Rumours and Stuff

[Chipmunk]

The last 5 premiership winners have all had a destructive middle forward:

Sharks - fifita
Cowboys- lolo and tamou
Souths - burgess
Storm - bromich
Roosters - jwh

I'd say these days it is essential that you have a gun prop

I think it's actually what we're missing the most. None of our middle forwards would be considered the Number 1 middle forward at any other club besides Newcastle.

 

[Glenneel]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...e/news-story/4f3bf59537074abb42c081b2daf18240

EELS SIGN TEEN TONGUE TWISTER

Rugby league commentators, prepare yourselves!

Parramatta have just signed a 15-year-old Kiwi kid who has one hell of a name: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

According to Fairfax NZ, the young fullback has taken up an academy offer at the Eels that will see him travel across the ditch for two training camps before spending six months in Australia in 2018 for the SG Ball (under 18s) competition.

“It’s pretty overwhelming. At the start it definitely was because I’ve liked the Eels since Jarryd Hayne was playing for them [Hayne left the club in 2014]. It’s just surreal,” Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens said.

Its a hyphenated name, sorry not for our squad but definitely the Panthers, they almost have a mortgage on those names.

 

[hindy111]

Like Cartwright?

Tamou - Merrin where recruited for this reason.

While RCG - Yeo - Cartwright could all push for origin. And the vicous fish is a future Kiwi rep.
I reckon even Latu and a few of the benchies have claims in future.

Rory-Alvaro-Terepo-Mannah-Gower wont ever be mentioned. Scott is well past it as is Frank .Tepai hasn't stepped up as of yet.

Id say Brown is only guy who perhaps could get a mention.

 

[RazorRam0n]

The last 5 premiership winners have all had a destructive middle forward:

Sharks - fifita
Cowboys- lolo and tamou
Souths - burgess
Storm - bromich
Roosters - jwh

I'd say these days it is essential that you have a gun prop

100% when i posted the side above, the only thing i felt missing was a top prop.

i sought of let it slide without saying that because BA does have an ability to have the forwards play as a group for each other, but we really do need matagi tepai to step up to the next level or else look to add.

 

[hineyrulz]

That'll be why they kept the Brumbies. Was deadset mind boggling they were even considering dropping the one team that actually competes in it's market (as small as that market is).

The Force won't be missed. Nothing side that always felt manufactured and hollow.

If it is the Farce the NRL should really be looking to taken advantage of it. But they won't, too busy worried about their cushy jobs.

 

[Bazal]

If it is the Farce the NRL should really be looking to taken advantage of it. But they won't, too busy worried about their cushy jobs.

Honestly I don't think there's a lot to take advantage of. Their fan base, or what there was, was mostly expat Saffers. They're a failing club so really the NRL wouldn't gain anything by taking the place of a failing club IMO.

If we are going down the Perth route, better to do it properly and meticulously

 

[Djay]

The last 5 premiership winners have all had a destructive middle forward:

Sharks - fifita
Cowboys- lolo and tamou
Souths - burgess
Storm - bromich
Roosters - jwh

I'd say these days it is essential that you have a gun prop

Spot on, I mentioned this the other day.

We NEED a destructive middle forward badly and one thing you'll notice about all of them is that they play large minutes.

I don't think our forwards play enough minutes, that is another issue. We need a destructive forward who is gonna play large minutes. JWH, Burgess, Taumalolo etc would be priceless to us.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Tamou - Merrin where recruited for this reason.

While RCG - Yeo - Cartwright could all push for origin. And the vicous fish is a future Kiwi rep.
I reckon even Latu and a few of the benchies have claims in future.

Rory-Alvaro-Terepo-Mannah-Gower wont ever be mentioned. Scott is well past it as is Frank .Tepai hasn't stepped up as of yet.

Id say Brown is only guy who perhaps could get a mention.

I believe rep selection is an arbitrary way to define whether a player is good or not, let alone those "on the radar" of rep selection. There's been many players who have been selected in rep teams, in particular NSW and Aus, that have been selected above better players just because they're the flavour of the month or have been built up by the media.

Cartwright shouldn't ever be considered for an origin spot. He thinks he's a half and pushes the pass when it isn't needed. He's absolutely woeful in defence and imo penrith are currently playing better without him. But due to him being a flashy player, and political reasons he'll get a spot in the team no doubt.

 

[hindy111]

Agree with Cartwright but at 22 he can fix his faults. Lot of potential. Currently prefer Manu.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Agree with Cartwright but at 22 he can fix his faults. Lot of potential. Currently prefer Manu.

But will he? Doesn't seem like penrith are going to change his style of play any time soon.

 

[Gronk]

...

Well considering that the Panthers have warehoused Mitch Rein, ZDC had zero chance.

 

[Eelementary]

Well over only four games it could be argued. But over an entire season if he's still got zero LBAs I'll be very concerned if we haven't bought another half for 2018, regardless of how many linebreaks Gutherson makes.

I see what you're saying, but if he is good enough to make breaks himself, then does it make that much difference?

I would like to see Gutherson create space to put our backs away, too - but if he keeps breaking the line himself, it's kind of a moot point, I think...

 

[IFR33K]

I see what you're saying, but if he is good enough to make breaks himself, then does it make that much difference?

I would like to see Gutherson create space to put our backs away, too - but if he keeps breaking the line himself, it's kind of a moot point, I think...

I can't see it making a difference. Only difference it would make is whether he'd be considered a running half or ball playing half.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I can't see it making a difference. Only difference it would make is whether he'd be considered a running half or ball playing half.

But a ball playing half should also be a running half. If a half only ever passes then the defence just slide across and covers other players.

 

[IFR33K]

But a ball playing half should also be a running half. If a half only ever passes then the defence just slide across and covers other players.

There's a few halves out there that have a dominant aspect to their game.

 

[hindy111]

But will he? Doesn't seem like penrith are going to change his style of play any time soon.

Time will tell. Last season he was moved into 5/8 for half the season.
At age 21 spends half his time in halves and was first year he become part of the regular starting team. Personally I wouldn't give up on a guy at his age with his talent playing out of position. I would wait until atleast mid way thru next season.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If rumours/reports are correct (I suspect amount may not be correct) that we have offered Bird something like $900k a year, there's not much difference offering Johnson $1m a year.

I reckon Jonhson will get a lot more than $1M/year.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Would we be happy if our recruitment ended with bird peats and nofoaluma?

Yes

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I don't think our forwards play enough minutes, that is another issue.

Our forwards play as many minutes as the forwards at every other club.

 

[The EELiminator]

Its a hyphenated name, sorry not for our squad but definitely the Panthers, they almost have a mortgage on those names.

i already have a nickname for Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens we should call him Two Cans because it would take two cans of alphabet soup to spell that monster of a name

how the hell does he fit that on his tax return?