Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

You expected confrontational argy-bargy ?

“…and this week on TCT, don’t miss our last ever interview with anyone associated with the club.”

 

[Tiger5150]

that's a given, the Eels is silent

Do Eels make a noise? In the forest if no one is there to hear?

 

[Tiger5150]

They were taken to the local Red Rooster. Manly is on the wrong side of the line.

Red Rooster · Shop 2/1 Resolution Pl, Rouse Hill NSW 2155, Australia

★★★☆☆ · Chicken restaurant

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Tmars]

I think you are being a bit hard there mate.

MON confirmed:

That we have one spot left and are after a game changer meaning there is a good chunk of money left. This does not come easy and a position in the outside backs is preferred.

He also explained that Dunster not coming back as expected from injury hurt us this season when it came to depth in the outside backs. Basically didn’t kick on.

They also spoke about Moretti going to the next level.

He stated that this year was an anomaly and that the expectation is a top 4 or top 6 finish in 2024.

I still have a bit to go, listening to the rest of the interview in the car on the way home.

Yep he said a player with match winning capabilities who can turn a game on its head with a piece of brilliance.
I hope Ado Carr is still a possibility.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Actually MON is a hard working HOF, but would never be described as dynamic and getting any idea why things didn’t happen would be next to impossible. Apparently not the easiest recruitment person to deal with according to several player managers.

What makes those merkins happy isn't necessarily in the best interests of our club.

We still have no real idea how the debacle that was the NRLW recruitment occurred, watching other teams sign and extend players, particularly ahead of last season remains one of the most frustrating things that happened.

I reckon you need to read between the lines, and accept that resourcing determines these outcomes. The consistent difference in strength between NRLW squads reflects the disparity in TPAs and other non-salary benefits clubs can offer NRL players. In the case of the NRLW it magnifies the inequality. The reason for this is that NRLW salaries pale compared to the types of benefits they can receive from clubs with the right backers; things like accommodation and cushy jobs could add up to multiples of the NRLW average salary.

Added to the ongoing failure to sign anyone close to elite since he took the role is also up there. No junior rep team lists also frustrating, but hopefully we get an unexpected opportunity it to land a better than average back prior to the start of the season.

We have at least retained a number of players who are 'close to elite', and ultimately does it matter whether you are keeping them or signing them from elsewhere? The cap (and other resources) determine how many stars you can have. We are probably at a point where we would need to lose a star before we can sign another one. What we need next year (like in 2022) is to keep our stars on the field.

 

[the phantom menace]

We are probably at a point where we would need to lose a star before we can sign another one.

Did you even listen to the interview?

 

[Twizzle]

We have at least retained a number of players who are 'close to elite', and ultimately does it matter whether you are keeping them or signing them from elsewhere?

Moses, Dylbro and Guth the year before are decent quality retentions, although I always thought we paid too much for Mitch

3 out of 4 in the spine is good retention, but that 4th spine spot is a serious weakness. I understand that having 4 quality spine players is not acheiveable for most teams but the no 9 really is a weakness for us

 

[King-Gutho94]

Moses, Dylbro and Guth the year before are decent quality retentions, although I always thought we paid too much for Mitch

3 out of 4 in the spine is good retention, but that 4th spine spot is a serious weakness. I understand that having 4 quality spine players is not acheiveable for most teams but the no 9 really is a weakness for us

Look we probably paid slightly too much for Mitch.

But the reality is there is SFA halves on the market. We invested what 6 years already we may as well go all in now for the rest of his career and hope he jags a comp.

And he is in my eyes the 3rd best halfback in the game. I would rather pay Moses what we paid him then what the Dragons are paying Hunt.

Moses has more string to his bow.

While he is here with Drown I still feel the premiership window will be slightly open as long we have a competitive forward pack to hold there own and set the platform.

Realistically Gutho and Moses could play in there peak for another 5 or 6 years with sports science the way it is and the fact both are competitive animals and super fit.

 

[lingard]

Do Eels make a noise? In the forest if no one is there to hear?

Eels actually don't live in the forest.

 

[IFR33K]

Little things can go along way. I started a new job last week. The new team im with is fantastic. So supportive and nice. It’s made me feel so much better. I knew my old job was bad, but i had forgotten how much better it can be in a good workplace. My performance has improved alot.

shit mate, the ladies better watch out!

