Rumours and Stuff

[Zoso]

BA has been saying 'chase the collision' for years regardless of his assistants. Go figure, according to you, he was stuck in the past by outdated tactics that failed us for one and half years until sacked.

Why wouldn't the coach have sole decision on what players they want. It is then up to R & R Committee if they can get them. You can't have R & R being independent of coach, that's just stupid thinking.

You don't think Ryles didn't have a plan? I would suggest he had it all written down in file which he presented to board when being interviewed. That's what I'd do with previous experience and letters of recommendation included and suggest that is what any decent coach would do.

As per previous, Ryles imo would've had holistic plan for organisation from juniors up, his wish list, and board gave him job on proviso plan carried out. That's my take but you'll have another for sure.

He’s been around some good systems and coaches and seems to have an appetite for knowledge. Working with Eddie Jones being an example of this.
My uninformed take is that he’ll be more of an adaptive coach and I think he can handle the pressure.
I’m excited to see what he can do.

 

[Zoso]

Quote from 2020 - Nailed it Hindy111

Think he can transition to another position if he can’t get the pace back?

 

[Delboy]

Like at least when Smith f**ked off we had some players coming through and a pretty decent side still..

With BA.he f**ked off and a majority of the side will be flipped due to the shit BA had done.

When Smith left, Hagan basically dismantled the JETS program and it has only been reinstated in the past 5 years, and BA has done well in that space and it looks like bearing dividends in the medium term as the work done by DeGois, Rogers and others bear fruit.

Hagan started the slide in fortunes and it took really until the disaster of 2017 and the factions removed that the decent reboot started. Bernie Gurr did so much well in such a short time, we should be very grateful for his appointment and the work done by Max Donnelly on the leagues club voting etc.

 

[JokerEel]

When Smith left, Hagan basically dismantled the JETS program and it has only been reinstated in the past 5 years, and BA has done well in that space and it looks like bearing dividends in the medium term as the work done by DeGois, Rogers and others bear fruit.

Hagan started the slide in fortunes and it took really until the disaster of 2017 and the factions removed that the decent reboot started. Bernie Gurr did so much well in such a short time, we should be very grateful for his appointment and the work done by Max Donnelly on the leagues club voting etc.

All the officials at the club since the 2016 scandal deserve credit even BA any other coach could have just walked away.
I do hope the club start to use their resources allt better now with new eyes.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Looking forward to the season starting.

What season?

 

[hindy111]

Think he can transition to another position if he can’t get the pace back?

I think he has a good attitude. I'd love to see him even get to a genuine NRL back up level like Russel and earn a new 150k a year deal.
But I don't think so. Hope I am wrong

 

[hindy111]

Well you're the one who thinks we failed because Sanders and Talagi left.

Do you find it odd the Storm can keep
Pezet ( offered about 600k elsewhere) Faaalogo ( Would get 700k open market)
Wishart ( 500k + start spot) all as basically back ups.
It's absolutely wild when their spine has the best hooker +5/8 in game along with a fullback and Halfback on around 900k each.
I'm unsure how the NRL and fans don't find this is fishy. It wreaks.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

When Smith left, Hagan basically dismantled the JETS program and it has only been reinstated in the past 5 years, and BA has done well in that space and it looks like bearing dividends in the medium term as the work done by DeGois, Rogers and others bear fruit.

Hagan started the slide in fortunes and it took really until the disaster of 2017 and the factions removed that the decent reboot started. Bernie Gurr did so much well in such a short time, we should be very grateful for his appointment and the work done by Max Donnelly on the leagues club voting etc.

These are the players from our junior rep sides from 2017 onwards that have some sort of contract for first grade this year (top 30, development 6, train and trial)
Sam Hughes, Trey Mooney, Will Penisini, Stefano Utoikamanu, Dylan Brown, Matt Doorey, Sean Russell, Jakob Arthur, Toni Mataele, Kylan Mafoa, Peter Taateo, Myles Martin, Charlie Guymer, Saxon Pryke, Ethan Sanders, Blaize Talagi, Sam Tuivaiti, Mohammed Alameddine, Michael Gabrael, Lachlan Galvin, Jaylan De Groot, Matthew Arthur, Dominic Farrugia, Jezaiah Funa-Iuta, Zaidas Muagututia, Richard Penisini, Arthur Miller-Stephen, Apa Twidle, Joshua Lynn.

And then there's some too young but we know will have contracts in the upcoming years: Lachlan Coinaikis, Tyson Sangalang, Ryda Talagi, Lincoln Fletcher


This of course isn't to say the pathways are perfect and we can't change things to make things better. But there's approx 4 players per age group that go on to get a first grade contract. This group alone can make a top 30, would it be good? Nope, but that's why you also bring in first grade players externally.

