Rumours and Stuff

[Poupou Escobar]

If we are pinning our outside back hopes on Renisini and Nanva then we are in even more dire straits then I thought. It’s embarrassing

What sort of dope would be pinning their hopes on a couple of backups? The thing about backups is that you hope they don’t have to play any games.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

this is what I mean. This is what the likes of MON and Jim the mower man have led us to. The standards have dropped so much that we talk about shit like Simrani, Tago, Montoya as options. Absolute shit. These dopes have reduced our club to a reserve grade standard and it will be a matter of time before we will lose a talent like Ryles.

phones running off the hook Jim

lol your standards have dropped. If you had any standards you’d be following the Broncos or some other fair weather team.

 

[85 Baby]

I don’t think you can use the backend

Will a bottle of Blue Label change your mind?

 

[gaffer]

this is what I mean. This is what the likes of MON and Jim the mower man have led us to. The standards have dropped so much that we talk about shit like Simrani, Tago, Montoya as options. Absolute shit. These dopes have reduced our club to a reserve grade standard and it will be a matter of time before we will lose a talent like Ryles.

phones running off the hook Jim

don't they follow other teams NOT the eels

 

[Gary Gutful]

Was our end of season form an indicator of how we'd go in 2026, or just a flash in the pan based on a small sample of games?

I think it was a sign of what we’ll look to do in 2026. I loved our ball movement and shapes in attack. Good balance of risk taking and structure that we’ve rarely had in the past.

Hopefully there is a nucleus of players in the spine + walker that can continue this. Will help keep it simple for players like Renisini, Samrani and other less experienced outside backs.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Young Pensini has nothing to his game. Slow and no evasive footwork. He was highly rated by the TCT which means his shit.

He could end up as good as Momirovski or Reddy. Both played in grand finals.

 

[Grimmace]

Lomax was very underwhelming last season .

yes , he put his hand up repeatedly for tough carries and that’s what we’ll miss and need to replace probably more collectively than any one person. He also lead the kick chase often , wasn’t too successful in competing for many high balls but the fact he got down there inspired others to chase down there and they’re going to have to keep doing that

I thought he was also close to the worst defensive winger in the comp . There was no real desire from him to be the best winger he could be when it came to that area of the game. Positionally he was bad , he often gambled and lost . He also lacks speed , his goal kicking is inconsistent . He was a long way from the finished product as an NRL quality winger and we know he had no real ambition to become that . What he offered us is replaceable more from a collective I feel . Guys are going to need to add to their game and improve on what they’ve shown in the past but with proper coaching and attention to detail there’s no reason why they can’t hold thier own. I get the feeling many here have spent too long watching the BA era but there seems to be genuine coaching and development happening with this staff and hopefully the players we have and add to our backline really pick up the slack .
You wonf get far in this comp if you continually go to market and pay top dollar to entice guys to your club.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Has apa played centre? Not sure of his defense.

If we lose a back thats not jacs, i would have nanva at left centre with fox and get fox to teach him like he did Russell

Btw, why is he called fox?

Because he likes to dress up.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Look. If we win 4 straight ill let it slide ok.

If we want to be as good as them we need to lose as many promising youngsters as them.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I don’t think you can use the backend of a season with nothing to play for as any indicator for the next year.

I sure can.

 

[hineyrulz]

 

[viole02]

I think our biggest problem as people have mentioned will be our struggle to make meters. This is also why we look especially terrible when moses is out since his long kicking isnt there to bail us out. Now without lomax i cant imagine us getting stronger at it either. Hopefully our backline steps up and im proven wrong but we need someone to make some strong carries in our own half or do it by committee otherwise were going to get shit on every game except against the tits, knights and tigers

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I’m not saying we were going to get a like for like replacement for Lomax… there’s only a handful in the NRL at his level.

But Pou even you would have to admit this has left us in a huge hole.

It certainly has.

We knew he was keen to leave months ago, Ryles even admitted in interviews. Lomax piking it has f**ked us, no doubt and that’s not anyone from Managements fault. But from the moment we knew we should have had a firm plan in place before we let it happen.

What does a firm plan look like though? I'm sure we started looking for replacements, but 'months ago' isn't a lot of time to get a decent replacement in for 2026. I explained this in the post you quoted. The best players are all in negotiations for the 2027 season now. That means the best replacements for Lomax were all signed up for 2026 before Lomax laced on a boot in 2025.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Happy new year merkins

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I think our biggest problem as people have mentioned will be our struggle to make meters. This is also why we look especially terrible when moses is out since his long kicking isnt there to bail us out. Now without lomax i cant imagine us getting stronger at it either. Hopefully our backline steps up and im proven wrong but we need someone to make some strong carries in our own half or do it by committee otherwise were going to get shit on every game except against the tits, knights and tigers

@Samrani

 

[Gherkin]

Simmo should get lomax’s spot if he gets his attitude right and is injury free. He played some decent footy on the wing prior to injuries, making good metres. Isnt the sharpest tool in the shed, just simplify his game and tell him to run for 200m+ each week.
Russel formed a decent combo with the fox and improved last year. Still only young so hopefully improves physically over the off season.
Penisini and the fox will get the other 2 spots. Kelly as backup and Samrani as a utility cover. Richie Penisini was nowhere near first grade level last year, would need a big offseason to change that.

 

[Gronk]

I am very optimistic for next season if our forwards can get the defence set we should have a good season.

We have some attacking players in Moses Smith JAC Iongi Walker.

This post is like a gold nugget find after months of scrolling through repetitive negative gibber.

 

[hineyrulz]

This post is like a gold nugget find after months of scrolling through repetitive negative gibber.

View attachment 108711

And we all thank you for your quality contribution, if some of the content from other posters is so triggering you know you can put everyone on ignore. Just rid youself of that all important hall monitor sash stay in your safe space bubble and set yourself free.......

 

[gaffer]

Who will be our goal kicker when Mitch can't ?

 

[Lemon Squash]

It certainly has.

What does a firm plan look like though? I'm sure we started looking for replacements, but 'months ago' isn't a lot of time to get a decent replacement in for 2026. I explained this in the post you quoted. The best players are all in negotiations for the 2027 season now. That means the best replacements for Lomax were all signed up for 2026 before Lomax laced on a boot in 2025.

This is more like it!!! …. I was starting to get worried when you agreed with my Samrani call