Rumours and Stuff

[Glenneel]

What a ridiculous stat. T

It's a good heuristic. Much better than half arsed analyses by mouth breathers layering logical fallacies on each other. Wins matter, especially over an increasing sample of games/seasons. And since winning games is the purpose of playing in them, if a player isn't good enough he won't win many games.

Here's our players listed by wins per year over the age of 18. It's a heuristic I've come up with to show the quality of a player's career, and it tells a much bigger story than trying to cherry-pick shit to match your preconceptions:

14.4 Drown
10.8 Jennings
9.1 Ferguson
8.5 Paulo
7.9 Moses
7.7 Blake
7.7 RCG
7.2 Gutherson
7.1 Matterson
6.8 Mahoney
6.3 Lane
5.6 Papali'i
5.3 Cartwright
5.0 Nrown
4.8 Niukore
3.7 Kaufusi
3.2 Sivo
2.6 Oldfield
2.4 Opacic
2.4 Smith
2.3 Hipgrave
2.2 Stone
1.4 Roache
1.2 Rankin
0.0 Dunster
0.0 Lussick
0.0 Hollis
0.0 Hughes
0.0 Penisini

In light of his sustained success, you're off your f**kenead if you think Waqa Blake isn't a first grader.

What a ridiculous stat. This is a TEAM sport not an individual sport. How many average players have gone from poor teams to a good team like the Storm and completely changed their stats like these? Too much CO2, about time you started mouth breathing to get more perspective.

 

[TheRam]

So you agree he's a first grader. What then is the problem? If Brenko Lee can win a premiership (and play Origin) anyone can. They just need to be in a good enough team. Never forget it's a team game, and that's why it's not rational to look for a scapegoat.

The problem is that he has the skill level and physical attributes to be a damn fine player, but because of his panicky lapses in defense, often lazy attitude through lack of involvement and add the amount of money he is on, then we consider that being sold a lemon.

 

[Gary Gutful]

What a ridiculous stat.

You can say that again.

What a ridiculous stat.

Yeah, alright you’ve made your point merkin.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What a ridiculous stat. T

What a ridiculous stat. This is a TEAM sport not an individual sport. How many average players have gone from poor teams to a good team like the Storm and completely changed their stats like these?

Well that's the whole point of this stat, to distinguish first graders from the rest. If a player is good enough for the Storm to win games they are good enough for us. Stop looking for scapegoats. If a player isn't good enough he will either mostly play reserve grade or he'll be top 17 at a weak club. Either way he won't be winning many games. Waqa Blake clearly doesn't fit this category as I have demonstrated. He's won plenty of games. If the phrasing offends you because you think I'm saying he won those games single handedly then I'll rephrase and say he has been part of plenty of winning teams. How many shit players are consistently members of winning teams? The answer is zero. Use your f**ken Brian.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The problem is that he has the skill level and physical attributes to be a damn fine player, but because of his panicky lapses in defense, often lazy attitude through lack of involvement and add the amount of money he is on, then we consider that being sold a lemon.

We don't know how much he's on. But if he has weaknesses then he is no different from Brenko Lee or the majority of NRL players.

 

[Chipmunk]

So obviously the NRL fairly loosely enforces this 1 March requirement to have 29 players in your squad.

 

[TheRam]

Well that's the whole point of this stat, to distinguish first graders from the rest. If a player is good enough for the Storm to win games they are good enough for us. Stop looking for scapegoats. If a player isn't good enough he will either mostly play reserve grade or he'll be top 17 at a weak club. Either way he won't be winning many games. Waqa Blake clearly doesn't fit this category as I have demonstrated. He's won plenty of games. If the phrasing offends you because you think I'm saying he won those games single handedly then I'll rephrase and say he has been part of plenty of winning teams. How many shit players are consistently members of winning teams? The answer is zero. Use your f**ken Brian.

