Rumoured Targets 3

[The Axe of Druss]

There's more than enough talent coming off contract in 26 and 27 to move the needle in the positions we're lacking.

We're f**ked if Brown is our only signing for 26 though, even if Gags and Friz take up their options. Our young guys aren't ready now and won't be before next season

 

[Rod]

And the reason why there's urgency in this, from me and others, is because ultimately I think losing Ponga isn't a good look for the club. Not just based on on-field stuff, but the optics of it are just awful and aren't going to help any with recruiting in the short to mid term. I honestly don't expect Kalyn to be on board with another "5 year plan".

Yeah I've been thinking about this too. On-field form up to scratch or not he's our marquee player and what makes us relevant. That has to be factored in in any discussions about whether we'd be better off without him.

 

[Woody90]

And finally, if we've made the decision to go full rebuild, it's the perfect time for new coaching staff too. Hanging onto this clueless idiot makes zero sense if you're rebooting the roster. This prick walked into the place happy with the state of it. We were all happy with where we were at and our trajectory at the time and it has flatlined. The only reason to keep him on the books is financial and fans have every right to be f**ked off if that's the case too.

I have a theory they don’t want to bring in a new coach because they know the roster is bad and it’ll be a really bad look if we sack AOB and then another coach is under pressure within 12 months.
I’d sack him anyway tbh because I think we’re playing even worse than our roster should be, but that’s my theory what they’re thinking. Also the payout but I don’t think that’s the only factor for why they haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

 

[Old dog]

I think next year is definitely a transition year, important that we retain Frizell and Gagai which would retain our strong 1-5, 6-7 obviously Sharpe and Brown and if we assuming we resign him play Frizell up front with JSaf we will be strong depending on how Brown/Sharpe work out. With no other signings that would leave the likes of Jones and Croker on bench with one of our Cup players playing KPP position, Elliott if resigned at 13, if not Cant?

 

[Loose Cannon]

I have a theory they don’t want to bring in a new coach because they know the roster is bad and it’ll be a really bad look if we sack AOB and then another coach is under pressure within 12 months.
I’d sack him anyway tbh because I think we’re playing even worse than our roster should be, but that’s my theory what they’re thinking. Also the payout but I don’t think that’s the only factor for why they haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

Gardner won’t ever admit failure. It’s what people in that position do.

In this instance. there isn’t a thousand money printing machines involved in order to subsidise the false initiative.

 

[HarVeeGee]

I’d rather be shit if it’s in service to a real plan, which the club sticks to, which gives us a real chance of actually winning.

Making panic moves every off season to chase mediocrity isn’t really that much better than being shit, and it’s a road that eventually leads to being shit anyway once those mid players you’ve clung onto for way too long get too old.

My biggest problem with Nathan Brown is that he just accepted we would be shit. Like he literally said, in advance, we were going to run last. I reckon that set us back heaps. You tell young players the games don’t really matter and losing is acceptable, they can’t just flip a psychological switch and become winners.

I’ll give AOB some credit: He never says he’s going to accept that we suck. He just said in his presser today that he doesn’t accept finals are out of reach. It’s probably the smarter thing for his job security to say that this is a transition year, set the expectations low, so it’s shows a bit of backbone that he hasn’t done that.

 

[HarVeeGee]

FOX and media is not the majority of the RL community. Hyperbole and turmoil is their job. Overs at the moment, but with 2 new clubs arriving, the signature will look a master stroke. The race to lock-up talent is about to enter frenzy stage.

I think he’s a very good player, no issue with the signing.

Also I reckon making tough long term decisions may cost us Kalyn, so it’s good to have a legitimate marquee attacking spine player locked up long term (on top of Sharpe).

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

We aren't near the same post code as the Panthers or Roosters either. We have to play a premium somewhere.

Also they have been at the club ages so they would have been happy to stay at lower wages the latest contract.

How many other clubs have SOO level backrowers at their club for 750k? You cherry picked the outliers to make your point.

That doesnt happen over night, but it does with strategic planning and running a tight budget. Spend in positions of importance

Cherry picked the competitions benchmarks. As with any good business plan analysis. Would you prefer to compare to the competition wooden spooners? ffs seriously dude.

I think he’s a very good player, no issue with the signing.

Also I reckon making tough long term decisions may cost us Kalyn, so it’s good to have a legitimate marquee attacking spine player locked up long term (on top of Sharpe).

It is also great to chase quality depth, as Melbourne do ( and looks like Sully is doing) . The media buzz about spending too much is nonsense and would not be an issue if we were the Rorters or Brisbane or any other fancied club.

When these 2 new clubs enter the comp there's going to be a few clubs without a chair when the music stops. With Sully steering the roster we wont be one of them.

 

[HarVeeGee]

I’d imagine we extended Dylan Lucas on about $700K and no one would blink an eye at that. We did it after he proved he was worth it and he’s on the same level as Martin and Crichton now, and could end up being better. There sincerely may not be a better line runner in the NRL aside from maybe Beau Fermor, and you could already stitch together a highlight reel of Dylan Lucas try saving tackles. That’s the model for us to follow in recruitment/retention.

I thought KPP was a very good prospect from what I saw in Super League and was happy with the signing… until I found out the dollar amount. f**king lunacy. Signing off on that with a lot of money already invested in a middling forward pack and - at the time - serious question marks over the spine (I think when the deal was struck, mid 2022, our signed halves were a disgruntled Jake Clifford, Adam Clune, and Anthony Milford, who we were trying to re-sign) is a sackable offence.

And from what we’ve seen so far, matching Wests’ offer would also be insane, even if it leaves us short in the short term. $600K for KPP means that the next time a player like Dylan Lucas or Fletcher Sharpe emerges, you can’t pay him and he leaves. And then you’re stuck with a $600K salary for a below average player.

Even if it means some mix of Tom Cant and our young prospects playing in that spot next year, you have to let Kai leave. Beef up the middle and the job of the edges becomes easier anyway.

Save the cap space and keep chasing high potential young props like Latu and Pahulu, and target versatile forwards in the Mitch Barnett mould, but younger, someone like Josh Curran.