Rumoured Targets 3

[macavity]

I think the plan is to offer long-term contracts to marquee recruits, fill as many remaining spots as possible with locals, and if there is still a hole that needs to be fixed we sign a journeyman on a 1-year contract to fill it until we are able to fill the spot with either a marquee or a local. That is exactly what we are doing with Starling - plugging a hole in the meantime.

We want only short-term contracts for journeymen. That way they don't take up cap for years and, when a junior comes along to fill their spot we get more cap room to play with for marquees.

Lillyman maybe fits that bill. Myles would want too much, Gordon is a 35yo in a position we don't need to fill.

Guerra, maybe if we play him off the bench as a prop?

Hoppa is the best suggestion - would be an upgrade on Gagai.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

At this point, i'd be very happy with Hoppa ( must play sundays) Albert Vete and someone like Guerra or Lillyman to fill the Veteran Role.

If the rest of our young guys make the 3rd year jump, we will be a hell of a lot more closer in every game.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I retract my statement about Kev being a better defender than Gags. Lol what was I thinking haha. That being said he could play wing and Ross to centres maybe?

Alternatively I think Hoppa would be a good choice as Dane's replacement. He's been around long enough, has an overall solid game and would probably come at half the cost of Dane. He's stated he would play Sunday's as well which is a prerequisite. There aren't too many decent backs that would come for a good price. Maybe we could pick up Hoppa and Gray and they can fight it out with Pete for the centre spots next year.

The Mataora situation is an odd one, he was one of our most improved players last year and was looking like becoming a solid first grader and it doesn't seem like he's going to get a look in this year and I'd be surprised if he gets another contract now, bit of a shame really but that's the luck of the draw with injury I suppose.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

Read this-morning through Fox Sports that we're looking at one of the QLD players but it said specifically that it's not a spine player or a back. So this leads me to believe that it's Lilliman or Myles, but I really hope it's not Myles.

 

[Caped Crusader]

Chambers? Heard rumblings he was off contract soon

 

[Burns]

Guerra?

 

[Johns Magic]

I can't fathom a scenario in which we are chasing Nate Myles.

My tip Lillyman(I have said for a while he'd be a good fit IMO), but Guerra wouldn't shock.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I would take Guerra, he hasn't been in great form of late but form is temporary while class is permanent so I'm sure he could return to the form he was in a couple of years back when he first made the QLD team.

 

[PhilGould]

I'd take Guerra on a 2 year deal. Definitely wouldn't get in a bidding war for him.

 

[Jono078]

I'm still surprised that the Cronk talk is still going on here. Apparently he's leaving Melbourne to be with his partner. It would be quicker for him to fly from Melbourne to Sydney than it would be to drive there from Newcastle. Time to move on peeps!

I disagree with this so much.

2 hour drive from Newcastle to Sydney.

Now if he stayed in Melbourne he would have to drive to the airport, park his car there, check-in and wait for his flight and hope for no delays, arrive into Sydney and pick-up baggage and get out of the airport and then drive to his partner's place - this could easily be double the amount of time of a drive from Newcastle to Sydney.

 

[Burwood]

It was also reported that the club would be happy for him to spend the start of the week in Sydney and then a couple of days before the match be in Newcastle to work with the team. Hell, I'd even move all of our training sessions to Sydney if it meant signing Cronk!

Not convinced about signing Guerra. Our starting back row is Sione, Barnett and Buhrer- not sure if Guerra can usurp one of them or if he'd be good value off the bench. We really need a half, specialist props (not part time guys that also play back row) and a centre.

If we add quality to those positions in our squad than the whole team should improve substantially. Adding another winger or backrower, even if they are world class, won't have the same impact.

 

[Burwood]

Nathan Ryan is saying in his Market Watch article that the warriors are hopeful of signing Lillyman to one more year. Later, down the very end of the same article, is his thing about Newcastle's target who is a current Queenslander and not in the spine. Maybe Lillyman isn't the player after all?

 

[Bring it home Knights]

I disagree with this so much.

2 hour drive from Newcastle to Sydney.

Now if he stayed in Melbourne he would have to drive to the airport, park his car there, check-in and wait for his flight and hope for no delays, arrive into Sydney and pick-up baggage and get out of the airport and then drive to his partner's place - this could easily be double the amount of time of a drive from Newcastle to Sydney.

Driving from newcastle to the cbd or equivalent in Sydney is two hours now? I'd say it would be closer to 2.5 hours and that is if the traffic is perfect. Throw in bottle necks and you are looking at over 3 hours. Compare that to 20 minutes to drive to the airport 30 minute wait at the airport. 1.5 hr flight then getting to the house 45 minutes to an hour after arriving at the airport. Overall the difference wouldn't be that great.

My point is, that arguing that newcastle could sell themselves to getting Cronk is laughable given he's going to be with his gf. Living 3 hours from his gf in newcastle is not leaving Melbourne to be with his partner. The marginal difference with travel isn't going to make an arse of difference with getting him here.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

It was also reported that the club would be happy for him to spend the start of the week in Sydney and then a couple of days before the match be in Newcastle to work with the team. Hell, I'd even move all of our training sessions to Sydney if it meant signing Cronk!

Not convinced about signing Guerra. Our starting back row is Sione, Barnett and Buhrer- not sure if Guerra can usurp one of them or if he'd be good value off the bench. We really need a half, specialist props (not part time guys that also play back row) and a centre.

If we add quality to those positions in our squad than the whole team should improve substantially. Adding another winger or backrower, even if they are world class, won't have the same impact.

I get where you're coming from in that second row is not necessarily an area of immediate concern but Guerra's got plenty of experience which we're severely lacking and I feel that if Guerra is playing at his best or close to his best he would be ahead of Barnett in that pecking order. Meaning Barnett comes off the bench, which also means Yates/Stone/Stockwell/J Saifiji/someone else goes back to reserve grade. So although it's not necessarily a priority it still strengthens our side and adds an experienced rep player to the team.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Do we re-sign Stockwell?
He was out of favour but has worked hard to make a mark in reserves and get the step up.
For me it depends who else we sign.

 

[Johns Magic]

Do we re-sign Stockwell?
He was out of favour but has worked hard to make a mark in reserves and get the step up.
For me it depends who else we sign.

No from me.

It's sounding like Guerra is the QLD forward that approached us. I actually like him but I suspect he is coming to us asking for the big bucks. If he is just looking for a place that will value him and give him 300K then I would definitely take a look.

 

[Mr_Knightside]

No from me.

It's sounding like Guerra is the QLD forward that approached us. I actually like him but I suspect he is coming to us asking for the big bucks. If he is just looking for a place that will value him and give him 300K then I would definitely take a look.

I would hope that after the last couple of years the word has gotten out that we're not going to hand out winning lotto tickets to just anyone. Hopefully if he's approached us it's been with the understating that he'll get a fair offer but no more than that.

 

[perverse]

Dunno about giving Guerra anything after tonight. I liked him at his peak, but it seems like that may have passed him at this point. He doesn't strike me as much of a leader or anything. He's obviously got some pretty good experience, though. Would be more of a high-end Buhrer/Kostjaysn type signing, I guess?

 

[Spot On]

What you see is what you get from Guerra. Nothing special.

As for Gagai, I can only live in hope Brown has the balls to cut him. It is downright wrong and disgraceful the lack of effort he has put into our jumper in certain parts of his game.

f**king over it.

 

[Apey]

Most Roosters fans think Guerra is an absolute plodder, not a ringing endorsement lol.