Rumours and Stuff

[Glenneel]

I don't think anyone (even BA) is thinking we couldn't do with some larger forwards and some impact players.

The problem is as a club you can only buy what is available and that doesn't always work in your favour.

If a Kikau type player (or even Kikau himself) was available and suited what BA wanted, does anyone think BA wouldn't have a go at getting them?

That is why he bought Evans and TRex FFS.

There was a plethora of good large middle forwards available, Packer, Woods, Kasiano, Graham, Matalino just to name a few. It appears as if BA just didn't want to spend the money and went for cheapies in Evans and She-Rex. Now they may work out but their form over the last few years has been average at best. We may have to promote from within from our U20s, bring into main squad Dressler and Kaufasi (I've not seen them play but heard good reports) and Faingaa. All are a good size and are skilful. Once they have a full pre-season under their belts they may be ready for fg.

 

[Glenneel]

No, we beat:

Manly
St George (twice)
Wests (twice)
Penrith
North Queensland
Souths (twice)
New Zealand
Canterbury (twice)
Melbourne
Brisbane (twice)
Gold Coast

All smaller packs than ours hey?

As always Pou you go off at a tangent. You specifically mentioned Raiders and I responded to that and that only!

 

[TheRam]

Problem with people on here is they cant handle criticism. If your happy with the odd play off spot every few years and not much else sure defend the club.
If you want to win the whole thing you must always look to improve and this is what Ram wants. He is the type pf guy who doesnt settle for mediocrity and knows what areas we need to improve to get the big prize.

Thanks Hindy. At least one guy on here gets it. So Mr 85% just shot up to Mr 100%.

 

[84 Baby]

Aww FFS I'd hoped they'd gone

 

[Glenneel]

I have boned the one on the left. True story.

You mean the one left of the girl on the right?

 

[hineyrulz]

I have boned the one on the left. True story.

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.


So the price was right???

 

[Bazal]

Dude....

Too soon?

 

[Stevie]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.


So the price was right???

Not for her.

 

[T.S Quint]

Shows commited. One thing Semi never seemed to be.

How committed do you think Kikau would be if he wasn't offered a $1 million per year contract with a French rugby team?

No much, I'd bet.

 

[84 Baby]

How committed do you think Kikau would be if he wasn't offered a $1 million per year contract with a French rugby team?

No much, I'd bet.

But then he'd be taking a pay cut?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

There was a plethora of good large middle forwards available, Packer, Woods, Kasiano, Graham, Matalino just to name a few. It appears as if BA just didn't want to spend the money and went for cheapies in Evans and She-Rex. Now they may work out but their form over the last few years has been average at best. We may have to promote from within from our U20s, bring into main squad Dressler and Kaufasi (I've not seen them play but heard good reports) and Faingaa. All are a good size and are skilful. Once they have a full pre-season under their belts they may be ready for fg.

Kaufusi isn't big. Great all rounder though, and started every game in last year's NYC team despite being eligible for SG Ball. This is him with Cronin, Brown and Schneider (all about 180cm):

 

[Poupou Escobar]

As always Pou you go off at a tangent. You specifically mentioned Raiders and I responded to that and that only!

You asked if we beat them and so I shared the list of teams we did beat. If we beat all them we can beat a side that didn't even make the finals.

 

[84 Baby]

It doesn't f**king matter how big he is! He's better than the slop we have running around now!

 

[84 Baby]

There was a plethora of good large middle forwards available, Packer, Woods, Kasiano, Graham, Matalino just to name a few. It appears as if BA just didn't want to spend the money and went for cheapies in Evans and She-Rex.

Out of Packer, Woods, Kasiano, Graham & Matulino, how many played finals football last season?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It doesn't f**king matter how big he is! He's better than the slop we have running around now!

It does show though, that Arthur likes to have a majority of 'smaller' middle forwards in the squad. I dare say the big, lumbering ones will remain the exception as long as he's the coach. Unless there is a significant rule change, like going back to unlimited interchange.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

There was a plethora of good large middle forwards available, Packer, Woods, Kasiano, Graham, Matalino just to name a few. It appears as if BA just didn't want to spend the money and went for cheapies in Evans and She-Rex.

First apparently we made an offer for Kasiano !!

Apart from Packer's weight, Packer (187cm / 119kg) , Graham (187/107) and Matalino (193/107 ) aren't really any bigger then our starting props Alvaro (190/108) and Mannah (184/110).

Considering that trio probably all signed on for at least $500k per year (probably closer to $600 for some), there is a good reason BA passed on them - it's not like they would add size to our pack!!

Additionally if you look at the trio's 2017 stats none were really that much better then what we have in Mannah / Alvaro. Yeah some areas they may be better, but overall they aren't worth paying 50% to 100% more then what we have.

Finally Woods would be ideal for us, big, makes metres , offfload, strong defensively (his 2017 stats are great), leader, but at $750k plus is he worth stuffing our cap for!!

Also I guarantee 100% if BA had signed Woods you would be the first on here death running it, belittling BA for making a stupid signing!!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Which ones of us do? (I'm hoping I'm one of them.)

Further to this, that mad punter Joel Caine tells us that while Moeroa was on the field last week, Penrith only scored a penalty goal:

https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2018/03/16/sterlos-parra-preview---sea-eagles-v-eels-round-two/

 

[Joshuatheeel]

It does show though, that Arthur likes to have a majority of 'smaller' middle forwards in the squad. I dare say the big, lumbering ones will remain the exception as long as he's the coach. Unless there is a significant rule change, like going back to unlimited interchange.

I suspect BA likes "bigger" players but they need to be good defensively first and not at a stupid price, so he isn't going to have a lot of options available.

He probably will continue looking for cheapies - Vave / T/Rex / Meehan etc etc as "cheapie" hoping to find one.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Further to this, that mad punter Joel Caine tells us that while Moeroa was on the field last week, Penrith only scored a penalty goal:

https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2018/03/16/sterlos-parra-preview---sea-eagles-v-eels-round-two/

Did he give away the penalty, the undisciplined merkin?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I suspect BA likes "bigger" players but they need to be good defensively first and not at a stupid price, so he isn't going to have a lot of options available.

Yeah, and how many of these bigger forwards are good defensively anyway? I can only think of Bromwich and Woods, and both are actually quite lean. JWH is good too when he's skinny. Klemmer and Fifita aren't too bad but not as good as most of our blokes. All five would be on massive coin.

And meanwhile the best team in rugby league dominates Origin with middle forwards no bigger than Parra's.

He probably will continue looking for cheapies - Vave / T/Rex / Meehan etc etc as "cheapie" hoping to find one.

We do have a lot of cap space tied up in our 80 minute players.