The Rumours Thread

[JubileeJeffro]

Agree Dearden achieved little leading a team
Where Luai has been to 4 GFs in a row snd been MP for 3 of them

Luai has Cleary whereas Deardon has an ageing Townsend.. can’t compare impact

 

[TheRev]

4 Business Days Days left to go... do we still believe in our AFB Xmas Miracle?

 

[BLM01]

Luai has Cleary whereas Deardon has an ageing Townsend.. can’t compare impact

Thats right so why offer Deardon 1.1 when he has had limited impact thus far. Deardon has performed 2 years max at the Cowboys including the team underachieving this year. Yeh he did OK in his couple of origin games
He aint worth that yet. 900K OK as is just a wholehearted runner and defender'but not much playmaking. I reckon Sam Walker will be a better player than Deardon as is Mam
You can compare what they do and have done on field and Luai has done a hell of a lot more for a lot longer because Yes also in a better team for 5 years?. Cleary has spent some time on the side line during the years and Penrith keep rolling on.

 

[TheRev]

Walker and Mam arent on the table (we tried).. our 5/8 choices are Amone or Turner once Hunt leaves... maybe we jag one of canterburys leftovers.. thats the reality of the options that are available to us.

I can tell you that someone will pay Dearden 1mill+ (dolphins, dogs, nqld), either its us or its someone else, so another 100-200k honestly is nothing to kickstart our rebuild. Dearden is the most likely of the young halves to be "up to it", what he did filling Munsters boots in origin as a 22yr old.. far out.. and hes 6yrs away from his peak as a halfback.. you have to hitch your horse to someone, and he's the best horse currently.

 

[_Johnsy]

Walker and Mam arent on the table (we tried).. our 5/8 choices are Amone or Turner once Hunt leaves... maybe we jag one of canterburys leftovers.. thats the reality of the options that are available to us.

I can tell you that someone will pay Dearden 1mill+ (dolphins, dogs, nqld), either its us or its someone else, so another 100-200k honestly is nothing to kickstart our rebuild. Dearden is the most likely of the young halves to be "up to it", what he did filling Munsters boots in origin as a 22yr old.. far out.. and hes 6yrs away from his peak as a halfback.. you have to hitch your horse to someone, and he's the best horse currently.

My only reservations with Dearden is we don’t have the quality of players surrounding him, that QLD do. I think he is worth chasing, as you say an extra 100-200k per year over 3-4 years is worth the risk when comparing the status quo.

 

[SnowDragon]

I agree with BLM01, he ain’t worth it today, and there still remains risk. That said, TheRev is right that we may need t pay overs to get him.

so do we need to pay overs? And is the risk worth it? What’s coming thru our juniors?

i have no idea. Happy to support the coach on this one/

 

[TheRev]

Amone & Bud were our only real star halves juniors... Herring was next behind him as a promising 6, but probably stagnated and ultimately there must be a reason we didnt give him a dev contract & he left.

King Togia is the one I think they are backing now.. but I havent seen anything amazing yet and hes just starting his reserve grade career.. like hes many years away from being a genuine 1st grade half (if he makes it), imo halves is probably our weakest reserve grade position (currently), I think we are waiting for a teenager to emerge.

 

[SnowDragon]

Amone & Bud were our only real star halves juniors... Herring was next behind him as a promising 6, but probably stagnated and ultimately there must be a reason we didnt give him a dev contract & he left.

King Togia is the one I think they are backing now.. but I havent seen anything amazing yet and hes just starting his reserve grade career.. like hes many years away from being a genuine 1st grade half (if he makes it), imo halves is probably our weakest reserve grade position (currently), I think we are waiting for a teenager to emerge.

thanks TheRev. Maybe we attract back a player like Bud down the road, maybe we snag Dearden, maybe hunt and Flanno work out… maybe we keep Amone?

I assume there was some empty in the madness to let bud and Herring go

 

[dragon thomo]

I dont know if anyone has mentioned also he is a serial pest. What about Tyson Gamble, he showed last year he could lead a team around.

 

[Biglance]

i wouldnt be surprised if dearden is not the fish we are really after, if deardens $$ go up and cowboys have to spend more to keep him, its more likely we can land one of their star forwards

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

Amone & Bud were our only real star halves juniors... Herring was next behind him as a promising 6, but probably stagnated and ultimately there must be a reason we didnt give him a dev contract & he left.

King Togia is the one I think they are backing now.. but I havent seen anything amazing yet and hes just starting his reserve grade career.. like hes many years away from being a genuine 1st grade half (if he makes it), imo halves is probably our weakest reserve grade position (currently), I think we are waiting for a teenager to emerge.

Kade Reed
Nick Quinn
Ashton Ward
Are our other halves but they are a long way from NRL..
To me Dearden isnt a half, he is a running 5/8, if we sign him as 1/2 back wont work out.

