Rumours and Stuff

[george]

Cmon Bernie crack the whip and have a shot at Dylan Xerri & Zac Lomax .... I’m sure they’re not on that much

Plant a seed and see how it grows ... money talks people walk ... in a years time when Dugan is still on 800k a year for another 2 more years after that and the sharkies can only offer Xerri $300k let’s see what happens

Negotiation 101 ... Pour fuel on the fire upset the market stir up individuals, feed personal ambition & upset playing culture ... winning doesn’t start within the rectangle

 

[Gazzamatta]

Might as well have a crack at Ponga, Toumolololololo, Tom & Jake Alphabet and Cameron Murray too.

Now ya talkin Gronky. Get on it Markey O.

 

[84 Baby]

Might as well have a crack at Ponga, Toumolololololo, Tom & Jake Alphabet and Cameron Murray too.

I think it’s actually a decent situation to have a crack at Xerri or Lomax, not both though. Depending on contract status of course. It means you probably have to overpay a bit for potential but they both play a position we have need for and neither is exactly first choice at current club (maybe Xerri is now). Worst case you raise their price tag.
The other factor is what the f**k has happened to Afualo?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Plant a seed and see how it grows ... money talks people walk ... in a years time when Dugan is still on 800k a year for another 2 more years after that and the sharkies can only offer Xerri $300k let’s see what happens

When Xerri is off contract we won't just be competing with the Sharks for his signature.

 

[TheRam]

I think it’s actually a decent situation to have a crack at Xerri or Lomax, not both though. Depending on contract status of course. It means you probably have to overpay a bit for potential but they both play a position we have need for and neither is exactly first choice at current club (maybe Xerri is now). Worst case you raise their price tag.
The other factor is what the f**k has happened to Afualo?

What seems to happen with most of our hugely wrapped juniors.

 

[84 Baby]

What seems to happen with most of our hugely wrapped juniors.

Like Drown?

 

[hindy111]

What seems to happen with most of our hugely wrapped juniors.

D.Browns injured
Kafusi is off bench
Jnr is one of form props in comp and an origin smokie
Tepai playing lock
Mahoney starting hooker
Mannah is coming off bench
Terepo is coming off bench

Nikuore,Stone,Salmon,Alvaro,Sivo who all debut in NRL for club will play in the 17 today.

Manu who debut for club in the NRL is injured.

Gutherson who we poached after 4 nrl games will start at fullback.


Its impressive how this squads been built imo.
A real team. I never liked the times when you'd sign 5 stars and jam them in.

 

[hindy111]

Btw Ram did you like Mick pick with Canberra to shine and knights to bust?
The guy is a rugby league genius.

 

[TheRam]

D.Browns injured
Kafusi is off bench
Jnr is one of form props in comp and an origin smokie
Tepai playing lock
Mahoney starting hooker
Mannah is coming off bench
Terepo is coming off bench

Nikuore,Stone,Salmon,Alvaro,Sivo who all debut in NRL for club will play in the 17 today.

Manu who debut for club in the NRL is injured.

Gutherson who we poached after 4 nrl games will start at fullback.


Its impressive how this squads been built imo.
A real team. I never liked the times when you'd sign 5 stars and jam them in.

Out of all those names of actual JUNIORS, only Mannah, who was 10 years ago, and Junior would I consider being in the high quality category.

By the way, most of these players that you like so much collected the freakin wooden spoon last year.

Look I also like what I see happening with junior development, but until I see real sustained improvement with our game results, then the yoyo performances and abilities by many of these so called NRL standard players will always come in to question.

 

[Bazal]

Well said. You really out-muscled those pair of deadshits.

I used muh brain head muscles

 

[Obscene Assassin]

The calls are becoming deafening. It's inevitable.

General consensus says that he should be our #1 half

 

[Bazal]

I think it’s actually a decent situation to have a crack at Xerri or Lomax, not both though. Depending on contract status of course. It means you probably have to overpay a bit for potential but they both play a position we have need for and neither is exactly first choice at current club (maybe Xerri is now). Worst case you raise their price tag.
The other factor is what the f**k has happened to Afualo?

Both are on contract. 2020 for Lomax and 2021 Xerri I think. No chance the Dragons or Sharks allow anything

 

[Obscene Assassin]

It would probably help our attack, and his kicking game would be as good as Salmon's. But having him and Moses in our defensive line wouldn't be good.

