Rumours and Stuff

[Soto]

Go all in for Brandon Smith...and Ryley can come off the bench.
Brandon Smith would add so much to our side...I know many don't want him but we need players who lead by example ON the pitch plus he can change games with his bustling runs, quick darts from dummy half and occasional big hit
Get it done Rylesy...
Build around players like him, Moses, JAC, Williams, Tuivati, Latu, Ionghi, and Lomax.
The rest can be drafted in and out

 

[Timana]

Go all in for Brandon Smith...and Ryley can come off the bench.
Brandon Smith would add so much to our side...I know many don't want him but we need players who lead by example ON the pitch plus he can change games with his bustling runs, quick darts from dummy half and occasional big hit
Get it done Rylesy...
Build around players like him, Moses, JAC, Williams, Tuivati, Latu, Ionghi, and Lomax.
The rest can be drafted in and out

I do like that idea.. Though it depends on how much.

 

[eels_fan]

Wouldn’t be risking him off an ACL recon. He’s not the best trainer at the best of times and that’s major recovery

 

[Wally21]

Smith is still only a Development next year?

You really need three hookers no matter who they are.

Three hookers would cost a lot of money, unless you’re in Thailand or Costa Rica…

 

[Soto]

Wouldn’t be risking him off an ACL recon. He’s not the best trainer at the best of times and that’s major recovery

Training the house down according to Teddy on 100% footy.
Talk is Soufs are going all in if they can afford him. Expected return in June.
Get him and release a truckload of players and then continue to work of signing players.
Next yr we need 7-8 players signed.
It's a non negotiable

 

[Chipmunk]

Three hookers would cost a lot of money, unless you’re in Thailand or Costa Rica…

I'll have a chat to some next time in Thailand and see if they're keen...

 

[Matty Bhoy]

I’d take Starling in a heartbeat. Carved Brisbane up the other night. He’s 26 and has 100 or so first grade games under the belt. I also assume he wouldn’t cost the earth.

Apparently Scott Sattler mentioned it on the radio the other day that we were looking at him. He’s without a contract for next year and with Brailey going there he’s the odd man out I would say.

 

[Gronk]

Go all in for Brandon Smith...and Ryley can come off the bench.
Brandon Smith would add so much to our side...I know many don't want him but we need players who lead by example ON the pitch plus he can change games with his bustling runs, quick darts from dummy half and occasional big hit
Get it done Rylesy...
Build around players like him, Moses, JAC, Williams, Tuivati, Latu, Ionghi, and Lomax.
The rest can be drafted in and out

Signed for Souffs methinks.

 

[Sensei Cobra]

At the game it seemed that Junior didn’t take a hit up until our 3rd set and then didn’t dent the line as someone that size should. Difficult to assess Junior at times but seems he really has hit a wall in the past 12 months , big money under the cap too. Probably can’t move him , but definitely need to get massive improvement .

He hasn’t been effective for 3 years. He’s the biggest drain our cap …. Was one of my favs but the biggest disappointment for mine

 

[Legal Eel]

I have heard a few people here and elsewhere mention that there may be political turmoil at the club and that the senior players may be so insipid because they either miss BA or they want him back or something else similar.

I find this really hard to believe, because no player would sabotage their career for a coach that is already sacked and has no concrete coaching future in Australia - it's just poppycock.

However, I have been thinking about the training reports from Sixties at TCT. The bloke provides a valuable service and I accept that he may not perceive what's really going on at training and there may be rose coloured glasses , but no one can dispute his statements that every facet of our play the past two weeks is the complete opposite of everything we worked on at raining - attacking shapes, defensive structures, systems, tactics etc.

For there to be such a gulf between the training paddock and the field in the FIRST TWO GAMES is mind boggling.

It cant just be a lack of effort or an epidemic of stupidity - there must be something going on behind the scenes to cause this.

I don't for one minute subscribe to the above BA-related conspiracy theories, but I DO think there MUST be some big issue between Ryles (and all the coaching staff) and some senior players. From the looks of it I would say Paulo, Offa, Cartwright, Matterson and possibly even Hands and Penisini have not bought in at all and that's why they are so insipid.

