Rumours and Stuff

[Eelementary]

We don’t know that. And we were after Evans fairly early last season. Anyway there is no reason to pay ‘a bit extra - 400k’ for a reserve grader

That's the whole point - we don't know anything.

It's nice to say that we should have signed this guy or that, but nobody knows what went down behind closed doors.

 

[Eelementary]

Diffference of opinions. Look at the list of his forward recruits.

Our recruits don't prove anything, bar that he signed some forwards.

 

[Noise]

That's the whole point - we don't know anything.

It's nice to say that we should have signed this guy or that, but nobody knows what went down behind closed doors.

But what we do know is u should never pay big overs for reserve graders

 

[strider]

But what we do know is u should never pay big overs for reserve graders

You know he paid big overs?

 

[Eelementary]

But what we do know is u should never pay big overs for reserve graders

That's true.

I'm a big Kane Evans fan, and I honestly thought he would add another dimension to our pack.

So far, I've been proven wrong.

 

[emjaycee]

Middle forwards we have been linked to signing in the last year or 2

Vaughn
Maclean
Napa
Paulo
Asofa-Solomona

I tend to believe where there is smoke there is some fire with the media .... so i reckon we've tried .... but i think BA draws a line in the sand with salary .... though if we have really signed Jnr for decent $$$s then maybe BA is relinquishing

Or maybe those numbers getting tossed around for Jnr are not true.

#inbaistilltrust

 

[Glenneel]

Apparently the Dogs have huge cap problems. Time BA visited Dogs HQ and offer to take some forwards off them to help them thru this crisis, you know be the good neighbour. What about a swap of players. I'd take Klemmer and Raymond Farata-Marina? and give them Evans and Vave or Matagi.

 

[TheRam]

I'll ask the question again, because the last time I asked it, it got ignored (and I suspect it's because either it doesn't fit in with this narrative of "we didn't sign enough players", or people simply don't have the answer):

Where is the proof that we didn't make an effort to bolster our side by signing some more props, or another hooked?

Where is the proof that players didn't simply knock us back?

It's so easy to cry and say, "BA has no idea - he was too easygoing in the recruitment department," but nobody knows what went down.

Well if he can't recruit the best available, then he is a shit coach. Everybody knows the best coaches are the best recruiters. I like to think he misjudged the strength of our forwards and that can happen here and there. I give him the benefit of the doubt in that regard, even though I have given him stick on it, cause it was bleeding obvious from where I am sitting. That is why I have repeatedly said I would give him till at least the end of this season, but probably till next season to see if he can turn things round. But if we go on another tear of multiple losses in a row then who know, his position here may become untenable.

But if he hasn't got the ability to sway players over to us and value the best players accordingly and offer what they are worth, then he is not worth persisting with.

 

[hindy111]

They would all have cost more than any of those guys .... also remember most of them left a couple of years ago when our squad looked considerably better than what we are seeing this year .... dont be a hindsight hero ffs

To be fair we lost Jnr in 2016. BA prob attempted a big man for 17 and 18 wasnt as worried cause of 17 results.
Most guys like Sterlo all said Eels small forwards are a concern. BA stated he WAS NOT CONCERNED AND HAPPY WITH WHAT HAD.

 

[strider]

Apparently the Dogs have huge cap problems. Time BA visited Dogs HQ and offer to take some forwards off them to help them thru this crisis, you know be the good neighbour. What about a swap of players. I'd take Klemmer and Raymond Farata-Marina? and give them Evans and Vave or Matagi.

Im sure the dogs will be falling over themselves to give away their best players

They will retain their better players ... not renew anyone off contract ... and just go with cheap/young/crap depth players for a few years

 

[strider]

To be fair we lost Jnr in 2016. BA prob attempted a big man for 17 and 18 wasnt as worried cause of 17 results.
Most guys like Sterlo all said Eels small forwards are a concern. BA stated he WAS NOT CONCERNED AND HAPPY WITH WHAT HAD.

Im sure the coach should be publicly saying, "f**k, i couldnt sign anyone big. Our small forwards are gonna get pumped this year. They're shit"

 

[TheRam]

Apparently the Dogs have huge cap problems. Time BA visited Dogs HQ and offer to take some forwards off them to help them thru this crisis, you know be the good neighbour. What about a swap of players. I'd take Klemmer and Raymond Farata-Marina? and give them Evans and Vave or Matagi.

BA isn't smart enough for that. Especially in the case of Raymond Farata-Marina who would be prime for coercing out of the kennel with a much larger offer then the Dogs could possibly give him.

I would probably put Api from Manly in the same category.

 

[hindy111]

They would all have cost more than any of those guys .... also remember most of them left a couple of years ago when our squad looked considerably better than what we are seeing this year .... dont be a hindsight hero ffs

Then Frank, Matagi,Vave,Watmough,Evans,Wicks ?
Highly doubt it. And of the others only slightly. Matterson id say we paid part of his contract.

 

[TheRam]

Im sure the dogs will be falling over themselves to give away their best players

They will retain their better players ... not renew anyone off contract ... and just go with cheap/young/crap depth players for a few years

Who said you give them the choice?

 

[hindy111]

Im sure the coach should be publicly saying, "f**k, i couldnt sign anyone big. Our small forwards are gonna get pumped this year. They're shit"

Exactly, he would of kept it to him self and gone I will put a couple of big powerfull bruts on the wing like Bevan and Hoffman to help ruck it out right?

He had no idea and was clueless.That is the reason he wasn't concerned abput BIG POWERFUL WINGERS. He assumed the forwards would do a good enough job

 

[hindy111]

Well good enough to get away with smaller wingers.

 

[hindy111]

Look we can win comp with our squad. It is smaller and mobile . Ive seen teams do it with simmilar squads with speed and skill. Instead of getting into a dpg fight and grind they play fast expansive attacking footy.

My mind is boggled why BA has built a fast skillfull mobile team but wants to go to war in the desert rather then on a race track. I dont get it. Let Moses norman Jennings Bevan gutherson play some freakn footy. Let the forwards offload. Spread the ball

We dont have the team to grind

 

[TheRam]

I know that this will go down like a big fat led balloon for many of you guys, but I wouldn't mind us making a strong play for Matt Lodge. I have been watching him closely since his came back and he has slowly grown into the roll of 1st grade rugby league. He was slightly off the pace, as was to be expected, when the season began.

But now he is getting better and better with each carry. Did anyone notice his first stint in the game against the Dogs. He killed them with is carries and late offloads at the line.

Yes I know he isn't a popular player with you guys. But it seems as though he has done the hard yards as far as rehabilitation goes and he has stayed out of trouble ever since. As for what he did, yes, pathetic and stupid, but can you imagine if we had footage of every player that has does violent acts in the passed. If we left it to some of you judges, none of them would of ever been allowed back in the game. EVER!

Imagine footage of Manu M'au and what he did. Some of you guys would have strung him up, not praise him in blue and gold over the years.

Now if we could offer Lodge around 500k, I think that that will be a steal of a deal in a couple of seasons from now. We need to get someone that he respects into his ear about the money he owes his victims and how the bigger pay packet will help him and them to settle the matter for good and in a much quicker fashion.

Whereas the old coot Bennett is doing what the old coot has been doing to front rowers in particular(Petro anyone) for years and playing him like a violin.

 

[TheRam]

That's the whole point - we don't know anything.

It's nice to say that we should have signed this guy or that, but nobody knows what went down behind closed doors.

I do. It's called failure.

 

[TheRam]

Honestly, Paulo is the only one i would want to have retained

I would of never let Matterson, Twal or Junior go.