The Rumours Thread

[redVinme]

Fair point, but who do you replace him with? K Flanagan? He's not the answer for mine, and we aren't going to go and buy two quality halves in one year. None of our younger halves are really close to ready, and by 2026 maybe they will be? And Dearden would be older, more experienced and is more of a controlling half that can help out a younger guy coming in anyway. If we don't go the youth route, we may have to wait until 2026 for another quality half to come across anyway to partner Dearden. Hunt's injury record is pretty good too and he hasn't slowed much, I don't think his performances will be all that bad in a year or two at all. Anyway, this is all in theory if we were to sign Dearden, so I guess it may turn out to be completely irrelevant. I do hope we can get him though.

For me it's more about the next contract then this one. If he thinks all of a sudden he will stay then he will still want $$$ Which based on the last few contracts will be more than we want to pay and less than is deserved. Ben has also continued to say he wants to retire in QLD so I don't see any point in wasting more time on someone who won't be here once we are hopefully actually ready to make a tilt.

Especially wouldn't want to waste time on someone who actively chose to only stir the pot when on rep duty because they didn't have the guts to face their peers. That's no leader.

He's a great player though no doubt.

Replacements that's a good question. Depends on how much is spent on other positions. If for instance we did spend good money on Dearden I'd be fine giving Herring a crack for a year. So we can spend more in other positions.

 

[TheRev]

I hope you dont wake up and find Waqa Blake is one of them

I'm nervous they have found a way to clone Billy Burns, and we will be running him on both edges.

 

[Desperate Dragon]

I think Connor Tracey will be the first new signing to be announced.
Was given permission by the Sharks to negotiate for 2025 a few weeks back.
Hoping there are at least 2 forwards plus a 2nd hooker also to come in November.

 

[TheRev]

I think Connor Tracey will be the first new signing to be announced.
Was given permission by the Sharks to negotiate for 2025 a few weeks back.
Hoping there are at least 2 forwards plus a 2nd hooker also to come in November.

Hope so too, need some positive news to potentially offset Su'a and Suli.. Su'a in particular is really our only marquee forward (possible rep player).

 

[thebigredv]

November 1st is upon us.


Do not disappoint.

 

[St Tangles]

Have we signed anyone yet
⏰️ ticking

 

[Budpower]

All we need is Welsby and Deardon, do anything to get them...with our young forwards coming through that will be enough

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

I’d add Piakaru

Given we will still be trying to let go of a few in the early pre season and or early rounds ie players like Jack Bird on $550k pa vs Piakaru on say $750k pa

I would definitely use Jacks $ towards an exciting backrower for the future

8 clubs were chasing this young guy end of 2021

Brendan Piakura

The NRL profile of Brendan Piakura including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.broncos.com.au

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

D-Day arrives as 160 NRL players hit the open market... here’s who your club must keep

D-Day arrives as 160 NRL players hit open market... here’s who your club must keep

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[John moz]

5m raid on Roosters star Manu

 

[hewi]

Silly season begins as Dragons prepare $5m raid for Roosters star Manu​

By Adrian Proszenko​

November 1, 2023 — 5.00am
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St George Illawarra are prepared to shell out almost $5 million in a bid to prise superstar Joseph Manu from the Roosters, with coach Shane Flanagan declaring: “I think he would be enormous for our club.”
The battle lines have been drawn now that the calendar has ticked over to November 1, with almost 200 NRL players permitted to test their value on the open market.



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0:45

Bears launch another audacious NRL bid​

The North Sydney Bears have launched yet another bit to re-enter the NRL, this time as part of a Pacific team.
Jarome Luai, Ezra Mam, Tom Dearden, Tohu Harris, Brandon Smith, Adam Reynolds, Angus Crichton, Bradman Best and Luke Keary are among the marquee men now in the last year of their contracts and able to negotiate with rival clubs.
Perhaps the most prized signature of them all is that of Manu, rated by this masthead as the No.1 free agent on the market. The Kiwi international is one of the Roosters’ favourite sons and the Tricolours are confident he will finish his career as a one-club man.

However, the Dragons are prepared to offer Manu a seven-figure salary and the chance to play fullback if the star centre is serious about a change of scene.
“From what I see when he plays fullback, his involvement is enormous. I think he could make a real fist of it,” Flanagan told this masthead.

The Dragons are ready to open the purse strings for Joseph Manu.CREDIT: GETTY
“I’d love to have him, but I just don’t know if he’s going to move. In the end, it’s not us, it’s not the Roosters, it’s just what Joey wants to do.
“I know he loves the Roosters, I know Nick [Roosters chairman Nick Politis] loves him. Does he want to leave and have a crack at fullback? He obviously won’t get to play too much there.”