 

[possm]

Walker and Mam arent on the table (we tried).. our 5/8 choices are Amone or Turner once Hunt leaves... maybe we jag one of canterburys leftovers.. thats the reality of the options that are available to us.

I can tell you that someone will pay Dearden 1mill+ (dolphins, dogs, nqld), either its us or its someone else, so another 100-200k honestly is nothing to kickstart our rebuild. Dearden is the most likely of the young halves to be "up to it", what he did filling Munsters boots in origin as a 22yr old.. far out.. and hes 6yrs away from his peak as a halfback.. you have to hitch your horse to someone, and he's the best horse currently.

What about that English halfback who played for the Raiders, I think Williams was his name. He was a very useful halfback and would not cost an arm and a leg.

 

[Dragon David]

thanks TheRev. Maybe we attract back a player like Bud down the road, maybe we snag Dearden, maybe hunt and Flanno work out… maybe we keep Amone?

I assume there was some empty in the madness to let bud and Herring go

You never know, with so many halves to choose from at the Tigers, Bud will likely play in reserves if Luai was able to leave the Panthers and start at the Tigers in 2024. Bud might get the shits and want out and come back to us? Not likely I know. Out of the bottom 3 teams of 2023, we have the least number of decent halves on our books. The Bulldogs and Tigers basically have excess halves but better to have several rather than a few.

I truly hope that Flanagan has already identified this, if we have then he should. It's no bloody use just getting numbers though, they have to be decent enough to be playmakers and winning game changers and not making up the numbers.

 

[Nutz]

You never know, with so many halves to choose from at the Tigers, Bud will likely play in reserves if Luai was able to leave the Panthers and start at the Tigers in 2024. Bud

 

[Nutz]

I don't think so David, Bud is in Benji's long term plans. If Luai does come to the Tigers the pairing will be Luai/Sullivan.
The odd man out and not guaranteed anything is Latu Fainu, he's the young gun I'd be asking the tigers to release.
He might be just covering injuries but he is a future superstar.
How are you guys going with AFB. Gee I hope you guys snare him.

 

[RedVee_8]

I don't think so David, Bud is in Benji's long term plans. If Luai does come to the Tigers the pairing will be Luai/Sullivan.
The odd man out and not guaranteed anything is Latu Fainu, he's the young gun I'd be asking the tigers to release.
He might be just covering injuries but he is a future superstar.
How are you guys going with AFB. Gee I hope you guys snare him.

What if Penrith want a player exchange to release Luai from 2024? I’ve read they have a star coming through (of course) so I guess they’d want someone closer to first grade ready now over another “future star”. I’ll be interested to see what happens to Douiihi (sp?) at the Tigers, with his knee issues he may get pushed out. I still don’t believe they didn’t stick with Hastings 7 and Brooks 6.
Not that we can scoff after releasing Bud after identifying him as our great next hope.
I hope we land AFB too… and soon!

 

[Dragon David]

I don't think so David, Bud is in Benji's long term plans. If Luai does come to the Tigers the pairing will be Luai/Sullivan.
The odd man out and not guaranteed anything is Latu Fainu, he's the young gun I'd be asking the tigers to release.
He might be just covering injuries but he is a future superstar.
How are you guys going with AFB. Gee I hope you guys snare him.

Yes, you are right there Nutz. That pairing of Sullivan and Luai would be a beauty especially having one of the best halves that played the game coaching them.

Again, I'm sure that Flanagan has identified our weakness in the halves insofar as decent back ups are concerned. He will know how to get the best out of his son and the pairing of Kyle with Hunt will be interesting to see for the first time in the trials next year.

I'm hoping that when Flanno said that he was hoping a decision would be known before Christmas on AFB that it is not hot wind stuff coming out of his mouth but a genuine statement to indicate that he will actually be at the Dragons and not end up at the Sharks (that will make a huge dent in Flanno's credibility as far as I am concerned if he ends up at the Sharks).

All the best to you Nutz. My long suffering friends who follow your team might be in for a treat in the next few years with the Tigers playing finals footy.

 

[Parko1310]

Insofar as depth in the halves is concerned, I've always liked Toby Sexton as a player and he is off contract at the end of next season. A controlling half who is a clear upgrade on Kyle Flanagan. Kyle can then be worked on in transitioning to a hooker like Flanno had planned. My first target for depth in the halves though, especially if Dearden is looking increasingly unlikely, would be Jonah Pezet from the Storm. Off contract end of 2025, but how long does he want to sit behind Hughes and Munster who are on long-term deals? Might be able to tempt him and get him out early, looks a pretty good player.

 

[Harry Bath]

What is happening with Amone, crickets for over a week now?

 

[Dragon David]

What is happening with Amone, crickets for over a week now?

I suppose those on his case are letting things run its legal course but it has been quiet from the clubs point of view. If they don't have any meaningful stuff to tell then why say anything is their way I guess.