Maybe some players were good enough in the Storm teams because they also had the GOAT in the team and what that brings psychologically to all the players around him. Not saying that the players around him aren't 1st grader, but maybe having the GOAT there helped some of the lesser lights in the Storm team keep them in the team and without him there, their shortcomings would have been exposed enough to render them Backups or worse?

Just another way to look at it when comparing players that are in teams with GOATS.

 

[TheRam]

We don't know how much he's on. But if he has weaknesses then he is no different from Brenko Lee or the majority of NRL players.

Unfortunately we don't have a GOAT.


Also it is scary what Waqa will be on by the end of his contract.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...0/news-story/b308d117d0080347632c5a209a99906c
Waqa Blake
Club: Eels

SALARY: $550,000

Another case of Penrith paying half of his contract until the end of 2023 when his earnings will be up around the $800,000-a-year mark. Exactly the same situation as Reagan Campbell-Gillard ... Phil Gould signed him long term, then left the club and Cleary offered him to the Eels. He is managed by Clint Gutherson's agent Sam Ayoub, who was behind the transfer.

Note: Noticed that when clicking on the link that it is behind a paywall. But if you go to Google and type in Waqa Blake Salary. From there you can click on it and it allows you in. I don't know what the difference is.

 

[TheRam]

Also I love this -

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...0/news-story/b308d117d0080347632c5a209a99906c

Reagan Campbell-Gillard

Club: Eels

SALARY: $800,000

Probably the best value player in the entire NRL because the Penrith Panthers are paying almost half the contract for its entirety, a gift from Ivan Cleary who didn'۪t want him at the foot of the mountains after Phil Gould had signed him long-term. One of the form front-rowers in the competition, Campbell Gillard is under contract until 2022 with an option his way for 2023.

Note: Noticed that when clicking on the link that it is behind a paywall. But if you go to Google and type in Waqa Blake Salary. From there you can click on it and it allows you in. I don't know what the difference is.

 

[TheRam]

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...0/news-story/b308d117d0080347632c5a209a99906c

Dylan Brown
Club: Eels

SALARY: $520,000

The centre of an NRL bidding war last year with the New Zealand Warriors offering him a three-deal that could have earnt him far more money to become the richest teenager in the competition. He stayed at the Paramatta Eels for $500,000 this year but will get good upgrades to eventually finish on around $750,000-a-season in the final year of his contract.

Maika Sivo
Club: Eels

SALARY: $550,000

On $75,000 when he first arrived in 2019 via country football and Penrith's lower grades. Upgraded until the end of next season when he emerged as the game's most dynamic finisher with an extraordinary 25 tries in his debut season to become the club'۪s pin-up player with the fans. Still only 26 and is likely to become the centre of a bidding war when he can talk to rival clubs in November.

Junior Paulo
Club: Eels

SALARY: $650,000

Canberra and coach Ricky Stuart didn'۪t want him long term because of salary cap pressure so he signed at Parramatta. The Eels had to beat offers from the Bulldogs and the Cronulla Sharks for the front-row enforcer who has proved to be worth every cent of the big-money contract. He is locked down at the Eels until the end of the 2022 season.

Clint Gutherson
Club: Eels

SALARY: $750,000

Embroiled in a contract row with the Eels last year that took months to sort out. Parramatta refused to budge from their first offer of only $500,000. After a public slanging match between his manager Sam Ayoub and Eels officials, the offer was eventually increased to $750,000 this year which he has fully justified with some outstanding form.

Mitchell Moses
Club: Eels

SALARY: $830,000

Quit the Wests Tigers to sign with the Parramatta Eels for 2018 on around $700,000. Has since been upgraded to the end of next year with an option his way for 2022 to justify his position among the best playmakers in the NRL. Could have signed with the Roosters but contract negotiations between his agent and Nick Politis broke down.

Note: Noticed that when clicking on the link that it is behind a paywall. But if you go to Google and type in Waqa Blake Salary. From there you can click on it and it allows you in. I don't know what the difference is.

