Rumours and Stuff

[Avenger]

Hands like feet. Cotric is superior. Simmonson has talent but far from guaranteed a first grade spot.

He’s also slower.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Rein, Simonsson, probably Curtis Scott, Ogden to come into the Club in place of Fergo, Hipgrave, Lussick, Will Smith, in my opinion, makes the team stronger in 2022 than it was in 2021. Plus Stone Penisini, Papaliti, Arthur, Cartwright will benefit greatly from a new presason. The Club has a winner in conditioner Trent Elkins and the addition of Ennis, McGregor and Germ Woolford to the coaching ranks adds a lot of experience to the development. Anyone not optomistic about the teams chances in 2022 is bloody hard to please.

I think Elkin has been a fantastic acquisition for Our Eels. Gone are the days of The Cougar and The AFL Merkin. Im not sure much changed with the little ex Storm bloke either but our boys fitness is definitely the best its been in ages under Elkin. It was a good move whoever was responsible.

 

[Twizzle]

All I can find is this. The replies below it seem to cast doubt on the claim.


The NRL signings tracker confirmed our signing of Josh Hodgson however.

Parramatta are yet to confirm Mahoney's departure in 2023 but announced the signing of Raiders veteran Josh Hodgson on a two-year deal last week.

2021 signings tracker: Contracts by club

The latest player signings, transfers & contracts and NRL squads for 2022 and beyond.

www.nrl.com

that tweet is from the kennel so not official, its just a fan site

 

[SneakyEel]

Hands like feet. Cotric is superior. Simmonson has talent but far from guaranteed a first grade spot.

He's been in an average Raiders team for the past two years wait to see the kid play in our team before making a final judgement. He's got all the attributes of a good winger his fast, strong, tall and a good finisher what more do you want. Before Saab went to Manly lots of people thought he was shit look at him now 26 tries in 27 games.

 

[hindy111]

He's been in an average Raiders team for the past two years wait to see the kid play in our team before making a final judgement.

I'm not judging. He has talent.
With Sivo,Dunster Russsel,Naiduki,Laizou all snapping at his heels I don't think he is gauranteed a first grade spot

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

that tweet is from the kennel so not official, its just a fan site

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/co...ing-released-by-bulldogs-20211215-p59hs2.html

 

[yy_cheng]

Barring injury I think we have the best balanced roster in the NRL now with the addition of some genuine speed.

My only concern now is with potential injury or weak and lack luster coaching that limits our full potential.

If we can overcome that with the addition of Ennis and others and avoid serious injuries to key personnel, then I see no reason as to why we can't be the team to beat in 2022.

We are definitely the thirstiest contender in the NRL by a long shot. Lets hope we know how to freakin dig the well and raise the buckets of water that are necessary for all of us to finally quench that unrelenting 35+ year hellish and merciless thirst that has been screaming in the back of our minds for so damn long.

Rammy, what's your thoughts on Simonson as compared to Savage?
From TCT who's saying he is showing alot of speed and footwork, him outside Penisinni would make quite a quick rhs.

I think Penisini is the key. He showed alot of maturity alot of the times last year to control fergo.
He can go himself and uses his winger more than the likes of MJ and Waqa

 

[strider]

I think Elkin has been a fantastic acquisition for Our Eels. Gone are the days of The Cougar and The AFL Merkin. Im not sure much changed with the little ex Storm bloke either but our boys fitness is definitely the best its been in ages under Elkin. It was a good move whoever was responsible.

weren't many complaining that our fitness looked shit when we went into a lull mid last season?

I'm not saying anything either way with elkin .... I suspect he does a good job - but we still seem off the pace at times .... maybe psychological unfitness?

 

[hindy111]

weren't many complaining that our fitness looked shit when we went into a lull mid last season?

I'm not saying anything either way with elkin .... I suspect he does a good job - but we still seem off the pace at times .... maybe psychological unfitness?

I think every team these days are as fit as each other. It just comes down to how physical the weeks before game was, days of in-between and how much ball you have in the game.

