Rumours (signings, sackings & other NRL stuff)

[Nutz]

Competition is good.
We finally have depth, perform or perish.
I think the old adage is true, they’ll play anywhere if it’s in the top team.
IMO, footy is still a basic, catch, pass, run, tackle, as hard as you can game.

I get it, but front rowers like AFB and Haas are needed to bend the line. As I was saying to Stealth yesterday, front rowers are rarer to find these days.
We were pinning our hopes on Miller but he ended up a dud for for us.

 

[Tiger05]

I get it, but front rowers like AFB and Haas are needed to bend the line.

Those are two elite players. We have May but he doesn't bend the line like those two.

I think our whole pack has to get it done and our pack is pretty good. I also don't think our pack is elite or anywhere near it.

We are going to have to rely on our spine and outside backs to win us games.

I don't see our pack as having holes though. We have decent depth and plenty of players that can have an impact.

 

[WA Tiger]

We have 2 front rowers, a somewhat lazy Hunt

You try losing 71/2 kg over a couple of months, see how lazy he is?

 

[Tiger05]

You try losing 15 kg, see how lazy he is?

I reckon I'm pretty close to that amount of weight loss. It's only taken me about 20 years.

 

[Tigerm]

I get it, but front rowers like AFB and Haas are needed to bend the line. As I was saying to Stealth yesterday, front rowers are rarer to find these days.
We were pinning our hopes on Miller but he ended up a dud for for us.

As you say they are hard to find but doesn’t mean they can’t be found or produced.
They still can’t run without legs.
I mentioned previously that I believe Te May is that man for us.

 

[Tiger05]

They still can’t run without legs.

I think our pack is good enough but they all need to stand up. Fonua for instance has great footwork for a big man. He just has to play his game.

They all have to work on their defense though. I reckon Fonua and Sione are awesome but I think they've both made poor defensive decisions in the past.

May is great because he is also really good defensively.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Now we have depth in the FR, I think his minutes on the field should go towards attaking the line more, with gusto.
He's a big lad with an off load.

Yeah, you are right and that’s what logic dictates.

But I’m going to reserve this interchange for the moment until I see how the rest of the lads are travelling.

Because I trust Terrell and a season of big minutes, the muscle memory, he should lift a few notches naturally this season.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Hopefully Royce gets used to training hard and checking his diet. Mental stuff. Pour the grog down the drain.

Ive lost about 12 kg from my top weight but nice and slowly.

I still have a friend trapped in grogworld in his 50’s. Grog everyday with more copious amounts on weekend.

I don’t understand it tbh.

He doesnt sense that people around him have given up or are significantly winding down.

Kind of oblivious to reading the room. On his merry way.

No one is whispering behind his back, because he’s a great person, but I worry he’s going to go harder.

And alcohol abuse…well….

We have the grog at work, barely touched after hours anyway. Some of the stuff will go vintage soon lol.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

And nice of Woolworths to build grog shops next to supermarkets. A good way of getting kids and families used to their advertising and familiarity with the drug.

 

[Nutz]

I reckon I'm pretty close to that amount of weight loss. It's only taken me about 20 years.

I was just playing the devil's advocate saying Hunt was lazy.
At least it started a debate.
If we can recall that Hunt in the previous preseason had trained the house down and came out firing but then faided into somewhat obscurity.
I need to retract the tag lazy though. The reason is, last year I watched him in a man of the match performance when he played non-stop for an entire half in reggies. Absolutely smashed them.
So what is his problem then?
Confidence?
Getting lost and not concentrating?
Coaching - game plan?
I know he can do it and hope he comes out and gets us onto to the front foot.
The same goes for AD. He's now got an opportunity to prove critics like me wrong. I do like AD. Always have, but he's failed in this position before.
However, the half back role is probably the most important role in any team.
If he can play to the std of Hughes, DCE or Cleary, then fingers crossed we'll go deep into September.
It will also reflect on Benji's coaching.

 

[Tiger05]

So what is his problem then?

Who knows. He is a big guy and I think they can often lack consistency and our team needs consistent performers. I'd be happy if he could give us 20 top quality minutes every game but maybe that is asking too much.

The same goes for AD. He's now got an opportunity to prove critics like me wrong. I do like AD. Always have, but he's failed in this position before.

I was a massive fan but he really has been so inconsistent. Last year he was great. I hope he plays well this year. I think it's unfair to put the pressure on him to be the controlling halfback. I think we just want him to play his game and defend well. His defense has at times been atrocious.

I really think Luai and Api should have the target on their back.

It will also reflect on Benji's coaching.

The thing is Benji has developed a quality squad. Can the players gel ? Will Benji make the right decisions and adjust if required and come up with good game plans consistently. He can't be telling the players to just go out and play footy. We need good attacking and defensive structures. We need to be disciplined.

 

[Nutz]

Who knows. He is a big guy and I think they can often lack consistency and our team needs consistent performers. I'd be happy if he could give us 20 top quality minutes every game but maybe that is asking too much.



I was a massive fan but he really has been so inconsistent. Last year he was great. I hope he plays well this year. I think it's unfair to put the pressure on him to be the controlling halfback. I think we just want him to play his game and defend well. His defense has at times been atrocious.

I really think Luai and Api should have the target on their back.