Tyrell Sloan will again vie for the Dragons No.1 jersey alongside regular centre Zac Lomax this season. The Red V is also expected to make a play for Sharks utility Connor Tracey. However, the Dragons are prepared to make a huge play for Manu if he doesn’t immediately recommit to the Roosters.
Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity given negotiations haven’t commenced said the Dragons would be prepared to pay up to $1.2 million a year over four years in a bid to make the transfer happen.
1. Joey Manu
CLUB: ROOSTERSAGE: 27GAMES: 158
It would take a small fortune to prise Manu out of Bondi, and even then it may not be enough given the esteem in which he holds the club and his insistence on staying for below market value his entire career. But given he’s already the best centre in the game and ranks among the best fullbacks as well, a rebuilding club would be mad not to offer more than $1 million a year to tempt the Kiwi star. His management has previously said there is no appetite to take Manu to market, but to date he’s still fair game.
Playing at fullback in a Test for New Zealand against Tonga in 2022, Manu ran for a world record 401 metres. However, Roosters skipper James Tedesco currently has a mortgage on the No.1 jersey at Bondi Junction.
“We have young Sloaney here, who I think we can develop and learn. He can play a bit of wing, Manu can play centre and wing,” Flanagan said.

“We just need to be in the market for some elite, quality players. If they go to market, they would want to test what they are worth and consider whether they would want to leave.
“If that happens with Joey, we’d be in there, but I don’t know if that will happen.”
Manu has made all 158 of his first-grade appearances at the Roosters since shifting from New Zealand and the club is privately confident of retaining his services. The Tricolours are also hopeful Terrell May will accept a two-year deal to stay put.

 

[offiah]

Isn’t there some thing about not being able to sign players for less than they’re worth? If us and a few others are willing to sign manu for $1M plus, don’t the roosters have to pay him that much too? Or was that just another BS statement for when it suits the NRL?

 

[jak]

5m raid on Roosters star Manu

and then he will stay for $250.000 over 4 years

 

[Parko1310]

We'd have to offer a job after football too to get Manu I think. I just don't see how the roosters lose him, they love him and he loves them. Plus the business opportunities after football being close to Politis, as well as likely a job after footy at the club. We can offer more money now, but how much is he really losing out on to stay at the chooks?

 

[denis preston]

Welsby is by far the best option & cheaper too. Put all training resources on Sloan as Feagais replacement.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

i dont rate Manu that highly vs other players that IF available i would prefer

That said he is extremely adaptable in periods of trying to secure a strong squad given he can play Centre world class, FB well and 5/8 well enough when needed.

But go Flanno............quick way to get all managers and players buzzing !!!!!

I wonder if all the media will trun on Flanno soon saying how harsh and none caring we are of hurting the feelings of Sloan and or Lomax ?

Lets go !!!!

 

[Parko1310]

i dont rate Manu that highly vs other players that IF available i would prefer

That said he is extremely adaptable in periods of trying to secure a strong squad given he can play Centre world class, FB well and 5/8 well enough when needed.

But go Flanno............quick way to get all managers and players buzzing !!!!!

I wonder if all the media will trun on Flanno soon saying how harsh and none caring we are of hurting the feelings of Sloan and or Lomax ?

Lets go !!!!

Nah, for once the media will be on our coach's side. Notice how since the season ended we've stopped copping much flack? Flanagan has relationships with those in the media, so they won't criticise him too much

 

[The Word]

DT, how many years has he got left on his 1 million a year deal ? cows wouldnt want to chip in every year . i would rather an up and comer to be honest

He's got another 4 years of that contract, and he's 30. Was a huge risk by the cowboys, and might well backfire on them.

 

[baggygreen man]

Is Flanagan serious about luring Joey Manu from the Chooks. Back in August Manu denied he was coming to the Dragons and added he wont be going on the market. Well he is going on the market so what about the former, has he changed his mind about becoming a Dragon? Perhaps a mooted 5m offer over four years will entice the big Maori part time play maker to leave the chooks. The bonus being the offer is for Manu to play full back, a position he has not played before in the NRL, but apparently wants to but cant at the chooks as long as Tedesco remains there..

 

[Dragon David]

Is Flanagan serious about luring Joey Manu from the Chooks. Back in August Manu denied he was coming to the Dragons and added he wont be going on the market. Well he is going on the market so what about the former, has he changed his mind about becoming a Dragon? Perhaps a mooted 5m offer over four years will entice the big Maori part time play maker to leave the chooks. The bonus being the offer is for Manu to play full back, a position he has not played before in the NRL, but apparently wants to but cant at the chooks as long as Tedesco remains there..

I suppose like so many other coaches having a player like Joey Manu in your squad you are going to be able to build a backline around him that would be a strong one. He also would be a massive marquee signing which would help to attract others to a club. His love of the Roosters is strong. He knows that having Politis and Robinson at the helm will ensure that the Roosters will be playing great footy for years to come and he knows that he has many chances of winning grand finals with that team. Whether he can remain loyal is another thing. The query is why hasn't he re-signed with the Roosters? He might like a new challenge and as he is getting that little bit older, getting more dollars and a long term contract might sway him to go elsewhere.

However, in saying this, getting big bucks doesn't bring about loyalty and playing for the jersey and would he just be going through the motions?

I don't know. Having great players is of course great. I'd like all our players to be fully committed to the club and of course get ample and justified payment. Playing in the Dragons jersey with pride is what gels a team and we need those players more so now.