Storm Team 2011

[madunit]

The stupid thing is, thered probably be clubs out there whove seen enough of Duffie Widdop Kelly O Neill and the like to be keen to chase them. I wouldnt mind paying up to 200k for Duffie if I was a club needing outside backs (sharks?). The plan to keep the big four involves these guys being kept under 100k a season for 2011 and 2012 at least. When other clubs can offer twice as much. Storm might lose these guys to if they try to keep the big 4 and end up with genuine nobodies who arent up to it, then theyll be a mockery.

and while that may be the case, no one has yet bought any of them. none of them are contracted to the NRL side either therefore were able to be bought etc I believe.

I don't think these players will be getting poached in a hurry and I don't think any of them, with the exception of Widdop possibly, will warrant being paid 200k a season, no matter which team they go to.

They could stick them all on 100k and bring them forward and will be able to retain the core of their side around these young guys.

They should have worked hard to retain Blair, Lima and White as they will be very light on in the front row without them, they're actually very light on at the moment as it is now anyway.

 

[Gippsy]

Summed up perfectly Unit...they will field a fairly competitive side but might be light in the forwards which is a concern.

According to todays herald sun (no link available) their forwards could look like: Norrie, Smith, Blair, Proctor, Manu, Hinchcliffe, Kostjasyn, Kite, Bromwich, Lowrie.

Still pretty handy.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

If the Storm retain the big four then they'll be competitive, but at some stage they're going to have to bite the bullett and let one of them go. The rest of the team aren't going to spend their careers on 100k or less so there's going to be a high turnover of players the longer the big four are there.

It's a short term solution, but I think what Melbourne need is a long term plan.

 

[meltiger]

If the Storm retain the big four then they'll be competitive, but at some stage they're going to have to bite the bullett and let one of them go. The rest of the team aren't going to spend their careers on 100k or less so there's going to be a high turnover of players the longer the big four are there.

It's a short term solution, but I think what Melbourne need is a long term plan.

Problem they have is in trying not to antagonise the delusional fruitcakes down here who support them. Hence why they are trying to maintain all 4, at the expense of their competitiveness.

 

[Gippsy]

The problem is the team they could finish up with will still be competitive, provided these good young players on minimum contracts are happy to stay on mimimum contracts. Apparently Blair & Manu are even supposed to be on small contracts, despite being internationals.

If the other NRL clubs have any sense they will make a play for these type of players, Blair, Manu, Proctor, Duffie, O'Neill, Widdop, Stanley,Bromwich etc. That will make it tougher for the cheats to be competitive & force them to do something with the 4 biggest cheats.

 

[Ike E Bear]

Pretty good list you got there but I'll have a go on what I predict it will look like

1. Slater
2. Duffie
3. Inglis
4. Stanley
5. O'Neill
6. Kelly
7. Cronk
8. Norrie
9. Smith
10. White
11. Blair
12. Manu
13. Hinchcliffe

14. Kostjasyn
15. Bromwiche
16. Proctor
17. Kite

I think we could release either Widdop or Kelly. Both will be very good first graders, I think Widdop, although a very good player, will be released because Kelly is an outstanding half and I guess good fullbacks are a little easier to find.

I'm not convinced White will be around too. Surely that sides under the cap.

Obviously all guesstimates, but I've tried to use figures that have been used in various reports to make it an educated guesstimate. I have tried to be extremely conservative.

1. Slater = $600,000
2. Duffie = $60,000 (they won't be able to keep him long at the minimum, if he is)
3. Inglis = $650,000
4. Stanley = $150,000 (signed as an established first-grader, probably higher)
5. O'Neill = $60,000
6. Kelly = $90,000 (halves, even back-ups will always attract a premium)
7. Cronk = $450,000 (could be higher)
8. Norrie = $60,000 (probably higher)
9. Smith = $650,000
10. White = $250,000 (could be higher, given Bellamy's love of this clown)
11. Blair = $250,000 (could be higher)
12. Manu = $200,000 (could be higher)
13. Hinchcliffe = $100,000 (signed from another club, probably higher)

14. Kostjasyn = $60,000
15. Bromwiche = $60,000
16. Proctor = $100,000
17. Kite = $80,000 (signed from another club, could be lower or higher)

Total = $3.87 million

Rest of the squad @ $60,000 each = $480,000

Total = $4.35 million

While the changes to the third party sponsorship deals and marquee player systems might account for my amount that this figure is over the cap (and maybe even a little more), this shows just how difficult it is for the Storm to get under with their four big stars.

