Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

BA is looking for a prop if all the media articles are correct.

We also have a few players off contract.

If we keep a similar 17, less Scott. Add a quality winger and prop and potentially 1 or 2 juniors, the side looks ok.

We have the following middle forwards off contract:

Gower
Matagi
Scott
Stone (maybe)
Terepo
Vave

Would they free up much cash (allowing for replacements into the squad)? Only Scott and Vave would be on overs.

Cheap replacements already within the club could be:

Stone (22 next year)
Dressler (21)
Tupou (21)
Kaufusi (20)

 

[Bazal]

We have the following middle forwards off contract:

Gower
Matagi
Scott
Stone (maybe)
Terepo
Vave

Would they free up much cash (allowing for replacements into the squad)? Only Scott and Vave would be on overs.

Cheap replacements already within the club could be:

Stone (22 next year)
Dressler (21)
Tupou (21)
Kaufusi (20)

Why only the middle forwards? Who says we don't restructure and have a couple of edge forwards/backs on the deals that these guys are on and shift more money into a big name middle forward?

 

[Stevie]

I don't disagree with your sentiments. But if we really wanted to give Stone a game by Round 6 then we should have given him a Top 30 spot in the off season. Do we really want to waste our final spot on him with 2 1/2 months before we have to give the spot to someone?

It's possible that Stone is player 29 in the squad...but I think that might be doubtful.

Yep I cant comment on whether he is.

And Bazal I am not doubting that NRL has much higher intensity mate.

I guess the point I am trying to make (albeit in a sensational form, but hey, I am passionate) is that unless our guys are genuinely shattered at losing and bursting at the seems to get back to winning ways and behaving as such (getting on side during games, good line speed, chasing kicks/breaks, working at training to be better etc) then lets give some a go that is desperate (and that might not in fact be Stone) for that a chance.

 

[gaffer]

Is anyone else concerned with who we names as captains? I think BOTH Scott and Mannah need to be dropped.

 

[lingard]

BA is looking for a prop if all the media articles are correct.

Excellent! I'll support him on that. Glad to hear.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We should have atleast 3 guys in our pack who are atleast mentioned and in the mix for origin or NZ reps.
We have let me count....... 0

Brown, Moeroa and Takairangi make three.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Except Mau, Taka, Brown plus Mannah, T-Rex & Scott having done so previously

Tepai Moeroa was named in this year's Emerging Blues squad as well.

 

[lingard]

BA is looking for a prop if all the media articles are correct.

We also have a few players off contract.

If we keep a similar 17, less Scott. Add a quality winger and prop and potentially 1 or 2 juniors, the side looks ok.

I still think we need two quality forwards and a hooker. But that's a start.

 

[Stevie]

BA is looking for a prop if all the media articles are correct.

We also have a few players off contract.

If we keep a similar 17, less Scott. Add a quality winger and prop and potentially 1 or 2 juniors, the side looks ok.

I am SICK of waiting for f**king "next year"!!!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Honest opinion on Brown. Tough guy who had a great 2017. Bring lots of energy but will never be good enough for origin. Unless a lot of injuries there are to many superior options.

Most Origin players are overrated and only get picked because their club side wins. If Parra didn't go down the shitter Mannah would have stayed in Origin after 2011. That's how it works. There aren't enough genuine Origin players to fill two teams so they have to pick solid first graders to round out the team. Nathan Brown wouldn't be out of place at all in Origin, and if we can get some consistency as a club he will eventually get picked and stay there.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Vae was pretty damn good at the go forward we lack when at The Silvertails. Not sure whats happened there but he appeared to be exactly what we lack. Matagi has had some really good games. Whats happened to his fearless runs into the defence? Another one thats puzzling. At times he looked an outstanding purchase.
Until this season and apart from injury, Scott was often our saviour and was exactly what we needed. Again he looks very much out of form.
Williams? I dont rate at all. I can see this ending in heartache. Fritchard? He was the cut and paste T Rex.
Four forwards who no doubt will move on at years end. Possibly Mannah as well and of cause we hopefully dont gift Hayne another 500k. Lots of money available with a few gooduns ready next year.
Fingers crossed. Roll on 2019. Lol.

 

[Chipmunk]

To get $920,000 in the hand here in Aus, you need to gross somewhere near $1.7M p.a.
That is $1,700,000 or about $63,000 per game or just over 18% of the salary cap.

An offer of $750k would see him get about $430k p.a in the hand... so less than half of what he is getting in France.

The Tax on professional footballers in Australia is different.

So, lets say that Semi earn't $750k from 2018 onwards for 4 years, $350 last year and $200k the two years before that and $100k the year before that, then the ATO would consider that his Taxable Income would be as follows.

• 2015 = $33.3k

• 2016 = $75k

• 2017 = $125k

• 2018 = $212.5k

• 2019 = $375k

• 2020 = $512.5k

• 2021 = $650k

Meaning that he would've paid the approx amount of tax

• 2015 = $3k (Gross of $200k, Net of $197k)

• 2016 = $16k (Gross of $200k,Net of $184k)

• 2017 = $35k (Gross of $350k,Net of $315k)

• 2018 = $68k (Gross of $750k,Net of $682k)

• 2019 = $86k (Gross of $750k,Net of $664k)

• 2020 = $210k (Gross of $750k,Net of $540k)

• 2021 = $275k (Gross of $750k,Net of $475k)

Now with contracts you would probably expect to be continuing to earn more as your contract years goes on, so the Net for 2020 and 2021 is probably quite a bit lower than he would've expected.

