Rumours and Stuff

[Stevie]

Mennings has next year as his option I guess he needs to inform club before June?

Even if we let him go who is his replacement? The king and get a new fullback?

Well after reading this forum of late getting a replacement player is as easy as identifying one and saying we need him. Job done.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Which means we don't necessarily re-sign Jennings even if he is playing well next year. At the moment he is one of our best players, and definitely our best centre. Next year he will still be our best centre, and also turns 31. Letting him go a year too early would mean watching him sign with Penrith (for example) and seeing him play well in 2020. Keeping him a year too long would mean re-signing him and have him spend most of 2020 out injured.

I guess we will see Poo. Really hope he finds form again soon.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Do you even watch Rugby League?
Michael Jennings aside from a dud game last week always works hard, hits harder and is dangerous with ball in hand. He is still a very good centre. Gower has been a breath of fresh air since bringing him back whilst costing stuff all money.

Yep. I watch heaps. Fingers crossed. And your thoughts on Hayne?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Well after reading this forum of late getting a replacement player is as easy as identifying one and saying we need him. Job done.

And preferably some merkin already under contract. That way you can force his current club to pay half his salary.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yep. I watch heaps. Fingers crossed. And your thoughts on Hayne?

My thoughts on Hayne are that he is injured, so his form is down. Especially since he stopped playing.

 

[hineyrulz]

Do you even watch Rugby League?
Michael Jennings aside from a dud game last week always works hard, hits harder and is dangerous with ball in hand. He is still a very good centre. Gower has been a breath of fresh air since bringing him back whilst costing stuff all money.

Jennings has been poor the last couple of weeks but is normally one of our best each week.

And agreed Gowies been great, deserves another year deal IMO.

 

[Gazzamatta]

My thoughts on Hayne are that he is injured, so his form is down. Especially since he stopped playing.

Better than me. I don't think about him much at all to be truthful.

 

[Glenneel]

Which club has announced signings?

North Sydney with Carney?

Dogs with that fringe winger or Cogger?

Or titans with Boyd?

Any others?

Knights with 2 signings already also. That Reimen (centre) from Sharks looks a good kid, strong and fast. Can't figure how the Sharks seem to just let everyone else pinch their juniors. Obviously don't pay enough.

 

[Twizzle]

Knights are a shitload under the cap, they can afford to do what ever they want

 

[Glenneel]

People we don't need whole sale changes to the backs. Signing Holmes, who is already on $850k at the Sharks, to play fullback when he has shown very little to justify $850k, would be very irresponsible and a massive gamble. If he isn't much better overall at fullback then his patchy form there so far, what do we do? Put him on the wing at that price, and have a disgruntled Aansta style of player?

As for the current backs, who are putting in average performances, that's what you get when your forwards can't break tackles and or offload the ball and therefore have the opportunity to attack unstructured defenses.

We need to fix our forwards first before we can make the right overall call on who if any of the backs are actually shit. We need at least 3 new forwards of size and quality, and a decent dummy half. If we get that I believe we are genuine contenders. My main concern, and issue is that I don't believe that BA knows his head from arse, harsh maybe but who gives a shit I'm pissed, and will tinker with the backs, and only sign one or 2 forwards, or just as bad, will try to get said forwards, but won't have the character or skill set to convince the quality ones to join the club.

There are 2 that I think he can get for less or around $500k and $700k that would change everything for this team, to join Junior, if true that he has already signed. They are Lodge and Tevita Pangai Junior. Now if I'm right, I would rather these two at say a combined $1.2m as apposed to $900k which is what it would cost to get Klemmer and then still be a quality forward short and still need to fork out upwards of $500k to get someone to come here. Remember, ready made quality players generally only move clubs for more coin.

So that saving would go to getting a quality hooker, if possible, someone like Api, who wouldn't be moving for less then around $600 or $700k. That is the reality. Klemmer would be a great buy, but all his abilities are already factored in and then some.

We should go for the standouts that are still to fulfil the limits of what they can be paid. Like the Knights did with Kalyn Ponga. So roughly that is where Lodge and TPJ is right now. The Broncos would struggle to keep all of their quality players who are off contract if we came in with substantial offers and both of these players are from NSW, not QLD so it wouldn't be that much of a mind f**k for them to move back down here.

I think it is doable if we have smart operators running the recruitment side of things. Lets see what we actually end up with.

