Rumours and Stuff

[rugby league fan]

Understand Keppie's manager asked for a full time NRL contract as an upgrade for 2018 , was told that he will get one when his current contract expires ( end of 2018). Immediately shopped to other clubs by his management , the 2 usual suspects said he would be on NRL contract with them now etc etc.

That's the way they get other clubs prospects to become unsettled, that is how we lost Josh Curran last year, somewhat amazing they all fit under the sombrero

The Roosters offered overs for Curran & from all reports he struggled last year, His weight in a major factor. But lets be honest Curran was never going to play 1st grade any time soon with Isacc Liu - Nat Butcher - Sio Siua T aukeiaho - Zane Tetevano All locks named in front of Curran & he is now to slow & big to play back row.
So Roosters pay overs

As for Keppie don't forget only 2 years ago he played Sg Ball and come off the bench for us with players like Jesse Cronin & Michael Topou starting in front of him.
Yes he had a great year this year in 20s but this all part of the game we love so much. Parramatta juniors are in high demand & every club will swoop knowing a player is available.

As mentioned bye someone previously "We cant keep em all" We have some amazing players coming through the club and all will not be retained, Personally I don't think Keppie is a loss with the caliber of middles coming through the club. Stone, Valu, Dresler, Topou, Cronin, Kaufusi, Sale, Buttfield, Utoikamanu, Harris, Faulkner, Diaz,

Just my opinion

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

1. Josh Dugan 412 (including 17 on the wang chow).
2. 48674 over the last 10 years (including 642 during the 2009 GF alone).

My perception is that the greater his status has become, the more forward passes let go. Can anyone remember the last time he was called for a forward pass? It's a thing because it's real (and also because he's quite good). Still gets away with murder.

 

[rugby league fan]

Are we heading down the same track as AFL.?
Does anyone think a trade period will be considered for young NRL talent.?
Will it work .?

 

[Chipmunk]

I guess the whole idea of it is to have the next best 96 youngsters evenly distributed around league so they have best individual opportunities. As you say some of our youngsters could easily fit into that top 96. After that I don’t understand it. No one outside top 30 can play NRL? So the incentive to keep these 6 development guys get less each year. I hope and assume smarter people have reviewed that more in depth

It appears they may create a pseudo effect of a draft setup with this 6 Development players plan.

 

[Chipmunk]

Are we just going to see a lot of exemptions to play the development players when injuries hit?

You may have to cut one of your Top 30 to get them in

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

You may have to cut one of your Top 30 to get them in

You don't think exemptions are more likely? Hard to reduce what you've agreed to pay some guy but easy to increase what you're paying another.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Big difference between NSW cup and NRL. Just ask Luke Kelly

Well if they're no good in NSW Cup then you don't even offer them a top 30 spot as a backup. Do you think any player ever played NRL without playing reserve grade first?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Dresler

Do you know what's going on with him? I believe he's 20 next year, same as Keppie.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Are we heading down the same track as AFL.?
Does anyone think a trade period will be considered for young NRL talent.?
Will it work .?

I'd be OK with a trade period and even a draft for young talent. I can't see how it could be worse than what we have.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Well if they're no good in NSW Cup then you don't even offer them a top 30 spot as a backup. Do you think any player ever played NRL without playing reserve grade first?

I was going to say 'Brad Fittler' but just did some research and found that he played one game in reserve grade before his first grade debut.

It was probably a rhetorical question though, wasn't it?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Was that a rhetorical question too?

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Did you stop stop drinking, Gary? Hard, isn't it. I think the difference is largely luck. In that we were unlucky Terry Hill was conceived.

 

[84 Baby]

It appears they may create a pseudo effect of a draft setup with this 6 Development players plan.

It appears more they’ve created a pseudo let’s just copy the afl model. There’ll be talk of trade period this time next year, after they introduce the rule of only passing via handball

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Well can you tell Matt Logue?

I can't believe we haven't signed Matt Logue.

 

[hineyrulz]

I can't believe we haven't signed Matt Logue.

We didn’t even talk to the merkin!!


FFS BA!!

 

[Gazzamatta]

What do you mean by She Rex? Are you saying he can't run the ball? In his last ten games he has made 86 carries for 27 tackle breaks. That's pretty good. His main issue has been fitness, which is directly caused by his recent injury proneness. It's hard to stay to when you're injured (and lazy) and even harder to get fit once the season has started (and you're lazy).

Stone is nothing special but is a better player than Sean Keppie. I'm glad we haven't thrown a top 30 spot at him just to keep him. We aren't that desperate club any more.

BA has his players play agressively. It will be interesting to see how TW handles this. Not his strength Id suggest.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Was that a rhetorical question too?

As was yours was it not?

 

[hindy111]

The problem I feel with a draft system is the connection supporters like to have with juniors.
Every supporter has a soft spot for home grown talent. I will always prefer to see Tepai, Bevan, Alvaro come good over say a Beau Scott or Nathan Brown. Take away the link between clubs and juniors and that family feel may dissapear. Is the game big enough for that ? I am unsure.
Say the nrl owned all juniors and clubs drafted them heaps of fans would also take less interest in juniors coming through.

I like the current set up. Even if we have them poached it is still fun to talk about and wonder who will or wont make it.

 

[Gary Gutful]

BA has his players play agressively. It will be interesting to see how TW handles this. Not his strength Id suggest.

Agree. Generally 'he just needs to fire up' is the sort of shit advice that people like The Ram offer.

In Tony's case though, I think it is spot on. I don't think he realises how truly dynamic he can be. I hope fitness isn't an issue and we see the best of him in 2018.

 

[Noise]

The problem I feel with a draft system is the connection supporters like to have with juniors.
Every supporter has a soft spot for home grown talent. I will always prefer to see Tepai, Bevan, Alvaro come good over say a Beau Scott or Nathan Brown. Take away the link between clubs and juniors and that family feel may dissapear. Is the game big enough for that ? I am unsure.
Say the nrl owned all juniors and clubs drafted them heaps of fans would also take less interest in juniors coming through.

I like the current set up. Even if we have them poached it is still fun to talk about and wonder who will or wont make it.

I'd hazard a guess that only hard core fans know much about juniors. Most fans don't give a shit and only want to win. If we won a premiership with no juniors I know i wouldn't lose any sleep over it.