 

[hindy111]

Panthers from my what I have read are paying 20-25% of their contracts not 50%. If it was 50% there would of been a quite a few clubs interested.

 

[TheRam]

Panthers from my what I have read are paying 20-25% of their contracts not 50%. If it was 50% there would of been a quite a few clubs interested.

Probably right. Also noticed that a player like N. Brown isn't in the list of 100 Highest Paid Players. I find it hard to believe that he isn't on $500k which is where the list starts from.

Blake Ferguson
Club: Eels

SALARY: $500,000

Took a $200,000 pay rise to leave the Sydney Roosters and a premiership winning team to set up his career in a three-year deal worth $1.6 million at Parramatta which expires at the end of 2021. Also had interest from the Cronulla Sharks and the Canterbury Bulldogs but their offers were worth around $400,000 less over the three years.

Michael Jennings
Club: Eels

SALARY: $500,000

On huge money (around $800,000) when he joined from the Roosters but has gradually come down. The 32-year-old centre, who is still playing some of the best football of his career, is under contract until the end of next season. If he stays injury free will play his 300th NRL game during the finals. He has scored 154 career tries.

Ryan Matterson
Club: Eels

SALARY: $500,000

Wasn't happy with the $350,000 he was on at the Wests Tigers last year and didn't enjoy playing under Michael Maguire. Packed his bags and walked out with two years remaining on his contract to get a $150,000 pay rise from the Eels that is backdated with increases over the next three years. Likely to become an Origin regular and earn another $90,000 in rep payments.

Note: Noticed that when clicking on the link that it is behind a paywall. But if you go to Google and type in Waqa Blake Salary. From there you can click on it and it allows you in. I don't know what the difference is.

 

[Kilkenny]

Seriously, journalists pluck figures around player earning out of your you know what.

If you allow or accept Panthers are paying approximately 25% of the salaries of RCG & Blake, do not include the salary of Michael Jennings (albeit he has probably be paid 25% of this seasons salary prior to being cut so to speak) there is potentially well over $5M in the salaries of the 7/8 players listed. Really doesn’t leave a lot for the remaining 20 or so squad members even if 4-5 are only on minimum.

Maiko Sivo has been a try scoring machine, but is not without flaws, suggested he is now on $550K. Seriously, no sane person in charge of managing a salary cap would have upgraded Sivo to that sort of money.

Another classic example of a journalist plucking figures out of thin air and suggestIons Penrith are paying half of the salaries for RCG and Blake appear wildly exaggerated given it seems to have generally acknowledged the subsidies were in the 20% to 25% region.

 

[lingard]

@Eelogical remind me again why people should look in awe at boomers

Perhaps it was a very forgettable question.

 

[lingard]

Under the category of "stuff":
I have recently switched from butter chicken to beef korma as favorite Indian dish. It is not even close. This is a big palate shift for me.

Absolutely huge news, mate. Cheers for the heads up.

 

[lingard]

Why did our win rate go up after he joined?
Win/win/win

Because Matterson and Paulo joined too?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Because Matterson and Paulo joined too?

And RCG. Along with Waqa Blake these are four of the six Eels with WPYSA18 scores above 7. The other two are Moses and Drown. These merkins are used to winning games.

 

[lingard]

And RCG. Along with Waqa Blake these are four of the six Eels with WPYSA18 scores above 7. The other two are Moses and Drown. These merkins are used to winning games.

Guess what. I think WPYSA18 scores are a load of shit - and I refuse to talk about them anymore.

 

[84 Baby]

Perhaps it was a very forgettable question.

Isn’t it past your bed time?

 

[84 Baby]

And RCG. Along with Waqa Blake these are four of the six Eels with WPYSA18 scores above 7. The other two are Moses and Drown. These merkins are used to winning games.

I like the metric but I think it requires some more parameters, particularly concerning their teammates wins, the teams overall wins, minutes played perhaps.
To put it into perspective, here’s an image of the calculation for the most important stat in moneyball baseball