Rumoured Targets 3

[slotmachine]

We've got too many young players, don't need more.

 

[bad boy bubby]

Fellas do you know how the Sharks got Fifita? (Mooney was all up in this with Flanno)
The Tigers desperately wanted to get rid of Bryce Gibbs so they could fit Blair under the salary cap. They knew the Sharks needed props as Snowden and Douglas had signed for you guys and the Titans. The Sharks held out and the Tigers got more desperate, then Flanno said we want Fifita too. The Tigers didnt want to let him go as they knew how good he was but in the end they relented and not only that, they were also paying part of both their wages.
My point in all this is, if you are in the position to pick up some Bulldog off shoots, why not go for both Graham and Tolman? And hopefully get some sort of deal going. That would be a great scenario for your club.

 

[Hardcore_Fan]

Fellas do you know how the Sharks got Fifita? (Mooney was all up in this with Flanno)
The Tigers desperately wanted to get rid of Bryce Gibbs so they could fit Blair under the salary cap. They knew the Sharks needed props as Snowden and Douglas had signed for you guys and the Titans. The Sharks held out and the Tigers got more desperate, then Flanno said we want Fifita too. The Tigers didnt want to let him go as they knew how good he was but in the end they relented and not only that, they were also paying part of both their wages.
My point in all this is, if you are in the position to pick up some Bulldog off shoots, why not go for both Graham and Tolman? And hopefully get some sort of deal going. That would be a great scenario for your club.

If we aren't seriously looking at both of them I'd be very shocked indeeed.

 

[Johns Magic]

Fellas do you know how the Sharks got Fifita? (Mooney was all up in this with Flanno)
The Tigers desperately wanted to get rid of Bryce Gibbs so they could fit Blair under the salary cap. They knew the Sharks needed props as Snowden and Douglas had signed for you guys and the Titans. The Sharks held out and the Tigers got more desperate, then Flanno said we want Fifita too. The Tigers didnt want to let him go as they knew how good he was but in the end they relented and not only that, they were also paying part of both their wages.
My point in all this is, if you are in the position to pick up some Bulldog off shoots, why not go for both Graham and Tolman? And hopefully get some sort of deal going. That would be a great scenario for your club.

Yes it would be great. I don't see a club like the Dogs ever losing as much to the salary cap as the Tigers though.

Realistically they don't need all of Graham, Woods and Tolman next year. All three are 50+ minute props. They will be paying one or two of them for minutes they aren't playing.

 

[jonno_knights]

Realistically they don't need all of Graham, Woods and Tolman next year. All three are 50+ minute props. They will be paying one or two of them for minutes they aren't playing.

Could hypothetically work if you rotate the 3 + Klemmer amongst the 3 middle forward positions.

So the 4 big guys play 60 min each between the 2 prop positions and lock. Start Klemmer off the bench. bring him on after 20 for Tolman, then Tolman spells Woods/Graham.

However that doesn't take into account you'd have at least 3 million tied up in those 4 positions.

Jackson will play 80min on one edge, then 80minutes between the other 3 forwards.

4th bench spot taken up by utility/2nd hooker.

 

[slotmachine]

They have Adam Elliott now to cover forwards, he would be cheap.

I'm sure losing Eastwood will free up enough room for Woods, Foran and Dugan. Maybe Kasiano too if the NRL want it to look legit.

 

[myrrh ken]

You guys could probably now get Gordon from the Chooks for a season to give Ponga an apprenticeship on the wing. Experienced and cheap.

Or maybe Gordon might swallow his pride and play centres or wing.

 

[True blue knights]

I know this is a bit of a far stretch but would cronk consider coming to the knights.no sydney clubs seem to have space for him an its not that far from sydney to be closer to his fiancee. We could give him a million easy for a 2 yr contract. Cant see his form dropping off. Wishful thinking i know,but nobody will out bid us for his services!