Any player that is contracted to the Storm for next year can't just be cut because the Storm wants them to be. They either have to find a club for them or keep them. Even if you account for Finch, Hoffman, Lima and Quinn who are reportedly heading overseas, guys like Neilsen, Lowrie, McDougall, Isa, Widdop, Chisholm, Cahill, Kali and Vea are unlikely to be minimum wagers (even if they aren't on packets) and some of them are surely contracted for next year and can't just be thrown out on the street.

When you say "Surely that sides under the cap" ... I think it's HARDLY a sure thing at all. It's actually highly unlikely, in my opinion.

I reckon if you took Inglis out, along with two guys on $200,000+, and a couple of "just above average" guys out, then that's more likely to be a legal team (unless the big guns are allowed to renegotiate).

I reckon something like this is more likely, with maybe one or two more of the likes of Neilsen, Stanley or Lowrie.

1. Slater
2. Duffie
3. Isa
4. Widdop
5. O'Neill
6. Kelly
7. Cronk
8. Norrie
9. Smith
10. Bromwiche
11. Proctor
12. Manu
13. Cahill

14. Kostjasyn
15. Vea
16. Kali
17. Kite

Just my opinion.

 

[petetheileet]

The problem is, that is just not achievable....

everyone of those blokes on 100k or less will be getting offers from other sources worth more than what you have stated

my bet is two of White, Manu and Proctor will go along with Inglis.

 

[Ike E Bear]

The problem is, that is just not achievable....

everyone of those blokes on 100k or less will be getting offers from other sources worth more than what you have stated

my bet is two of White, Manu and Proctor will go along with Inglis.

I don't necessarily disagree. I was trying to be very conservative with my estimations.

I can't see how the best of the kids and lower paid players will be retained once they become established ... other teams will be willing to pay better, it's a certainty. Some of the more bitter clubs might even look to target Storm players moving forward, just out of spite.

The best way forward for the Storm, in my opinion, would be to bite the bulelt and shed two of their stars.

Without Slater and Inglis, I think they could field a very competitive and balanced team that they could move forward with.

Something like ...

1. Widdop
2. Duffie
3. Neilsen
4. Stanley
5. O'Neil
6. Kelly
7. Cronk
8. Norrie
9. Smith
10. White
11. Blair
12. Manu
13. Lowrie

14. Hinchcliffe
15. Proctor
16. Bromwiche
17. Kite

That's a team that still has a bit of depth and plenty of talent, with a focus on stars in the most important positions.

That's what I'd do. Shrug.

 

[madunit]

O'Regan will make first grade before Kelly.

plus, he's a genuinely good 6, Kelly is a 7 that provides little more than a link between Kostjasyn and O'Regan/Widdop.

 

[joseph1]

That last one looks a pretty good team. I think most people believe Inglis will be the one to go. Hes probably the best player but the most dispensable given the wealth of good centres around. Cronk is the next likely to goni think. Smith and slater are too entrenched in the storm culture to even consider playing for another nrl club.

 

[madunit]

I think Slater and Smith are probably the two who are most replaceable, in regards to having a decent quality player from NSW Cup replace them.

Kostjasyn and Widdop could cover for those two very easily and the Storm wouldn't be affected too greatly at all.

Cronk is the safest of all 4.

 

[Ike E Bear]

I think Cronk is just as entrenched, really.

Given the difficulties of sourcing suitable halfbacks, added to the fact he's probably on the least of the four, I think the Storm would have to be mental to let Cronk go. Shrug.

Slater could go to a Queensland club, overseas or even to union. The latter two options would alleviate any need to play against the Storm.

 

[AuDragon]

Seems like they should count Inglis out. He's on the way to the Broncs! :crazy:

 

[kia ora storm]

Problem they have is in trying not to antagonise the delusional fruitcakes down here who support them. Hence why they are trying to maintain all 4, at the expense of their competitiveness.

Nice generalisation about the fans...ignorance is bliss.

 

[babyg]

I'm actually really excited about next year. Watching the superstars running around with a team of kids could be great. What's the chances of Victorian kid getting a run next year. It could all add up to be a feel good year.

 

[Mark Rudd]

No inlgis is no great loss. Crazy I know. But Smith, Cronk and Slater are enough to build on.

Perhaps now we CAN keep some other players that were going to depart with Inglis freeing up some boats.....er........cash.