c smith, riki, billy burns fighting it out for the last 2 or 3 edge spots depending on how we role with the bench.

Not a lot of depth really. Burns should be a target for sure.

Mav has more to work on than just fitness.. 75% tackle rate in cup is probably 60% in the nrl... which is nowhere near good enough..

He will get there but hes a work in progress and is a far way off nrl level atm

Topine
Chee Kam
Murchie
Joe Stimson
Fatitata-Mariner

As well as Chris Smith would all be cheap

so there a options to fill the roster for a season or 2 while we wait for the others
 

Girds89

Bench
Messages
2,852
Topine
Chee Kam
Murchie
Joe Stimson
Fatitata-Mariner

As well as Chris Smith would all be cheap

so there a options to fill the roster for a season or 2 while we wait for the others
Chee kams not nrl standard.
Topine is your typical 14 imo doesmt really quite fit into a particular role and caught between 9 and the edge.
Stimsons solid but defs not on minimums
Murchie also wouldnt be minimums but hes been avg in fg.
RFM unfortunatley was a good player but hes body is giving up on him.. not sure 250 to 300k is worth the risk given the lack of footys hes played..

Someone like riki would have played or be playing at clubs like the tigers and dogs and warriors where they all come from..

Those 3 teams are all fighting for the spoon so those guys arent exactly much chop and would cost us more than to keep riki.

195cm and 107kgs. Clearly has a bit of ability 95% tackle rate and can play 80.... on 110k. Not sure why we wouldnt throw him another 12 months with an option for a 2 year extension snd pay rise depending on performance... eg if hd plays regular fg.

Hes the closest to kiks at least in build and style that we have and thats on the market. Skill wise nowhere near but no one is.
 

Latest posts

Top