Rumoured Targets 3

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

we really need to upgrade one of either Hastings or Gamble (or both)

agree

I still reckon it's all AOB's fault.

no doubt he should have done better, but in all honesty we arent winning a Premiership anytime soon unless a) we get TPD or b) we have a decent pathways

was looking at the 2023 and 2022 U19's SOO sides and the only juniors we had in those teams we've already let go, I just dont understand. Someone at the club is off their chops

 

[Woody90]

Yeah but there was a lot of noise about Pearce leaving well before it was announced. I’m pretty sure we signed Clune to replace him didn’t we? Should have gone for Reynolds with a bit of foresight.

There may have been noise beforehand, I can’t remember, but either way he didn’t make the call to ask for an immediate release until November. Cant just go and offer Reynolds a contract in June when we have no confirmation Pearce was actually not going to be there. He was under contract. Cant force him to leave and if he didn’t we’d be breaching the cap. Reynolds was signed by Broncos in June 2021, Pearce didn’t finally make his decision until
November. Clune was on a lot less and could fit him under contract regardless of what Pearce did.

I’m usually all for giving it to the club for their mistakes but not much they could have done there. It was a shit situation all round, Pearce wasn’t in a good place mentally but he asked for a release so late it really did f**k us over, especially for 2022.

 

[HarVeeGee]

I think this kid is the answer to our spine dilemma btw. I know he plays mostly fullback (some centre) in juniors, but I think he’s pretty clearly got the skill base for five-eighth, and I’m of the view there can be a “too big” for fullback. A couple of pre-seasons worth of bulk on Connor and he may get there.

I’ve been told that his playmaking/link play as a ball player has been a bigger emphasis in how they set up to use him as his junior career has gone on, I’m sure at least partially because just running downhill and scoring heaps of tries because you’re too big & strong isn’t great prep for playing against first graders, but also potentially because they’ve had the thought that he may play one off the ruck a lot more in higher grades if we’re gonna fit him into the team (not just in first grade - Fletcher Sharpe has looked really good as the NSW Cup fullback and doesn’t much look like a guy who could play another position).

I am someone who rolls my eyes a bit at how much hype some of our juniors get, but Votano to me looks like he’s in that Bradman Best category of potentially elite attributes. He looks like Matt Burton and Kalyn Ponga had a baby.

 

[Knight Tales]

I think this kid is the answer to our spine dilemma btw. I know he plays mostly fullback (some centre) in juniors, but I think he’s pretty clearly got the skill base for five-eighth, and I’m of the view there can be a “too big” for fullback. A couple of pre-seasons worth of bulk on Connor and he may get there.

I’ve been told that his playmaking/link play as a ball player has been a bigger emphasis in how they set up to use him as his junior career has gone on, I’m sure at least partially because just running downhill and scoring heaps of tries because you’re too big & strong isn’t great prep for playing against first graders, but also potentially because they’ve had the thought that he may play one off the ruck a lot more in higher grades if we’re gonna fit him into the team (not just in first grade - Fletcher Sharpe has looked really good as the NSW Cup fullback and doesn’t much look like a guy who could play another position).

I am someone who rolls my eyes a bit at how much hype some of our juniors get, but Votano to me looks like he’s in that Bradman Best category of potentially elite attributes. He looks like Matt Burton and Kalyn Ponga had a baby.

They may get hyped but there is no denying they go onto become first graders at other clubs, and hold their positions more often than not.

 

[slotmachine]

The only ex-junior in the whole NRL we are missing is Joe Tapine, the rest are no better than what we already have.

 

[Old dog]

Realistically those that left such as King, Meaney etc are playing for better teams and systems without mentioning Coach so they are going to seem better but in actual fact are better coached and utilised.
We need to improve in that area

 

[macavity]

The only ex-junior in the whole NRL we are missing is Joe Tapine, the rest are no better than what we already have.

Pezet walks into our halves.

In fact its very sobering that if they were here Pezet and Wishart would be our starting halves, and we would be a much better team.

Theres a very good reason we wanted Ponga to move to 6. Much easier to manufacture a 8/10 fullback than a 6.5/10 half. Our 3 x 5/10 halves are a huge part of why we are where we are.

 

[slotmachine]

Maybe pezet in a year or two, he's not even as good as cogger currently. You only need to go back to when we beat the storm this year.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Maybe pezet in a year or two, he's not even as good as cogger currently. You only need to go back to when we beat the storm this year.

To be honest I'd rather a young fella not as good as Cogger right now and go through the pain of his development if it meant sustained success on the other side.

Souths look to be signing some English playmaker to strengthen their halves.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

The only ex-junior in the whole NRL we are missing is Joe Tapine, the rest are no better than what we already have.

that in itself is alarming to say the least.

 

[slotmachine]

if it meant sustained success on the other side.

Absolutely no guarantee of this whatever the club does. So many ifs and a lot of things need to go right.

Remember when brownie got everyone to drink the Kool aid, losing every game for two years was meant to bring "sustained success". How'd that go.

 

[HarVeeGee]

It’s not inaccurate to say Toby Sexton was a better player at Queensland Cup level at 20 years old than Jonah is at that level at 21 right now, and currently Toby is languishing in Bulldogs NSW Cup because he can’t get a game over Drew Hutchison. It’s a very hard position to play, don’t let guys like Isaiya Katoa and Lachlan Galvin showing the kind of feel and craft they do at such a young age convince you otherwise. Jonah is no doubt very talented but he’s a work in progress (if you’ve watched him lately, he drifts in and out of games & struggles with constructing sets/thinking a play or two ahead) and if you were gonna put him in the top grade he’d probably need to play a limited role next to a more experienced 7 (think Chad Townsend mentoring Tom Dearden).

Jonah may have also done his ACL yesterday so that’s gonna stall his progress if so.

 

[Yosh]

Who cares, AOB is going to ruin them anywayn

 

[macavity]

Reckon we re-sign Gamble?

 

[perverse]

Reckon we re-sign Gamble?

It's a tough one. The halves puzzle still isn't solved for mine. It's Hastings and Gamble for the moment... but Hastings really is looking spent physically out there. DCE is 7 years his senior, but watching them play you'd think the opposite.

I like Gamble and have no faith in Hastings body. Leaves us needing to bring a halfback in from elsewhere though.

 

[Woosh]

Alex McKinnon messaging Joey about Armstrong 3 years ago

 

[Woody90]

Reckon we re-sign Gamble?

I would. The alternative is Cogger or who Pryce can’t defend.

Unless a real solid half came along, but don’t think we could afford them.

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Reckon we re-sign Gamble?

as depth

We arent winning a Premiership with him in the starting side.

 

[Apey]

as depth

We arent winning a Premiership with him in the starting side.

You could only if you had a top tier 7. But we don't of course. The problem is carrying them both.

What perverse said is frightening about Hastings and DCEs age difference.

What is with us and broken halfbacks.

 

[Yosh]

Hastings and Cogger are virtually the same player so don't need both of them. Pryce apparently can't defend to save his life. Gamble is is competitive as they come and defends like a champ. Should definitely be resigned.