Signings/Losses

[Talanexor]

I think Kaufusi is on big $$$, something like 300K (I could be wrong of course). Reckon we could give them Manuokafoa as well? Two crap forwards for the price of one?

We really do need another outside back for depth though. O'Neill? Williamson? Perhaps Neilsen? Some other young kid? Maybe Feldt will be ready next year?

Also need to recruit a pair of props and backrowers. Hopefully we can re-sign Mason, but I won't be upset if O'Donnell leaves. 4 years is just too long for such a suspension-prone player.

I wouldn't mind getting Tronc back (Broncs won't resign him, doesn't like playing overseas, too old for any other NRL clubs to be interested). But the others are a mystery.

2010 pack (hopefully)

8. Scott
9. Payne
10. Tamou
11. Bolton
12. Mason
13. Hogan

14. Watts
15. L Ah Mau
16. ?
17. ?

 

[mortz]

i dont think neilsen goes to you guys to be depth... the guy is a starter for the world champs

 

[The Pain Game]

Firstly, the Storm are actually not World Champs lol... but I know what you mean about Neilson.

I would love to get him or Justin O'Neil. O'Neil showed a lot of potential against us, and to be honest, he looked more dangerous in the opportunities where he did not score. Just kept the defence thinking and had good footwork. Time will tell, but he is Townsville boy and the Storm have to give up something.

In regards to Neil Henry, the Daily Telegraph said he has performance indicators in his contract, so I wonder whether we would have to pay him out if we sacked him...? He seems to be a poor motivator, has made us easy-beats on the road and is not doing anything to improve our team this year (although I acknowledge improvements last year). In saying that, a new coach is a sign of rebuilding again, so there is no guarantee we would return to getting results as you give the next coach time. My preference would be, the Cowboys win some games and we just keep Henry, but he really needs to get better out of this team!

 

[mortz]

i think neilsen will be shown the door, i just dont think he is a depth player anymore

 

[Big Pete]

The Brisbane Broncos 'Around The Clubs' article in the Round 15 edition of Big League was rather interesting.

It was on Winterstein and his choice to sign with the Cowboys.

Apparently the Cowboys swayed him by offering him the centre position.

Also in the article he was quoted as saying the Cowboys club is looking to clean the club out.

 

[Talanexor]

Clean it out eh? I know Bolton, Thurston, Scott, Tamou, Tonga, Thompson and now Winterstein are signed for the next 2-3 years.

LOL, looking at that, it makes me wonder if management only wants to keep players with a "T" in their surname... Joel Thompson, Brent Tate, Cam Smith and Billy Slater would be perfectly suited then!

I know there are plenty of underperforming players we need to get rid of, but I wonder if the cleaning out extends to guys like Payne, Bowen, Watts, O'Donnell etc?

O'Donnell is asking for too lengthy a deal and Payne's form has been pretty poor for a while now, but I can't imagine Bowen playing for any other team.

If we do clean it out, who stays and who goes? We've got some very talented youngsters coming through, and I think Thompson and Hogan have demonstrated they are capable first graders, but we need a lot more players than that!

 

[Nth-Qld-Raider]

Reported on seven local news, Manase Manuokafoa and Antonio Kaufusi could be released before the end of the week.

Arana Taumata maybe signed before the end of the week, for the rest of 2010 and 2011.

 

[andrew057]

Reported on seven local news, Manase Manuokafoa and Antonio Kaufusi could be released before the end of the week.

This is fantastic news for the Cowboys. Both these guys are dead weight and arent first grade level.

 

[blain]

Congrats, just heard on Radio over here he with you guys for the next 3 years.

 

[Didgi]

Confirmed

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27310608-23214,00.html?from=public_rss

Brent Tate leaves Warriors to play for North Queensland Cowboys

June 23, 2010 Former Test and Origin centre Brent Tate is to leave the New Zealand Warriors to play for North Queensland on a three-year NRL deal from next season.
Tate, 28, said he'd turned down a big offer from the Warriors to stay in Auckland beyond 2010 and made his decision to move to Townsville for family reasons.

"I have a huge attachment to the Warriors," said Tate. "It's a great club to be part of and I love being here and that why it's been the toughest decision I have ever had to make."

"It was about a family choice to return to Australia and also about me considering my options post-football."

Tate has played 39 games for the Warriors since joining the club from Brisbane where he played the first 114 games of his NRL career. AAP

 

[StinkyPete]

our backline is looking great for next year.

1. Bowen
2. Winerstein
3. Tate
4. Tonga
5. Tupou/Geia/Malone/Feldit basically whoever steps up
6. Thompson
7 Thurston

 

[The Pain Game]

Provided we get game time out of him, he will be a terrific signing. Now can we start working on our forwards...?

 

[Charlie124]

our backline is looking great for next year.

1. Bowen
2. Winerstein
3. Tate
4. Tonga
5. Tupou/Geia/Malone/Feldit basically whoever steps up
6. Thompson
7 Thurston

Apparently Winterstein was told he would have a starting centre position, rather than wing.

1. Gallant/Bowen
2. Graham/Tupou/Geia/Malone/Feldt
3. Winterstein
4. Tonga
5. Tate
6. Bowen/Thompson/Morgan
7. Thurston

 

[StinkyPete]

where'd you here that charlie? tate is a specialist centre I'm pretty sure if not that it's easily his better position. It would be stupid to play a wing in centre and a centre in wing.

 

[Charlie124]

i believe it was in RLW. I agree that it would be strange to see Winterstein in the centres but ive only ever seen him on the wing, does anyone know if he can play centre?? obviously he thinks he can. Tate played on the wing quite successfully for QLD so i dont think he would be out of place at all out there.

In the end, i couldnt care less who plays where as long as they both play!

 

[elyod138]

Winterstein played the majority of his Toyota Cup games in the centres.

I'm sure the club just told him that he's next in line after Tate and Tonga.

They will most likely miss games due to rep footy or injury.

 

[Cowboys woo]

Hopefully Taumata can keep his off-field attitude in check, he could learn a thing or two off Big Willie. Has massive potential as a player

 

[Cowboys woo]

Light is at the end of the tunnel.

Manase Manuokafoa >>> Parra

 

[Charlie124]

1 down, several to go.

 

[Talanexor]

Winterstein played the majority of his Toyota Cup games in the centres.

I'm sure the club just told him that he's next in line after Tate and Tonga.

They will most likely miss games due to rep footy or injury.

He was never going to get a go in the centres for Brisbane. They've tried utilities and backrowers there all season instead of him.

I'm happy with Winterstein anywhere, but I'd prefer him on the wing. Tate is a very capable defender. As long as we don't leak points down that right corridor I'll be happy.