Rumoured Targets 3

[Silent Knight]

Hagan would've fell for that bluff straight away

Hagan would have read through that linked Herald article, seen Ramien running over the top of the best young centre in the game, and immediately began waving a nice big fat cheque at the best young centre in the game. Because you need to pay market value.

 

[perverse]

How good is Mitch Pearce calling Newcastle Newy!

lol, he's certainly drinking the kool aid.

It's a good feeling that we could have the best prop at the club since the Chief, and the best halfback since Joey... and what will likely be our best ever fullback all locked up for the next 3+ years. That's certainly progress. I really like the look of our team with Klem in it.

edit - Wait sorry... KP is playing 5/8th next year isn't he? Sigh... that just feels about 5 years too soon to me. We're gonna rob him of his best, most explosive years at the back because Watson can't pass the footy and have a kick every once and a while? Feels dumb.

 

[Frank Facer]

Me also. There's enough young players that have improved under him to convince me he can coach. He certainly knows how to rebuild and assemble a support team. Let's hope you can take us to the next level with a good roster.

When he coach us, from 2004 to 2006 we had a great looking roster, but we very rarely had our top team on the paddock. We had a horror run with injuries over those years, to star players, such as Gasnier, Barrett, Bailey, Ryles, Timmins, Head, etc.

 

[Frank Facer]

lol, he's certainly drinking the kool aid.

It's a good feeling that we could have the best prop at the club since the Chief, and the best halfback since Joey... and what will likely be our best ever fullback all locked up for the next 3+ years. That's certainly progress. I really like the look of our team with Klem in it.

edit - Wait sorry... KP is playing 5/8th next year isn't he? Sigh... that just feels about 5 years too soon to me. We're gonna rob him of his best, most explosive years at the back because Watson can't pass the footy and have a kick every once and a while? Feels dumb.

You will have the best 5/8 in the game, playing the position that he will be playing for the rest of his career. He will be closer to the game and be able to take on a more dominate role.

I said that you guys should have signed Barba. He won the Man of Steel award in ESL last year. He also won a comp with Cronulla and was a major factor in Canterbury reaching a Grand Final.

 

[perverse]

You will have the best 5/8 in the game, playing the position that he will be playing for the rest of his career. He will be closer to the game and be able to take on a more dominate role.

I said that you guys should have signed Barba. He won the Man of Steel award in ESL last year. He also won a comp with Cronulla and was a major factor in Canterbury reaching a Grand Final.

I hope so, but I worry that defending in the line will needlessly allow the opposition to target him and wear him out.

 

[mozza91]

I hope so, but I worry that defending in the line will needlessly allow the opposition to target him and wear him out.

He defended in the front line in Origin and did a great job. I don’t think it’ll affect him to be honest. He’s just that good.

 

[Knight Vision]

After the season that this freak of nature just had I wouldnt be at all surprised if he is playing for Australia next year - at 5/8. I reckon he could play prop and get MOM. Cant wait to watch his career unfold- hopefully always in red and blue.

 

[Knight Vision]

Me watching the Pong in action

 

[perverse]

He defended in the front line in Origin and did a great job. I don’t think it’ll affect him to be honest. He’s just that good.

One game, and he was busted for the majority of the rest of the year. And he didn't have the juice to finish off his line break.

He'll probably be good where ever he plays, but this move seems premature to me. He's not physically ready for it, and teams will target him mercilessly. I just don't see why we're changing what works, it's not like he had any trouble getting involved in the #1 jersey. Kid almost wins the dally m and our first idea is to move him.

And the actual worst part? Kalyn *wants* to be a fullback. He's been super clear and transparent about that whenever asked. We've just seen what can happen when a player isn't happy at his club. It's just not the best move for mine. Not yet.

 

[Frederick]

One game, and he was busted for the majority of the rest of the year. And he didn't have the juice to finish off his line break.

