The Rumours Thread

[Dragonslayer]

I don't think Sualii is a possibility, maybe 10-20% chance. But things in Rugby League can change rapidly.

We are, however, going hard for a prominent 2nd rower.

 

[Dragon David]

Had not beaten us since 1954.

They have now!

Sorry RedVee. My wording I even questioned myself after typing it. Fiji last beat us in 1954 - that's better haha!

 

[Dragon David]

We had 10 games that we lost by 6pts or less in 2023

13 wins got you into the top8

We had only 5 wins in 2023

But if we had a top level fullback, how many of those 10 games (that we lost by 6pts or less) would we have lost?

Maybe half only as a guess but could have been all to none. We needed more than a top level fullback to win us more than losing so as you would know, it's all hypothetical.

I think we could have won a couple more with better forwards and backs.

 

[BLM01]

We had 10 games that we lost by 6pts or less in 2023

13 wins got you into the top8

We had only 5 wins in 2023

But if we had a top level fullback, how many of those 10 games (that we lost by 6pts or less) would we have lost?

Yes likely we lose them all, we dont have the culture in the whole club ATM
It has been clear to me that they have not focussed on those things enough in pre season or training to set us up to win tight games.
Yes BHunt's job to lead all that but he needs the rest to do their job efficiently as cannot do it alone.
below average culture, coaching and training methods whatever you want to call it cost us those games, nothing else. Not the officials, not lack of star players, not one individual but what is within our 4 walls including non players

 

[Slippery Morris]

If anyone heard Flanno in the commentary box in the Warriors v Knights game he said "Webster has done an incredible job because a lot of the Warriors players are in career best form because of him and that is why they are playing so well" Shaun Johnson is a huge example of that. His game management is amazing. Knights hardly touched the ball before they were 16-0 down. Huge credit to Webster on making a star player in Johnson and even better player. As for Jackson Ford, he is having the same impact he was having in reserve grade. Always spoken highly in the juniors only to get shafted for plodders.

If he can get JDB, Hunt, Bird, Su'a, and F Molo is career best form that would be huge as they are Origin players. Add Sloan, Lomax, Suli, Liddle and Lawrie who if they play to potential can possibly push for a rep spot.

From what I saw in the games against the top 4. the Saints have the foundations to have a good season like the Warriors.

As for the Sloan bashing, alot is made about his defense, but if it were not for Sloan the attack would have been abysmal. How many times did he get Saints points when there was nothing doing. Flanno will sort out his defense and he will be a gun.

Saints need to really work on their defence in the offseason and bring in some hard nuts that can tighten the middle and not the type of players will ill discipline.

The Saints Management need to highlight all the ref blunders that went against them this season and get some "please explain" from the NRL, MRC and especially Annesley. Way too many times they were on the end of bad calls with no return, whilst I am yet to see Panthers, Storm, Sharks have 1. You would think all teams cop it but not in this comp. Hopefully that will help Saints in 2024 if the officials are aware that their is a bigger focus on their bad calls directed towards certain teams.

 

[Dragon David]

If anyone heard Flanno in the commentary box in the Warriors v Knights game he said "Webster has done an incredible job because a lot of the Warriors players are in career best form because of him and that is why they are playing so well" Shaun Johnson is a huge example of that. His game management is amazing. Knights hardly touched the ball before they were 16-0 down. Huge credit to Webster on making a star player in Johnson and even better player. As for Jackson Ford, he is having the same impact he was having in reserve grade. Always spoken highly in the juniors only to get shafted for plodders.

If he can get JDB, Hunt, Bird, Su'a, and F Molo is career best form that would be huge as they are Origin players. Add Sloan, Lomax, Suli, Liddle and Lawrie who if they play to potential can possibly push for a rep spot.

From what I saw in the games against the top 4. the Saints have the foundations to have a good season like the Warriors.

As for the Sloan bashing, alot is made about his defense, but if it were not for Sloan the attack would have been abysmal. How many times did he get Saints points when there was nothing doing. Flanno will sort out his defense and he will be a gun.

Saints need to really work on their defence in the offseason and bring in some hard nuts that can tighten the middle and not the type of players will ill discipline.

The Saints Management need to highlight all the ref blunders that went against them this season and get some "please explain" from the NRL, MRC and especially Annesley. Way too many times they were on the end of bad calls with no return, whilst I am yet to see Panthers, Storm, Sharks have 1. You would think all teams cop it but not in this comp. Hopefully that will help Saints in 2024 if the officials are aware that their is a bigger focus on their bad calls directed towards certain teams.