But think about it this way, if we have 2 players in the defensive line that the opposition can target and they play on either side of the field the other team won't know where to attack and will shit the bed. In fact we should fill our entire defensive line with liabilities and we'll win the comp

 

[TheRam]

Btw Ram did you like Mick pick with Canberra to shine and knights to bust?
The guy is a rugby league genius.

Yes, he definitely got that so right and I got that so wrong. Who would have thought that a team(Canberra) with no true front rowers and average halves could play this well. It really shows how good their dummy half is and also what a revelation their new number one Klokstad is. He gets them on the front foot so many times during a game. He is a real find. Without him I don't think they would be leading the comp.

The game really is struggling for top shelf halves at the moment. You have Keary and Munster and maybe Morgan, if the Cowboys can ever get a non lazy team around him again so as we can see what he really can deliver. That is what is wrong with the Cowboys by the way. They have traditionally been a very lazy team, even when Thurston was there. He used to cover up so many of their lazy non 1% efforts. He was everywhere.

Sure they played brilliantly for a couple of seasons there as a team, but that was primarily off the back of Thurston, Morgan and Taumalolo and then the rest would feed off that and shine. Once they won the big one, then shortcuts started to popup again. Then they had that backend of season flurry 2 years ago, with Taumalolo and Morgan in vintage form that got them to the GF and now no Thurston or Taumalolo and a pretty ordinary backline and we have laziness all over again.

But back to Canberra, they have been so fortunate so far with no real injuries, especially up front. Also the new quick ruck means that the smaller packs if good can dominate by stretching the bigger packs around, which is exactly what the Raiders have been doing. So my wooden spoon prediction for them will not happen, but if injuries happen to a couple of their forwards, then watch them struggle if they are playing the top half teams or team that are on for the day.

As for the Knights, what a disappointment they have turned out to be? They are doing what Parra are known for at the moment. Decent team on paper, but disjointed and pathetic all over the park. I feel sorry for the fans. Much like Parra fans. Very passionate and they turn up in droves, to be subjected to the crap that their over paid players are serving up. Pearce is a huge reason for their demise, he is so out of form it isn't funny and also their dummy half is very average. But now the dreaded form slump has spread throughout the squad, as is to be expected once the rot sets in.

So yes Hindy, Micks a genius.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

But think about it this way, if we have 2 players in the defensive line that the opposition can target and they play on either side of the field the other team won't know where to attack and will shit the bed. In fact we should fill our entire defensive line with liabilities and we'll win the comp

This idea has obvious merit.

 

[Bazal]

This idea has obvious merit.

I thought we already tried that in 2012?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yes, he definitely got that so right and I got that so wrong. Who would have thought that a team(Canberra) with no true front rowers and average halves could play this well. It really shows how good their dummy half is and also what a revelation their new number one Klokstad is. He gets them on the front foot so many times during a game. He is a real find. Without him I don't think they would be leading the comp.

Papalii is a genuine front rower. He takes the big setup runs in the attacking zone. Otherwise the Raiders give the majority of their runs to outside backs, just like the Roosters, Tigers and the 2019 Eels. It shows you only really need one genuine attacking forward in the middle. The rest should be good (hard working) defenders.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I thought we already tried that in 2012?

Well one season isn't a very big sample. That's why we tried it again in 2013.

 

[TheRam]

Papalii is a genuine front rower. He takes the big setup runs in the attacking zone. Otherwise the Raiders give the majority of their runs to outside backs, just like the Roosters, Tigers and the 2019 Eels. It shows you only really need one genuine attacking forward in the middle. The rest should be good (hard working) defenders.

Like I said, the new interpretation at the ruck has done wonders for these types of teams. Papalii has turned into a decent frontrower yes. But if the refs allow more games be played like the one between the Dogs and Bunnies then things will change quick smart.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Like I said, the new interpretation at the ruck has done wonders for these types of teams.

It's not new. It's the same interpretation as it was in 2017. Back when we won 16 games, and 13 the year before.

Papalii has turned into a decent frontrower yes.

He's played 11 Origins in the front row.

But if the refs allow more games be played like the one between the Dogs and Bunnies then things will change quick smart.

You mean the game where the Dogs' little pack were allowed to stifle Souths' quick play-the-balls? They generally let that go prior to 2018 as well.