Rumours and Stuff

[Incorrect]

Cut the BS out we all know the reason he was playing in a different position in reggies and it had SFA to do with utility value.

The now former coach sure as shit didn't rate his ultilty value when Bailey Simmonson got knocked out in the first min against Penrith in round 2 and we had to play Kelma Tulaigi in the centres while Hands sat on the bench for 77 mins.

Has your selective memory forgotten about that game.

Yeah funny how BA had no problem shifting Drown to the centres to get his awesome backup son Jake a run in the top grade but wouldn't do the same thing when we had a genuine injury crisis and a "utility" on the bench and instead played Kelma out there.... That charlatan used the club as his own plaything with a misplaced emphasis on developing the questionable talents of his offspring.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Quite a measured article actually.

It will no doubt be derided by some on here, but all in all it's a fair summation of how this has hamstrung us.

The interesting thing to take from it is the assertion that "Parramatta have close to half the players in the competition with options in their favour - or partially in their favour - on their books for 2026."

Are we that smarter and more innovative than the rest of the competition? Or has this course been undertaken in error?

Here’s an alternate take that doesn’t require us to sneer at the decisions of people we don’t know, under conditions we also don’t understand:

We had just completed a period of relative success that has been rare for our club for decades. 2019-2022 was only the second time since 1986 that we had made the finals four consecutive years. Technically it was the fourth, since 1997 to 2002 counts as three separate four year periods, but you get the idea. We have struggled to keep a team together since Price and Cronin retired.

Against this backdrop, we were trying to fit as much talent under the cap as we could, and unlike some other clubs, we had no magical ways of getting merkins to stay for unders. This is where player options come in. How about, instead of giving you that extra $50k-$100k, we give you some insurance at the back end of your contract instead? Most players would prefer the extra cash (I would) but a couple were willing to make the trade off.

All hypothetical but so is your claim that the club bent over for player managers who somehow only wanted player options for a couple of their players instead of for all of them.

And if player options are the sign of a weak, stupid and unsuccessful club, why don’t the Tigers have any? Why aren’t managers trying to rort them for POs? Your theory makes no sense, which Is understandable given you got it from rugby league gutter journos.

The results are there for all to see

Where? The seasons where these POs come due haven’t even happened yet ffs

and for mine the article highlights the poor course undertaken by the club - but I suppose it's a matter of perspective because for some on here the 2022 Grand Final and the current roster state are proof that this course was exactly right.

What was wrong with the 2022 grand final squad? It was a solid team, and it’s no wonder the salary cap pulled it apart. Our problem was we had no cheap talent ready to bring into the team to replace the ones who left. Fortunately we have much stronger juniors in 2025. Most of those SG Ball merkins from 2023 are 21 next season.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Well, not really.
We won't see the results of these POs until they have been either been activated or not activated by the player.

FFS!!!!

 

[Tiger5150]

Against this backdrop, we were trying to fit as much talent under the cap as we could, and unlike some other clubs, we had no magical ways of getting merkins to stay for unders. This is where player options come in. How about, instead of giving you that extra $50k-$100k, we give you some insurance at the back end of your contract instead? Most players would prefer the extra cash (I would) but a couple were willing to make the trade off.

All hypothetical but so is your claim that the club bent over for player managers who somehow only wanted player options for a couple of their players instead of for all of them.

If its all hypothetical, why doesnt the club just say this is the price we want to pay p.a. for this many years, take it or leave it? How many players walked away from the club because a PO wasnt offered? Would Mose and Drown have walked? Will never know because Eels folded like an Aldi beach chair.

And if player options are the sign of a weak, stupid and unsuccessful club, why don’t the Tigers have any? Why aren’t managers trying to rort them for POs? Your theory makes no sense, which Is understandable given you got it from rugby league gutter journos.

If PO's are a smart, clever tactic, why dont any of the top 8 clubs have any?

 

[Gary Gutful]

Tiger5150 talking plop. No understanding of the basic underpinnings.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Didn’t we try to shop Matto around but there were no takers so he took up his option. That would indicate we’ve been forced to keep a player that we would prefer not to.

It’s no different to trying to get rid of any other contracted player, such as RCG, Sivo and Gutherson. I’m sure Matterson will still be a solid contributor next year. It’s not like he’s become a bum. He was our best forward two years ago.

In any case, being able to activate the option even if the club doesn’t want the player to stay is the point of the PO. That’s why it has value to the player and a cost to the club. A club wouldn’t agree to it unless it saved them money. Likewise, a player wouldn’t agree to it unless he was happy with the cost.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Matto activated that PO quicker then when he said I am taking the 3 match ban instead of a 4k fine

I doubt any of these merkins will wait until the last minute to activate their option, or accept a bigger offer from a rival (or from us).

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'm not convinced about Penisini, not yet anyway, I don't know why he would be highly rated.

He could be one day but he regressed last season for mine.

I think any youngster is going to appear to ‘regress’ in a struggling team. But Penisini is only 22 years old. He is still on the up.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He’d be on close to what Kotoni is on at the Broncos. Who would you rather have?

How much do you reckon Staggs would be on if he agreed to come to Parra?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Kotoni is on Broncos dollars which is way more.

ffs

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He's top tier when running the ball.
Unfortunately his decision making, especially in defence are poor.

Decision making is a weakness for probably every young player