Agreed wholeheartedly Slippery.

 

[offiah]

Maybe half only as a guess but could have been all to none. We needed more than a top level fullback to win us more than losing so as you would know, it's all hypothetical.

I think we could have won a couple more with better forwards and backs.

We’d also need a top of the line half too I’d say

 

[Mojo]

We’d also need a top of the line half too I’d say

We're a 1000 miles behind the best clubs. If Flanno can turn things around in quick time we should erect a statue in his honour.

 

[Lethal25]

We're a 1000 miles behind the best clubs. If Flanno can turn things around in quick time we should erect a statue in his honour.

Agreed. If you look at what happened with the Roosters, they lost Suaalii and Manu replaced by Momirovski and Allan. One a former premiership player and the other a former origin player. Admittedly both not at the top of their games in recent times but very decent back up players and a sign of a squad with depth. Our squad has depth players playing as first choice in a number of positions

 

[Draginzaaar]

Maybe half only as a guess but could have been all to none. We needed more than a top level fullback to win us more than losing so as you would know, it's all hypothetical.

I think we could have won a couple more with better forwards and backs.

I think we could have won three just with fitness. We were the most unfit team in the comp. They are gassed after 20 minutes.

 

[Draginzaaar]

We're a 1000 miles behind the best clubs. If Flanno can turn things around in quick time we should erect a statue in his honour.

It will take at least 2 years to get us to an goodish side.

 

[justadragon]

Yes likely we lose them all, we dont have the culture in the whole club ATM
It has been clear to me that they have not focussed on those things enough in pre season or training to set us up to win tight games.
Yes BHunt's job to lead all that but he needs the rest to do their job efficiently as cannot do it alone.
below average culture, coaching and training methods whatever you want to call it cost us those games, nothing else. Not the officials, not lack of star players, not one individual but what is within our 4 walls including non players

agree but we didnt do a lot of things in last years off/pre season

get rid of the coach
better recruiting
better defensive and attacking structures
have our juniors sorted defensively, be able to tackle properly
learn how to execute short drop outs, both as attacker and defender
Put Hunt at 9

I'm sure adopting some form of culture would have gone a long way, is it any surprise our season was over before it began.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Yes likely we lose them all, we dont have the culture in the whole club ATM
It has been clear to me that they have not focussed on those things enough in pre season or training to set us up to win tight games.
Yes BHunt's job to lead all that but he needs the rest to do their job efficiently as cannot do it alone.
below average culture, coaching and training methods whatever you want to call it cost us those games, nothing else. Not the officials, not lack of star players, not one individual but what is within our 4 walls including non players

Mathematically that is an amazingly big call BLM

So the stats are
10 games
6 points or less we lost by
You say likely we would loose them all if a top line Fullback was playing for us?

I’m not looking for an argument

I just think 5 0r 6 of those games minimum……as I recollect had serious FB deficient moments that lead to us falling the wrong side of the win.

This is not saying you don’t blood and persist with Sloan in a year u are rebuilding in anyway

All the more reason to persist

I’m sliding to a FB in 2024 that has either learnt a lot and delivers and or is an elite FB helps us win 5 or 6 games via their significant defensive shaping and attacking options

When you are at 10 or 11 wins and finals are in sight there is a deep hunger that is driving through a club and a squad

Top8 and finals is right there in front of u

Not miles behind you

In every sport I have played in my life when u are on the edge of finals you go way harder and find a new gear

 

[BLM01]

Mathematically that is an amazingly big call BLM

So the stats are
10 games
6 points or less we lost by
You say likely we would loose them all if a top line Fullback was playing for us?

I’m not looking for an argument

I just think 5 0r 6 of those games minimum……as I recollect had serious FB deficient moments that lead to us falling the wrong side of the win.

This is not saying you don’t blood and persist with Sloan in a year u are rebuilding in anyway

All the more reason to persist

I’m sliding to a FB in 2024 that has either learnt a lot and delivers and or is an elite FB helps us win 5 or 6 games via their significant defensive shaping and attacking options

When you are at 10 or 11 wins and finals are in sight there is a deep hunger that is driving through a club and a squad

Top8 and finals is right there in front of u

Not miles behind you

In every sport I have played in my life when u are on the edge of finals you go way harder and find a new gear

Not arguing. I just disagree. You have to look at context of each game, how and when the points are scored, and they way the game panned out, did the opposition drop off etc etc, not the final result or stats. In fact I hate reliance on stats. Perception is not always reality with stats.