I believe that there is still a tax obligation for athletes once they retire also though, for a further 3 years.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Why only the middle forwards? Who says we don't restructure and have a couple of edge forwards/backs on the deals that these guys are on and shift more money into a big name middle forward?

I was thinking that but couldn't be arsed including it. That said, Arthur does seem to like spending his money on the 80 minute edge players. For next year we only have these merkins on contract so far:

1. French
2.
3. Jennings
4. Gutherson
5. Hoffman
6. Norman
7. Moses
11. Ma'u
12. Takairangi
13. Moeroa

15. Edwards

These edge players (if not retained) would free up some cash too (allowing for a replacement into the squad):

Auva'a
Hayne
Williams

These blokes would free up nothing because their salaries would have to go to replacements:

Aukafolau
Davis
Jennings
Leleisiuao
Niukore

 

[Gazzamatta]

Most Origin players are overrated and only get picked because their club side wins. If Parra didn't go down the shitter Mannah would have stayed in Origin after 2011. That's how it works. There aren't enough genuine Origin players to fill two teams so they have to pick solid first graders to round out the team. Nathan Brown wouldn't be out of place at all in Origin, and if we can get some consistency as a club he will eventually get picked and stay there.

What annoys me with NSW origin is players selected on last years form. Sort of like expecting Parra to win this year because they were great last year. It dosent often work out that way.
Also.
Why do they pick players out of position. Fittler is already talking about Turbo Tom in the centres or wing. Its rubbish. We have some great wingers and centres to choose from. Choose between Turbo or Teddy. Put one on the bench if you want. I reckon its utter BS.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Vae was pretty damn good at the go forward we lack when at The Silvertails. Not sure whats happened there but he appeared to be exactly what we lack.

Vae was a good attacking forward last year. Just a massive liability in defence.

Matagi has had some really good games. Whats happened to his fearless runs into the defence? Another one thats puzzling. At times he looked an outstanding purchase.
Until this season and apart from injury, Scott was often our saviour and was exactly what we needed. Again he looks very much out of form.
Williams? I dont rate at all. I can see this ending in heartache. Fritchard? He was the cut and paste T Rex.
Four forwards who no doubt will move on at years end. Possibly Mannah as well and of cause we hopefully dont gift Hayne another 500k. Lots of money available with a few gooduns ready next year.
Fingers crossed. Roll on 2019. Lol.

I'm always looking forward to next year, for two reasons. Firstly, I'm a strategic thinker. And secondly, I follow Parra.

 

[hindy111]

Campbell-Gillard yes, I doubt Merrin or Tamou get picked again but yes.
Fisher-Harris played 1 game donkey years ago. He may get more if Manu and the rest of the Kiwis stays with Tonga, Samoa, etc.
Peachey is, has and always will be zero chance.
And Kikau is f**king Fijian!
So maybe I'll grant you 4

Jfh will play over 15 tests for NZ. He be picked in the squad now 100%.
Merrin is playing well again and if 2 or 3 injuries a chance. Deff being watched.
Tamou is probaly little chance now

 

[84 Baby]

Jfh will play over 15 tests for NZ. He be picked in the squad now 100%.
Merrin is playing well again and if 2 or 3 injuries a chance. Deff being watched.
Tamou is probaly little chance now

Brown is being hurt by Eels going shit but I reckon he'd have to be one of those injuries for Merrin to get call up.
Fisher-Harris gets nowhere near a non-islander depleted NZ side. I will grant you at this stage neither do Mau or Taka

 

[hindy111]

We have him. Daniel Alvaro. Graham is just an accumulator, Vaughan is the metre eater

By the numbers, if Alvaro played the same minutes as Nathan Brown he'd have very similar stats. Did you know that? He does the Graham job, but he plays fewer minutes so doesn't accumulate stats.

Ideally, he'd play 50 mins or more, with lazy defenders like Vave and T-Rex and Evans (but ideally someone better) able to play short attacking stints and have Alvaro cover their poor defence. That would give us a very good pack, rather than a good solid one. Alvaro makes 110m off 12 or 13 tough carries, Brown does what he does already and Player X makes 130m off 11 or 12 carries. That's balance.

Lol...Ok Alvaro is better then James Graheme. Hate to see you build a squad.
Granted he is well past his best yet still superior then i think i can i know I can toot toot

 

[Bazal]

Lol...Ok Alvaro is better then James Graheme. Hate to see you build a squad.
Granted he is well past his best yet still superior then i think i can i know I can toot toot

Haha. Stop making shit up. You can't even spell the f**king blokes name, you rate him that highly!

Where did I say he's better you chromosome deficient spider monkey?

 

[hindy111]

Brown is being hurt by Eels going shit but I reckon he'd have to be one of those injuries for Merrin to get call up.
Fisher-Harris gets nowhere near a non-islander depleted NZ side. I will grant you at this stage neither do Mau or Taka

JFH is top 10 forward in comp based on form. Better then any of their pther forwards. And why Merrin was moved from lock and Tamou dropped.