Rumours and Stuff

[Stevie]

Kelly/Carr combo will be electric. Hope it happens.

Kelly is also heavily involved in the indigenous community stuff like JAC so there might be a nice connection there.

 

[lucablight]

You think fifita was a chance of coming ?

Whoooosh

 

[Gherkin]

Is Tago confirmed in the 30? On his best day he isn’t close to being 1st grade standard

 

[Poupou Escobar]

That’s fine but you want to get something for the club in return. We just let a world class back walk out the door and sign a f**king plodder like Brian Kelly.

Does our club ever sign a player that isn’t a discard, cast off or pissed off their present club?? We take the shit that no one wants.

We need these cheap discards so we can afford to keep upgrading Moses ffs

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It's not the coaches job to teach the players to defend.

Well he taught those Manly premiership teams how to defend, but there's a reason good players cost more than shit ones.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Well he taught those Manly premiership teams how to defend, but there's a reason good players cost more than shit ones.

Because of their nice haircuts?

 

[85 Baby]

Is Tago confirmed in the 30? On his best day he isn’t close to being 1st grade standard

Well with Kelly, Tago is now even further down the pecking order

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Wrong. Sometimes the underdog can redline.

lol and give 110%?!??

Like we did in the opening match of the 2009 finals.

That team played to its potential, and our opponents didn't, just like the Cowboys' opponents in the 2017 finals. Another thing 2009 had in common with 2017 was the Storm playing to their potential on grand final day.

Yeah we didn’t win.

Because we were outclassed, not because we didn't play our best.

Bellamy’s teams were usually going to be strong favourites because they’re so dominant throughout the regular season and because of the big 3/4. Do you even variance?

Right, and he has lost as favourites 3 times out of 15 against a $3+ underdog in the past decade. That's an 80% win rate as overwehlming favourites. It stands to reason then that narrow losses against such opponents also represents an underperformance. By comparison, Cleary has only lost 1 from 12 against similarly outclassed opposition in the same 10 year timeframe. Obviously 12 games isn't a significant sample, but it shows any team can underperform on the day, and if they underperform by enough they will lose. But if your pponent is paying $3 or more, there is an obvious gulf in class, and a mild underperformance might only lead to a narrow win if the underdog plays their best.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Jessie Maclean was better than his brother at 16/17, but for some reason has not gone to the level expected

Because he's not a f**king giant like his younger brother?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

So, lots of donkeys who’s defence is shit, this tells me he gets involved

It says two things:

1. He gets picked every week
2. He is isolated more than any other defender

 

[hineyrulz]

Disagree…lots of upside and defence will be much better under our system, how can people not see that???

Easily, he’s 29 and always been a shit defender with poor first contact. On what planet does he just automatically improve??

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I’m not a fan of the signing but he will walk into our side at centre. He didn’t break his Titans contract to play reserve grade

He might've come for the extra year. He'd be on $400k+

Then again, if you're on top 17 money it means your club probably won't be paying anyone good enough to push you out of the top 17.

 

[Avenger]

Can I change my surprise packet of the year prediction with the signing of Brian Kelly? have a soft spot for aging centres. Or do I do an appreciation thread?

 

[hineyrulz]

We need these cheap discards so we can afford to keep upgrading Moses ffs

 

[Grigor]

Is Tago confirmed in the 30? On his best day he isn’t close to being 1st grade standard

Yes unfortunately giving us 28 in our top 30

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If our R&R team go and sign a Penrith reserve grader and someone who didnt kick on to the expected level, then I'd be rightly pissed at them for doing so, wouldn't you?

REJECTS FROM OTHER CLUBS FFS!!!!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

ffs

 

[The Predictor]

Easily, he’s 29 and always been a shit defender with poor first contact. On what planet does he just automatically improve??

I would be happy with some improvement then, u could say the same for Penisini, he’s an arm grabber and can’t read defence, is Kelly any worse than him?

 

[Jake the snake]

Is Kelly normally a left centre or a right centre?

Right

 

[Johnny88]

Eels sign Brian Kelly from Gold Coast on two-year deal following Zac Lomax’s departure​

There’s a new outside back in Parramatta after their star winger defected late last year, shocking the club and NRL.

Parramatta have confirmed the signing of Gold Coast centre Brian Kelly on a two-year deal as the Eels bolster their stocks in the outside backs following the departure of Zac Lomax.
The Titans veteran had one year remaining on his Gold Coast deal but will now call Parramatta home until at least the end of the 2027 season.
As reported by CODE Sports in early December, the Eels launched discussions with Gold Coast to strike a deal with Kelly after the Eels released Lomax in mid-November.
“We had an opportunity to strengthen our outside backs which was a positional area of need, and Brian certainly fits that need very well for us,” Eels general manager of football Mark O’Neill said.

Brian Kelly is on his way to Parra. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Lomax sensationally quit his deal just one year into a four-year contract at Parramatta and is expected to confirm a code switch soon with the Force and Brumbies among the Super Rugby clubs vying for his services.
Kelly has been a mainstay at the Titans for the past six years after starting his career with the Sea Eagles, notching up 190 first-grade games and 66 tries.
“Jason (Ryles) and the coaching staff are looking forward to working with Brian who adds a greater attacking dimension to our game,” O’Neill said.
“With nearly 200 NRL games to his name, Brian’s experience will be an added benefit the broader squad.”

The 29-year-old Kelly will compete for a spot in the centres along with the likes of established stars Will Penisini, Bailey Simonsson and Sean Russell, who has signed with Perth from 2027.
Also waiting in the wings for his chance in the top grade is Penisini’s 20-year-old younger brother Richard, who is a highly regarded outside back.
The Kelly announcement comes shortly after Sharks centre Mawene Hiroti’s signing with the Titans for the 2027 season to reunite with former Cronulla assistant and now Gold Coast coach Josh Hannay.

“Having worked closely with Mawene over the past five years, it’s my belief he’s one of the most underrated outside backs in the competition,” Hannay said.
“He’s been stuck behind some of the best outside backs in the competition at Cronulla and hasn’t always got regular opportunities in the NRL, but when he has, he’s always been one of the best performing players on the field.”
The absence of Kelly could force AJ Brimson to the centres leaving a halves role open for either Lachlan Ilias or prospect Zane Harrison who has impressed in the pre-season.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/eels-sign-brian-kelly-from-gold-coast-on-twoyear-deal-following-zac-lomaxs-departure/news-story/33db6f3dff1928ab2e09ca0333f18e94?amp