Silly Season 2025/26

[Matua]

I get why Melbourne are doing it tbh. Pap's obviously gone and while Sua has first crack, his defence has long been a bit suss.

If he cant nail it, Meaney will need to shift back there and with Grant gone as well, Melb are already light amongst the outside backs. So targeting Lomax is probably a smart call roster-wise.

Agree it still feels uncomfortable given the circumstances but that said... their first responsibility is to win games, and as much as Lomax is looking like a bit of a twat right now, he's not quite an oxygen thief like Mann or others of that ilk.

The fact that multiple clubs have picked up Lodge means that I don't give two shits that clubs want to pick up Lomax.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Now reports of the Storm offering the Eels Jack Howarth for Lomax

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Josh Curran off to Perth next year

Another player Gus fawned over then just as quickly let go

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I get why Melbourne are doing it tbh. Pap's obviously gone and while Sua has first crack, his defence has long been a bit suss.

If he cant nail it, Meaney will need to shift back there and with Grant gone as well, Melb are already light amongst the outside backs. So targeting Lomax is probably a smart call roster-wise.

Agree it still feels uncomfortable given the circumstances but that said... their first responsibility is to win games, and as much as Lomax is looking like a bit of a twat right now, he's not quite an oxygen thief like Mann or others of that ilk.

Oh hey business is business, I completely get why Melbourne are doing it. Lomax is an Origin player. Melbourne don't need to have scruples with this, and they don't have any in any case, so it's all good.

PVL had a line in the sand with R360 that will not exist if a player leaves for it, unsurprisingly has a bad experience, then tries to shaft the club he left it for to go to another club. All that 10-year BS talk will be soft

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Now reports of the Storm offering the Eels Jack Howarth for Lomax

Gees wasnt expecting that. If I was Parra I'd take it.

Just turned 23, big ceiling... they could base their backline around him and Iongi for the next 5-7yrs.

 

[Matua]

Gees wasnt expecting that. If I was Parra I'd take it.

Just turned 23, big ceiling... they could base their backline around him and Iongi for the next 5-7yrs.

Yeah, dumb by Storm if that's the deal.

I always thought that Howarth was a backrower playing in the centres (so perfect pick for the Warriors than) rather an out and out back?

 

[Stagger eel]

this is actually a Rothfield whisper...

and there's no indication on any party approaching the other to make it happen...

in saying that, I think it has legs.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Code Sports reporting Meaney has signed with Perth

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yeah, dumb by Storm if that's the deal.

I always thought that Howarth was a backrower playing in the centres (so perfect pick for the Warriors than) rather an out and out back?

I dunno, now that Meaney is going and Bellamy doesn't have a lot of time left, I can see why he'd bring in Lomax short-term as a goalkicker/outside back. Both Howarth and Warbrick struggled in the final series

Doesn't make sense long-term, no.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

I dunno, now that Meaney is going and Bellamy doesn't have a lot of time left, I can see why he'd bring in Lomax short-term as a goalkicker/outside back. Both Howarth and Warbrick struggled in the final series

Doesn't make sense long-term, no.

I think Howarth and Warbrick's struggles were down to legitimate reasons though, combination of a lingering injury and rustiness.

But yea still feels a bit Rooster-like doesnt it.. chasing short term solutions.

And if the priority is to send the old man out with a ring, it could also mean an early return for Eli if they get clearance. That would no doubt raise eyebrows, no matter what the medicos have to say.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

OT: Anyone else follow the Ashes? Verdict on McCullum’s chances of staying on?

 

[marlins2.0]

OT: Anyone else follow the Ashes? Verdict on McCullum’s chances of staying on?

Surely none

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Surely none

Yea seems that way reading some reports. For their sake though, I hope they dont make a knee jerk decision.

There's some interesting parallels with the ABs of the early 00's in how Baz, like Henry, believed his team could just blast others off the park... until they couldn't.

Assuming he's willing and able to change, keeping Baz like Henry was kept after the 07WC, might be worthwhile.

 

[marlins2.0]

Yea seems that way reading some reports. For their sake though, I hope they dont make a knee jerk decision.

There's some interesting parallels with the ABs of the early 00's in how Baz, like Henry, believed his team could just blast others off the park... until they couldn't.

Assuming he's willing and able to change, keeping Baz like Henry was kept after the 07WC, might be worthwhile.

I'd say he's more in the Scott Robertson mould.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

I'd say he's more in the Scott Robertson mould.

Yep, definitely some similarities there too in his man mgmt style.

But unlike Robertson, Baz's methods have worked on occasion at test level. Still waiting for the vaunted Messiah to actually do some messiah-ing with the current ABs.

 

[marlins2.0]

Yep, definitely some similarities there too in his man mgmt style.

But unlike Robertson, Baz's methods have worked on occasion at test level. Still waiting for the vaunted Messiah to actually do some messiah-ing with the current ABs.

What are the win percentages for both? Be interesting to see.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Code Sports reporting Meaney has signed with Perth

Wishart going with him

 

[Beavers Headgear]

OT: Anyone else follow the Ashes? Verdict on McCullum’s chances of staying on?

If he goes, I think it will be his choice

The media over that whole tour has been ridiculous, personally I thought both sides were pretty ordinary, Australia just had 2 guys having career series in Head and Starc

England got absolutely smashed up by the third umpire all series as well

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

If he goes, I think it will be his choice

The media over that whole tour has been ridiculous, personally I thought both sides were pretty ordinary, Australia just had 2 guys having career series in Head and Starc

England got absolutely smashed up by the third umpire all series as well

Media was crazy aye... I followed the whole series pretty closely and fk me the Aussie media were picking at absolutely everything. I remember a story about Carse apparently dropping some cash while out getting coffee and some hack turned it into an analogy about their fielding efforts.

re: Aussies.. Carey was another who had a career best series, but I thought both Boland and Neser were also very good too.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Media was crazy aye... I followed the whole series pretty closely and fk me the Aussie media were picking at absolutely everything. I remember a story about Carse apparently dropping some cash while out getting coffee and some hack turned it into an analogy about their fielding efforts.

re: Aussies.. Carey was another who had a career best series, but I thought both Boland and Neser were also very good too.

I listening to the SEN commentary at work early in the series and had to turn it off in the end, was absolutely disgraceful. Found Triple M when I went back to work and they were good with Bumble in there. Have a listen to his Maureen story haha

Duckett copped an absolute hammering from all quarters, and he was poor all series, but his numbers were pretty much the same as 4 of the Aussie top 7

Yeah Carey was good and Smith was poor so that was a difference between the 2 sides

Root matched Steve Smith, Tongue came in and did a similar job to Boland. Carse was loose but took plenty of wickets, and for all the criticism of him Archer gave them plenty of trouble too