Rumours and Stuff

[T-Boon]

It just means he'll be playing for Parra in 2023, but he is choosing not exercise his option for 2024 and will instead look to negotiate... Which is not to say he wants to leave, just that he thinks he might get a better/higher deal for 2024 and beyond. Much like RCG did during the last off-season....

That is smart. He is getting better and better as a player and leader (though he is nowhere near as good as Hastings ) and he deserves to be our highest paid player and on way more than for example Brooks at the Tigers.

 

[the phantom menace]

They were talking about this on ABC Radio. He has informed the club that he doesn't intend to take up the option which is in November, reportedly because he believes he is worth more now.

Having to play in the halves with Jakob Arthur (instead of Dylan Brown) would make most people want to ask for more money to do so!

 

[T-Boon]

I reckon Ponga is one of the best players in the game. He just plays for a very ordinary team.

You would never say that about Hayne.
Hayne was the best player in the game ever for 5 years relative to how horrid the team(s) was/were including NSW that he played in.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Are you sure Naiduki is top 30?

This says so but I don't think there was anything official from the club: https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/01/27...r-official-rosters-for-all-17-nrl-clubs/#eels

 

[Poupou Escobar]

For me any attack on a plodder is always really an attack on the coach.
They don't pick themselves.

They don't pick themselves but few teams have 17+ non-plodders available even at full strength.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yes:

2024 NRL Signings Tracker: Xerri extends with Bulldogs

Bronson Xerri has committed to the Bulldogs until the end of 2027 while Ben Hunt is headed back to the Brisbane Broncos.

www.nrl.com

ffs

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Interesting. I wonder why he's top 30 if we only contracted him for this year and didn't play him when we had no backs.

Isn't he injured?

 

[hineyrulz]

I think the answer to that is power and speed. If he finds either he may well make it. If he finds both he will make it. But if he doesn't find either he will be pou's forever plodding love child.

If he gets any slower Pou will blow triple ropers over him.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Injured around the time Blake got injured. That’s how bad our injuries have been.

ffs scooped again

 

[Poupou Escobar]

A back up should bring energy and pep

You're thinking of an impact sub. Backups come in and do their job and let the stars shine.

 

[T-Boon]

You're thinking of an impact sub. Backups come in and do their job and let the stars shine.

No

 

[Poupou Escobar]

You would never say that about Hayne.
Hayne was the best player in the game ever for 5 years relative to how horrid the team(s) was/were including NSW that he played in.

Hayne's the best player I've ever seen.

 

[T-Boon]

For a change of pace I have had a wonderful rule change idea that I will drop in here rather than the cave where I usually prefer to drop my idea threads.
So I don't forget (I am heavily on the piss this arvo) it is to do with creating more space and getting coaches away from their comfort zone of that straight line of defense they love and casual fans hate.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

No

Yes.

Impact subs come on and offer a different point of attack. They are part of the top 17. Backups only come into the 17 when there's injuries.

 

[T-Boon]

Yes.

Impact subs come on and offer a different point of attack. They are part of the top 17. Backups only come into the 17 when there's injuries.

Yeah but they are supposed to bring energy and enthusiasm to try to cement a regular spot. Like you want the backups to be at least as energetic as the starters. JA is not. He is too slow for the speed of first grade.
He needs to have a prolonged stay in reserves and get up to speed or fall off like players of his ability do. We should be using Rankin instead of Arthur.

 

[Gronk]

Interesting. I wonder why he's top 30 if we only contracted him for this year and didn't play him when we had no backs.

He's been out since Rnd2 or so and was behind Russell.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Energy is a key part of some players' games and composure is for others.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Energy is a key part of some players' games and composure is for others.

What about lethargy? Or stupidity? I saw a bit of that just now in the Warriors/Raiders game.

 

[Avenger]

Of the teams that have won a comp don’t the Raiders have the longest drought after us? And then the Dogs?

Who will break their drought first I wonder?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What about lethargy? Or stupidity? I saw a bit of that just now in the Warriors/Raiders game.

They are downsides of certain strengths. Like some of the most athletic or powerful players just have no game awareness or make poor decisions. Likewise the biggest or most explosive players usually take the longest to recover from a period of sustained effort. It's why when people laugh about wingers coming last in fitness drills they're showing they don't know what they're on about. Some wingers might be very fit but some of the worst distance runners at every club would be outside backs. They are picked for their explosiveness, and play a position where they can afford to stroll and have a breather after a couple of big runs or back-to-back tackles on a kick chase.