The thing is Benji has developed a quality squad. Can the players gel ? Will Benji make the right decisions and adjust if required and come up with good game plans consistently. He can't be telling the players to just go out and play footy. We need good attacking and defensive structures. We need to be disciplined.

Spot on.
You would think first grade players don't need coaches but they obviously do. Particularly with having a game plan to follow.
A coach who does his homework and implements strategies during training is the model that Benji needs to follow. The more experience he gets the better he will become.

 

[Nutz]

I'm trying to post by taking the emotions out of it and be a realist.
The only problem I have is letting go of past failures of the WT and look through clear glasses.
Being a nutter WT fan I always am optimistic in preseason but wooden spoon after wooden spoon has created scars.
We do have a team capable of making the 8 even though we still have a couple of sus positions.
I'll be peeved off if they don't make the finals because failure will be put down to the 1%'s. The simple things, the basic things.

 

[Tigerm]

I'm trying to post by taking the emotions out of it and be a realist.
The only problem I have is letting go of past failures of the WT and look through clear glasses.
Being a nutter WT fan I always am optimistic in preseason but wooden spoon after wooden spoon has created scars.
We do have a team capable of making the 8 even though we still have a couple of sus positions.
I'll be peeved off if they don't make the finals because failure will be put down to the 1%'s. The simple things, the basic things.

I think we do have a team to make the 8 and that we have depth all over the park.
But, it will come down to what the players are willing to do to win.
I do agree, it's hard to see past our last decade of failure, but it has to end some time and I believe that we now have a team that can produce a top 8 effort.
I think the captains will have to drive this and be relentless and Benji rotating the bench to suit the game they are playing.
There should be no excuses this year.

 

[Tiger05]

I'll be peeved off if they don't make the finals because failure will be put down to the 1%'s. The simple things, the basic things.

But, it will come down to what the players are willing to do to win.all over the park.

I don't think effort will have anything to do with it. There could be so many reasons we don't make the finals but I doubt it will be effort. It could be injuries. It could be the spine not performing. It could be the pack not delivering. It could be Benji just telling them to play footy rather than having them focus on winning the game with good structures and high percentage footy.

I think they are going to try though. I think they've tried for years on end. The issue in my opinion has been a lack of talent.

I think we do have a team to make the 8 and that we have depth

I don't see holes in our team.

The middles are good, our edge forwards are good. Our outside backs are quality and we have a good spine with two players that have proven they are elite. I also think our depth is pretty good.

I can see the point that we lack an impact middle forward and maybe an elite forward. I rate Terrell highly but he is more of a worker. At the same time I think this is being too harsh on the pack as a whole. It's the best pack we've had in years.

 

[Nutz]

I don't think effort will have anything to do with it. There could be so many reasons we don't make the finals but I doubt it will be effort. It could be injuries. It could be the spine not performing. It could be the pack not delivering. It could be Benji just telling them to play footy rather than having them focus on winning the game with good structures and high percentage footy.

I think they are going to try though. I think they've tried for years on end. The issue in my opinion has been a lack of talent.



I don't see holes in our team.

The middles are good, our edge forwards are good. Our outside backs are quality and we have a good spine with two players that have proven they are elite. I also think our depth is pretty good.

I can see the point that we lack an impact middle forward and maybe an elite forward. I rate Terrell highly but he is more of a worker. At the same time I think this is being too harsh on the pack as a whole. It's the best pack we've had in years.

Good points.
The best aspects of the team certainly out ranks the bad.
Benji said after another loss that we can't play 80min footy. I disagree as that was a shift of blame from him to the team. We have come home strongly in some games...we can do it.
I still think that losses are going to come from dumb errors, misreads, not covering, switching off etc. The one percenters.
Our attacking strike power is right up there now with the inclusion of May in the centres. May and To'a gives us speed and our wingers and fullback are great finishers.
Our edges are an attacking weapon now too.
A lot now rests on our halves, bookends, and bench rotation.

 

[WA Tiger]

I think more players than not would just disappear for 5 mill.. they’re allowed to, they just can’t come back ..This Terrell boys something special

Apart from the missed opportunity of 12 weeks a year and the immediate top up to 1 mill per year..folks from that neck of the woods don’t wait 3 years for your current contract too finish.. When you go to their office to ask for a delay you leave as one body part per year requested

 

[Tiger05]

Payne Hass is set to quit the Broncos and go to Souths.

Club Statement: Payne Haas

The Brisbane Broncos can confirm that Payne Haas and his management have advised the Broncos that he intends to depart the Club at the end of the 2026 season.

www.broncos.com.au

🎉 Rabbitohs lodge NRL contract for Payne Haas for next three seasons – South Sydney Rabbitohs

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have lodged a signed contract with the NRL for Payne Haas to join the Club for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 seasons.

www.rabbitohs.com.au

 

[WA Tiger]

Payne Hass is set to quit the Broncos and go to Souths.

Club Statement: Payne Haas

The Brisbane Broncos can confirm that Payne Haas and his management have advised the Broncos that he intends to depart the Club at the end of the 2026 season.

www.broncos.com.au

🎉 Rabbitohs lodge NRL contract for Payne Haas for next three seasons – South Sydney Rabbitohs

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have lodged a signed contract with the NRL for Payne Haas to join the Club for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 seasons.

www.rabbitohs.com.au

Madge?

 

[Tiger05]

Madge?

I doubt it. I bet it's about the dollars. Interesting though because Brisbane have a lot of pull in the market.