Rumours and Stuff

[Bazal]

I am curios to know what areas you think we need to improve to make us a top 4 side?

Hooker and five eighth first and foremost. Our pack is good enough IMO and our backline is fine, although we will obviously need to replace Semi. Either Feldt or Nofo would be fine.

We desperately, desperately need a quality hooker. Gutho is doing ok at six but realistically he's a fullback or a centre and to be a really good side you need a quality kicking game. Gutho doesn't have that and Norman is inconsistent. Need a six with a kicking game

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Maloney was 23 IIRC.

 

[Forty20]

I definitely feldt some of that negativity as well.

Well punned my good man.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The reality is that Feldt shouldn't be at the top of our transfer priorities... Easily replaceable

I reckon an NRL quality winger and goalkicker are very high priorities. Feldt fills the first and possibly the second as well.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Gennings, maybe the other 2 I don't think so.

The one that could be one to look out for is Greg Lelesiuao. Big body and really good agility.

Is he Semi Radradra? Nope, but no one will ever be Semi Radradra. So no matter who we put as our left side winger next year it is going to be a downgrade.

Good point. Given his numbers in the NYC, Leleisiuao is probably NRL quality already in attack. How far away could he be in defence?

 

[hindy111]

Dont we have some red hot centre coming thu in under 20s?

 

[Forty20]

Good point. Given his numbers in the NYC, Leleisiuao is probably NRL quality already in attack. How far away could he be in defence?

Leleisiuao defended extremely well on Saturday...but then again so did the entire team. It was a remarkably un-NYC-like defensive effort. He is definitely one I am keeping an eye on moving forwards though.

 

[Chipmunk]

Dont we have some red hot centre coming thu in under 20s?

He went to Souths

 

[Bazal]

Dont we have some red hot centre coming thu in under 20s?

Tui Afualo?

 

[RazorRam0n]

I reckon an NRL quality winger and goalkicker are very high priorities. Feldt fills the first and possibly the second as well.

For the price range of a winger, quality of feldts ability or greater is a dime a dozen...It shouldn't be a priority coz its one position with least risk and least reward.

Semi was just a dozen rungs above the rest...We wont be seeing that sort of value for money again. Hence the reason I don't hold grudges againsy him for his leaving.

Nofoaluma would be a much better purchase because he has genuine potential for other backline positions

And goalkicking is not exclusive to wing

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Leleisiuao defended extremely well on Saturday...but then again so did the entire team. It was a remarkably un-NYC-like defensive effort. He is definitely one I am keeping an eye on moving forwards though.

To recruit a dominant NYC player from another club is extremely rare, and would have to take significant cash. We obviously signed him for a reason.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

For the price range of a winger, quality of feldts ability or greater is a dime a dozen...It shouldn't be a priority coz its one position with least risk and least reward.

Semi was just a dozen rungs above the rest...We wont be seeing that sort of value for money again. Hence the reason I don't hold grudges againsy him for his leaving.

Nofoaluma would be a much better purchase because he has genuine potential for other backline positions

And goalkicking is not exclusive to wing

Wingers are extremely important these days. A top 17 winger is somewhere you might save some money but you shouldn't be banking on it.

And we already have an entire top 17 contracted for next year apart from Moeroa and Radradra. I don't expect us to recruit more than two top 17 players (especially if Moeroa re-signs). So getting a goalkicking winger (since we need a winger anyway) means we don't need to get a goalkicker in that second recruit. We can just focus on the quality of his general play.

 

[Bazal]

I'd say wingers are more important than centres in the modern game. And BA obviously wants to try and recruit Feldt because he's a big, powerful winger who is a beast out of his own end.

 

[Forty20]

Dont we have some red hot centre coming thu in under 20s?

Dane Aukafolau is in his final year of NYC eligibility and spent a full preseason with the first grade squad. Prototypical modern outside back build. Still needs some refinement but he has plenty of promise.

Tui Afualo is the SG Ball eligible centre that is holding down the other flank. Built more like Solomone Kata or Konrad Hurrell but probably has better ball skills. Was an extremely aggressive defender in the junior reps but is coming to terms with the greater finesse required in senior defensive systems.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

I'd say wingers are more important than centres in the modern game. And BA obviously wants to try and recruit Feldt because he's a big, powerful winger who is a beast out of his own end.

Maybe, I would say wingers are more important to a sides attack however centres are more important in defence.

If you have centres that cant defend then you are probably one of the poorer defensive sides.

 

[Chipmunk]

Maybe, I would say wingers are more important to a sides attack however centres are more important in defence.

If you have centres that cant defend then you are probably one of the poorer defensive sides.

Are Will Chambers and Chase Blair really that good of defenders?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Maybe not for centres, but compared to most NRL players they would be in the top tier of one-on-one defenders, as would most NRL centres.

 

[Bazal]

Maybe, I would say wingers are more important to a sides attack however centres are more important in defence.

If you have centres that cant defend then you are probably one of the poorer defensive sides.

I think there are plenty of centres who are ordinary defenders, and you can often cover them. As mention, Cheyse Blair and Will Chambers aren't great defenders...neither are Latrell Mitchell and Joseph Manu. Or James Roberts and Tautau Moga. BJ Leilua is an awful defender....

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Good point. Given his numbers in the NYC, Leleisiuao is probably NRL quality already in attack. How far away could he be in defence?

I reckon a pre-season with first grade and he'd be good enough to be a back-up depends on how much he's willing to learn.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Dont we have some red hot centre coming thu in under 20s?

Tui Afualo could be who you're thinking of.