Rumours and Stuff

[Bazal]

So if we don't sign Peats it means the coach has no idea? Or just less idea than you?

Don't put words in my mouth. There are any number of reasons a player might not sign with a club. Unlike some of the hand wringers I realise that just because a player is available doesn't mean you can just sign the bastard.

But if the decision is made by BA not to sign him, and the hang up is only over 50-100k for the NSW hooker then it'll be the first time I disagree with a decision BA has made. We are desperate for a quality hooker.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

and the hang up is only over 50-100k .

Which may be able to be offset by spending less on a winger .....

 

[Gazzamatta]

Lets not forget we have Mahoney and Tonise doing good things in the 20s and also the NSW Under 18 hooker in Schnider coming through. If these guys dont get an opportunity to show their wares in better company then we may regret it. Look at how well the Storm back up hooker is going tonight. A little pain for potentially a lot of gain. I feel a little the same re Dargan. Unsigned and now behind Norman, Moses, Smith and any number of forwards who BA prefers to play half. He looked great today. A lovely kicking game and defence looks every bit the equal of Moses.
Also. IDG is now very prominent in the training gallerys. Possibly a return is getting closer?

 

[Bazal]

Lets not forget we have Mahoney and Tonise doing good things in the 20s and also the NSW Under 18 hooker in Schnider coming through. If these guys dont get an opportunity to show their wares in better company then we may regret it. Look at how well the Storm back up hooker is going tonight. A little pain for potentially a lot of gain. I feel a little the same re Dargan. Unsigned and now behind Norman, Moses, Smith and any number of forwards who BA prefers to play half. He looked great today. A lovely kicking game and defence looks every bit the equal of Moses.
Also. IDG is now very prominent in the training gallerys. Possibly a return is getting closer?

Mahoney, Tonise, Schnieder....all may be something in 5 years or so.

Would you really turn down the NSW hooker based on a few kids who might be something someday? Given the number of kids who actually make the NRL is so low, and given good players get poached so often, it's a pretty low odds gamble.

 

[Gazzamatta]

My preference would to not re sign Peats. I dont believe hes good value for the money hes asking.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

But if the decision is made by BA not to sign him, and the hang up is only over 50-100k for the NSW hooker

Well how would you know how low our offer was? And why should $50k-$100k matter? If he costs more than our upper limit then he wants overs. We might already be offering $100k more than we think is reasonable, given his history of injury. Why should we throw another $100k on top just to sign an 80 minute tackling machine when we already have 40+ minutes covered at dummy half?

 

[Happy MEel]

Id like to see Kaysa behind a dominant pack. I recko he would go like Granville when cowbpys had Scott,Tamou, Toumalolo killing it.

The problem is we don't and won't have a dominant pack of the same quality so we need to find quality elsewhere....like hooker.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The problem is we don't and won't have a dominant pack of the same quality so we need to find quality elsewhere....like hooker.

Or y'know, hooker plus those spots in the pack we want to improve. Either way we won't be making too many improvements if we're giving overs to a bloke who's injured a quarter of the time.

 

[Happy MEel]

Or y'know, hooker plus those spots in the pack we want to improve. Either way we won't be making too many improvements if we're giving overs to a bloke who's injured a quarter of the time.

So whom do you suggest we replace in our squad with those off contract, that would make us as formidable as LoLo, Scott and Tamou in 15/16?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Who cares about those merkins? We don't attack through the middle. If we did Kritchard would impress you merkins a lot more.

 

[Happy MEel]

Who cares about those merkins? We don't attack through the middle. If we did Kritchard would impress you merkins a lot more.

Is that out of choice or necessity?
Regardless, I was responding to Hindy who suggested Kaysa would be as effective as Granville if we had the same quality in the middle. I disagree but i also thought I'd offer up the practicalities of our current situation.

Interestingly, you argued that

Or y'know, hooker plus those spots in the pack we want to improve.

which seems to contradict this statement after I asked you to suggest these spots in the pack...

Who cares about those merkins? We don't attack through the middle. If we did Kritchard would impress you merkins a lot more.

That wreaks of a backtrack.

 

[Noise]

Who cares about those merkins? We don't attack through the middle. If we did Kritchard would impress you merkins a lot more.

Are our merkins on the edge making more carries/meters than our merkins in the middle this year?

 

[El Diablo]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...s-time--but-not-too-much-20170616-gwt1a0.html

Peter Sterling prepared to give Eels' Mitchell Moses time – but not too much

• 
  Adrian Proszenko
• 
  Adam Pengilly

Peter Sterling believes it will take time for Mitchell Moses to produce his best football in the blue and gold, but wants to "see something" from Parramatta's star recruit as the club attempts to remain in playoff contention.

Sunday will mark Moses' fifth game since switching from Wests Tigers in what has been an underwhelming start to his Eels career. The enigmatic playmaker has shown flashes off brilliance with the Steeden in hand, but his inconsistency and defensive lapses are becoming concerning. The 22-year-old missed six tackles, some of which led directly to tries, in his first game alongside Corey Norman in last weekend's loss to the Cowboys.

