Rumours and Stuff

[yy_cheng]

It's BA last year right or is it end 2024.

That could bring about how the players play.

We did a lot of razzle dazzle in the opposition 20 but we lost a bit of our offload game in our own territory which worked well for us last year.

 

[yy_cheng]

We now really only have 2 genuine NRL level middle forwards in our entire Top 30, one who has only played NSW, and one who is self interested

Huh? Isnt Paulo and Reg middle forwards?
I think Hopgood will definitely become a NRL level middle forward too.

Last year, Marata wasn't that good in the middle. We had Makka in the middle who we have this year.
And Kaufusi was only ok. Hopgood would probably be better than him.

So it's more or less the same.

 

[Chipmunk]

Would be a huge failure with the forwards and halves we have in our side especially considering how the talent pool has been spread out even more with the Dolphins coming in.

I think our middle is a huge problem.

You realistically need 6 quality middles in a game.

We now really only have 2 genuine NRL level middle forwards in our entire Top 30, plus one, who everyone rates including me, who has only played NSW, and one who is self interested to the point where $4k is more important in his pocket than the team doing well.

Outside of that, we do not currently have any other middle forwards of anything that resembles competence. As a result, we're trying to convert a fringe edge player to play in the middle. This doesn't auger well for success.

 

[Chipmunk]

Huh? Isnt Paulo and Reg middle forwards?
I think Hopgood will definitely become a NRL level middle forward too.

Last year, Marata wasn't that good in the middle. We had Makka in the middle who we have this year.
And Kaufusi was only ok. Hopgood would probably be better than him.

So it's more or less the same.

I think Hopgood is just the same as Matterson. We have nothing in middles when Junior and RCG aren't on the field. We've not replaced Niukore and/or Kaufusi.

 

[yy_cheng]

You realistically need 6 quality middles in a game.

On form last year, did we have 6? Nrown played the GF but not many games before that.

He is still on our books as is Maka from last year

 

[hineyrulz]

What’s the alternative considering what’s on the market? We could lose Moses and waste the prime years of our forward pack and do nothing.

Doesn’t matter with Bea 16 players Arthur we will never win a thing.

 

[yy_cheng]

I think Hopgood is just the same as Matterson. We have nothing in middles when Junior and RCG aren't on the field. We've not replaced Niukore and/or Kaufusi.

Niukore and Kaufusi weren't that quality middles if you ask me.

Niukore I felt was good out wide.

 

[Chipmunk]

On form last year, did we have 6? Nrown played the GF but not many games before that.

He is still on our books as is Maka from last year

We had 5. Junior, RCG, Niukore, Matterson, Kaufusi.

Hopgood replaces Matterson, but he doesn't replace Niukore or Kaufusi, and Matterson doesn't replace those two either.

So, we're one genuine middle short. We should've prioritised Taupau.

Hopgood and Matterson aren't genuine middles. They're ball playing locks.

We'll lack everything until we find another genuine middle. It's dumb f**kery we've allowed it

 

[yy_cheng]

I still think what's happening to NRown is silly.

He should play if fit.

1 reckon the middles should be

top 13
RCG, Paulo, Hopgood
Bench
Matto, Nrown, Cartright/Emu, Rein/Ja

 

[yy_cheng]

We had 5. Junior, RCG, Niukore, Matterson, Kaufusi.

Hopgood replaces Matterson, but he doesn't replace Niukore or Kaufusi, and Matterson doesn't replace those two either.

So, we're one genuine middle short. We should've prioritised Taupau.

Hopgood and Matterson aren't genuine middles. They're ball playing locks.

We'll lack everything until we find another genuine middle. It's dumb f**kery we've allowed it

Matto is actually good at hitting it up. I would say that Matto covers Niukore in terms of hitups easily considering the amount of time Marata played. There were times Marata didn't finish the game because of some niggling injury.

NRown should replace Kaufusi

 

[Chipmunk]

I still think what's happening to NRown is silly.

He should play if fit.

1 reckon the middles should be

top 13
RCG, Paulo, Hopgood
Bench
Matto, Nrown, Cartright/Emu, Rein/Ja

Agreed to Emu, he's garbage

 

[Chipmunk]

Matto is actually good at hitting it up. I would say that Matto covers Niukore in terms of hitups easily considering the amount of time Marata played. There were times Marata didn't finish the game because of some niggling injury.

NRown should replace Kaufusi

Different hit ups. Niukore/Kaufusi hurts a defence, Matterson just makes it put in more initial effort to stop it.

Everything should be as good in theory. For the first time in 4 seasons, I'm not confident

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If Parra "havent waived" and haven't been increasing their offer against what the Tigers are offering, why hasnt he signed?

Waiting until he has a blinder and then asks for more money.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What’s the alternative considering what’s on the market? We could lose Moses and waste the prime years of our forward pack and do nothing.

We will always have good players if we stick to our guns and don't overpay. The only mistake you can make isn't losing a player, it's signing the wrong one, or for too much money, or for too long. Bennett said it best here: https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/03/03...dolphins-starting-their-recruitment-planning/

 

[lucablight]

We will always have good players if we stick to our guns and don't overpay. The only mistake you can make isn't losing a player, it's signing the wrong one, or for too much money, or for too long. Bennett said it best here: https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/03/03...dolphins-starting-their-recruitment-planning/

So can you give an example of who we could recruit for next season that wouldn’t leave us worse off?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We might be worse in 2024 (no team gets better every year) but over the long run (maybe as soon as 2025) we will be stronger if we stick to our principles.

 

[lucablight]

We might be worse in 2024 (no team gets better every year) but over the long run (maybe as soon as 2025) we will be stronger if we stick to our principles.

I don’t think our forwards have too many years left in their primes. It might be too late by then. If we keep Moses we’ll most likely be an outside chance (especially with the lack of quality number 7s on the market).

 

[IFR33K]

Still... He's got a nice ass.... #amirighthomoman69?

take it to the pride thread

 

[King-Gutho94]

Which club is the best of the NRL era? Where your team sits on quarter-century ladder

We’ve crunched the numbers to find the most successful team from the first 25 years of the NRL.

www.smh.com.au

Interesting we sit 5th on the ladder when you calculate all the points accumulated since 1998. Considering we basically 7 years in the wilderness it's quite surprising.

And 3 of those years we won just 6 games and just 5 games in 2013.

The only thing missing is a premiership.

Bear in mind all teams who have lost points in salary cap have been included here including Melbourne cheating period between 06-09.

 

[Cloeel]

First he wanted it done by Xmas and then before the start of the season because he didn’t want to distract the team and their focus to go one better in 2023.

Watch now what happens if we are 0/2 to start the season. It will intensify and his manager and him will look like greedy arseholes.

What’s obviously happened is that we haven’t waived despite what the media are reporting and all the grubby tactics that his manager is famous for.

They can both get f**ked as far as I’m concerned.

Like I said earlier.

Take what players say with a grain of salt. Everytime Moses has made timelines comments about his contract; it is weaponised against the club in the form of indirect pressure for his next deal. It works.

Not targeting you necessarily but your reaction is exactly what Moses and his management are driving to achieve - it indirectly puts pressure on the club (emotional reaction from fans). To decide not to sign a player because it has turned into a "circus" makes no sense. Decisions on recruitment and retention should only ever be made based on the greater good of the Football team.

Contract value and contract length are to the 2 variables. If Moses is not willing to accept what Parra management deem to be a contract that is within the best interests of the Parramatta club; they need to walk away from the table - whilst disregarding the media circus and all other external pressure.

If the club at all questions/questioned Moses or his management integrity they should never had provided a contract extension in the first place.