Rumoured Targets 3

[Spot On]

For the money Bird would be paid he'd have to play 6.

That Scott offer is a hell of a lot of money. Would love to have him here but not on that coin unless a good whack of it is tpa $$$$.

 

[Johns Magic]

For the money Bird would be paid he'd have to play 6.

Or 13 if he were to bulk up. He could even play second-row and just be a highly paid one.

Hodkinson is here for two more years and Lamb is the heir-apparent for the 6 so if Bird is being targeted as a 6(which I don't doubt) something would have to give.

 

[K-Man]

If it were up to me the thing that would give would be Hodkinson leaving early. The Titans showed what you can do with the right mix in the spine regardless of age. Hodkinson is borderline NRL quality on big dollars.

1. Ponga
6. Bird
7. Lamb
13. Levi / Kostjasyn

There is enough playmaking there to cover for no "organiser" like Hodko. Lamb is a smart, controlled footballer and Ponga has a passing game unlike our usual fullback options. Our attack would be very, very different than it is currently.

But I also know this won't happen. It's just the dream.

 

[K-Man]

That said Bird could definitely be used like Cartwright at the Panthers. Wide creative explosive forward getting heavily involved in attack, offering a major point of difference and filling in at 6 when required. He's the kind of player you just find a spot for and let him inject himself into the match. Not centre though he would be isolated. But for 6, 12, 13 he sees worth the $ to me.

 

[Spot On]

Valentine Holmes said only this week that Bird himself was not unhappy to have to play in the centres at the Sharks if he stays there. The other option he would entertain is the 6. Fullback is not a desire for him any longer so that suits us after 2017.

Not sure about lock for him. I believe he'll only come here to be a 6. Otherwise he stays at Cronulla.

 

[Hardcore_Fan]

Ok let's look at what we have covered.

Fullback - covered
Outside backs - lots of depth but just average first graders, should be looking to add a strike winger
Centres - covered, - although likely gagai will go and Ross is old, so may need to look into a strike centre in the future
Halves - average FG and fringe FG halves. Need to look at at least 1 strike half to compliment the young guys coming through
Front Row - Saifitis and Scott(if we get him) starting front row covered.
Back row - our back row the strongest position in our team.
Hooker - covered if Levi continues to develop

Bench - utility covered with kostjaysn
Strike front tower/2nd rower covered with J saifiti.
Bench still needs at least 2 big FG quality front rowers or a quality backrower who can play front row.

So from this we should be looking for

1 x strike winger
1x strike centre (but not a priority)
1 x strike half
2 x First grade quality bench forwards

 

[Johns Magic]

If it were up to me the thing that would give would be Hodkinson leaving early. The Titans showed what you can do with the right mix in the spine regardless of age. Hodkinson is borderline NRL quality on big dollars.

1. Ponga
6. Bird
7. Lamb
13. Levi / Kostjasyn

There is enough playmaking there to cover for no "organiser" like Hodko. Lamb is a smart, controlled footballer and Ponga has a passing game unlike our usual fullback options. Our attack would be very, very different than it is currently.

But I also know this won't happen. It's just the dream.

Hodkinson out would be my choice too but I don't know how likely that is while he is on good coin here and in a spine position. He doesn't seem on the nose with Brown, and even if he was I'm not sure Brown would Robbie Farah him.

Lamb I think we all need to be convinced on. Not particularly athletic or a good defender. If he is a good enough organiser and kicker/playmaker he can compensate for that and he has shown signs but I'm reluctant to pencil him in for my 2018 dream team yet.

We still have Cogger for another two years who I want to see more of as well.

One half off-contract I like is Mitchell Moses. I think he will be a really neat playmaker with a bit of flair to go with it. I suspect he will be pretty highly sought after though even if it's mainly on potential. I think he and Ponga would work really well together though. Pipe-dream stuff I suspect and if his $ demand is really high I wouldn't be throwing the kitchen sink at him.

