The Rumours Thread

[Nutz]

^ This.. surely he had no idea of the severity.. he had 2yrs financial security with the Warriors... enough time for surgery and healing.. why would he give that up?

It's a bit perplexing that's for sure. Why do anything to jeopardize one's career.
He could have sought other options and come back stronger than ever.
Those on here who are footy players or ex-footy players, know if your body is not right, especially when it involves bones/joints. You just don't have the strength or confidence to do high impact.

 

[Cupper]

Terrell May has come out and said he would play anywhere that will sign all 3 brothers. Taylan and Terrell would be good for us. Don’t know much about the 3rd brother but surely worth having a crack?

 

[The Word]

I have read a couple of times that during the prolonged process to replace the Steelers, St George tried to take ownership of that share (25% then I think) but were denied by the NRL and the Steelers.
That would have lead to a 75% St G - 25% WIN Corp shareholder split and a resolution to the 50/50 stalemate

I agree the 50/50 ownership structure is a stalemate situation.

However some fans have pointed to the Tigers decision to wipe the slate clean as proof that their ownership structure is better than ours. In my opinion all it's done is given them greater license to make more poor decisions. There's no evidence that they've made the right decisions or that any of the changes they are currently making will have any positive impact whatsoever.

They're ownership structure has been in place all the way through this appalling recent record, even worse then ours.

The idea of Rugby League clubs being owned by their respective Leagues clubs is outdated and doesn't really work well in the modern game. I know Penrith set themselves up well but most Leagues clubs don't have the level of commercial and football acumen to be successful at running the football club operation. Time and time again we see examples of croneys being appointed to positions they should not be in, and this goes for most football clubs that are owned by Leagues clubs.

So we need to find an owner who is a successful businessman, not short of a few quid, smart enough to appoint well credentialled football people to the relevant roles, let them do their jobs, and help out with 3rd party deals. And then get the 2 current owners to sell their interests.

 

[Trifili13]

A question for forum members that are close to the team - with Volkman wearing a yellow bib representing no contact, do some of our other players wear yellow bibs under their jerseys given the amount of tackles we have missed during games in the last few seasons?

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

I agree the 50/50 ownership structure is a stalemate situation.

However some fans have pointed to the Tigers decision to wipe the slate clean as proof that their ownership structure is better than ours. In my opinion all it's done is given them greater license to make more poor decisions. There's no evidence that they've made the right decisions or that any of the changes they are currently making will have any positive impact whatsoever.

They're ownership structure has been in place all the way through this appalling recent record, even worse then ours.

The idea of Rugby League clubs being owned by their respective Leagues clubs is outdated and doesn't really work well in the modern game. I know Penrith set themselves up well but most Leagues clubs don't have the level of commercial and football acumen to be successful at running the football club operation. Time and time again we see examples of croneys being appointed to positions they should not be in, and this goes for most football clubs that are owned by Leagues clubs.

So we need to find an owner who is a successful businessman, not short of a few quid, smart enough to appoint well credentialled football people to the relevant roles, let them do their jobs, and help out with 3rd party deals. And then get the 2 current owners to sell their interests.

I think Wests Tigers mistake was appointing someone from their major sponsor to be chairman. It meant the choice to get rid of him came with the risk of losing sponsorship. I note that they waited until there was only one more years worth of sponsorship at risk before they took action.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Look Volkman and Allen were never going to propel us into the top 4, they were good squad signings, Allen could likely have grabbed the number 1, alas not to be.
geez we are going to struggle now with a playing squad of 26…limited depth across the board.
We have money to burn but can’t land anyone of note. It’s now on the juniors, but that is a 3-5 year plan.. some long winters ahead.

 

[BLM01]

He's still a young kid with very little contract experience. It's starting to look like the Warriors may have taken advantage of his inexperience to get him off their books. If that's the case, I hope the NRL go after them for failing to protect a young player. As for his agent, we all know what their main focus is. He's been given very bad advice.

Warriors should have ensured he had full examination and investigations done on their watch and then given him the correct diagnosis and then prognosis before he made any career decisions.

Well done Dragons for making sure their due diligence was comprehensive.

NRL cannot do anything and there is no proof or certainty with what you said in respect to what the Warriors did or did not do
The fact is we made it easy we took him off their books or approached him when he returned basically from holidays as he rep'd for Samoa. Warriors did not need to do anything.

 

[BLM01]

^ This.. surely he had no idea of the severity.. he had 2yrs financial security with the Warriors... enough time for surgery and healing.. why would he give that up?

1. Warriors did not want him anymore and probably told him no more to 1st grade. They signed CHT aqnd RTS for this year. Surplus to their needs and he did not impress last year and they knew he struggled after surgery
2. Dragons offered possible 1st grade opportunity and likely more $$$. He was on base salary at the Warriors
3. He wanted to come home?
4. He was hoping the severity of the injury was not that bad and was taking a risk. He did keep playing throughout till October. He has already had shoulder reco once and he is only 21. He needs it again
5. He can have surgery and work hard look for another club or reggies next year on our shores whoever wants to take the risk again after 2 recos. I would not.

Plenty of reasons and there could be more

How do we know that he might of said I have a bit of a shoulder issue after my 1st reco and we said OK we will take you subject to medical but we have to check that out. Hence the yellow singlet. But if it fails we wont lodge your contract. We did our due diligence. Volkman and co took a gamble to furthur his career.
He failed the medical and we honoured the non-deal .
He has to like many other young kids at his age and status quo to work extra hard to maybe get back in or forget NRL. There are plenty young kids like him we just dont hear about them.

 

[thebigredv]

Yes, I understand, but which players would you like to get rid of?

