Signings/Re-signings?

[The Smokey]

Who do you think we will currently re-sign? - This is what i think but what do you think the Knights will do?

They are already in talks with Richard Fa'aoso and Keith Lulia.

Luke Macdougall - All but gone!!

Tim Natusch - i think he has a future

Shannon Mcdonnell - I think he is a good fill in reserve. Resign but on a small paycheck. He is still young and prob should be able to re-sign him considering he shouldnt have any big offers anywhere else..

George Ndaira - if we keep Ben Wyborn and Byron Fruean from NYC they can both cover that position. I would love him to stay but i dont know because he was on a small contract this year and you think some club will need a backup Hooker for more $ then we can offer.

Marvin Karawana - cut him loose i dont think he has much potential other then making some tackles

Cameron Ciraldo - Not Resign and if we have managed to sign Leeson Ah Mau i think that should cover Ciraldos position and Tovo's.

Sione Tovo - Not Resign

and do you think Jimmy Fawcett will be realesed considering he has no potential and use that money for keeping Shannon Mcdonnell?

NYC:
I think the players worth keeping would be: -
Ben Wyborn - HK, L, 5/8th
Byron Fruean - W, HK, L, SR


Signings/ Rumours:

Leeson Ah Mau - FR/SR
Chase Stanley - C, W, SR

The only position left to fill would be Halfback since we have lost Luke Walsh and i do think we need the depth there in 2010 as i think Jarrod Mullen will be playing SOO next year.

But will we sign anyone? and who will be cheap and good enough:

Matthew Head - Old
Jeff Robson - Old but has some experience and defensively stronger then most HB. I think he would be the 2nd choice.
Blake Green - 1st choice. Good but will be too expensive i think and i reckon Parra will go after him.
Daly Cherry Evans - too young. Hasnt been tested in First Grade.
????????
Is there anybody else..


So my teams in 2010 would be: (players in bold not signed yet)

First Grade-
Kurt Gidley
James Mcmanus
Adam Macdougall
Junior Sau
Aku Uate
Jarrod Mullen
Scott Dureau
Ben Cross
Issac Degois
Daniel Tolar
Zeb Taia
Chris Houston
Steve Simpson

Matthew Hilder
Corey Paterson
Richard Fa'aoso
Danny Wicks

Reserves:
Shannon Mcdonnell - W
Cooper Vuna - C, FB
Chase Stanley - W, SR
Wes Naiquama - W, FB, SR
Keith Lulia - C
Ben Rogers - L, HB
Jeff Robson - 5/8th, HK
Mark Taufua - L, SR
Ben Wyborn / Byron Fruean - L, W
Tim Natusch
Leeson Ah Mau - FR
Joel Edwards - FR
Con Mika - SR

These NYC players to step up if needed:
Peter Mata'utia - C, FB, W
Zane Tetevano - SR, FR, L
Chris Malbourough - HK, L, 5/8th
Kieran English - W, FB, C


What do you think??

 

[roopy]

Great first post.

I'd like to see us replace Cross, Simpson and Doogs with pretty much all the players on your wish list.

 

[Rolla]

Great thread mate... Pretty close to my oppinion for the most part. Here is what i would change from your teams though.

Gees our prop stocks are looking better for next year, with possibly this new signing, tovo nearly ready and edwards developing, timmy making the step up, and wicks faas and mark t coming along in leaps and bounds...throw in old heads in cross and tolar. However i think Mark T has to be in first side somewhere, i see him being in our top 2 or 3 forwards next year.

I dont see any need for mcdonell next year, by then pete HAS to be number 2 FB. Then vuna, Uate, Doogs and Wes can all play there too if needed. Dont need him on the wing, 5 wingers in front of him as it stands and if we sign chase theres another.
I also dont see a need for lulia if we sign stanley, with pete coming through in particular.

In regards to the half back your spot on...we need one. even if it is someone raw like cherry evans to cover injuries in 2010 and develope him from there. Robson isnt the answer i dont think, we need a long term solution.

Karawana and Ndaira i would be happy to keep on small coin. Karawana hasnt offered much but he can do a job should we have a bad injury run. And i havent seen a lot of fruen and wyborn, perhaps if they are ready for firsts and if so Ndaira isnt as necessary. But i think at this stage, without depth in the halves and with hilders best spots the bench and lock i think he is good to have in the squad.

thats my take anyway.

 

[reginald.p]

Interesting Thread Smokey.

Wow that is a pretty strong reserve team, take Gidley and Mullen out and there isn't much difference between the two sides.

I think we have enough depth. Please no more depth signings Mr Smith. If we replaced Macdougall with maybe Stanley and Dureau with a halfback who is actually good then i would be happy with that first grade team.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Great first post certainly dont disagree with anything you've said.

I'd be happy to punt Karawana...... Use Tolar as a backrower and have Timmy come into the rotation.

Blake Green would be a nice signing as well.

 

[Pika]

Great post.

Hey rolla, I think Tetavano is a few years off yet mate.

Gifted athlete though, he could be anything if he kicks on.

 

[Adsy]

Nice thread, Smokey. Lot of thought put into it.

