Rumours and Stuff

[Incorrect]

Thats right. Was it BA that wouldnt play him so he couldnt trigger some clause in his contract? Maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

That sounds more like Brian Smith not playing Kirk Reynoldson at the Knights to trigger his contract extension, Smithy was even promoting rookies ahead of Reynoldson when injuries hit to make sure the deal couldn't be triggered! What a merkin!! Lol

I believe the beef Fui had with BA was that BA wouldn't pick him in one of Parras games towards the end of the season when Fui was heading OS to say goodbye to the Eels fans... What a merkin!! Lol

 

[Bazal]

Great post. I ageee with everything here and would add Corey Oates.

Only reason I didn't add Oates is because he's openly stated he wants to play back row. If he was happy to play wing he'd be there too

 

[Gazzamatta]

I guess one positive is that we have numerous average players off contract at seasons end.
Cleary managed to reinvent his roster in one season.
Fingers crossed we are smart with such solid funds

 

[Gazzamatta]

That sounds more like Brian Smith not playing Kirk Reynoldson at the Knights to trigger his contract extension, Smithy was even promoting rookies ahead of Reynoldson when injuries hit to make sure the deal couldn't be triggered! What a merkin!! Lol

I believe the beef Fui had with BA was that BA wouldn't pick him in one of Parras games towards the end of the season when Fui was heading OS to say goodbye to the Eels fans... What a merkin!! Lol

Yep. Thats it. Old brain. Ta.

 

[Avenger]

Only reason I didn't add Oates is because he's openly stated he wants to play back row. If he was happy to play wing he'd be there too

Quality player. I’d play him there.

 

[Matty Bhoy]

It's a lot for potential. But if we got him at 500-550k I wouldn't complain either.

Realistically I'd be targeting the following, assuming Paulo is onboard

Hooker (most important)
-Api Koroisau
-James Segeyaro
-Josh Chudleigh (back up with upside)

Prop (next most important if Paulo is signed)
-Klemmer*
-Taupau*
-Leeson Ah Mau
-TPJ

*under contract, only rumoured to be available

Back-up Forward
-Sauaso Sue (at the right price only)
-Tui Kamicamica
-Francis Molo
-Patrick Mago
-Patrick Sipley

Wing/Centre (based on the fact Corey Oates will be expensive and doesn't want to play wing anyway)
-Jamayne Isaako
-Tom Opacic
-Antonio Winterstein
-Justin O'Neill
-Marcus Jensen
-Mikaele Ravalawa (not sure on contract status)

If we don't get a big prop, we can always make a play at one of many off contract end of next year. Rumours are we're talking to NAS already (although not sure how)

Pretty good assessment there mate. How much are we supposedly paying for Paulo? I’m happy to have him back but the risk is he turns up at 135kg. TPJ is a future star for mine. Would love to get Api or Seggy.

 

[JohnStoppafarty]

Quality player. I’d play him there.

I would too. If he would rather the 2nd row over the wing, he is obviously not short of ticker. That's what i put it down to as a great winger or a great 2nd rower would be on similar cash you'd think?

 

[Bazal]

Quality player. I’d play him there.

I don't disagree. I just think we have more crucial needs than the back row at the moment and if we are to sign backrower over the next year or so I'd be launching at an all out assault at grabbing Lachlan Fitzgibbon at the end of 2019.

We've got guys who can do the job in the back row for the minute.

 

[Bazal]

Pretty good assessment there mate. How much are we supposedly paying for Paulo? I’m happy to have him back but the risk is he turns up at 135kg. TPJ is a future star for mine. Would love to get Api or Seggy.

I think they were saying Paulo was around 2.4 to 2.7 mill over four years

Big money, but better than Boyd at 600k lol

 

[Incorrect]

I don't disagree. I just think we have more crucial needs than the back row at the moment and if we are to sign backrower over the next year or so I'd be launching at an all out assault at grabbing Lachlan Fitzgibbon at the end of 2019.

We've got guys who can do the job in the back row for the minute.

Plus Oates has hands like Terepo...

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Haha okay, I think I am allowed to be a little frustrated about the lack of recruitment in recent years.

We didn’t worry this year and thought with a lesser team then last year that we would finish 4th. It doesn’t work that we, teams evolve and improve and we didn’t and we have been found out big time.

And that has not happened, we are a rabble and a lot of it has to do with the fact we didn’t recruit well.

So no, I won’t mind my own business because BA has not been active enough for my liking and after 5 years we don’t have anything to show for it.

All I want is some ambition, and we need more then one attacking front rower, we need 2 and we need a gun back rower also.

We are about 4-5 players short.

On top of recruitment we need fresh ideals and attitude.

We replaced Radradra and Fritchard with Hayne, Williams and Evans. These three were signed because they were better than what we had. Unfortunately they are all injured.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Fui was pretty poor in his final year under BA, use to take ages to get up and play the ball!

 

[Pazza]

We replaced Radradra and Fritchard with Hayne, Williams and Evans. These three were signed because they were better than what we had. Unfortunately they are all injured.

Give me radradra over these three clowns

All day

 

[Bazal]

Give me radradra over these three clowns

All day

Utterly irrelevant. Radradra is gone.

 

[TheRam]

Or back to 28. It doesn't need to be 30 until the end of June.

Ok I didn't realise that Niukore was already part of the top squad. Yes 28 then.

 

[84 Baby]

Ok I didn't realise that Niukore was already part of the top squad. Yes 28 then.

You really need to get your head around the new rules. Niukore was in top squad before start of season. We’re up to whether Salmon or Stone are in top 30

 

[TheRam]

Klemmer, Taupau, Leeson Ah Mau, TPJ & Lodge.

If we could get TPJ for anything near $500k it would be a steal. Lodge on similar coin would also be awesome. Also Lodge is only just beginning to show his qualities. He will be even better, much better next year and he is not a one dimensional player. He has a great offload and passing game. Klemmer as great as he is, has no other skill in attack other then running forward brilliantly. I believe in 2 years from now Lodge will be a better all round player and much cheaper to get then Klemmer.

Api is the only real quality hooker available at present. He is SOO and Australian quality and I believe that he would of been the dummy half for NSW this year if it wasn't for all the crap that has gripped Manly this year.

I'm not sure if Jake Granville is available for next year, if he is, he is the only other ready made dummy half on the market then. But it would be very unlikely that we could persuade him to leave the northern State capital.

All other dummy halves mentioned are unknowns.

 

[Dibs]

Or back to 28. It doesn't need to be 30 until the end of June.

Yes but it does have to be 29 before the start of the season, so I wonder how long we have to get it back to 29 or if we even have to

 

[TheRam]

You really need to get your head around the new rules. Niukore was in top squad before start of season. We’re up to whether Salmon or Stone are in top 30

Thanks champ. You're a treasure.

 

[Pazza]

Utterly irrelevant. Radradra is gone.

To say Hayne (at this stage of his career), Williams and Evans were signed because they're better than the talent walking out the door is just outright false.