It would be interesting to know how much $ we will have left if we do get Scott.
Most importantly we need Levi to come on this year. If he does, I would be targeting one more middle forward, one centre(doesn't have to be a rep player), and a half.

If Gagai goes we may need another centre as well.

On another note - when was the last time we produced a first-grade standard back? Is it actually Mullen or McManus/Uate? Makes life harder when you have to poach in positions that should be produced from within. Other junior nursery clubs seem to churn them out regularly. Speaking of which, Gela-Mosby is a weapon and off-contract this year.

 

[Johns Magic]

Not sure about lock for him. I believe he'll only come here to be a 6. Otherwise he stays at Cronulla.

I don't see why he couldn't turn into the next Greg Bird or Wade Graham. Same height as them. They were both robust young 6's with a bit of merkin in them who made the conversion and put some bulk on(not that hard as you go from young to mid-20s). Both great players now and pack leaders who have skill and also give you that agro and leadership that forward packs need. Capable of taking a game by the scruff of the neck and producing something special.

I would love a guy like that in our pack. I think Jack Bird is the type of competitor that they are who could make it work.

 

[slotmachine]

Greg Bird might be the last of his kind, Jack Bird is the wrong body shape for a modern lock, $900k a year is too much for an edge forward or centre. You've got Sione, Wardle and Buhrer already fighting for two spots. I don't really see where he fits tbh. Unless Hodko is dusting off his English passport.

I'd be happy to re-sign Gagai and pick up Scott and Grevsmuhl. Maybe another Sio style outside back too.

 

[Spot On]

I don't disagree with you JM, just going on what I perceive from Bird himself and others who have commented on what position he wants to play. Atm lock is not something I've heard Bird or anyone else close to him talk about. I do have doubts he could excel in that position though unless the interchange is abolished or reduced even further.

 

[slotmachine]

He needs to be at FB or 5/8, wasted anywhere else.

 

[Spot On]

As said, Bird can't come here to play centre. It's 6 or as JM has suggested as a lock if that's what Brown sees.

As for Gagai, I hope to see something at centre this year for us to sign him. I wouldn't be paying him too much though, and for that reason I think he'll be gone. There are others who will give him the coin he wants.

 

[Spot On]

He needs to be at FB or 5/8, wasted anywhere else.

He has said only recently he's glad he isn't getting the 1 jersey at the Sharks. He seems to change his mind fairly regularly.

 

[slotmachine]

Haha yeah, the whole "I wouldn't go to newcastle for a million bucks a year" story I think was genuine, the new found interest in the hunter smacks of manager talk to me.

Most likely scenario is he re-signs with the sharks, plays centre in 2017 then moves to the halves.

 

[slotmachine]

Locks for the favourites this year.

Josh McGuire, Paul Gallen, Trent Merrin, Jason Taumalolo, Sia Soliola, Isaac Liu, Dale Finucane.

RIP ball playing locks.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I would like to keep Gagai as I think he's a lot better than what his 2016 form shows. I think the same about Hodko, that being said both of these guys will have to step up this year and show their best form consistently.

 

[PhilGould]

The problem is Gagai is being paid fullback money at the moment, if he wants to stick around for above-average centre money then great.

 

[slotmachine]

Gagai definitely needs a pay cut. Looked good last night though

 

[Spot On]

I would like to keep Gagai as I think he's a lot better than what his 2016 form shows. I think the same about Hodko, that being said both of these guys will have to step up this year and show their best form consistently.

I agree here. More so with Hodko though. Surely last season was too bad to be true???

 

[BuderusIsaBeast]

I think Jack Bird would make an excellent running five eight. With Ponga at full back with the ball skills of a half, i think they would compliment each other perfectly with Lamb at Halfback

A spine of
1. Ponga
6. Bird
7. Lamb
9. Levi

Would be a dream the problem being Hodkinson contract will be tough to move but there is generally always one team that gets desperate for a half so u never know