Squad succession

[Poupou Escobar]

So IDG has been re-signed for 2 years. Is anyone seriously happy that he looks like being our first choice hooker next year?

There was no mention of providing depth, as is usually the case for back up recruitment and retention, so I can only assume the plan is to play him in the 9 next year.

How f**king good do you expect our team to be without TPAs? You f**kheads wanted a team that wasn't cheating the cap and that's what we're going to have.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yeah De Gois!:

2016
Fullback: Gordon
W/C: Faraimo, Folau, Jennings, Radradra, Schulte, Toutai, Tuha
Half: Cornish, Kelly, Norman, Robson
Hooker: De Gois, King, Pritchard
Edge forward: Edwards, Gower, Ma'u, Moeroa, Scott, Tanginoa, Woods
Tight forward: Alvaro, Hasson, Mannah, O'Brien, Terepo, Ualesi, Wicks
Utility: French, Fuimaono, Gutherson, Nelson, Takairangi

2017
Fullback: -
W/C: Folau, Jennings, Radradra
Half: Norman
Hooker: De Gois, Pritchard
Edge forward: Edwards, Gower, Ma'u, Moeroa, Scott
Tight forward: Alvaro, Mannah, Terepo, Twal, Wicks
Utility: French, Gutherson, Takairangi

2018
Fullback: -
W/C: Jennings, Radradra
Half: Norman
Hooker: De Gois, Pritchard
Edge forward: Edwards, Scott
Tight forward: Alvaro, Wicks
Utility: French

2019
Fullback: -
W/C: Jennings
Half: Norman
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Edwards
Tight forward: -

So we officially have 19 merkins in next year's squad.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

How f**king good do you expect our team to be without TPAs? You f**kheads wanted a team that wasn't cheating the cap and that's what we're going to have.

That's just not true. I wanted us to cheat like there's no tomorrow.

 

[Happy MEel]

ill be drinking the kraken rums tonight Happy.

Angry merkin!!

 

[Happy MEel]

How f**king good do you expect our team to be without TPAs? You f**kheads wanted a team that wasn't cheating the cap and that's what we're going to have.

I couldn't care less if we cheated, as long as we weren't stupid enough to get caught.

However, with the cap space we have available I expect a better hooker option than IDG. Hooker is one of the most important positions on the field and he just doesn't cut it. As a genuine back up? Fair enough. We'll have to wait and see whether he has been signed as cover for injuries but I have a very bad feeling he hasn't.

 

[Chipmunk]

Yeah De Gois!:

2016
Fullback: Gordon
W/C: Faraimo, Folau, Jennings, Radradra, Schulte, Toutai, Tuha
Half: Cornish, Kelly, Norman, Robson
Hooker: De Gois, King, Pritchard
Edge forward: Edwards, Gower, Ma'u, Moeroa, Scott, Tanginoa, Woods
Tight forward: Alvaro, Hasson, Mannah, O'Brien, Terepo, Ualesi, Wicks
Utility: French, Fuimaono, Gutherson, Nelson, Takairangi

2017
Fullback: -
W/C: Folau, Jennings, Radradra
Half: Norman
Hooker: De Gois, Pritchard
Edge forward: Edwards, Gower, Ma'u, Moeroa, Scott
Tight forward: Alvaro, Mannah, Terepo, Twal, Wicks
Utility: French, Gutherson, Takairangi

2018
Fullback: -
W/C: Jennings, Radradra
Half: Norman
Hooker: De Gois, Pritchard
Edge forward: Edwards, Scott
Tight forward: Alvaro, Wicks
Utility: French

2019
Fullback: -
W/C: Jennings
Half: Norman
Hooker: -
Edge forward: Edwards
Tight forward: -

So we officially have 19 merkins in next year's squad.

Didn't Ualese re-sign for two years also earlier in then year?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Wasn't official

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I couldn't care less if we cheated, as long as we weren't stupid enough to get caught.

However, with the cap space we have available I expect a better hooker option than IDG. Hooker is one of the most important positions on the field and he just doesn't cut it. As a genuine back up? Fair enough. We'll have to wait and see whether he has been signed as cover for injuries but I have a very bad feeling he hasn't.

How much cap space do you think we have available? And whom would you have preferred we waste it on?

 

[Happy MEel]

How much cap space do you think we have available? And whom would you have preferred we waste it on?

Considering the re-signings that have been announced, as well as Vave, were rumoured before the Hayne offer, I'd say at least $800k. That's being very conservative as I don't think we offered Hayne every remaining $ from our cap.

Let's say IDG signed for 120-150k, that would have conservatively made about 950k available in the cap by not re-signing him. If indeed Brown has signed (which I hope he has) I reckon it would be for around 300k. That leaves around $650k.

I'm in the minority who thinks Guth would be adequate with Normie so I would have focused on the hooker role as there has been more quality off contract/available, and focused on a half back in 2018.

As for who I would have gone for, the current origin hooker is looking for a gig. I also would have gone for Baptiste or Wallace before re-signing IDG.

 

[hineyrulz]

Angry merkin!!

Bundy = angry, Kraken = happy.

IDG = meh.

 

[Chipmunk]

With the re-signing of Da Gwah I'm updating my Top 17...

1. French
2. Radradra
3. Jennings
4. Takairangi
5, Folau
6. Gutherson
7. Norman
8. Mannah
9. De Gois
10. Wicks
11. Mau
12. Moeroa
13. Scott
14. Edwards
15. Pritchard
16. Alvaro
17. Terepo
Back up Edge Forward - Gower
Back up Middle Forward - Twal

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'd say Terepo and maybe Alvaro are still to be pushed out of that full strength team by external signings.

 

[Chipmunk]

I'd say Terepo and maybe Alvaro are still to be pushed out of that full strength team by external signings.

Well I'll be updating My Top 17 as signings occur.

Like your Squads, i won't be updating My Top 17 until players are official.

 

[phantom eel]

I'd say Terepo and maybe Alvaro are still to be pushed out of that full strength team by external signings.

And hopefully Folau too - if we can sign anyone half-decent at 6 or 1...

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Well I'll be updating My Top 17 as signings occur.

Like your Squads, i won't be updating My Top 17 until players are official.

Will you be saving your whinging until the top 25 is officially full?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And hopefully Folau too - if we can sign anyone half-decent at 6 or 1...

Or a winger

 

[Chipmunk]

Will you be saving your whinging until the top 25 is officially full?

What whinging?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

What whinging?

About signings/re-signings

 

[Chipmunk]

About signings/re-signings

Where have I whinged about signings/re-signings?

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Yeah De Gois!:

2017
Fullback: -
W/C: Folau, Jennings, Radradra
Half: Norman
Hooker: De Gois, Pritchard
Edge forward: Edwards, Gower, Ma'u, Moeroa, Scott
Tight forward: Alvaro, Mannah, Terepo, Twal, Wicks
Utility: French, Gutherson, Takairangi

So we officially have 19 merkins in next year's squad.

Looking at next year's squad I believe our highest paid player will be Norman, and he's only reportedly on $700k per season. The other big earners in our squad would be Jennings at $600k and Semi at $500k. Is there really anyone else taking up huge amounts of cap space? Looks like we've got a fair bit to spend for next year still, unless we're going to organise new deals for some/most players and push a fair chunk of their salary into next year so we can spend really big in 2018 when it seems that half of the competition is off-contract?