The Rumours Thread

[denis preston]

Well according to the Telegraph we have dropped off the chase because of that 900 000 dollar price tag

Thank goodness ! Lets keep away from the 850k plus signings for a while !

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Then why pay $500K when we have someone already here that may fit that role.. Rava. Betting he'd not make as many fundamental errors in the engine room. Can see him barreling over the top of blokes with his bulk and landing some big blows in defense.

Have you noticed that Rava hasn't been on the park much this year?

 

[VodkaSaint]

Viliame Kikau move to the Dragons looking more likely

Penrith Panthers facing an uphill battle to retain its stars

everythingrugbyleague.com

 

[OneEyedDragon]

Viliame Kikau move to the Dragons looking more likely

Penrith Panthers facing an uphill battle to retain its stars

everythingrugbyleague.com

No doubt Kikau can be an excellent player, but that is also a huge amount of money that he is apparently asking for. The Dragons have been burned a couple of times by players on this sort of money. Still, our record is so poor that maybe we have to pay this sort of money to land a top line player. I am still on the fence as to whether Kikau is worth it.

 

[muzby]

Tariq Sims is also likely to stay next year with the only club he could potentially get a long term deal at this time being the Tigers

Tariq’s Manager: “I’ve got two options for you”

Tariq: “Hit me”

Manager: Option A, See our your contract and retire.

Tariq: “What’s option B?”

Manager: “4 year deal, $1m per year”

Tariq: “That’s awesome!! Where?”

Manager: “The tigers”

Tariq: “I’ll take option A”

 

[TruSaint]

Tariq’s Manager: “I’ve got two options for you”

Tariq: “Hit me”

Manager: Option A, See our your contract and retire.

Tariq: “What’s option B?”

Manager: “4 year deal, $1m per year”

Tariq: “That’s awesome!! Where?”

Manager: “The tigers”

Tariq: “I’ll take option A”

 

[Col1]

The old Wayne Bennet strategy that certain positions (no matter how good the player) are only worth a certain range of money is still relevant today. Anyone earning over $800,000 should be a great player and part of your spine.

 

[Gareth67]

$900,000 per season , way too much for that chap imo .
Is he a true game changer , can he kick goals ? For that sort of money I would expect the bloke to be equipped with an extra arm so as to rake the ball back when he packs into scrums !

Actually he is a good player playing in a very good team that just oozes class and confidence , but take him away from that environment and you will find a player that may very well find it difficult to create attacking opportunities on his own .

I believe that he is worth somewhere in the realm of $500k to $650k , anything over that and the club that purchases him - especially if it is a club whose team struggles on the field , may end up getting their fingers burnt .

 

[Dragonslayer]

BJ Leilua's manager trying to reinvent him as a prop.

Thoughts?

 

[muzby]

BJ Leilua's manager trying to reinvent him as a prop.

Thoughts?

I think his manager is an idiot.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

No doubt Kikau can be an excellent player, but that is also a huge amount of money that he is apparently asking for. The Dragons have been burned a couple of times by players on this sort of money. Still, our record is so poor that maybe we have to pay this sort of money to land a top line player. I am still on the fence as to whether Kikau is worth it.

I'd pay that much for a star in a key position. Ie 1,6,9 etc.. Mindful of junior development etc. So definitely 9..

As good as Kikau can be at the panthers... we'd be paying out more money he's getting now for less impact he gives now. That Panthers side is enormous across the park and he can capitalise deluxe.... feeds off them. He can give them an extra gear... taking them from 5th to 6th...

I think he's worth that money in a top 6 team. But not so much for a side like ours which is well off the pace. Unless we get our go-forward rocking and our halves in order he'd be wasted for the most part.

As much as I'd love Kikau coming off the top turnbuckle for us... we've got more to fix that a bloke like him isn't suited to. And especially if it costs us 900-large..