Good summary Ram but the usual suspects will disagree for the sake of it. We think very much alike and I've already stated those 2 players are the ones we should go after. I'd throw the bank at TPJ as he is a monster already and will only get better and is the future. Klemmer would be an ok signing but has his limitations and doubt his mind would really be in it leaving the dogs. I'd like us to approach them for Fritata-Mariner? if we have money left over from 3 new middle forwards and a decent dummy half.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Knights with 2 signings already also. That Reimen (centre) from Sharks looks a good kid, strong and fast. Can't figure how the Sharks seem to just let everyone else pinch their juniors. Obviously don't pay enough.

Sharks got Ramien from manly

 

[Bazal]

Knights with 2 signings already also. That Reimen (centre) from Sharks looks a good kid, strong and fast. Can't figure how the Sharks seem to just let everyone else pinch their juniors. Obviously don't pay enough.

A list of things you can't figure out would circle the globe...

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Good summary Ram but the usual suspects will disagree for the sake of it. We think very much alike and I've already stated those 2 players are the ones we should go after. I'd throw the bank at TPJ as he is a monster already and will only get better and is the future. Klemmer would be an ok signing but has his limitations and doubt his mind would really be in it leaving the dogs. I'd like us to approach them for Fritata-Mariner? if we have money left over from 3 new middle forwards and a decent dummy half.

The money we have left will match the empty spots in next year's roster. Here's the 16 players officially contracted for next year:

1. Gutherson
2. French
3. Jennings
4.
5.
6. Norman
7. Moses
8. Alvaro
9.
10. Paulo
11. Ma'u
12. Moeroa
13. Brown
14.
15. Takairangi
16. Evans
17. Mannah

or

1. French
2.
3. Jennings
4. Gutherson
5.
6. Norman
7. Moses
8. Alvaro
9.
10. Paulo
11. Ma'u
12. Moeroa
13. Brown
14.
15. Takairangi
16. Evans
17. Mannah

or

1. Gutherson
2. French
3. Jennings
4. Takairangi
5.
6. Norman
7. Moses
8. Alvaro
9.
10. Paulo
11. Ma'u
12. Moeroa
13. Brown
14.
15.
16. Evans
17. Mannah

These blokes are also contracted but outside the top 17:

18. Smith
19. Hoffman
20. Salmon

This means we should have enough money left for a hooker, a winger, and someone to fill that 14 jersey (if not Will Smith) plus one of wing/centre/edge forward, depending on where Gutherson, French and Takairangi play.

Plus some or all of these guys might be contracted for next year and just not yet announced:

21. Aukafolau
22. Leleisiuao
23. Stone
24. Mahoney
25. Kaufusi

Though they are highly unlikely to be top 17 as soon as next year. There will also be Flegg graduates who are yet to play ISP, though I doubt any of them will be top 30 next year. Guys like Dressler, Schneider, Tupou and Dylan Brown will probably be in the development squad.

It's very exciting.

 

[Avenger]

Do you even watch Rugby League?
Michael Jennings aside from a dud game last week always works hard, hits harder and is dangerous with ball in hand. He is still a very good centre. Gower has been a breath of fresh air since bringing him back whilst costing stuff all money.

I don’t think we are saying he is not a good centre. It’s all about bang for your buck. If we can get someone as good for less and up and coming it would be good. Best he leaves now whilst some clubs still want him. Balls in his court anyway.

 

[Gronk]

I don’t think we are saying he is not a good centre. It’s all about bang for your buck. If we can get someone as good for less and up and coming it would be good. Best he leaves now whilst some clubs still want him. Balls in his court anyway.

The comment about Gower was astonishing. Gower has been in beast mode for the last month.

 

[Joely01]

The comment about Gower was astonishing. Gower has been in beast mode for the last month.

Yep.
And people wonder why we are in the position we are in... let’s get rid of our best forward of the year so far.
Gower is the first signing we should be making

 

[Avenger]

The comment about Gower was astonishing. Gower has been in beast mode for the last month.

???
I love Gower. What are you talking about??

 

[Gronk]

???
I love Gower. What are you talking about??

Try and keep up brother !

See Gazzamatta's original post.

Theres an old saying in RL that says you are better off letting a player go one year early than one year late.
Mennings, Hayne and Unfortunately Gowie say hi.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Gower is one of the few blokes playing better this year than last year. So was he too old last year at 32 but now at 33 he isn’t?

That said, it is a risk retaining him on more than minimum. He is surely a good man to have around the club, and can obviously still play.

 

[Avenger]

Try and keep up brother !

See Gazzamatta's original post.

But you quoted my Jennings post.