Two games, actually. He played in the halves against Penrith

And the actual worst part? Kalyn *wants* to be a fullback. He's been super clear and transparent about that whenever asked. We've just seen what can happen when a player isn't happy at his club. It's just not the best move for mine. Not yet.

Ask him that yourself, did you? Pretty much every article I've seen when he's been asked he says that fullback is his preferred position but he's happy to play wherever Brown wants him to.

Playing him in the halves is better for team balance. He's a much better ball player and kicker than Watson is

 

[perverse]

Two games, actually. He played in the halves against Penrith

Ask him that yourself, did you? Pretty much every article I've seen when he's been asked he says that fullback is his preferred position but he's happy to play wherever Brown wants him to.

Playing him in the halves is better for team balance. He's a much better ball player and kicker than Watson is

I just don't believe there's much he can provide the team from 5/8 that he can't provide from fullback, aside from being a speed bump for opposition forwards all game. I just fundamentally disagree with you, and that's fine.

And geez you're really stretching to say Kalyn hasn't made it clear that he wants to play fullback. Really stretching.

 

[mozza91]

I don’t think defending in the front line in Origin had anything to do with his injury. His knee got twisted and injured in a game against the Bulldogs.

That being said there’s no reason that he couldn’t play as a pivot in attack and defend at fullback if need be. I just want to see him with the ball in his hands as often as possible. Plus Watson is much more suited fullback than 5/8 anyway so it’d benefit him too.

 

[perverse]

Honestly, I hope you guys are right and that I'm worrying about nothing. It just doesn't feel right to me. I feel like we're trying to fix something that isn't proven broken.

 

[Knight Vision]

I just don't see why we're changing what works,

And the actual worst part? Kalyn *wants* to be a fullback. He's been super clear and transparent about that whenever asked. We've just seen what can happen when a player isn't happy at his club. It's just not the best move for mine. Not yet.

This

 

[Haffa]

I'll believe he's being switch the 5/8 permanently when I see it. I'm sure they're having him train there at times but I doubt they're in a hurry to switch him. I know there have been quotes here and there but they've never really filled me with any certainty.

 

[Old dog]

After all the hoohaa about Watson being guaranteed 5/8 beginning of this year I don't now see why so many seem keen on moving him to f/b and Ponga to 5/8. I would like to see Watson at 5/8 for a while with a strong side around him where last season we had interruptions due to injuries, some long term. Changes can be made later if it don't work out. I think Ponga is a great player but would like to see him remain f/b at least for a while.

 

[Yosh]

I have my concerns with Ponga being in the line but Watson could be what we have been looking for at the back. He is a great runner of the ball and I would love him sniffing around the ruck and just generally follow the ball to support the runner.

Personally I still think we are too light in the hooker position. I can't see Levi being the starting hooker in a quality team that is aiming to finish near the top of the table. It's such a pity we can't find a decent hooker. We are certainly looking as we were heavily linked with Luke and Seyarao. We got a decent reserve hooker in Woolford but I would still like to see us sign a good hooker.

 

[Knight Vision]

Personally I still think we are too light in the hooker position. I can't see Levi being the starting hooker in a quality team that is aiming to finish near the top of the table. It's such a pity we can't find a decent hooker. We are certainly looking as we were heavily linked with Luke and Seyarao. We got a decent reserve hooker in Woolford but I would still like to see us sign a good hooker.

Ah but we have to be careful because then we'll upset Danny he'll ask for a release. Then we're stuffed.

 

[slotmachine]

That being said there’s no reason that he couldn’t play as a pivot in attack and defend at fullback if need be

That's what he was doing this year

 

[perverse]

That's what he was doing this year

He shifted between 2nd and 3rd receiver (and occasionally 1st while Pearce was out), much the same as he will probably do next year. I honestly think the main difference is going to be that he has to make more tackles now. With the ball in hand 5/8th and fullback are practically interchangeable in the modern game.