Rumours (signings, sackings & other NRL stuff)

[Das Hassler]

I'd only sign Bird if he's hellbent on throwing himself into it and not just to give him a spot just for his experience....we've gone down that track enough times to know where it mostly always ends up

 

[Trollhammaren]

Bird will be a rebirth of Joey Leilua, Adam Blair, James Tamou, Braith Anasta in Black n Gold all rolled into one. No thanks.

 

[Nutz]

Bird will be a rebirth of Joey Leilua, Adam Blair, James Tamou, Braith Anasta in Black n Gold all rolled into one. No thanks.

It's worrying that we are even contemplating it hey.

 

[Tigerm]

The drums are getting louder.

 

[Nutz]

The drums are getting louder.

I first started on the Hunt band wagon here back in June but intact I was asking for his signature a couple of years ago elsewhere.
Take a look at this vid and tell me in what game/s did the now big money earner Stefano Utoikamanu play like this. We should be able to get Royce cheaper.
If we do snare him, I can see someone like Twal play bigger minutes and have Hunt come on and play explosive cameos.


Well I hope I get this one right as my prediction of Solomon Alaimalo being a gun didn't exactly pan out too well did it

 

[Das Hassler]

Apparantly Richo and Api had a long meeting with Benny Elias to ( quote) bury the hatchet and it all went well....I daresay the reason was the longterm retention of Galvin more than anything to do with hurt feelings

 

[Wizardman]

I first started on the Hunt band wagon here back in June but intact I was asking for his signature a couple of years ago elsewhere.
Take a look at this vid and tell me in what game/s did the now big money earner Stefano Utoikamanu play like this. We should be able to get Royce cheaper.
If we do snare him, I can see someone like Twal play bigger minutes and have Hunt come on and play explosive cameos.


Well I hope I get this one right as my prediction of Solomon Alaimalo being a gun didn't exactly pan out too well did it

I agree with the way to use him. Hunt is not a big minutes man. He'll need to be used for impact stints.

 

[Tigerm]

I agree with the way to use him. Hunt is not a big minutes man. He'll need to be used for impact stints.

Like most FR?

 

[Wizardman]

Like most FR?

100%. Some front rowers have about 60 minutes in them....not Hunt. To me, he is a 40 minute type player.

 

[Tiger05]

I'm not sold on this signing at all. I bet you'd get a great highlights package from Stef. In stating that I think he'd be about as good as Stef but on a lot less dollars. I just hope we don't stuff up the contract length.

If he goes for 40 minutes that is fine.

 

[Nutz]

I'm not sold on this signing at all. I bet you'd get a great highlights package from Stef.

They are different props. Stef is more stand-up and Hunt has better body height and aggression.
It's a matter of whether Hunt can can get super fit and find his peak form again. Also dollars. Get him cheaper that what we offered Stef..then I'm all in.

 

[Crazyperpman]

Royce Hunt has not played 40 minutes yet this year. He has 3 games over 30 minutes and averages 23 minutes.

After a 20 minute stint you would be better off with a Ben Hunt hit up than anything Royce has left in the tank.

Stefano and Hunt are different players, not like for like and you cannot replace one with the other, but having a big minute FRF allows you to have an impact lower minute FRF in your rotation.

As soon as Pole realizes how big he is a stops trying to step everyone instead of running over the top of them he will have all these guys covered. IMO a large part of Stefano's money should go to retaining Pole long term as he is an effective big minute FRF and a key to the middle rotation.

 

[Nutz]

Royce Hunt has not played 40 minutes yet this year.

In his whole career. He's an impact player.

 

[Pezz70]

I

I first started on the Hunt band wagon here back in June but intact I was asking for his signature a couple of years ago elsewhere.
Take a look at this vid and tell me in what game/s did the now big money earner Stefano Utoikamanu play like this. We should be able to get Royce cheaper.
If we do snare him, I can see someone like Twal play bigger minutes and have Hunt come on and play explosive cameos.


Well I hope I get this one right as my prediction of Solomon Alaimalo being a gun didn't exactly pan out too well did it

I wouldn’t give up on Alimailo. I think he will come good if they just leave him on the left and let him play footy. I think if Olam is inside him all year he is a different player. Has had a few dramas under the high ball but what winger doesn’t. It’s been a steep learning curve for him.

I don’t like this Hunt signing I don’t see him offering anymore than what we already have, has had a few injuries - risk is greater than reward with him.

 

[Nutz]

I

I wouldn’t give up on Alimailo. I think he will come good if they just leave him on the left and let him play footy. I think if Olam is inside him all year he is a different player. Has had a few dramas under the high ball but what winger doesn’t. It’s been a steep learning curve for him.

I don’t like this Hunt signing I don’t see him offering anymore than what we already have, has had a few injuries - risk is greater than reward with him.

My mate who is with nzrugby told me about him. He's an open field runner who prefers fullback or centre and one of the best in rugby but not really suited parked out on the wing. I heard a whisper that he's heading for end of year knee surgery which has hampered him all year.
I just don't think the club will give him another year now that we've signed Skelton. Also I would sign the Forbes Ferrari ahead if him as Charlie has more to offer in RL.
Hunt for me is and has always been a signing at the right price. We haven't had a middle that can cause so much damage before...so it's price and as you said injury concerns...by the way, injuries has added to his inability to play big minutes too.

 

[Tiger05]

I

I wouldn’t give up on Alimailo.

I think he is too old but as a back-up player I reckon he is pretty good.

I don’t like this Hunt signing I don’t see him offering anymore than what we already have, has had a few injuries - risk is greater than reward with him.

I worry about the cost. He is what we need in that he is an impact prop but Pole, Seyfarth, Twal and Sione Fainu to me are much more important to our middle forward rotation. I don't want to pay Hunt a cent more than what we pay those other guys.

 

[Tiger05]

Hunt for me is and has always been a signing at the right price. We haven't had a middle that can cause so much damage before...so it's price and as you said injury concerns...by the way, injuries has added to his inability to play big minutes too.

I think Stefano offers just as much impact and he could become a top tier prop. I just don't think Stefano is worth big dollars now.

 

[Nutz]

I think Stefano offers just as much impact and he could become a top tier prop. I just don't think Stefano is worth big dollars now.

That's just it isn't it. We were going to pay him on potential. We were going to pay him more than Payne Haas.
Go figure.
Still I maintain that Stefano has not produced, not yet anyway.
If he wants big dollars he has to perform like or better than Haas.

 

[Nutz]

I think he is too old but as a back-up player I reckon he is pretty good.



I worry about the cost. He is what we need in that he is an impact prop but Pole, Seyfarth, Twal and Sione Fainu to me are much more important to our middle forward rotation. I don't want to pay Hunt a cent more than what we pay those other guys.

Agree but those fwds you mentioned aren't classic middles. We don't have an enforcer who can come on when required to plug the gaps in the middle and bully our way fwd.
You see in that video I posted. Hunt was attracting 3 defenders, making post contact metres and still gets the offload. Our halves would have a field day with a middle like that. Trouble is there's none out there.

 

[Ned Kelly]

Corey Horsburgh is touring the Wests Tigers facilities today.
A bit of a firebrand but I would be willing to take a chance with him.