Rumoured Targets 3

[Sydney Knight]

I was under the impression that Brailey was playing 80 or close before his brother hit the scene?

Almost identical in size, age and stats including minutes played per game. Does make you wonder what has Levis said or done for Browny to want someone else
https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/newcastle-knights/danny-levi/
https://www.sharks.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/cronulla-sutherland-sharks/jayden-brailey/

 

[Frederick]

I was under the impression that Brailey was playing 80 or close before his brother hit the scene?

The guys in the Sharks forum reckon he's an 80 minute player

 

[Knight Vision]

That would explain it then. We need a hooker that can play 80 min.

 

[Swarzey]

Reality with Levi is for the last however many years we've sat back and given him every bit of room to find consistency. Every time he found a run of great form, he would quickly regress. The four games (not counting the Roosters game) has been the most consistent he has been in his entire career and that just isn't good enough. Not just the matter of not being an 80 minute player, the club can only go through this cycle of minimal good form and inconsistency so often before they're forced to look elsewhere.

Signing Jayden doesn't mean he's instantly going to become an 80 minute player. The club isn't going to give up on finding a place for Watson and the next few weeks could prove his worth as an outstanding 14. Having an 80 minute player at hooker in Brailey would be a luxury for the club; if someone goes down or someone like Ponga is unavailable due to Origin, Watson can fill that position without introducing a new player to the spine. We would no longer need to always carry that utility hooker even if injuries hit us hard.

If Levi goes elsewhere and maintains his form, then good on him, but that is a possibility that we have no reason to expect nor should the club. Signing someone of Brailey's caliber is a smart move to make even if we seemingly lose out as the alternative is we're once again here in 2020, in 2021, so on and so forth with Levi finding form but never maintaining it.

 

[Knight Vision]

also it's one thing to have a great running game and completely another to know how to set up players and control the tempo of the game. Smith does it brilliantly as does Hodgson.

Levi has on a consistent basis chosen the wrong option on a number of critical plays.

 

[Yosh]

Brailey is 22 and already a first grade regular. That means we can have the number 1 and number 9 spot locked down for like a decade. That sort of stability will only help us cement ourselves as a top team.

He good enough to play rep footy one day you guys think?

 

[Jono078]

I could be way off the mark, but Brailey reminds me of a Ryan Hinchliffe type.

The younger Brailey is very impressive IMO and will be the next best #9.

 

[lolesi]

The guys in the Sharks forum reckon he's an 80 minute player

He can do it no dramas but that’s because he really doesn’t have a running game and is mostly a solid defensive hooker. (A shame because when he does take the line on he looks good).

Can understand him taking up a 3 year offer. BB is the better player.

 

[Yosh]

He can do it no dramas but that’s because he really doesn’t have a running game and is mostly a solid defensive hooker. (A shame because when he does take the line on he looks good).

Can understand him taking up a 3 year offer. BB is the better player.

Why don'twe do a sneaky and sign the younger brother instead for three years.

 

[Swarzey]

because the younger brother is already resigned for 3 years at Cronulla

 

[Burwood]

If he is a younger, less injury-prone version of Griffin, I think he could be a good signing. Leave him on the field as an 80 minute hooker, but let him have a bit of a rest behind play as the game goes on- no need to chase the play around every time we have our hands on the ball. Watson comes on and he can inject himself as needed and provide the extra impact with his running game. Glasby or Barnett can easily shift into the front row and allow Watson to float around the field.

 

[lolesi]

Why don'twe do a sneaky and sign the younger brother instead for three years.

He re-signed for the sharks earlier this season.

You already took Ramien from us, that was enough.

 

[Pedge1971]

If he is a younger, less injury-prone version of Griffin, I think he could be a good signing. Leave him on the field as an 80 minute hooker, but let him have a bit of a rest behind play as the game goes on- no need to chase the play around every time we have our hands on the ball. Watson comes on and he can inject himself as needed and provide the extra impact with his running game. Glasby or Barnett can easily shift into the front row and allow Watson to float around the field.

Yeah Watson would be great in that Qld style floating middle role coming in when the big boys start to get tired.

Plus covers any injury in spine and backline.

 

[Old dog]

If he is a younger, less injury-prone version of Griffin, I think he could be a good signing. Leave him on the field as an 80 minute hooker, but let him have a bit of a rest behind play as the game goes on- no need to chase the play around every time we have our hands on the ball. Watson comes on and he can inject himself as needed and provide the extra impact with his running game. Glasby or Barnett can easily shift into the front row and allow Watson to float around the field.

Isn’t having a rest the equivalent of a non 80min hooker

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Isn’t having a rest the equivalent of a non 80min hooker

I reckon it is. That's why I have no issue using Levi them bringing on Watson as a fresh player.

 

[Burwood]

Isn’t having a rest the equivalent of a non 80min hooker

If he’s on the field for 80min, he’s an 80min hooker. Just give the starting hooker bit of a rest onfield by not chasing the ball around for 5 plays in attack. You see Storm doing it with Cam Smith now- he’s on the field for 80, and Brandon Smith comes on for 40 or so.

I think it will become a bit more of the norm soon, especially when interchanges drop down from 8 to 6.

 

[Knight Vision]

especially when interchanges drop down from 8 to 6

if they do reduce the interchange it will be a great thing for the game. Small blokes like Watson would carve it up = superstar. Much more exciting footy.

 

[Old dog]

So let’s give Levi a rest and instantly we have an 80min hooker, problem solved

 

[Frederick]

So let’s give Levi a rest and instantly we have an 80min hooker, problem solved

Yeah, no

 

[Bartwah]

Baz Toohey reporting that Brailey is likely to be here next year, and Levi won’t