If those 10 guys you mentioned are all off contract at the end of the year, I'd be keeping 6 of them (Fa'aoso, Natusch, McDonnell, Ndaira, Ciraldo & Tovo).

Take the other 4 salaries and buy 1 gun <insert position>. I don't care what position I just want a major signing for the club eg. Karmichael Hunt.

 

[Rolla]

Great post.

Hey rolla, I think Tetavano is a few years off yet mate.

Gifted athlete though, he could be anything if he kicks on.

Agreed 100% on tetavano, however i didnt mention him lol, i said tovo? perhaps a mix up

 

[Alex28]

Good first post, however we'll have the same problems as this year if Dureau and Rogers are the best we can partner Jarrod with. Forget signing (new players to the club in) other positions - we have sufficient talent and depth in those. We BADLY need a decent half option otherwise we are not a premiership hope.

 

[aqua_duck]

From NYC players I'd keep Mitch Garbutt, Wyborn and Freaun and maybe Simon Williams all on part time contracts

 

[Newie is God's Country]

Chase Stanley sounds a good signing if true. As for front rowers we need someone pretty reliable and durable. Not much on the market in that department lately. Penrith were pure genius in signing Petro. If we had signed Petro we would win the comp this year I have no doubt whatsoever. Best front rower in twenty years. I reckon he is better than Webcke.

 

[Pika]

Agreed 100% on tetavano, however i didnt mention him lol, i said tovo? perhaps a mix up

My bad mate...

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Slow day list of offcontracted players from the Eels over the next two years, couple I'd be interested in.

Off contract 2009.

David Baumann
Josh Cordoba - Hasn't really developed into his potential maybe worth a shot, can never have to many front rowers.
Joe Galuvao
Kevin Kingston - Wouldn't mind if Smith is determined to rest Isaac each match you could have worse covers.
Todd Lowrie
Greg Nichols
Matt Raftery
Callan Richardson
Jeff Robson
Tim Robinson
Taulima Tautai
Marty Lewis
Albert Kelly - Havent loads of people wrapped this guy?
Anthony Mitchell
Nathan Gardner
Etu Uaisele
Broderick Wright



Off contract 2010:


Luke Burt
Nathan Cayless
Eric Grothe
Fui Fui Moimoi - My dream of a player however we dont sign big names.
Weller Hauraki
Jarryd Hayne
Krisnan Inu
Kris Keating
Feleti Mateo - Would be a great player for a Smith project.
Brendan Oake
Daniel Mortimer - Mortimer + Mullen makes my eyes water.

What do you's reckon? (Besides I suck with my fonting)

 

[Johns Magic]

Don't want Mortimer or Moi Moi.

Mateo I can't see coming back to Smith. He'd hardly be a "project player" either.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Hayne or Moi Moi would be great

WTF happened to Inu?

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Don't want Mortimer or Moi Moi.

Mateo I can't see coming back to Smith. He'd hardly be a "project player" either.

I disagree I still think he is way raw and one of the most inconsistant players in the comp, talent is clearly there and under a decent coach he'd go fantastic.

EDIT: Inu, like what he has produced in the last two years - nothing.

 

[The Smokey]

To be honest i dont think we will get any of those parra players but if we could buy any it would be Moi Moi, Kingston, Hayne, Keating and Mortimer... Would be nice

 

[The Smokey]

After your thoughts i think the team for 2010 should/Could look like this:

- Players in green to resign/sign in 2009
- Players in red to not re-sign in 2010

First Grade:

1. Kurt Gidley
2. James Mcmanus
3. Adam Macdougall
4. Junior Sau
5. Aku Uate
6. Jarrod Mullen
7. Scott Dureau
8. Ben Cross
9. Issac Degois
10. Daniel Tolar
11. Chris Houston
12. Zeb Taia
13. Steve Simpson

14. Matt Hilder
15. Corey Paterson
16. Richard Fa'aoso
17. Mark Taufua

18. Danny Wicks

Reserves:

1. Peter Mata'utia
2. Cooper Vuna
3. Keith Lulia
4. Simon Williams / Wes Naiquama
5. Byron Fruean
6. Ben Rogers
7. ?? (possible signing) George Ndaira
8. Danny Wicks
9. George Ndaira
10. Tim Natusch
11. Con Mika
12. Wes Naiquama / Leeson Ah Mau
13. Ben Wyborn

14. Leeson Ah Mau - FR/SR
15. Sione Tovo - FR
16. Joel Edwards - FR/SR
17. Chris Malbourough - HK/L/SR, 5/8th
18. Zane Tetevano - SR/FR/L


In 2010 i reckon with the money we have from the players in red we should seriously go after Ben Hunt who is off contract in 2010 from the Broncos who will be our Number 7 for a long time (problem solved).

 

[Big Tim]

In 2010 i reckon with the money we have from the players in red we should seriously go after Ben Hunt who is off contract in 2010 from the Broncos who will be our Number 7 for a long time (problem solved).

Karma????

Just kidding.

I like the look of that squad TBH.

 

[Pumba]

Great posts Smokey.

8. Danny Wicks

He is a must re-sign!!