Rumours and Stuff

[T.S Quint]

And there lies the issue with POs, by a far bit more, as we have seen, rnd 10 the following season. That's a long hook.

It's a player option. It's supposed to be in the player's favour.
In saying that, how many times has one of these player options prevented us from signing further players? We had Talagi seemingly wait until the last minute to opt out of his, but we were still able to sign players both before and after he did.
The Dragons were able to sign Gutho only a week ago. We got LAC even less time ago than that. There's still plenty of time after round 10 (or whichever date is usually agreed to for the PO) to sign players.

I don't find perthnisi impersonations 'reasonable conversation....'

I assume this means you think I'm just like Pou?
As if no one else is capable of having the same arguments. Just because you don't agree with me doesn't make it trolling or unreasonable conversation.
I'm giving my points as you are with yours. I thought we were doing well...until you called me a troll.

 

[T.S Quint]

Making sense in the face of Pou’s circular argument may well end up with 4/5 pages of contradictions.Everyone except Pou thinks POs rarely have any advantage to the club, then again the expectation is numerous replies.

The advantages mostly lie with the player. Once again that's why they are called 'PLAYER options'.
However there must be advantages for the club to have them in place, otherwise why would they be used.

Usually the biggest advantage is that we sign the player. Without the PO we might not be able to.
eg. Penisini (for instance) has an offer from two clubs:

Club A: 3 years @ $500k a season.
Club B: 3 years @ $500k a season + a one year PO at $400k a season.

Easy decision. You take Club B.

How about:

Club A: 3 years @ $500k a season
Club B @ $450k a season + a one year PO @ $400k

Could take less money up front but you have the extra insurance of the third year. You don't have to activate it, but you may lose form or get injured so in the long run it's probably the better deal.

We don't know what is in these contracts, how they were negotiated, or what the players were offered from other clubs. We don't know if they would have signed for us without the POs. But fans see 'Player Option' and they freak out as if this hasn't been going on for ages. Everyone wants us to sign good players but seemingly aren't happy when we do whatever we can to do so.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And there lies the issue with POs, by a far bit more, as we have seen, rnd 10 the following season. That's a long hook.

I’d say players want their futures sorted long before then.

I don't find perthnisi impersonations 'reasonable conversation....'

You’re being unreasonable with your extremely limited analysis.

 

[Legal Eel]

now we got rid of Brooks & Stef, much better thank you.....
we can actually rebuild a roster with confidence and plan for the future. How did you enjoy spoonbowl with the uncertainty of PO's hanging over all of your key players and not being able to plan a rebuild?

I enjoyed the spoonbowl.

As clown shows go, it was one of the more enjoyable as a parra fan!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Making sense in the face of Pou’s circular argument may well end up with 4/5 pages of contradictions.Everyone except Pou thinks POs rarely have any advantage to the club, then again the expectation is numerous replies.

They’re not supposed to be an advantage to the club ffs. That’s why the player is expected to give up money in exchange for the PO. If the player wasn’t conceding something, there would be no reason for the club to offer or agree to the PO.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It's a player option. It's supposed to be in the player's favour.

FFS!!!

 

[oldmancraigy]

If the player wasn’t conceding something, there would be no reason for the club to offer or agree to the PO.

Do you genuinely believe that is the only option?

Sad if true.
But explains a lot.

 

[emjaycee]

They’re not supposed to be an advantage to the club ffs. That’s why the player is expected to give up money in exchange for the PO. If the player wasn’t conceding something, there would be no reason for the club to offer or agree to the PO.

There not supposed to be an advantage to the club IF a player activates their PO.
To me that would mean that the club hadn't wanted to keep them for at least the amount earlier agreed (in other words their value to us was below the PO amount) AND they had no choice but to stay and accept the lesser amount because no other club would make them an offer.

Some examples where I think this would be the case and where the club potentially lo(o)ses is: (a) player suffers an injury and never returns to the same form i.e Dunster or (b) player for whatever reason cannot get a new contract elsewhere so they choose to stay and take the lesser amount. I think this might the case with Matto. Shopped around but his HIA/concussion risk was seen as being too high so no one wanted him. Executes his PO and stays with us for another year. If he medically retires in 2025 he still gets paid.

In both these examples however we may have been able to sign an and coming Dunster (at the time of signing) and a player with concussion concerns (Matto), to a lesser value contract for the committed years. So the club did actually get an advantage.

 

[Zoso]

would he though ? let's look at those 3 players

Dylbro: a very big wage and has not, in my opinion, reached his full potential as yet, so he needs to keep improving in attack. When Mitch was AWOL, he was nowhere near Mitch's level at No 7. Also a touch of the dickhead factor.

Penisini: Recently reported as having a significant front loaded deal and from what he produced last season, not even close to being worth it. He has shown potential but that's all, he needs to improve significantly.

Matto: I am a bit of a fan although some people don't want him here and he is on a decent wage also. Can be hot and cold and I think will play more of the middle forward with Ryles although I like him under Mitch's bombs on the edge. 30 years old, not too many years left and it will probably depend on how he goes this year as to whether he is worth his extension.

Of course a lot will depend on whether the options are MO, PO or CO but I don't think its all bad and may even work in our favour.

Mitch, on the other hand, is a different story at the peak of his career, so I can understand why we want to revise his deal.

Both Brown and Penisini will have better backs around them. I’m hopeful that, and some different coaching, will see them improve.

 

[emjaycee]

I still think all the expert analysts in the media haven't given some of Ryles' changes enough thought when picking our (best) 1-17. He seems to be looking at a style of play that requires more speed, hole running and passing ability in our edge forwards and leaving the 'settlers', hitups and offloads for the middle third. To me this means Lane, Paulo, Hopgood, Matto and Offa play in the middle and Kelma, Williams and Carty are the edges.