Even if we had a top line fullback (hypothetically) that person say even e.g. CNK would not of played at top level with us because of deeper rooted issues and what is around him

I agree persist with Sloan but has to show defensive improvement
I said the same with Dufty because he was a mates son but look where that got him

A great fullback would help us win more games possibly but cannot win games on their own.
We were at 12 wins the year before. It did not help then, actually that created a false dawn.
Our club focussed on how close we were and how normally 28 points gets you in the 8 (glass half full stuff), which papered over the cracks

 

[possm]

We’d also need a top of the line half too I’d say

Maybe ex-Raiders halfback Williams who is currently playing in the ESL.

 

[Carlton]

Mathematically that is an amazingly big call BLM

So the stats are
10 games
6 points or less we lost by
You say likely we would loose them all if a top line Fullback was playing for us?

I’m not looking for an argument

I just think 5 0r 6 of those games minimum……as I recollect had serious FB deficient moments that lead to us falling the wrong side of the win.

This is not saying you don’t blood and persist with Sloan in a year u are rebuilding in anyway

All the more reason to persist

I’m sliding to a FB in 2024 that has either learnt a lot and delivers and or is an elite FB helps us win 5 or 6 games via their significant defensive shaping and attacking options

When you are at 10 or 11 wins and finals are in sight there is a deep hunger that is driving through a club and a squad

Top8 and finals is right there in front of u

Not miles behind you

In every sport I have played in my life when u are on the edge of finals you go way harder and find a new gear

In the first half of the year we lost a number of games because Lomax's kicking was off.

We lost at least four games due to wrong refs calls ( and I mean howlers that turned the game).

We lost or did not win a couple due to Hunt's poor game management.

The fullback was not the deciding factor in many of our losses.

 

[since77]

We were at 12 wins the year before. It did not help then, actually that created a false dawn.
Our club focussed on how close we were and how normally 28 points gets you in the 8 (glass half full stuff), which papered over the cracks

So true. All that nonsense about “any other year that gets you in the finals” was such a load of crap and a smokescreen. We were an abysmal football team that year. No attack, no defence and a roster full of castoffs. We were always going backwards in ‘23, especially when the club decided to double down on the moron pretending to be an NRL coach we had in Griffin.

 

[Phantom V]

Agree with the majority of what’s been said. A lot of work needs to be done but I like what I’ve heard so far from our new coach.
I think he has the ability to galvanise the group and get them on the same page from day one of preseason training. He’s already identified a few players and moved them on and hopefully we hear of some tough middle forward signings as this is what we sorely missed this year and probably cost us games as much as anything else.

It all starts with defence, then players like Lomax and Sloan will shine under the right structures and shapes and getting our halves playing more direct and not telegraphing our moves before the line is a must if we’re to improve.

 

[Parko1310]

So true. All that nonsense about “any other year that gets you in the finals” was such a load of crap and a smokescreen. We were an abysmal football team that year. No attack, no defence and a roster full of castoffs. We were always going backwards in ‘23, especially when the club decided to double down on the moron pretending to be an NRL coach we had in Griffin.

Exactly. It shows the standards that have been set at the club over the last 12 or so years and under the Griffin regime. Even if finals were unrealistic during some of those years, it should be drummed into the players that it's seen as a complete disgrace to put on that jersey and not make the finals. It shouldn't have been made out to be all okay and that they had a good year that most years would've got them into finals. No. The style of play was dreadful, and did they or did they not make finals. No? Then it's a complete and utter failure

 

[BLM01]

Agree with the majority of what’s been said. A lot of work needs to be done but I like what I’ve heard so far from our new coach.
I think he has the ability to galvanise the group and get them on the same page from day one of preseason training. He’s already identified a few players and moved them on and hopefully we hear of some tough middle forward signings as this is what we sorely missed this year and probably cost us games as much as anything else.

It all starts with defence, then players like Lomax and Sloan will shine under the right structures and shapes and getting our halves playing more direct and not telegraphing our moves before the line is a must if we’re to improve.

Sele is a start but solid only, no worse on what we have but no where near marquee. In fact I dont expect any BIG signings for next year because none are available right now
The only ones we may snag are for those off contract at the end of 24 where clubs are happy to let them go 1 year early because
1. they dont want them any more or
2. We offer them more than a year now and better money and the clubs dont want to match our money (both above dont sound positive for obtaining marquees!) or

3. Wait. obtain Hele type signings creating better depth and with Hunt and others not needed and gone in 2025 hold onto cash to obtain marquees for 25 to compliment next years squad which should improve next year anyway

that’s my take on where we are ATM