 

[Mr_Knightside]

At the moment it's looking likely that Cronk will retire IMO, he's achieved everything in the game already and re-building a team like us probably isn't that high on his priority list. The fact that he apparently isn't negotiating with other clubs at this stage tells me he isn't that keen to play on.

 

[perverse]

You spend longer on the road between Sydney and Newcastle than you do in the sky between Sydney and Melbourne. Even if that weren't the case - he's too old and accomplished to entertain rebuilding us. We are stone cold zero chance of Cronk.

 

[mozza91]

You guys could probably now get Gordon from the Chooks for a season to give Ponga an apprenticeship on the wing. Experienced and cheap.

Or maybe Gordon might swallow his pride and play centres or wing.

Ponga is already a better fullback than Gordon no apprenticeship is needed. Wouldn't mind him on the wing for cheap though definitely preferable to SKD.

 

[jonno_knights]

At least Gordon gives us a goalkicking option.

I know Lamb is no slouch, but if Hokko is moved on its just adding more pressure on the kid (not that we have many high pressure kicks).

 

[PhilGould]

Brown is after big outside backs.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

So I was thinking about this today, the possibility of nothing changing for us for the rest of this year is growing increasingly likely. I feel a bit like there's a pretty strong chance that we'll remain on 1 win and 0 new signings for 2018 (apart from Ponga).

So bearing this in mind what do we do with the squad we've got? It seems like there's a few plodders that Brown is happy to let go once they're contract is finished at the end of this year (e.g. Stockwell) but it doesn't seem like we have guys to replace the plodders and our team is already very young as it is so if we let those guys go we just have to promote more youngsters from the U20s team next year which will basically result in a repeat of 2016/2017.

So basically... If nothing changes then what is the worst case scenario for next year?

Let's make a few assumptions
- Rory is medically retired and doesn't play again
- Hodko either retires, is shipped off to ESL or stays in reserve grade
- Stockwell and a couple of other plodders aren't re-signed (therefore freeing up even more money that we can't spend)

If all of the above comes true then that leaves us with a top 17 looking something like this next year imo:

1. Ponga
2. Sio
3. Gags (assuming he re-signs)
4. Pete Mat
5. Ross
6. Pythian (I'd be keen to see how he goes in the halves)
7. Lamb
8. Starling
9. Levi
10. D Saifiti
11. Sione Mat
12. Buhrer (c)
13. Barnett

14. Pauli Pauli
15. J Saifiti
16. Stone
17. Yates/Wardle

Now although Ponga does improve the backline somewhat our front row and bench is still rubbish and our halves still young and without a good leader to mentor them.

And given we haven't been able to sign anyone with all the cash we have this year it's not looking too likely that we'll get anyone next year either which basically puts us in a continuously bad situation. We've been on a slow and continuous downward spiral (punctuated by the occasional finals appearance) for about 10-12 years now and we're now in pretty serious danger of being stuck at the bottom of the ladder for another 3-5 years.

I normally try to be a voice of reason on this forum but I'm genuinely quite scared as a fan that I'm going to have to sit through another few seasons of this misery. We need to start making waves in this player market or we'll be left without a seat at the table once again, I don't know how much more of this as a fan I can take to be honest.

 

[macavity]

1. Ponga
2. Sio
3. Gags (assuming he re-signs)
4. Pete Mat
5. Ross
6. Pythian (I'd be keen to see how he goes in the halves)
7. Lamb
8. Starling
9. Levi
10. D Saifiti
11. Sione Mat
12. Buhrer (c)
13. Barnett

14. Pauli Pauli
15. J Saifiti
16. Stone
17. Yates/Wardle

I normally try to be a voice of reason on this forum but I'm genuinely quite scared as a fan that I'm going to have to sit through another few seasons of this misery. We need to start making waves in this player market or we'll be left without a seat at the table once again, I don't know how much more of this as a fan I can take to be honest.

That side doesn't win a game.

So, much like this year.