As for Brown, I think Chipmunk nailed it in another thread - I reckon he genuinely didn't want to leave Parra and feels jilted or slighted by the club and is playing like a sooky teenage boy whose girlfriend just broke up with him publicly on Insta....

 

[Gronk]

I have heard a few people here and elsewhere mention that there may be political turmoil at the club and that the senior players may be so insipid because they either miss BA or they want him back or something else similar.

I find this really hard to believe, because no player would sabotage their career for a coach that is already sacked and has no concrete coaching future in Australia - it's just poppycock.

However, I have been thinking about the training reports from Sixties at TCT. The bloke provides a valuable service and I accept that he may not perceive what's really going on at training and there may be rose coloured glasses , but no one can dispute his statements that every facet of our play the past two weeks is the complete opposite of everything we worked on at raining - attacking shapes, defensive structures, systems, tactics etc.

For there to be such a gulf between the training paddock and the field in the FIRST TWO GAMES is mind boggling.

It cant just be a lack of effort or an epidemic of stupidity - there must be something going on behind the scenes to cause this.

I don't for one minute subscribe to the above BA-related conspiracy theories, but I DO think there MUST be some big issue between Ryles (and all the coaching staff) and some senior players. From the looks of it I would say Paulo, Offa, Cartwright, Matterson and possibly even Hands and Penisini have not bought in at all and that's why they are so insipid.

As for Brown, I think Chipmunk nailed it in another thread - I reckon he genuinely didn't want to leave Parra and feels jilted or slighted by the club and is playing like a sooky teenage boy whose girlfriend just broke up with him publicly on Insta....

You're making it sound like MAFS.

 

[Legal Eel]

You're making it sound like MAFS.

I understand your need to ridicule others, but that was genuinely not my intention.

I am genuinely baffled as to the gulf between the training track and game day so early in the season and I can only ascribe it to off field relationships - because I see no other reason for what appears to be a "go slow".

I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts about better reasons for this, which is why I posted.

I also posted the Chipmunk thing, because I think its Dylan who is behaving a bit like a sooky MAFS contestant.

Final thought: you and a few others are quick to tell me to talk football and not the man, but you just can't resist denigrating other posters to make yourself feel smart.

 

[Stagger eel]

Are there any quality forwards in England we can try to sign?

well the question is, do we have quality people on board with the ability to identify this?

 

[Legal Eel]

I have heard a few people here and elsewhere mention that there may be political turmoil at the club and that the senior players may be so insipid because they either miss BA or they want him back or something else similar.

I find this really hard to believe, because no player would sabotage their career for a coach that is already sacked and has no concrete coaching future in Australia - it's just poppycock.

However, I have been thinking about the training reports from Sixties at TCT. The bloke provides a valuable service and I accept that he may not perceive what's really going on at training and there may be rose coloured glasses , but no one can dispute his statements that every facet of our play the past two weeks is the complete opposite of everything we worked on at raining - attacking shapes, defensive structures, systems, tactics etc.

For there to be such a gulf between the training paddock and the field in the FIRST TWO GAMES is mind boggling.

It cant just be a lack of effort or an epidemic of stupidity - there must be something going on behind the scenes to cause this.

I don't for one minute subscribe to the above BA-related conspiracy theories, but I DO think there MUST be some big issue between Ryles (and all the coaching staff) and some senior players. From the looks of it I would say Paulo, Offa, Cartwright, Matterson and possibly even Hands and Penisini have not bought in at all and that's why they are so insipid.

As for Brown, I think Chipmunk nailed it in another thread - I reckon he genuinely didn't want to leave Parra and feels jilted or slighted by the club and is playing like a sooky teenage boy whose girlfriend just broke up with him publicly on Insta....

To clarify this post, I don't think the blame rests with the coaching staff - there are a host of senior players who just need to be cleaned out, because at the moment, any benefit of their seniority or experience is far outweighed by their insipid performances and distinct lack of leadership on field - if not off field.

 

[Gronk]

I am genuinely baffled as to the gulf between the training track and game day so early in the season and I can only ascribe it to off field relationships - because I see no other reason for what appears to be a "go slow".

I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts about better reasons for this, which is why I posted.

I also posted the Chipmunk thing, because I think its Dylan who is behaving a bit like a sooky MAFS contestant.