Every side is running at a professional level and the days of a MARK TOOKEY style player is long gone.

 

[Gronk]

I think every team these days are as fit as each other. It just comes down to how physical the weeks before game was, days of in-between and how much ball you have in the game.

Every side is running at a professional level and the days of a MARK TOOKEY style player is long gone.

Not quite. I think there is one left.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Not quite. I think there is one left.

View attachment 56624

He's fallen off the cliff since the game got faster. Best forward in the game in 2016. By 2020 he is barely NRL level.

 

[TheRam]

Rammy, what's your thoughts on Simonson as compared to Savage?
From TCT who's saying he is showing alot of speed and footwork, him outside Penisinni would make quite a quick rhs.

I think Penisini is the key. He showed alot of maturity alot of the times last year to control fergo.
He can go himself and uses his winger more than the likes of MJ and Waqa

I rate X. Savage the best and quickest young player not to have yet established himself in the NRL and probably the fastest overall.

The boy has some serious speed and talent. The only reservation I have on him is size and durability. But I think he will adjust and get stronger as he gets older. But Simonson has a lot of talent too. He will make a great winger in our team with plenty of speed to finish off or take advantage of the great momentum and opportunities our go forward will avail to him.

Penisini will be as good as he works at his game. In other words his only limitation as a player will be himself. A genuine star on the cusp of a great career, if he works harder then he has ever before and injury doesn't intervene.

 

[TheRam]

weren't many complaining that our fitness looked shit when we went into a lull mid last season?

I'm not saying anything either way with elkin .... I suspect he does a good job - but we still seem off the pace at times .... maybe psychological unfitness?

No it is the style of play we have chosen to play. No team can play the way we do in chasing the collision and not have a dip somewhere in the season. We were lucky that it happened in the 3rd to last part of the season and gave us time to get back up and out of the slump for the semis.

 

[hindy111]

Pensini is the best junior I have seen cone through in a very long time.
That includes your Browns,Mahoneys of recent times. I see an origin level player down track. To come into the NRL and defend like he did is quite mind blowing. Especially if you seen his defense early in the year at NSW cup level. Terrible. His improvement was ridiculous. A special talent. An Eel for life or another that we let go?

 

[hindy111]

He's fallen off the cliff since the game got faster. Best forward in the game in 2016. By 2020 he is barely NRL level.

Guys like JFH would be nothing special 5yrs ago. But his style is now perfect for the current game.
Is Juniors?

 

[hindy111]

I also reckon zippy hookers are what you want now with the faster game. Why Reed leaving doesn't phase me. Slow as a tortoise and oppositions will work out his short ball close to the line for a big prop cannon balling from 2mtrs out.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Pensini is the best junior I have seen cone through in a very long time.
That includes your Browns,Mahoneys of recent times. I see an origin level player down track. To come into the NRL and defend like he did is quite mind blowing. Especially if you seen his defense early in the year at NSW cup level. Terrible. His improvement was ridiculous. A special talent. An Eel for life or another that we let go?

Well, defense at centre is very much about whether you can trust the bloke inside you (no pun intended), and at NSW cup level that is sometimes a bit of an issue.

 

[Incorrect]

Well, defense at centre is very much about whether you can trust the bloke inside you (no pun intended), and at NSW cup level that is sometimes a bit of an issue.

There's a good book available exploring that very issue....

Google Image Result for https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.133665558.3754/hj,1000x-pad,1000x1000,f8f8f8.jpg

 

[Delboy]

No it is the style of play we have chosen to play. No team can play the way we do in chasing the collision and not have a dip somewhere in the season. We were lucky that it happened in the 3rd to last part of the season and gave us time to get back up and out of the slump for the semis.

Just thinking if BA has chosen to say “winning the middle “, would there be so much blowback. Let’s face it, the prerequisite for success is exactly that, from U12 up, control the forward battle and more likely to control the game.

The fans seem to have more trouble with the phrase than the players.

 

[lingard]

Are we a stronger team in 2022 with hodgsen as our hooker instead of Reed ?

Yes.