Rumours and Stuff

[Stagger eel]

at the end of the day, I'd be more confident getting the best of him in our system than I would at the Tigers and Manly.

so I'm happy to see how he goes.

 

[TheRam]

Really, the last thing we need in our team is another lazy defender.
If we can get a couple of workhorses that run around the park, cleaning up the work left by others by tackling themselves to a standstill, then that will go a long way to improving our record next year.

Until our defence is fixed, I can't see us winning a premiership.

Phoenix Crossland says hello.

 

[Matty Bhoy]

I’m perplexed about some of the reactions to Tuilagi (mostly on social media tbf). Davey and Murchie needed to be replaced and we’ve done it with someone who’s showed a bit of promise and would likely cost SFA. If it doesn’t work out, no harm done. If we get a good run with injuries he likely hardly features.

 

[Avenger]

Making Matterson into a prop would be my long term plan. Saw him recently, he is huge and could transform into one like Stuart did with Tapine.

Matterson already is bigger and taller than him.

 

[T.S Quint]

I’m perplexed about some of the reactions to Tuilagi (mostly on social media tbf). Davey and Murchie needed to be replaced and we’ve done it with someone who’s showed a bit of promise and would likely cost SFA. If it doesn’t work out, no harm done. If we get a good run with injuries he likely hardly features.

If he's going to be simply a backup player then I don't have much of a problem with the signing. I'm sure we didn't break the bank to get him.
My concern is if he is going to be a regular first grade player. We have plenty of attacking options in the forwards already. We need good defenders, and at this point Tailagi doesn't seem to be one of them.

We do need to replace Davey, but we've seemingly done it with someone who is the complete opposite of him. Davey - old, decent defender, not much attacking prowess. Tailagi - young, horrible defender, shows promise in attack.

I certainly hope he works out well for us.

 

[oldmancraigy]

Jirah Momoisea was supposedly the next big thing last pre-season he ended up playing like a Ron Massey cup level player.

That is probably a bit harsh






On RM cup players

 

[TheRam]

Making Matterson into a prop would be my long term plan. Saw him recently, he is huge and could transform into one like Stuart did with Tapine.

Matterson already is bigger and taller than him.

Mate he barely wants to be in the forwards and now you want to throw him into the engine room fulltime.

Hmmmm...I wonder how that will go?

 

[T.S Quint]

Mate he barely wants to be in the forwards and now you want to throw him into the engine room fulltime.

Hmmmm...I wonder how that will go?

I don't think he would play much differently to how he plays now.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Making Matterson into a prop would be my long term plan. Saw him recently, he is huge and could transform into one like Stuart did with Tapine.

Matterson already is bigger and taller than him.

I dont think Matto has the mental toughness to be a prop.

He is too much of a sook and would never allow BA to play him there.

 

[gaffer]

Well, I'm hoping for another Dogs spoon...but I'll be ok with a Manly one.
Just as long as the Dogs still finish down the bottom.

i'd like to see storm and donkeys fight it out for the spoon

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He isn't going to stay or be a backup Hooker from here on in for to much longer.

You do realise the salary cap has ballooned right? Average players now get $300-400K. Look at what we paid for Joffa.

Yep, solid NRL players are so expensive that most teams can’t afford to have 17 of them in their squads as well as a handful of stars. It’s why most teams have some merkin on the bench who only gets 15 minutes.

 

[the phantom menace]

^^^

(Not you gaffer, for those ignoring certain posts...)

 

[Gronk]

Jirah Momoisea was supposedly the next big thing last pre-season he ended up playing like a Ron Massey cup level player.

I reckon you made that up.

 

[Lemon Squash]

If it was this time 12 months ago that we had signed Taulagi I think we would all be at half-mast. He was consistently one of the Tigers only decent players, they were spewing he left and I actually thought he would turn into a pretty elite back-rower at Manly on the opposite edge of Olakuatu.

I watched him pretty closely this year and he was disappointing. His workrate isn't great and yes he is prone to his fair share of defensive lapses.

In his defence Manly in general were no defensive juggernaut for much of the year so might be harsh to blame him in that system.

BA has plenty of faults but he has proven that he can get pretty average first graders to play above average footy if they apply themselves between the ears and put the hard work in. As a Backup/Bench edge backrower for what is surely not a lot of money he is worth a punt.

 

[Tiger5150]

Not to be too rude but he has been in 2 pretty shit development systems in his time...

Maybe going to a club that has a clue will help him next year..

Funny you should say that, Tigers poached him from Melbourne. He was on a development Contract with Melbourne, playing in QLD Cup.

 

[TheCrowe]

If he's going to be simply a backup player then I don't have much of a problem with the signing. I'm sure we didn't break the bank to get him.
My concern is if he is going to be a regular first grade player. We have plenty of attacking options in the forwards already. We need good defenders, and at this point Tailagi doesn't seem to be one of them.

We do need to replace Davey, but we've seemingly done it with someone who is the complete opposite of him. Davey - old, decent defender, not much attacking prowess. Tailagi - young, horrible defender, shows promise in attack.

I certainly hope he works out well for us.

Maybe it will be easier to accept if we look at him as a replacement for Murchie.

 

[Tiger5150]

i'd like to see storm and donkeys fight it out for the spoon

me too

 

[Tiger5150]

If it was this time 12 months ago that we had signed Taulagi I think we would all be at half-mast. He was consistently one of the Tigers only decent players, they were spewing he left and I actually thought he would turn into a pretty elite back-rower at Manly on the opposite edge of Olakuatu.

Like I posted above, Tuilagi was not consistently decent at the Tigers. he was good in his first few games, mostly in attack and then dropped off after signing with Manly. Tigers fans were spewing when he signed with Manly but happy to see the back of him when he left. 80% of his time at Tigers was exactly how he was at Manly.

I watched him pretty closely this year and he was disappointing. His workrate isn't great and yes he is prone to his fair share of defensive lapses.

Thats how he was at Tigers as well after signing with Manly early in the season.

 

[Matty Bhoy]

We do need to replace Davey, but we've seemingly done it with someone who is the complete opposite of him. Davey - old, decent defender, not much attacking prowess. Tailagi - young, horrible defender, shows promise in attack.

I certainly hope he works out well for us.

I’ll be very surprised if he’s been signed to be a regular first grade player. He’s on a 2 year deal according to the rags, so let’s see how it pans out. No chance he’s on big money.

If BA can get Cartwright to defend decently, there’s no reason he can’t with Taulagi as well. Win / win for mine.

 

[TheRam]

Yep, solid NRL players are so expensive that most teams can’t afford to have 17 of them in their squads as well as a handful of stars. It’s why most teams have some merkin on the bench who only gets 15 minutes.

Or you tap into your juniors and actually start to produce and hold onto the few good ones that come through.

Hey there's a thought.

Oh yeah, not enough resources.