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Rumours and Whingers and Occasional Optimism XXIX

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Joshuatheeel

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Staff member
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20,182
Boy, oh boy what a disappointment Tepai Moeroa has been thus far in his first grade career.

Sure last year, he had a shoulder injury to contend with and rightly, I and others gave him the benefit of the doubt. But this year he has no such excuse to fall back on.

Now is it due to apparently being born with the nerves in his shoulder being to close to the surface of the shoulder, as it was once explained in the TV commentary I think earlier in the year and therefore will always trouble him physically and mentally? I honestly don't know.

But what I do know for such a massive unit, with so many wraps and expectations on him, and this years new rules, he has been the biggest disappointment in our team by far.

Not once yet this year has he gone anywhere near breaking 100m in a game in attack. That is incredible and totally indefensible I should think even by the biggest apologist on this forum.

My new scapegoat, hardly cause I don't think that we lost because of him at all(It was due to our fullback) but just an observation and I fear I will be lamenting the loss of Junior next year while watching Tepai the powder puff being upstaged by supposed a toilers like David Gower, as he has already done this year.

Thought Moeroa was very good today. He also made 100 metres
 

yy_cheng

Coach
Messages
18,734
On one of the footy shows, they show Keary missing a few tackles about 15m out. He just sits on the ground and doesnt get up and run back to defend. The cover eventually got the player and Keary was still on the ground.

It;s this Sandow-like crap that I don't want back here. If we don't get someone decent, I really would put KE or Kaysa or Peats at 6 just to defend.

I'm sure we can get someone to kick even Gutha,
 

eels_fan

First Grade
Messages
7,584
Anthony Watmough has played his last NRL game.

Watmough has told those close to him that he is losing his battle with a chronic knee injury and will be forced to retire immediately.

The former NSW and Australian backrower hasn't played for Parramatta this season after struggling to recover from a knee operation. It's understood he will likely need to go under the knife again, so badly has his knee degenerated.

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Watmough signed a lucrative four-year deal with the Eels last season, but struggled to make an impact in the blue and gold due to knee and other serious injuries he has carried through a career that started at the Northern Eagles in 2002.

When news broke last month that there were fears for his future, the man dubbed 'Choc' was determined to complete his rehabilitation and play some role in Parramatta's premiership campaign. However, it has become evident that the knee problem has got the better of him, with Watmough rarely spotted at the team's training sessions at Old Saleyards. In some of those he has participated in, the premiership-winning forward has barely been able to walk, let alone run at the intensity for which he is known.

It is a sad end to a glittering career that spanned fourteen years in the top grade. While he finishes up at Parramatta - where he marked his milestone 300th game - Watmough will best be remembered for his feats with Manly.

Watmough was part of the Sea Eagles side that won two premierships in a golden run that included 10 straight finals appearances. He was honoured as a life member of Manly, although he left in acrimonious circumstances when the club refused to offer him the money he wanted for a contract extension. He was subsequently released with a year remaining on his contract, transferring to arch rivals Parramatta on a long-term deal. The wisdom of signing a player in his thirties with such a long injury history has been debated ever since, given Watmough's deal takes up a big chunk of the Eels' salary cap.

However, his premature retirement could be a blessing for a club that is facing the prospect of being docked points and being deemed not cap compliant due to a raft of dodgy contract deals.

One of Watmough's third-party agreements is at the centre of the NRL's investigations. It's alleged Watmough's TPA with ScoreCube was not properly disclosed to head office, raising the prospect of heavy sanctions against the club. There is no suggestion Watmough, his management or the TPA provider did anything inappropriate, but his retirement could ease financial pressure his third-party agreement inadvertently created at the club.

In a provision under the agreement between the NRL and the players' union, players suffering a career-ending injury are entitled to a full payout. The good news for Parramatta is the sum - in Watmough's case believed to be up to $2 million - won't count on the salary cap.

It's believed the NRL will seek a full medical report before agreeing to any severance pay and that insurers will also make their own enquiries. It's understood that process will soon be underway, although an official retirement announcement is likely to be some time away.

While he never came close to reproducing his best form for the Eels, his transfer likely had some positives. Watmough played a key role in luring another Sea Eagle, Kieran Foran, across to the blue and golds.

The Eels have no shortage of backrowers, with Beau Scott, Tepai Moeroa, Manu Ma'u and Kenny Edwards among those capably filling the void.

http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/le...nto-premature-retirement-20160409-go2g5u.html
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
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91,379
It's someone else who thinks Keary is a good option.

Don't forget he's won a premiership. He's a solid first grader, and would be a good option for plenty of teams. I don't think we are one of those teams though, because Keary is a poor man's Foran.
 

Casper The Ghost

First Grade
Messages
9,924

Fair enough, and best of luck to Watmough with his future, including as a new dad.

Now, quick smart let's get the insurance etc lined up, void his contract (and TPA), pay him out (non-cap), and then watch the NRL try and tell us we've done enough wrong to face any points deduction ;-).

The timing is extremely convenient for our club.

Wonder if an ongoing future with the Eels is in place as part of that possible encouragement for Anthony to retire now?
 

Avenger

Immortal
Messages
34,033
Choc to the rescue. If he retires and we are under the cap all that we will be sentenced to is a fine. No way you lose points if you are under the cap. Time for court if the NRL don't agree.
 

IFR33K

Coach
Messages
17,043
Choc to the rescue. If he retires and we are under the cap all that we will be sentenced to is a fine. No way you lose points if you are under the cap. Time for court if the NRL don't agree.

The outcome in courts could take a year or two. If we are deducted points and miss the 8, I guess we could only sue for damages. The 2016 season would be well and truly over by then.
 

Gronk

Moderator
Staff member
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77,704
The outcome in courts could take a year or two. If we are deducted points and miss the 8, I guess we could only sue for damages. The 2016 season would be well and truly over by then.

No you can jump the queue for urgent stuff.
 
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19,393
Choc to the rescue. If he retires and we are under the cap all that we will be sentenced to is a fine. No way you lose points if you are under the cap. Time for court if the NRL don't agree.

What is the basis of this argument Avenger?

If you attempt to commit fraud and do not succeed, does that mean you can't be charged?

We can easily lose points (I hope we don't) for a) breaching the cap in previous years (above what we admitted to) b) being over the cap this year or c) intentionally failing to disclose information regarding TPAs......we've been warned.

Also, it is far from certain that Watmough's likely retirement will have a huge effect on the 2016 cap. It will certainly have a big effect on later years.

The only way court action will be successful will be if we can show that there is insufficient evidence that the breaches occurred.

The link below suggests that the Warriors lost points in 2006 for breaches affecting the previous years' cap.


http://www.nrl.com/history-of-nrl-salary-cap-breaches/tabid/10874/newsid/58361/default.aspx
 
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