While their combination is expected to get better the longer they play together, Parramatta are running out of time after falling out of the top eight. Sterling, the club's greatest halfback, has called for patience as long-suffering fans wait for a return on investment on their mid-season signing.

"I think he has been up and down, but I think that is understandable," Sterling said.

"I think it would be enormously difficult to change clubs as a playmaker at any point in the season. I don't think Parramatta have been particularly good this year. They based a campaign last year around being really gritty in defence and that takes a bit of pressure off your attacking game. I don't think we have been anywhere near as good as we were last year.

"So all of a sudden there is a bit more pressure on the other side of the game and I don't think that has helped his transition. Everybody knows he has ability and he has a few first grade games under his belt now so we want to see something. I am prepared to give him time."

The versatile Clint Gutherson has done a good job while filling in in the halves, raising questions about his best position. Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has named him in the centres against the Dragons, although it is unclear where his long-term future lies.

"I just raise the point that with Clint Gutherson, I don't think he is a centre," Sterling said.

"Brad knows more about it than I do. They have invested in Bevan French as a fullback and I think that is wise.

"Again, I am glad I am not coaching and I hope Mitchell Moses will justify the change. The ability is there, it's just when you're a halfback or five-eighth in first grade you have to be seven [out of 10] at worst every week and we would like you to be closer to nine most weeks. That means you have to be really consistent and the decision-making has to be good."

Moses' teammates spoke out in support of the maligned playmaker before the ANZ Stadium encounter.

"It doesn't just come down to Mitch," said fullback Bevan French.

"It's everyone else in the team. If everyone else in the team is not playing good then you can't expect him to pull a rabbit out of the hat and make things happen. If the whole team is going well, you'll see Mitch going well."

Eels utility Brad Takairangi added: "He did make the change to learn our attack really quickly and he's taken a bit just to get used to our defensive structures.

"Having watched him over the last couple of days at training, he's been awesome and hopefully he gets better each and every week."

The Eels comprehensively defeated the Dragons in round two in a match dominated by four-try hero Semi Radradra. However, they have subsequently struggled for cohesion due to injuries to key players, including Norman, Michael Jennings and French. Jennings has been named on an extended bench in the hope of making his return, while French missed five matches due to a knee injury.

"It has been a bit hard," French said.

"I knew coming back it would take a bit of time for my knee getting used to playing without the ligament there. On the weekend I got a bit of confidence. I thought it was my best game since I've been back."

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

"I knew coming back it would take a bit of time for my knee getting used to playing without the ligament there. On the weekend I got a bit of confidence. I thought it was my best game since I've been back."

Wait, what?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Is that out of choice or necessity?
Regardless, I was responding to Hindy who suggested Kaysa would be as effective as Granville if we had the same quality in the middle. I disagree but i also thought I'd offer up the practicalities of our current situation.

Interestingly, you argued that
which seems to contradict this statement after I asked you to suggest these spots in the pack...


That wreaks of a backtrack.

My point is that we haven't been built as a team which focuses its attack through the middle, so it doesn't matter how Kritchard would go behind a dominant pack, though I think with his running game he would carve up.

But I do think we can improve our middle defence by adding some height. We give up the offload very easily.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Are our merkins on the edge making more carries/meters than our merkins in the middle this year?

They sure are.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

"I knew coming back it would take a bit of time for my knee getting used to playing without the ligament there. On the weekend I got a bit of confidence. I thought it was my best game since I've been back."

Wait, what?

I thought it was his best game in ages too. He broke heaps of tackles and made some half breaks. If he'd had some support he would've put some merkins through gaps.

A few people gave him three points in the 3-2-1 thread: http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/round-14-vs-north-queensland-cowboys-3-2-1.464374/

Or are you concerned about the 'no ligament' comment?

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

I thought it was his best game in ages too. He broke heaps of tackles and made some half breaks. If he'd had some support he would've put some merkins through gaps.

A few people gave him three points in the 3-2-1 thread: http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/round-14-vs-north-queensland-cowboys-3-2-1.464374/

Or are you concerned about the 'no ligament' comment?

Yeah the ligament thing. Maybe he just means it isn't fully healed? I dunno.

 

[emjaycee]

Lets not forget we have Mahoney and Tonise doing good things in the 20s and also the NSW Under 18 hooker in Schnider coming through. If these guys dont get an opportunity to show their wares in better company then we may regret it. Look at how well the Storm back up hooker is going tonight. A little pain for potentially a lot of gain. I feel a little the same re Dargan. Unsigned and now behind Norman, Moses, Smith and any number of forwards who BA prefers to play half. He looked great today. A lovely kicking game and defence looks every bit the equal of Moses.
Also. IDG is now very prominent in the training gallerys. Possibly a return is getting closer?

Maybe or maybe not.

 

[Wicked Witch Of The West]

French needs to be more road house steak chip than French fry.