Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

Also, isnt it great to see that Manly are still able to sign players after being caught cheating and having their cap reduced.
Most teams that get caught cheating actually have to lose players.

I think replacing Lussick with Keppie is a sign that the salary cap is biting Manly.

 

[Eelogical]

"Parramatta have gone cold on the idea of signing talented English prop Ryan Sutton.

Desperate for one more front-rower in their rotation, the Eels were considering Sutton, who wants to play in Australia and was given the green light to make a move by his club Wigan.


But after doing their homework on Sutton, the Eels now believe he isn’t up to the toughness of the engine room of the NRL on a weekly basis.

Their hunt for a quality front-rower continues, however."

http://www.nospam47.com/au/league/l...lla-sharks/12853yticxk6018b0khjufsd6u/slide/4

Well, there's a relief. No point buying sausages when you need a rack of ribs.

 

[T.S Quint]

I think replacing Lussick with Keppie is a sign that the salary cap is biting Manly.

When Lussick leaves, then I will believe that.
Until then, I'm keeping the tinfoil hat on.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Sure, if he's cheaper than what he is with Canberra and loses about 15kg...

I don't think he'd be in a hurry for an early release if his offers for 2019 are less than he is on now.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Is he any good??

Absolute gun. That's why he's 20 years old and never even played reserve grade.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Kep is good, and the club wanted to keep him. He just was offered more money at Manly as well as a top 30 spot. He's stepped up his game this year playing very long minutes and I believe on the weekend he played the full 80 minutes whilst keeping his workrate high. It'll be a shame to lose him but he has a bit to work on before he's going to play first grade, he might play next year but it may be a bit premature. He should be ready for full time first grade in 2020 but by then he'll already be off-contract and could potentially sign elsewhere.

This idea that BA doesn't debut or play younger players is completely ignorant. Since he's been in charge full-time this is a list of players he's played under the age of 25: Corey Norman, Nathan Peats, Will Hopoate, Pauli Pauli, Tepai Moeroa, Bureta Faraimo, John Folau, Daniel Alvaro, Clint Gutherson, Bevan French, Nathan Brown, Kirisome Auva'a, Cameron King, Will Smith, Mitchell Moses, Nathan Davis. 15 players in 4 seasons and 3 games. It would've been hard for any coach to debut young players that we've brought through the system as our 20's the three years before had finished in the bottom 4, our reserve grade team wasn't any better also finishing in the bottom 4 the three years before BA became head coach.

Realistically how many more players should BA have debuted or played that were under the age of 25?

And the kids who were in Harold Matts when Arthur's arrived are only turning 20 this year.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Of those blokes, Norman, Peats, Hoppa, Gutherson, Brown, Auva'a, King and Moses had played first grade elsewhere when we signed them. Who claimed that he doesn't play young players?

The Keppie call is a really odd one, given the conceded lack of depth in our squad in that style of player.

You mean the style that is a hard worker but lacking in attacking power?

 

[84 Baby]

Didn't find the list, I compiled it myself looking at the official player number list and then going through rugby league project to confirm their ages. I was replying to the statement that BA doesn't play young players, not where they have gone since. Not sure how you could count Moses as he left in 2012 (before BA was full-time head coach), and then we signed him in 2017 and he hasn't left the club since.

Yeah I might do list later and said Moses kinda because he demonstrates BAs willing to not only play youngsters but also bring back ones previously lost. My interest in that list is to see whether these doomsayers have tangible evidence of BAs apparent disregard of giving youngsters a go and whether these forsaken young uns are indeed better than our dross

 

[emjaycee]

Manu debuted in 2014

Yeah, I typed that wrong - still under BA though which was my point

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

You mean the style that is a hard worker but lacking in attacking power?

Nah I mean a tall middle forward with a build that looks like he'll fill out nicely, and be able to bend the line when he does. The reason why we've resorted to Evans (who may well turn out ok) is that we've not developed and kept that style of player. Just about balance in the squad.

 

[hindy111]

Roosters
2008: 4th
2009: 16th
2010: 6th
2011: 11th
2012: 13th
2013: 1st
2014: 1st
2015: 1st
2016: 15th
2017: 2nd

Even these merkins finished bottom four in three out of the past ten years.


Arthur's said in pre-season that we were at a stage where we wanted to retain players rather than bring a lot of new ones in. I wonder if he's panicked and rethought his plans, or whether he'll stick to his guns.

And either 1st or 2nd in 4 of last 5 years....

 

[hindy111]

Can't keep 'em all.

Afaulor and Niukore will be gone next imo....

 

[Bazal]

Afaulor....

Shit, not him! Anyone but him!

Who is he?

 

[hindy111]

The centre from under 20s.....

 

[Bazal]

The centre from under 20s.....

Afaulor....Afaulor

Sorry, not ringing any bells...

 

[hindy111]

Samoan kid

 

[Bazal]

Well that just confuses me even more FFS!

I mean with a name like Afaulor I was expecting him to be from Fantasia

 

[emjaycee]

Samoan kid

Do you mean the NZ kid, Dane Aukafolau?

If so, you only got 77% of his name right.
Your percentage is dropping rapidly.

 

[JohnStoppafarty]

I know I'm learning a lot about the machinations of our club and RL in general when I find myself wanting to like posts that have opposing opinions. Carry on lads.

 

[hindy111]

Do you mean the NZ kid, Dane Aukafolau?

If so, you only got 77% of his name right.
Your percentage is dropping rapidly.

Not Dane, btw his younger brother is going to be better. The centre Tui Afalou.