Rumours and Stuff

[Delboy]

Both games tonight underlined that speed is a big factor, something that we lack. NZ and Fiji 7s could or should be targeted.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What we should be doing is ensuring we have good jnrs ready to step up. For a development club we’ve lacked in this department for years now.

In 2025 our SG Ball winning team from last year will all be in their twenties.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If you can get Lomax this year, with both Simonsson and Harper also on the books for considerably less, you'd almost pay the Dragons to take Sivo off our hands.

Sivo adds value 10 metres out from the try line in attack, 50% of the time. The other 50% of time I could fall over and score the try...

He provides 3/5ths of 5/8ths of sweet f**k all in attack in all the other 90 metres, and Zero in defence everywhere, as every time he actually gets a hand on someone he gets suspended for 3 weeks..

He's good under the high ball.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Why bother with Xerri when we got Morgan Harper for a similar price and saved him a 1 way ticket to England.

Xerri's contract is an interesting one. Do you really think there was no more demand for him than there was for Harper? Xerri still has a lot of potential. I think nearly every club would've been interested in him at minimum salary. Even a few at $200k+. I wouldn't be surprised if his top offer was $300k. As for Harper, how much could he be on? I'm sure it's more than minimum salary but not by much. My guess is $150k to $180k.

 

[IFR33K]

In 2025 our SG Ball winning team from last year will all be in their twenties.

And what about previous years? BA has been here since 2014. The clubs been sitting on its hands for a while now.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

PO = player option;

This makes players cheaper.

CO = club option

This makes them more expensive.

 

[TheCrowe]

Both games tonight underlined that speed is a big factor, something that we lack. NZ and Fiji 7s could or should be targeted.

From what Ive read and seen Lomax will not solve our lack of speed problem.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Remember his current coach didn't think he was in the top 20 centres last season, and we are paying good money for 4 years!

We're paying him for how good he is in the future, not how good he was in the past.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I think one of the key factors is that each of those coaches had generational talents in their rosters - Hagan had Johns, Stuart had Fittler, Maguire had Inglis, and Green had Thurston.

Short of Jarryd Hayne, we haven't been able to boast a player anywhere near that level for some time.

When's the last time any coach won the comp without one of those? 2016? Hopefully Drown gets to that level.

 

[Matty Bhoy]

Xerri's contract is an interesting one. Do you really think there was no more demand for him than there was for Harper? Xerri still has a lot of potential. I think nearly every club would've been interested in him at minimum salary. Even a few at $200k+. I wouldn't be surprised if his top offer was $300k. As for Harper, how much could he be on? I'm sure it's more than minimum salary but not by much. My guess is $150k to $180k.

And tbh if he’s happy to take that amount again, he’s a good backup next season. That would help address the depth that we lack along with Talagi’s continued development and Richie Penisini.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And what about previous years? BA has been here since 2014. The clubs been sitting on its hands for a while now.

We also had a good crop of juniors in 2017: Drown, Mahoney, Kaufusi, Stone, Dunster, Doorey, Marzhew

Then we had the fallout of the salary cap scandal and Mad Max took over and put the brakes on spending. Then Covid hit and the PLC only recently recovered. Now we're spending again.

 

[emjaycee]

We also had a good crop of juniors in 2017: Drown, Mahoney, Kaufusi, Stone, Dunster, Doorey, Marzhew

Then we had the fallout of the salary cap scandal and Mad Max took over and put the brakes on spending. Then Covid hit and the PLC only recently recovered. Now we're spending again.

But if we are spending again on juniors, shouldnt we have a first grade squad full of them and be leading the comp already?

 

[Legal Eel]

well I should of been a little clearer. It slightly fixes our starting team on paper. But
There’s still issues with our defensive structures, lack of depth, lack of gun juniors coming thru, no notable hooker and most importantly, if he’s coming in 2025 we’ll be well and truly a dads army by then. We’ll have a number of players into their 30’s. What we should be doing is ensuring we have good jnrs ready to step up. For a development club we’ve lacked in this department for years now.

So by the time he comes here, there may be cracks appearing elsewhere.

No mate - that has nothing to do with coaching, recruitment or administration

just luck. All down to luck.

Tactics, planning, strategy - myths

it’s all just luck

 

[Eelementary]

When's the last time any coach won the comp without one of those? 2016? Hopefully Drown gets to that level.

Yeah, I'd say probably 2016, though the Sharks did have Gallen.

 

[Legal Eel]

A lack of a crafty/quality hooker is a big issue imo. And the main player I’m concerned about for next year is Gutho. Plays with the heart of a lion, is safe, but just doesn’t have the speed, size or strength of some of the other fullbacks.

Don’t be silly - hooker is sorted with Boods

and luck of course.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yeah, I'd say probably 2016, though the Sharks did have Gallen.

I reckon they had some luck too. They were at full strength, while Slater, Kaufusi and NAS were all unavailable for the grand final. That was also the only year around then that the Sharks weren't cheating the cap. Lucky them.

 

[Chipmunk]

He's good under the high ball.

C'mon Pou Bear, do I need to send you a packet of short straws for you to clutch at...even you know you've wondered off to the urinal to take a piss on this one.

From what we've all seen there is no evidence that Simonsson or Harper arent both at the same level under the high ball, for what I'm guessing is a combined less cost for both of them.

Sivo is still hit and miss under a high ball with traffic around, and you'd put your own money on it...FMD I've just about heard it all...

I could post on this forum that you're the best f**k in the world Pou Bear, and you'd still reply with an argument against it.

One of your best Pou Bear...one of your best...

 

[lucablight]

Pretty interesting how we have a history of procuring our notable signings by getting them to break their contracts. Moses,RCG, Matterson, Ofahengaue and now Lomax looking likely.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

C'mon Pou Bear, do I need to send you a packet of short straws for you to clutch at...even you know you've wondered off to the urinal to take a piss on this one.

From what we've all seen there is no evidence that Simonsson or Harper arent both at the same level under the high ball, for what I'm guessing is a combined less cost for both of them.

Sivo is still hit and miss under a high ball with traffic around, and you'd put your own money on it...FMD I've just about heard it all...

I could post on this forum that you're the best f**k in the world Pou Bear, and you'd still reply with an argument against it.

One of your best Pou Bear...one of your best...

I’m not clutching at straws, I think Sivo has declined significantly in attacking output. I’m just pointing out that safety under the high ball is still one of his strengths, and you missed it.

As for Simonsson, he is shaky under the bomb, which is one of the reasons he’s a better centre. And Harper has barely played wing in his career. Why would he be any good under the high ball?

That said, I agree with this week’s team. You know me, merkin. I always do.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Pretty interesting how we have a history of procuring our notable signings by getting them to break their contracts. Moses,RCG, Matterson, Ofahengaue and now Lomax looking likely.

Are we picking up roughies who showed early potential, picked up fat contracts and then failed to live up to them? Or are we just accumulating a team full of mercenaries?