Rumours and Stuff

[Pazza]

Our best chance of winning the big one is souly with the players that we already have in the building.

We need a few guys to make a big leap forward... let's hope

 

[hindy111]

Also what has Sanders leaving in 2025 got to do with preventing a Penrith 4peat in 2024?

The whole article was a desperate attempt to write something and the miss our most pressing weaknesses.

Centre and wing.

Also everyone says sign quality but all the quality players are signed and have been for a while. Unless you can get a player and club to agree in cutting their contract short and jumping ship then it isn't possible.

I think all can do is trade this late in the piece otherwise wait for rnd 12 next season and hope a side has given up on the season already. A side like the Dragons for example maybe interested in Lomax for Junior and both sides take on the others contract etc. That's probably the best best.
Question is who of any value would we want to trade and for who?

 

[Avenger]

Also what has Sanders leaving in 2025 got to do with preventing a Penrith 4peat in 2024?

The whole article was a desperate attempt to write something and the miss our most pressing weaknesses.

Centre and wing.

Also everyone says sign quality but all the quality players are signed and have been for a while. Unless you can get a player and club to agree in cutting their contract short and jumping ship then it isn't possible.

If I was in charge I’d be signing the high quality for 2025. There is plenty there. Tapping some on the shoulder and looking at doing a major refresh to the squad in 2025. We aren’t winning in 2024 and my tip is we may miss the 8 again and we could start with a new coach in 2025.

Players like Paulo, Lane, Sivo and Simonsson would be my first targets from the top 17 that I’d look to move on.

 

[TheRam]

I think all can do is trade this late in the piece otherwise wait for rnd 12 next season and hope a side has given up on the season already. A side like the Dragons for example maybe interested in Lomax for Junior and both sides take on the others contract etc. That's probably the best best.
Question is who of any value would we want to trade and for who?

Agreed Hindy, but I wouldn't be trading out Junior just yet, unless the club knows something we don't.

Like you I think he could bounce back and just needs to get his focus back.

Besides we don't have anyone in his class and experience at his best to come in and dominate like he can. Front rowers are key to any title success as we all know after all and none of our juniors are anywhere near as good when he is on. As for buying a replacement? Good luck.

 

[Incorrect]

Players like Paulo, Lane, Sivo and Simonsson would be my first targets from the top 17 that I’d look to move on.

Absolutely agree....

 

[King-Gutho94]

If I was in charge I’d be signing the high quality for 2025. There is plenty there. Tapping some on the shoulder and looking at doing a major refresh to the squad in 2025. We aren’t winning in 2024 and my tip is we may miss the 8 again and we could start with a new coach in 2025.

Players like Paulo, Lane, Sivo and Simonsson would be my first targets from the top 17 that I’d look to move on.

The club probably thinks Sivo is some cult hero because the fans keep chanting his name after every try. So he is a must keep.

I would have flicked him off before his last extension whenever that was.

 

[Cloeel]

The club probably thinks Sivo is some cult hero because the fans keep chanting his name after every try. So he is a must keep.

I would have flicked him off before his last extension whenever that was.

At the time who would you have signed instead of re signing Sivo?

 

[yy_cheng]

The coach has to tell jnr to stop passing first.

He does the same sit for Samoa

 

[Angry_eel]

The coach has to tell jnr to stop passing first.

He does the same sit for Samoa

How dare you? He's the Big Little Man who enjoys playmaking.

 

[King-Gutho94]

At the time who would you have signed instead of re signing Sivo?

Morgan Harper and my wish has come true.

 

[Delboy]

The real question remain , how persuasive and good are the people on the recruitment team. Even a Bulldogs winger we were looking at , has resigned at the Dogs. So frustrating that the real needs, which is to replace Fergo and Jennings have basically been ignored for 4 years or so, or have we targeted players and not been willing to meet the price or not been able to push the advantages of signing at Parra.
Just need them to act like a big club and do things required to match those at the top, yes we made the GF last year but the holes in the side were apparent there, and nothing has happened to improve the backs and speed needs.

 

[hindy111]

If I was in charge I’d be signing the high quality for 2025. There is plenty there. Tapping some on the shoulder and looking at doing a major refresh to the squad in 2025. We aren’t winning in 2024 and my tip is we may miss the 8 again and we could start with a new coach in 2025.

Players like Paulo, Lane, Sivo and Simonsson would be my first targets from the top 17 that I’d look to move on.

Lane in 2022 was origin level. He had a sensational year. He probably was offered 1yr to long on his contract for mine. Turns 29 soon and has 3 more years.
We are going to have RCG,JNR,LANE,MATTO all just about finish at the sametime. The pack is getting old. All these guys will be 29/30 come kick off for 2024. How they'll be in 2026 is the biggest worry.
I think it's poor management to have 4 of your senior and best forwards all finishing the same year.

 

[Cloeel]

The real question remain , how persuasive and good are the people on the recruitment team. Even a Bulldogs winger we were looking at , has resigned at the Dogs. So frustrating that the real needs, which is to replace Fergo and Jennings have basically been ignored for 4 years or so, or have we targeted players and not been willing to meet the price or not been able to push the advantages of signing at Parra.
Just need them to act like a big club and do things required to match those at the top, yes we made the GF last year but the holes in the side were apparent there, and nothing has happened to improve the backs and speed needs.