 

[jonno_knights]

So I was thinking about this today, the possibility of nothing changing for us for the rest of this year is growing increasingly likely. I feel a bit like there's a pretty strong chance that we'll remain on 1 win and 0 new signings for 2018 (apart from Ponga).

So bearing this in mind what do we do with the squad we've got? It seems like there's a few plodders that Brown is happy to let go once they're contract is finished at the end of this year (e.g. Stockwell) but it doesn't seem like we have guys to replace the plodders and our team is already very young as it is so if we let those guys go we just have to promote more youngsters from the U20s team next year which will basically result in a repeat of 2016/2017.

So basically... If nothing changes then what is the worst case scenario for next year?

Let's make a few assumptions
- Rory is medically retired and doesn't play again
- Hodko either retires, is shipped off to ESL or stays in reserve grade
- Stockwell and a couple of other plodders aren't re-signed (therefore freeing up even more money that we can't spend)

If all of the above comes true then that leaves us with a top 17 looking something like this next year imo:

1. Ponga
2. Sio
3. Gags (assuming he re-signs)
4. Pete Mat
5. Ross
6. Pythian (I'd be keen to see how he goes in the halves)
7. Lamb
8. Starling
9. Levi
10. D Saifiti
11. Sione Mat
12. Buhrer (c)
13. Barnett

14. Pauli Pauli
15. J Saifiti
16. Stone
17. Yates/Wardle

Now although Ponga does improve the backline somewhat our front row and bench is still rubbish and our halves still young and without a good leader to mentor them.

And given we haven't been able to sign anyone with all the cash we have this year it's not looking too likely that we'll get anyone next year either which basically puts us in a continuously bad situation. We've been on a slow and continuous downward spiral (punctuated by the occasional finals appearance) for about 10-12 years now and we're now in pretty serious danger of being stuck at the bottom of the ladder for another 3-5 years.

I normally try to be a voice of reason on this forum but I'm genuinely quite scared as a fan that I'm going to have to sit through another few seasons of this misery. We need to start making waves in this player market or we'll be left without a seat at the table once again, I don't know how much more of this as a fan I can take to be honest.

A few in that side arent resigned yet too.

Pete, Pythian, Starling, Pauli and Yates iirc.

So the longer we leave them in the lurch the more likely they might get an offer else where. They'd all be on next to nothing too except maybe pauli, so wouldnt take a massive offer from a better side

 

[macavity]

We've got too many young players, don't need more.

Disagree. We need some good ones.

 

[macavity]

A few in that side arent resigned yet too.

Pete, Pythian, Starling, Pauli and Yates iirc.

So the longer we leave them in the lurch the more likely they might get an offer else where. They'd all be on next to nothing too except maybe pauli, so wouldnt take a massive offer from a better side

What clubs are going to want them? Serious question.

 

[Joel-22]

Given it's been said that Ponga's future lies in the halves would it be crazy to go guns blazing for Latrell Mitchell for 2019? With Teddy signing with the Roosters it means Mitchell will be unable to earn top-end money afforded to key-position players.

1.Latrell Mitchell
6.Kalyn Ponga
7.Brock Lamb
9.Danny Levi

That's the stuff wet dreams are made of.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Fellas do you know how the Sharks got Fifita? (Mooney was all up in this with Flanno)
The Tigers desperately wanted to get rid of Bryce Gibbs so they could fit Blair under the salary cap. They knew the Sharks needed props as Snowden and Douglas had signed for you guys and the Titans. The Sharks held out and the Tigers got more desperate, then Flanno said we want Fifita too. The Tigers didnt want to let him go as they knew how good he was but in the end they relented and not only that, they were also paying part of both their wages.
My point in all this is, if you are in the position to pick up some Bulldog off shoots, why not go for both Graham and Tolman? And hopefully get some sort of deal going. That would be a great scenario for your club.

THe only problem with this scenario is that we arent to only ones they would be dealing with...

If we hold out for too much, someone else could come in with a better offer and we end up with nothing.