1. Iongi
2. JAC (left wing)
3. Penisini
4. Lomax
5. Simonsson (Russel to start the year)
6. Brown
7. Moses
8. Paulo
9. Hands (unless we sign Brailey)
10. Lane
11. Kelma
12. Williams
13. Hopgood

14. Papalii or Lussick
15. Offa
16. Matto
17. Cartwright

 

[Twizzle]

the whole situation is a shit show and if you dont think so, lets just wait and see how many more POs this club gives out.

yeah, I'n not a fan of POs, I just dont think these ones are as bad as some have made out

like you say, lets see how itplays out

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I assume this means you think I'm just like Pou?

What’s wrong with that ffs?!?!

 

[Tmars]

I still think all the expert analysts in the media haven't given some of Ryles' changes enough thought when picking our (best) 1-17. He seems to be looking at a style of play that requires more speed, hole running and passing ability in our edge forwards and leaving the 'settlers', hitups and offloads for the middle third. To me this means Lane, Paulo, Hopgood, Matto and Offa play in the middle and Kelma, Williams and Carty are the edges.

1. Iongi
2. JAC (left wing)
3. Penisini
4. Lomax
5. Simonsson (Russel to start the year)
6. Brown
7. Moses
8. Paulo
9. Hands (unless we sign Brailey)
10. Lane
11. Kelma
12. Williams
13. Hopgood

14. Papalii or Lussick
15. Offa
16. Matto
17. Cartwright

I like that team with Papalii on the bench, I just think Ryles will go with Guymer over Carty, if Guymer shows some form in the trials.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Do you genuinely believe that is the only option?

Sad if true.
But explains a lot.

Put it this way, if the club said they had a policy of ABSOLUTELY NO PLAYER OPTIONS, how would that change the equation for the negotiating player? If the PO was the factor deciding between two offers, what would happen if it was removed from negotiations? Would the player require something in its place or just go “Oh yeah okay, I’ll just take the offer without it. Fanks.”

 

[Pazza]

yeah, I'n not a fan of POs, I just dont think these ones are as bad as some have made out

like you say, lets see how itplays out

I just don't like how many POs are all hitting in one offseason. Let's say only matterson had a PO for 2026, then for me, it becomes a none issue.

It's going to be an interesting off season, the team has already evolved far more than I was expecting.

 

[lingard]

What’s wrong with that ffs?!?!

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with it. (If you like that sort of thing).

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I still think all the expert analysts in the media haven't given some of Ryles' changes enough thought when picking our (best) 1-17. He seems to be looking at a style of play that requires more speed, hole running and passing ability in our edge forwards and leaving the 'settlers', hitups and offloads for the middle third. To me this means Lane, Paulo, Hopgood, Matto and Offa play in the middle and Kelma, Williams and Carty are the edges.

1. Iongi
2. JAC (left wing)
3. Penisini
4. Lomax
5. Simonsson (Russel to start the year)
6. Brown
7. Moses
8. Paulo
9. Hands (unless we sign Brailey)
10. Lane
11. Kelma
12. Williams
13. Hopgood

14. Papalii or Lussick
15. Offa
16. Matto
17. Cartwright

I'm not sure I'd be starting the game with both Paulo and Lane. Different coaching may get a different result out of them, I think for better balance we would see Ofahengaue with one of those 2. Otherwise, I agree this would be our strongest/safest 17 to start the year.

Although with Ryles allowing 3 starting first grade players to leave, safe may not be the way he plays it and we might see Guymer on the edge, Williams in the middle and Moretti in the 17, and really go for the smaller pack?

 

[Pazza]

I'm not sure I'd be starting the game with both Paulo and Lane. Different coaching may get a different result out of them, I think for better balance we would see Ofahengaue with one of those 2. Otherwise, I agree this would be our strongest/safest 17 to start the year.

Although with Ryles allowing 3 starting first grade players to leave, safe may not be the way he plays it and we might see Guymer on the edge, Williams in the middle and Moretti in the 17, and really go for the smaller pack?

Joe o
Hands
Paulo
Kelma/carty
Guymer
Hopgood

Matto
Morretti
Williams

?

 

[oldmancraigy]

Put it this way, if the club said they had a policy of ABSOLUTELY NO PLAYER OPTIONS, how would that change the equation for the negotiating player? If the PO was the factor deciding between two offers, what would happen if it was removed from negotiations? Would the player require something in its place or just go “Oh yeah okay, I’ll just take the offer without it. Fanks.”

I don't understand what the relevance of your empty rhetoric to me is.... are you assuming you know what I am thinking?

I asked if you honestly believed what you posted previously was the only option. It seems abundantly clear from what you just posted that you don't believe that.

So I am curious as to the reason behind your belligerent insistence on that same point. Very strange.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I still think all the expert analysts in the media haven't given some of Ryles' changes enough thought when picking our (best) 1-17. He seems to be looking at a style of play that requires more speed, hole running and passing ability in our edge forwards and leaving the 'settlers', hitups and offloads for the middle third. To me this means Lane, Paulo, Hopgood, Matto and Offa play in the middle and Kelma, Williams and Carty are the edges.

1. Iongi
2. JAC (left wing)
3. Penisini
4. Lomax
5. Simonsson (Russel to start the year)
6. Brown
7. Moses
8. Paulo
9. Hands (unless we sign Brailey)
10. Lane
11. Kelma
12. Williams
13. Hopgood

14. Papalii or Lussick
15. Offa
16. Matto
17. Cartwright

I doubt Williams will be a first choice edge forward but Ryles might surprise. I’m keen to see if Guymer is an edge forward option. I assume Tuilagi and Cartwright will be the merkins, and we’ll soon buy a good one for 2026.