It would be surprising if we are losing out on signing players because the Bulldogs are more persuasive. Sure there is an element of coercion. However it comes down to job security and $$$. Maybe the Bulldogs are prepared to budget more for back up outside backs and first grade standard outside backs than we are?

Gus had the Bulldogs invest in a 500k transfer fee for an untried Teenager. So paying overs for back up outside backs would not surprise me.

 

[Avenger]

Lane in 2022 was origin level. He had a sensational year. He probably was offered 1yr to long on his contract for mine. Turns 29 soon and has 3 more years.
We are going to have RCG,JNR,LANE,MATTO all just about finish at the sametime. The pack is getting old. All these guys will be 29/30 come kick off for 2024. How they'll be in 2026 is the biggest worry.
I think it's poor management to have 4 of your senior and best forwards all finishing the same year.

The sharks did it with an aging pack in 2016.

 

[Eelementary]

The sharks did it with an aging pack in 2016.

But they also had a very astute coach in Shane Flanagan.

 

[Delboy]

It would be surprising if we are losing out on signing players because the Bulldogs are more persuasive. Sure there is an element of coercion. However it comes down to job security and $$$. Maybe the Bulldogs are prepared to budget more for back up outside backs and first grade standard outside backs than we are?

Gus had the Bulldogs invest in a 500k transfer fee for an untried Teenager. So paying overs for back up outside backs would not surprise me.

As a club the recruitment team has targeted a number of players, from Jayden Campbell, Herbie Farnsworth and other and not come up with a. Result.
Certainly , others may pay more but the need for an elite back has been staring the club in the face for years, and the ultra conservative and cautious approach appears to be leaving opportunity behind. The signing of Lane, Junior, Fergo and Sivo were made when BA was doing it all, and Bernie Gurr was leading the club. Since then , and possibly due to the drama of sanctions, the cue has gone in the rack apart from retention. If the fans realise there is a missing ingredient and it’s not been covered, then the approach adopted does little to get us in competition with the top tier on a consistent basis. Membership, sponsorship, attendances, facilities has the club comparable, just not filling the needs as we see others do .

 

[Gronk]

The sharks did it with an aging pack in 2016.

But they also had a very astute coach in Shane Flanagan.

Over the cap every year for a decade except for that year in 2016, apparently.

Paul Kent believes the Cronulla Sharks were ‘systematically cheating’ when they won the title

Kent: Sharks ‘systematically cheating’ when they won the title

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Delboy]

Think it’s worth stating that the coach has done well given he’s never had a side that was considered a GF winning roster, so the recruitment side needs to step up. The junior reps have made good strides in identification, need to do that higher up.

 

[Cloeel]

As a club the recruitment team has targeted a number of players, from Jayden Campbell, Herbie Farnsworth and other and not come up with a. Result.
Certainly , others may pay more but the need for an elite back has been staring the club in the face for years, and the ultra conservative and cautious approach appears to be leaving opportunity behind. The signing of Lane, Junior, Fergo and Sivo were made when BA was doing it all, and Bernie Gurr was leading the club. Since then , and possibly due to the drama of sanctions, the cue has gone in the rack apart from retention. If the fans realise there is a missing ingredient and it’s not been covered, then the approach adopted does little to get us in competition with the top tier on a consistent basis. Membership, sponsorship, attendances, facilities has the club comparable, just not filling the needs as we see others do .

How many of these outside backs that we have missed out on have stayed or moved to clubs that have done better in terms of table position than us in the last 3 seasons?

This is a genuine question. As the majority of names floated around here and in the media aren't players who have moved to top tier clubs.

This tells me we are offering less $$$ and/or shorter term contracts.

The problem we have is that we are not budgeting enough for the outside backs. However if we are to adjust this it just means lesser $$$ for other positions. Maybe outlaying 1.6m+ on our starting props is too much?

Fact is your always going to pay a surplus for players who are in demand. Continual and gradual increased investment in our juniors is our best bet. However this takes time.

 

[yy_cheng]

Lane in 2022 was origin level. He had a sensational year. He probably was offered 1yr to long on his contract for mine. Turns 29 soon and has 3 more years.
We are going to have RCG,JNR,LANE,MATTO all just about finish at the sametime. The pack is getting old. All these guys will be 29/30 come kick off for 2024. How they'll be in 2026 is the biggest worry.
I think it's poor management to have 4 of your senior and best forwards all finishing the same year.

Actually I think this is good coz we would probably only keep 1 or 2 of them.

It was bad management last time when they were in their prime and all came off contract at the same time as they all wanted big $$$.

At the end of their careers, they would look for another year to their contract rather than the dollars and hence we can get them for sort of unders. At this rate, I reckon would probably only keep 1 or 2 of RCG, Lane or Matto depending on form and injury. If they were 32 now, I would probably keep RCG and Matto. RCG as he doesnt seem like the type to take it easy like be lazy. Just reduce his minutes and his experience can lead a new younger brigade of middles. Matto coz he's a bit more flexible and his ball playing could make his game last longer and you know he would probably most likely stay fit.

Lane and Jnr can be lazy. Jnr can get unfit too. Lane can really only play edge (yes he can play middle but not as good as matto) and he can get lazy too.