 

[boardlumps62]

A $million is a lot of bucks for a forward. That sort of money is for special players even giving Turbo that sort of money is a risk he is only a hamstring tear away from a long time on the side lines. Good players in key positions is the go like give me Manu but he might command a pay rise too.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

BJ Leilua's manager trying to reinvent him as a prop.

Thoughts?

The first reinvention should be to a thinking, self-disciplined and hard working rugby league player. This will take a while. We can worry about the position when and if he achieved the first process.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

A $million is a lot of bucks for a forward. That sort of money is for special players even giving Turbo that sort of money is a risk he is only a hamstring tear away from a long time on the side lines. Good players in key positions is the go like give me Manu but he might command a pay rise too.

The other million dollar forwards don't inspire confidence that Kikau will provide value for money if some team is silly enough to pay him a million a season- Taumalolo and Fifita have spent most of their recent matches on the bench due to a mixture of injury and attitude problems.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

I'd pay that much for a star in a key position. Ie 1,6,9 etc.. Mindful of junior development etc. So definitely 9..

As good as Kikau can be at the panthers... we'd be paying out more money he's getting now for less impact he gives now. That Panthers side is enormous across the park and he can capitalise deluxe.... feeds off them. He can give them an extra gear... taking them from 5th to 6th...

I think he's worth that money in a top 6 team. But not so much for a side like ours which is well off the pace. Unless we get our go-forward rocking and our halves in order he'd be wasted for the most part.

As much as I'd love Kikau coming off the top turnbuckle for us... we've got more to fix that a bloke like him isn't suited to. And especially if it costs us 900-large..

Agree, 9 is the position I’d fork out for. Problem is we don’t really have the team yet to attract a good 9 on anything less than massive overs.

 

[Mojo]

The money that is talked about all-round is becoming absurd. Lawd knows how the salary cap system is intended to work but it seems clear to me that more money should be going into development of players rather than promoting ‘stars’ and ‘elite players’. It’s a team sport after all. It’s not about haircuts, colourful boots and media appeal. Just get-on with developing talent and forget about buying poster-boys.

 

[Redhoopz]

BJ Leilua's manager trying to reinvent him as a prop.

Thoughts?

That'll do me. Cue the Benny Hill music and grab the popcorn.

 

[boardlumps62]

The other million dollar forwards don't inspire confidence that Kikau will provide value for money if some team is silly enough to pay him a million a season- Taumalolo and Fifita have spent most of their recent matches on the bench due to a mixture of injury and attitude problems.

Yes Dragons should only offer what they can afford and only pay standard rate plus bonus for better than average forwards can't be a $million surely.

 

[Trifili13]

I know this is a forum and good banter and people's suggestions and thoughts are always welcome, and I know some players have adopted to new positions or play multiple positions, but I think it's getting a bit silly. If we just look at the suggestions on our forum:
Sullivan who is a half to be converted to a hooker
Hunt who is a half converted to a hooker
Dufty a fullback into a 5/8
Rava a winger into a back rower
Sims a back rower into a prop
And I am sure there are more

And that's before the actual coaches playing some of the players all over the shop.

Here's a suggestion, how about we play them where they belong or if that does not work out we buy someone that fits that position like all the good teams do.

 

[OneEyedDragon]

I know this is a forum and good banter and people's suggestions and thoughts are always welcome, and I know some players have adopted to new positions or play multiple positions, but I think it's getting a bit silly. If we just look at the suggestions on our forum:
Sullivan who is a half to be converted to a hooker
Hunt who is a half converted to a hooker
Dufty a fullback into a 5/8
Rava a winger into a back rower
Sims a back rower into a prop
And I am sure there are more

And that's before the actual coaches playing some of the players all over the shop.

Here's a suggestion, how about we play them where they belong or if that does not work out we buy someone that fits that position like all the good teams do.

What a radical thought, playing players in their proper positions. Next you will be suggesting that we let the coach actually coach! Where will this madness end?