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Rumoured Targets 3

League_God

League_God

Juniors
Messages
1,504
Mead x
Hoffman x
Bird (unlikely)
Vaughan
Douglas
Heighington
Kostjasyn

The signing spree the herald reported a few weeks ago is in full swing boys!
 
S

slotmachine

First Grade
Messages
7,414
Douglas will go to ESL IMO.

Did anyone expect to land many (any) of these targets? All we can offer is money and a first grade spot.

Seeing as Hagan's winning lotto ticket factory has been closed we can't/won't offer more money than the other clubs, so if someone is of first grade standard the only reason to come to Newcastle is family/lifestyle reasons.
 
Burwood

Burwood

Bench
Messages
4,986
I don't think the days of paying overs is necessarily finished, just that we are no longer going to pay rep money for a fringe first grader because they are local.

If the club wants to chase a quality player that will improve our team I hope they don't baulk at throwing an extra $50,000/yr at them if that's what's needed to get their signature.
 
Pete Cash

Pete Cash

Post Whore
Messages
62,165
What we had to do was pay overs to sisa waqa to sort of convince the world of rugby league we werent a complete basketcase.

While nobody is signing newcastle just looks like a shit proposition but if you start to get some above average players across it might open the flood gates a bit. Its just those above average players will cost you
 
Noname36

Noname36

First Grade
Messages
7,067
Pete Cash said:
What we had to do was pay overs to sisa waqa to sort of convince the world of rugby league we werent a complete basketcase.

While nobody is signing newcastle just looks like a shit proposition but if you start to get some above average players across it might open the flood gates a bit. Its just those above average players will cost you
Click to expand...

I don't think this is necessarily true in Newcastle's case. We signed both Hodkinson and Tariq Sims (both players that are very overrated but still have above average names/reputations in the game) for overs and it didn't make us any more attractive to other players - just made us have to pay overs for 2 underachievers (one of which took off anyway when we refused to upgrade his massive contract he already didn't deserve).

Also guys I know it's depressing every time we see other clubs making signings and we don't but LOL at crying about Hoffman. He's terrible.

Also of the players we've actually been linked to 2 play of the Sharks (still in the race), 1 for the Cows (still in the race) and 1 for the Raiders (likewise) and 1 is having legal trouble at the moment. It's going to take a little while before we know more there.
 
perverse

perverse

Referee
Messages
26,694
Well said on all fronts, Noname. To be honest I think Raiders fans read more into Sisa Waqa than might be necessary. Fans (ourselves included) tend to write narratives to fill in the blanks between what we see on the field and what happens off the field. There might be some truth to it somewhere, but I don't think it's any one signing that makes the difference.

It's also true that the teams we're trying to raid just happen to be in the remaining 4, too. I'm not particularly convinced that Mead or Hoffman were primary targets of ours. We might have had a sniff, but I wasn't aware of either of them being a serious target of ours. I have heard a few other names, but we just have to wait and see. I don't think it will surprise any of us if we end up with nothing either.
 
Noname36

Noname36

First Grade
Messages
7,067
perverse said:
Well said on all fronts, Noname. To be honest I think Raiders fans read more into Sisa Waqa than might be necessary. Fans (ourselves included) tend to write narratives to fill in the blanks between what we see on the field and what happens off the field. There might be some truth to it somewhere, but I don't think it's any one signing that makes the difference.

It's also true that the teams we're trying to raid just happen to be in the remaining 4, too. I'm not particularly convinced that Mead or Hoffman were primary targets of ours. We might have had a sniff, but I wasn't aware of either of them being a serious target of ours. I have heard a few other names, but we just have to wait and see. I don't think it will surprise any of us if we end up with nothing either.
Click to expand...

In my personal opinion the one player/signing that has made the major difference for the Raiders is Hodgson...who ironically is the only one they probably didn't need to pay overs for.

I know we all want to see us make a heap of signings but I'm not sure if throwing overs to slightly above average players is the best option for us given our lack of TPAs - all it will do is leave us where we are now again. What we need to do is make some smart signings (I.e. Like a Hodgson at Canberra). When you think about it, it's probably a good sign that 4 of the 5 players we've genuinely been linked to for weeks now all play for sides that have gone onto the top 4. Like you said, wouldn't be surprised if we don't sign any - but it tells me that Brown/Moody might have a good eye for underrated players that contribute to successful sides.

I don't think we were ever all that desperate to get Hoffman/Mead either - mainly because I'm not sure why we would be given both are natural wingers that like playing fullback and we already have that quota more than full with Ross/Mamo/Gags/etc.
 
Glendale

Glendale

Juniors
Messages
879
Pete Cash said:
What we had to do was pay overs to sisa waqa to sort of convince the world of rugby league we werent a complete basketcase.

While nobody is signing newcastle just looks like a shit proposition but if you start to get some above average players across it might open the flood gates a bit. Its just those above average players will cost you
Click to expand...

You able to shed any light on the Vaughan situation?
 
Pete Cash

Pete Cash

Post Whore
Messages
62,165
I reckon he is gone for sure but he will be in demand.

Lots of sides need to beef up their front rows including the broncos.

What might work in your favour is he seems like a dude who likes a more country lifestyle.
 
Frederick

Frederick

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
27,635
Pete Cash said:
I reckon he is gone for sure but he will be in demand.

Lots of sides need to beef up their front rows including the broncos.

What might work in your favour is he seems like a dude who likes a more country lifestyle.
Click to expand...
Plus his friendship with Barnett
 
nick87

nick87

Coach
Messages
12,389
If he leaves Canberra, and that's no lock anymore, seems like some air was cleared between player and coach recently... but if he leaves Canberra, from what i've heard the Sharks are the red hot favourites. Sadly for you blokes i dont think the knights are on his radar right now.
Then again from what i heard, he would never play for the club again, then Prist broke his leg and everything is hunky dory again and maybe he stays, so what do i know? :D

Chinese whispers stuff
 
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