Rumours and Stuff

[Noise]

If rumours are correct (which who fking knows), Lichaa is on 400k-odd. Hoppa will be on a bit, but they would have got him on the cheap relatively speaking when compared to Sewards ridiculous offer. Even if he's on 600k (which I doubt), given there will be players increasing and they've got juniors like Montoya and maybe Abbey they'll want to upgrade, that's not enough space to get Hayne and Foran even with bulk TPAs. They have anywhere from 1.2-1.5 mill tied up in Graham and Klemmer alone....

Something will have to give.

If they got Hayne then there is no need to upgrade Abbey. He is signed till the end of 2018. If we use your figures as a guide then Lichaa and Hoppa could free up a million $. Lets say between the 2 Hayne (800k) and Foran (500k) agreed to 1.3mill on the cap and another 600k in TPA's then they are going close, particularly if they release off contract guys like Holland, Stanley, Phillips who may be on 150k each and sign up minimum wage guys on 80k

 

[hindy111]

Or frawley, then jai field at dragons might also be cut lose if widdop and hunt.

 

[hindy111]

Uate is back to best. Another pick by hindy111

 

[Bazal]

If they got Hayne then there is no need to upgrade Abbey. He is signed till the end of 2018. If we use your figures as a guide then Lichaa and Hoppa could free up a million $. Lets say between the 2 Hayne (800k) and Foran (500k) agreed to 1.3mill on the cap and another 600k in TPA's then they are going close, particularly if they release off contract guys like Holland, Stanley, Phillips who may be on 150k each and sign up minimum wage guys on 80k

Seems like my figures are way off. Much harder maths if Hoppa is on 200k....then you've got the big names, who will have increases built into their deals as the cap increases.

 

[Noise]

Seems like my figures are way off. Much harder maths if Hoppa is on 200k....then you've got the big names, who will have increases built into their deals as the cap increases.

I'd be very surprised if Hoppa is on 200k in his 2nd year there. But it is all just guessing anyway. I do believe though that if the Dogs wanted Hayne and Foran I'm sure they'd get the TPA's to make it work

 

[Bazal]

It'll be interesting anyway.

Moving on from that, having a look at off contract lists and Agnatius Paasi is supposedly off contract. He'd be a great signing for us IMO.

If we could grab a winger (Feldt, Nofoaluma, Tupou), a secondary half (Widdop, Townsend, Bird, Roberts, Mason Lino, Ata Hingano), a guy like Peats and a guy like Paasi, we'd have a bloody good side.

Of course, that's a big if.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I'd say apart from a kicking game and a differing injury history there's very little difference between Peats and McCullough honestly.

I'd also say Jake Granville is right up there.

The question was who are the well-rounded dummy halves in the comp. He isn't as good as Smith or Hodgson but McCullough is undoubtedly a well-rounded hooker, he's good at all facets of being a dummy half.

I forgot about Granville.

 

[hindy111]

Nofaluma was woefull yesterday, his defense stinks.. Id suss penrith out. Hiku and Edwards might be available.Smarter players.
Toupo would be good but over priced. Id hope we give younger jennings or Schulte a go. Hoffman hasnt impressed and i can see why titan where happy to let go. Surely we have guys in reserves who can push for a spot on the cheap.

 

[hindy111]

Wallace is more rounded then granville. I reckon Jacks forms dropped off a stack since year the cowboys won gf.

 

[Bazal]

Hoffman has done his job. He won't have signed for big bucks.

Nofo was awful in defence but so was his entire side so you can't really read tonnes into it IMO. Edwards is a quality young player but Nofo is an established first grader and better than Hiku quite easily. I rate Feldt a decent player, he's got problems with his hands at times but he's probably a good middle ground. Tupou will cost more, so either Feldt or Nofo would work. Half and hooker are more important

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Hoffman isn't a winger. Offers good backup at a few positions and he is a first grader. Probably best at fullback (like Gutherson) but we have a gamebreaker there already.

Nofoaluma is a great attacking winger. He's probably up there with Radradra, Rapana, Oates and Mansour.

 

[hindy111]

So we have hoffman , taka, gutherson all out of position . And signed long term,
Is this poor planning by coach?

 

[Obscene Assassin]

So really.... how long until that Schneider kid is ready?

He's turning 17 this year. No need to put pressure on the kid though. He's a very good talent at his age and has a lot of room to grow but when you watch his game he's very well-rounded, he's also a strong leader and a good kid to talk to.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I can see the benefit of having some utility value in your top eight backs. Especially when you're trying to cover for only one legitimate half.

 

[Bazal]

So we have hoffman , taka, gutherson all out of position . And signed long term,
Is this poor planning by coach?

Hoffman is a winger. He's also a centre and a fullback. Gutherson seems like a stopgap measure, given we are looking at several halves.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Gutherson's best features are his work rate (best suited to fullback) and his defence (best suited to centre). I think he will be a high quality centre, though without a skilled attacking half our right side would then be pretty innocuous. Outside of Kenny Edwards we would offer very little threat. At least Takairangi at centre offers strong go-forward and a bit of playmaking.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

I think hooker is our biggest problem. Surprised you chaps haven't talked about it.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

So if that's true, moving on Lichaa and Hoppa at best gives them 700k....

It won't necessarily give them $700k as they aren't under contract for next year.

 

[Bazal]

It won't necessarily give them $700k as they aren't under contract for next year.

Well that's why I said "at best". Best case scenario that money is yet to be used. Obviously that's not the most likely scenario and only serves to further demonstrate that to sign Foran and Hayne (and it's a hypothetical discussion) they'd more than likely have to shift some money out of their pack.

 

[The EELiminator]

it will be interesting times if the nrl refuse to budge on raising the salary cap seeing their offer and the club's projections are nearly a million dollars apart

that would play into the hands of teams like the eels who are underspent for 2018 while others are trying to offload players