 

[The Predictor]

Why do u all continue to give this person oxygen, when u all know he is relentless in whatever argument that arises, u all complain and with good reason he is insufferable, but i at least don’t interact with him whilst most of u who constantly are at odds to say the least continue to accomodate him, the people that like him carry on, the once who don’t please STFU, and let’s get on talking football, this sight has become a clusterf**k, because of this one person and people who Choose to accomodate him…..ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

 

[TheCrowe]

Do you find it odd the Storm can keep
Pezet ( offered about 600k elsewhere) Faaalogo ( Would get 700k open market)
Wishart ( 500k + start spot) all as basically back ups.
It's absolutely wild when their spine has the best hooker +5/8 in game along with a fullback and Halfback on around 900k each.
I'm unsure how the NRL and fans don't find this is fishy. It wreaks.

It's not like they would keep 2 sets of books or anything. Perish the thought!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

But the Pathways is run to feed into the NRL side they work together.. well they should..

Of course you need to buy players every club does it to fill gaps but unfortunately our club has been poorly run for years and development wasn't a priority.

The McLean brothers probably are ready to fill in the gaps left by May and Tuarva. Alamoti got lucky May f**ked up...
Liam Henry/Lindsay Smith come from their juniors to take over from JFH all coming through the system all understanding the structure the first grade side needs.

Merkins can’t learn the system in the space of an off season? Cronk and Tedesco won a premiership in their first year at Easts. You’ve got no idea if you think NRL tactics are some kind of rocket science. It’s a simple game played, coached and watched by simpletons.

The game is about playing talent, motivation and preparation. Tactics are a small part of the game. Probably the greatest tactical mind was Brian Smith and he won as much as Brad Arthur.

It's also what happens when you win 4 years in row.... Players will eventually leave for more money.

They don’t need to win premierships to want more money.

Imagine shopping Moses ‍ Norman I get but Moses....

After 2018 merkins were happy to see the back of Moses. I believe the term used was ‘downhill skiier’.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Did I say we failed because they left?

I’m sure you were one of the ones having a massive sook about it. I wasn’t happy either but I understood why they left. They weren’t going to be displacing Drown or Moses, and they didn’t want to hang around to see if either of them left.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Like at least when Smith f**ked off we had some players coming through and a pretty decent side still..

With BA.he f**ked off and a majority of the side will be flipped due to the shit BA had done.

In his latest interview, MON says we are happy with the squad. We didn’t suck last year because the squad was shit, we sucked because of key injuries and senior players underperforming. Injuries can’t be helped but we have (probably) solved the underperformance issue by sacking the coach and some senior players. We also signed some proven talent (Lomax, Addo-Carr, Williams) and some unproven (Iongi plus re-signed Guymer). The 2025 squad is at least as good as it was in 2024.

 

[T.S Quint]

Why do u all continue to give this person oxygen, when u all know he is relentless in whatever argument that arises, u all complain and with good reason he is insufferable, but i at least don’t interact with him whilst most of u who constantly are at odds to say the least continue to accomodate him, the people that like him carry on, the once who don’t please STFU, and let’s get on talking football, this sight has become a clusterf**k, because of this one person and people who Choose to accomodate him…..ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

*site

 

[JokerEel]

I’m sure you were one of the ones having a massive sook about it. I wasn’t happy either but I understood why they left. They weren’t going to be displacing Drown or Moses, and they didn’t want to hang around to see if either of them left.

So you are just making up shit good to know

 

[Gazzamatta]

I know for a fact taht Jacob Liddle and Jake Simpkin were offered to Parra. Both are better than the hookers you had

When? Before Ryles or after BA.?

 

[hindy111]

Merkins can’t learn the system in the space of an off season? Cronk and Tedesco won a premiership in their first year at Easts. You’ve got no idea if you think NRL tactics are some kind of rocket science. It’s a simple game played, coached and watched by simpletons.

The game is about playing talent, motivation and preparation. Tactics are a small part of the game. Probably the greatest tactical mind was Brian Smith and he won as much as Brad Arthur.

They don’t need to win premierships to want more money.

After 2018 merkins were happy to see the back of Moses. I believe the term used was ‘downhill skiier’.

We got to a lot of preliminaries under Smith and looked a genuine title chance many years.
BA we never did. Yes we made the GF but we got slaughtered.
It was like the Trump vs Kamala election. Over in 10mins.

 

[Avenger]

In his latest interview, MON says we are happy with the squad. We didn’t suck last year because the squad was shit, we sucked because of key injuries and senior players underperforming. Injuries can’t be helped but we have (probably) solved the underperformance issue by sacking the coach and some senior players. We also signed some proven talent (Lomax, Addo-Carr, Williams) and some unproven (Iongi plus re-signed Guymer). The 2025 squad is at least as good as it was in 2024.

I believe the 2025 squad has greater depth. The departure of Clint Gutherson will introduce a new dynamic to our play, reminiscent of when Jarryd Hayne left for the NFL in 2014.

I haven’t been this excited about a season since 2005, with Tim Smith’s arrival and other astute acquisitions. Interestingly, after missing the finals in 2003 and 2004, much like our current situation, we embarked on a strong run from 2005 up to our grand final appearance in 2009.

I see history repeating itself from this season onwards.

 

[Tiger5150]

When? Before Ryles or after BA.?

When BA was coach

 

[Gazzamatta]

When BA was coach

Ta. Not surprising.