Rumours and Stuff

[natheel]

From the Lurker (yes I know @El Diablo )

Who is the newish NRL official believed to be under investigation from a matter arising from his previous job?

Not a great start.

Better not be Bernie FFS.

http://www.nospam47.com/au/league/l...ours-gossip/q84omz9oyr461rwil3yc0lgza/slide/7

Tachnically Berns hasn't started his job yet. And it says 'newish' to me that says he hasn't been in the role long.

 

[Chipmunk]

That Cutters team remind me of that Wenty Team a few years back that Rip Taylor coached to a state title. Pretty sure Maloney and Marcus Perenara were the halves. That year we basically had two very good reserve grade teams just like Saints and the Cutters this year.

I'd say we'd have a decent reserve grade side this season if all our players didn't get injured, suspended or leave mid season.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Wasn't the QLD side on the piss on Monday ? I don't think they took the game as serious as the cutters did.

 

[El Diablo]

i wouldn't even bother wondering

the lurker is a try hard who wouldn't know what day it is

 

[Avenger]

That QLD Comp is so well supported.

 

[amitropo]

Doesn't Manly have a new board member or CEO?

 

[Bazal]

I doubt the Dragons Reserve Grade Team would come within 50 points of their NRL Team.

The Dragons NRL team aren't capable of scoring 50 points tbh

 

[Avenger]

I think Gutherson/Norman will work but if we are offered Ben Hunt I wouldn't suggest that the club say no.

Hunt and Norman are good friends and I think a player like Hunt would work well with our structure.

I think we need Ben Hunt's kicking game. He is also a very direct halfback. Similar in style with Foran. His defence isn't as good, still very solid though. I reckon if the rumours of Lolohea going to Brisbane is true then Hunt may join us. Plenty of cards to play out yet. Similar to when we bagged Fatso in the preseason.

 

[The Colonel]

I think we need Ben Hunt's kicking game. He is also a very direct halfback. Similar in style with Foran. His defence isn't as good, still very solid though. I reckon if the rumours of Lolohea going to Brisbane is true then Hunt may join us. Plenty of cards to play out yet. Similar to when we bagged Fatso in the preseason.

Players change clubs so amazingly quickly nowadays that I wouldn't rule it out. He has a good running game and yes, his kicking game would take pressure off of Norman. I would think though that Gutherson will be working hard on his in the off season.

I think it all depends on the Foran situation and from what I understand I don't think the NRL are in a hurry to approve his return just yet. The match fixing investigation has a lot to do with that.

 

[strider]

I think Gutho has more tricks up his sleave than any of us realise ... his attacking kicking at the end of the season was quite good and he did very well creating opportunities outside him. So i would be happy heading into next season with him in the 6.

Having said that, I would definitely take Hunt if he was available at a good price (ie dont pay overs for him) - similar to norman. I agree his kicking would be big for us.

But then i dont know what we would do with our backline at full strength. Gutho must be there - ideally at centre. The Hoffman signing is surprising - i can only imagine Semi is not likely to stay long. I think Taka is very valuable for us at centre. We need to give French a good shot at fullback.

 

[Bazal]

The Hoffman thing makes me think BA might rotate French in and out of the side (unless he's absolutely killing it of course), or between wing and fullback. Just to ease him in to the role full time. He's still young and second year syndrome is very real, there's a fair chance he'll need a bit of work as the season goes on to tweak parts of his game, and maybe to rest up a bit mentally.

 

[oldmancraigy]

I think Gutho has more tricks up his sleave than any of us realise ... his attacking kicking at the end of the season was quite good and he did very well creating opportunities outside him. So i would be happy heading into next season with him in the 6.

Having said that, I would definitely take Hunt if he was available at a good price (ie dont pay overs for him) - similar to norman. I agree his kicking would be big for us.

But then i dont know what we would do with our backline at full strength. Gutho must be there - ideally at centre. The Hoffman signing is surprising - i can only imagine Semi is not likely to stay long. I think Taka is very valuable for us at centre. We need to give French a good shot at fullback.

Taka is a tad slow laterally in the centers, and so you'll notice he gets caught out defensively on the outside more times than we would want him to be. If we were to get Ben Hunt, then I wouldn't see an issue with Taka going to the bench, and coming on as an attacking backrower. He has the size and speed to wreak havoc - and it is kind of the role he plays anyway...
If Gutherson isn't in the halves, wouldn't surprise me to see him at fullback?

Obligatory backline prediction:
Gutherson/ French/ Jennings/ Hoffman/ Radradra/ Norman/ Hunt
(switch French/ Gutherson/ Hoffman as required)

Auva'a is a well above average first grader when he's ready to go. Wouldn't cry if he was our right centre over Hoffman with French outside him.
Of course if it is all shuffled around with Taka in the centers, again, great! The only downside I see in bringing Hunt here is that he has played left side most of his career - which is Normans side....

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Hunt plays on the right, merkin.

 

[hindy111]

Watch for player movements to come soon. Hastings - Hunt will move. Not sure where but Hunt to dragons might open up the door for us to land Hastings.

Guys close to the club - Are we talking to anyone worth noting? We have money and positions we need to fill.

As far as Hoffman goes.I do not think that has much to do with SEMI. I think we can expect an announcement on Semi extending very soon.

Hoff can cover 1-6. Some better then others. Bevan is an option for us at fullback.But BA may ease him in. Also in any of our back are injured we have very little depth.

 

[Twizzle]

Dunno how you can say we have money to spend, we been spending up and extending/upgrading players since Bernie came to town.

I wouldn't think there is too much left in the cookie jar.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Dunno how you can say we have money to spend, we been spending up and extending/upgrading players since Bernie came to town.

I wouldn't think there is too much left in the cookie jar.

I think we've cooked up some plan to pay one of our cleaners $1m, and for him to sub-contract the job to a couple of players looking to keep fit in the off-season

 

[Twizzle]

hope it works, maybe Bernie can do it better than Sharpie

 

[oldmancraigy]

hope it works, maybe Bernie can do it better than Sharpie

As long as he doesn't record it and make a spreadsheet about it, should be all sweet.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

As long as he doesn't record it and make a spreadsheet about it, should be all sweet.

While avoiding getting sprung by the NRL is a noble goal (and all us fans care about), failing to record financial transactions can land an administrator in jail. I'd suggest that's more important to the people involved than whether or not they get caught by the NRL.

 

[strider]

The interview questions were:

1. Do you own a dictaphone?
2. Can you use MS Excel?
3. Is Todd Greenburg one of your referees?

If you answer no to all them, you get the job