 

[Incorrect]

shit mate, the ladies better watch out!

It's all relative... 8 minutes might not be considered an improved performance by some ladies.... But when the baseline was 90 seconds, it's definitely an improvement....

 

[lingard]

Moses, Dylbro and Guth the year before are decent quality retentions, although I always thought we paid too much for Mitch

3 out of 4 in the spine is good retention, but that 4th spine spot is a serious weakness. I understand that having 4 quality spine players is not acheiveable for most teams but the no 9 really is a weakness for us

I don't necessarily agree that hooker is a weakness. I believe our current hookers are good enough. For me it is definitely an elite outside back we lack. I think our current spine is definitely good enough to win a premiership, as is our forward pack. It's our backline that is lacking, definitely.

 

[strider]

Eels actually don't live in the forest.

Are you sure?

 

[lingard]

Look we probably paid slightly too much for Mitch.

But the reality is there is SFA halves on the market. We invested what 6 years already we may as well go all in now for the rest of his career and hope he jags a comp.

And he is in my eyes the 3rd best halfback in the game. I would rather pay Moses what we paid him then what the Dragons are paying Hunt.

Moses has more string to his bow.

While he is here with Drown I still feel the premiership window will be slightly open as long we have a competitive forward pack to hold there own and set the platform.

Realistically Gutho and Moses could play in there peak for another 5 or 6 years with sports science the way it is and the fact both are competitive animals and super fit.

Perhaps (on Moses being slightly overpaid) but he does seem to keep improving with every passing year. I think Dylan Brown is the one who is a tad overpaid. We'll have to wait and see, I guess, but I hope he too continues to improve.

 

[lingard]

Are you sure?

Reasonably sure. I mean I've never heard one.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Moses, Dylbro and Guth the year before are decent quality retentions, although I always thought we paid too much for Mitch

3 out of 4 in the spine is good retention, but that 4th spine spot is a serious weakness. I understand that having 4 quality spine players is not acheiveable for most teams but the no 9 really is a weakness for us

4 quality spine players is not achievable for any team long term. Once Edwards started becoming good penrith lost Koroisau, souths lost Reynolds. The storm eventually lost Inglis and then Cronk. There's talk of penrith losing luai, cowboys losing dearden and there was talk of broncos losing mam.

If we get a good hooker that means we'll eventually have to lose quality at some other spine position. We could be lucky and have 4 high quality spine players at once but as we've seen young spine players are being offered big money before they even play reserve grade nowadays. That's how hard it is to consistently develop spine players for 17 NRL teams.

 

[Eelementary]

Yep he said a player with match winning capabilities who can turn a game on its head with a piece of brilliance.
I hope Ado Carr is still a possibility.

Me, too - unless we have to cough up Matterson.

They can have Paulo.

 

[Twizzle]

I don't necessarily agree that hooker is a weakness. I believe our current hookers are good enough. For me it is definitely an elite outside back we lack. I think our current spine is definitely good enough to win a premiership, as is our forward pack. It's our backline that is lacking, definitely.

agreed, an outside back is more of a priority

 

[Gazzamatta]

Little things can go along way. I started a new job last week. The new team im with is fantastic. So supportive and nice. It’s made me feel so much better. I knew my old job was bad, but i had forgotten how much better it can be in a good workplace. My performance has improved alot.

Well I expect that Penski File will be top notch shortly Georgie.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Perhaps (on Moses being slightly overpaid) but he does seem to keep improving with every passing year. I think Dylan Brown is the one who is a tad overpaid. We'll have to wait and see, I guess, but I hope he too continues to improve.

Moses all round general play game has improved every year.

Just needs to knock over some crucial conversions when we actually need them in tight games.

Andrew Voss whenever he commentates our games mentions that Mitch's has said to him on the Fan show his goal kicking for each match can be determined by that 1st kick.

If he gets it he generally kicks 90-95% but if he misses it can lead to a rough night with the boot.

We saw last year we lost 4 games on Goal kicking in tight games. The great ones don't miss the ones they need to kick. Scam Smith wasn't the best goal kicker but he always nailed the important ones when the game was tight.