I think it's that we have lost a gulf of experience, our playmaker, Dylan is a runner not an organiser, the halfback is a walker, the fullback is a watcher and we don't play well above 35 degrees.

I understand your need to ridicule others, but that was genuinely not my intention. Final thought: you and a few others are quick to tell me to talk football and not the man, but you just can't resist denigrating other posters to make yourself feel smart.

It was a joke, not a poke.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Our form has been terrible, and not sure when it will turn around.

But I don't think it's ever as bad as it seems.

- we have our best and most important player out in Moses
- our spine is pretty inexperienced with 4 players with a combined experience of 50 or so games (hands, Volk, smith, Ilongi). Only Drown is experienced but is not providing much
- our bench is pretty inexperienced
- our middle signing Williams has had to play edge
- 2 games at 35 plus degrees....we looked cooked Sunday, is that an affect of the Storm game?

assuming Ryles isn't a "Brennan" coach...I don't think it takes a massive squad overhaul to change it around.

Reckon we need to sign 2 experienced forwards. Middle and edge and we replace Drown. Our backs seem ok and we have some youngsters. Samrani / papa / AMS / young Pensini look promising. Simonson and JAC are still to come back. The rest of the squad is pretty youthful and will get better

Yeah disappointing but think in 12 months it will be ok. Also with Nath Brown, Ryles has a good footy "brain" to help, Brown has been in similar situations at the Dragons (rookie coach) and Knights (had to rebuild a young squad).

 

[Twizzle]

I think either we need to give him the 7 in the hopes it kickstarts him and us, at the risk that he takes that mindset to bigger and better with Newcastle, or f**k him and probably us in the short term by dropping him so he gets zero f**ken development before leaving. His decision was just business, well not helping his development is also just business

saw enough of him @ 7 last year to make me think he is not and never will be a 7

 

[Twizzle]

Are there any quality forwards in England we can try to sign?

more than likely but do they want to come and play for us ?

 

[Twizzle]

To clarify this post, I don't think the blame rests with the coaching staff - there are a host of senior players who just need to be cleaned out, because at the moment, any benefit of their seniority or experience is far outweighed by their insipid performances and distinct lack of leadership on field - if not off field.

if you recall an article on Ryles and his methods, he stated that he would strip everything right back and start from scratch with our footy

if thats true then he has to get the players to totally forget eveything they have been told over the last 11 years and learn to play a different style of footy, both in offence and defence and I think its going to take quiet a while for the players to play his way and even longer to do it well, or to the standards that the fans want to see week in week out

I dont think we can make any judgement calls after 2 weeks in the NRL and we need to show some patience, as hard as that will be

then there is R&R and recruitment is going to take time

 

[Cloeel]

I have heard a few people here and elsewhere mention that there may be political turmoil at the club and that the senior players may be so insipid because they either miss BA or they want him back or something else similar.

I find this really hard to believe, because no player would sabotage their career for a coach that is already sacked and has no concrete coaching future in Australia - it's just poppycock.

However, I have been thinking about the training reports from Sixties at TCT. The bloke provides a valuable service and I accept that he may not perceive what's really going on at training and there may be rose coloured glasses , but no one can dispute his statements that every facet of our play the past two weeks is the complete opposite of everything we worked on at raining - attacking shapes, defensive structures, systems, tactics etc.

For there to be such a gulf between the training paddock and the field in the FIRST TWO GAMES is mind boggling.

It cant just be a lack of effort or an epidemic of stupidity - there must be something going on behind the scenes to cause this.

I don't for one minute subscribe to the above BA-related conspiracy theories, but I DO think there MUST be some big issue between Ryles (and all the coaching staff) and some senior players. From the looks of it I would say Paulo, Offa, Cartwright, Matterson and possibly even Hands and Penisini have not bought in at all and that's why they are so insipid.

As for Brown, I think Chipmunk nailed it in another thread - I reckon he genuinely didn't want to leave Parra and feels jilted or slighted by the club and is playing like a sooky teenage boy whose girlfriend just broke up with him publicly on Insta....

BA spent 11 years at the club. Part of Ryles job description is to unite the playing group and get them buying in. Whoever doesn't buy in can go.

It is a huge job, hopefully Ryles is the man to navigate it all.