Well right now we can’t even afford to get rid of anyone as we don’t have near a full squad nor do many players wish to sign on. We are stuck with what we got for now and definitely the best we can hope to see us the likes of Fifita and Tamale plus the Couchmans a heap in first grade.

Players specifically that I don’t see enough upside to would include the Feagais (slow and can’t defend nor finish), Russell (uninspiring), Murdoch-Masila (unfit, in imposing like he once was) and Turner who wouldn’t find an NRL spot anywhere else. All superior players to myself but this is a cut throat business and they’d be out first. Then of course we could find massive upgrades in theory for a number of other players: Bird, Liddell, Mulheisen and Molo bros come to mind.

What gives me a ray of hope is that Flanagan will give us a complete roster makeover when (or if) he can and, coming back to your original point, will do the best he can with this lot in the mean time.

Forget about season 2024 on the field. We need to be hounding every available talent to come on over this year so by 2025 we can start making our resurrection a reality. I’d be starting with those May boys to begin with.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

im sure it has been referred to the NRL by the Dragons for transparency and reluctantly the boof head manager has to now respond !!!

Warriors will have to provide information.

That would mean 99% of the time "no comment" by all parties

This will drag out for a week min !

 

[The Word]

NRL cannot do anything and there is no proof or certainty with what you said in respect to what the Warriors did or did not do
The fact is we made it easy we took him off their books or approached him when he returned basically from holidays as he rep'd for Samoa. Warriors did not need to do anything.

BLM I think my point is that players will generally only have their contracts cancelled at the point of the new contract coming in to force, even more so when there may be some kind of injury cloud. Therefore I would say there is enough of a grey area to imagine that on the warriors side, they may have known something was not right injury-wise and potentially encouraged the kid to go ahead knowing his condition. Either way I think there’s a really bad smell about this and warrants an nrl investigation. If it turns out it was simply the kid pushing for a release in full knowledge of his injury and lack of contract / risk then fine.

 

[The Word]

I think Wests Tigers mistake was appointing someone from their major sponsor to be chairman. It meant the choice to get rid of him came with the risk of losing sponsorship. I note that they waited until there was only one more years worth of sponsorship at risk before they took action.

100% Johnno and that reinforces my point of Leagues clubs appointing the wrong people in key positions. There was a clear conflict of interest with this appointment.

 

[BLM01]

BLM I think my point is that players will generally only have their contracts cancelled at the point of the new contract coming in to force, even more so when there may be some kind of injury cloud. Therefore I would say there is enough of a grey area to imagine that on the warriors side, they may have known something was not right injury-wise and potentially encouraged the kid to go ahead knowing his condition. Either way I think there’s a really bad smell about this and warrants an nrl investigation. If it turns out it was simply the kid pushing for a release in full knowledge of his injury and lack of contract / risk then fine.

I agree re smell but no more investigation. He and his manager chose and took the risk for greener $$$ pastures and requested to break his Warriors contract. No risk for Warriors happy days and measured risk by us luckily. For player and manager has a year to think about the next move.

 

[BLM01]

im sure it has been referred to the NRL by the Dragons for transparency and reluctantly the boof head manager has to now respond !!!

Warriors will have to provide information.

That would mean 99% of the time "no comment" by all parties

This will drag out for a week min !

I dont understand everyone thinking there has been no transparency and the Warriors have dudded us.
Its clear to me the player (aka manager) made a choice that did not work out.
It has probably cost us a medical. We might or NRL insurance might pay for the op and rehab.
The Dragons wont leave him penniless. Provide him with a job or something to tie him over this year till he works things out.

 

[mattchuot]

Some interesting things I noticed from today’s training pictures on Instagram which featured an opposed session.
1. Sele wearing the 13 jersey
2. JDB and Suli in yellow bibs (indicating no contact)
3. Eisenhuth in the 11 jersey (looks like he is 1st preference for the other 2nd row position at this stage in the pre-season)
4. M.Molo and C.Muhleisen in Red V jerseys (as opposed to away jerseys) which looks like they are part of the starting 17.

 

[TheRev]

I agree re smell but no more investigation. He and his manager chose and took the risk for greener $$$ pastures and requested to break his Warriors contract. No risk for Warriors happy days and measured risk by us luckily. For player and manager has a year to think about the next move.

It still makes no sense to me, the normal process is he remains a Warrior until the new club registered the new contract (and its accepted), the way they did it by cutting him first.. just reeks of dodginess.. perhaps they encouraged him to do it this way and are paying for medical costs off books or some such.. I still dont see why he would agree to this proposal... not to mention he also knows his shoulder isnt good.

Its a hell of a coincidence that the Warriors suddenly break protocol and it just so happens he's carrying a longterm shoulder injury that was not disclosed.

 

[Draginzaaar]

Terrell May has come out and said he would play anywhere that will sign all 3 brothers. Taylan and Terrell would be good for us. Don’t know much about the 3rd brother but surely worth having a crack?

The 3rd brother is a premiership winner.

 

[BLM01]

It still makes no sense to me, the normal process is he remains a Warrior until the new club registered the new contract (and its accepted), the way they did it by cutting him first.. just reeks of dodginess.. perhaps they encouraged him to do it this way and are paying for medical costs off books or some such.. I still dont see why he would agree to this proposal... not to mention he also knows his shoulder isnt good.

Its a hell of a coincidence that the Warriors suddenly break protocol and it just so happens he's carrying a longterm shoulder injury that was not disclosed.

Did Warriors cut him or he cut them? How do you know a shoulder problem was not disclosed to us?
I have explained why he would do that many times now and why did the Dragons have him in no contact shirt? if they did not know.
What protocol are you talking about.?

I get your point he has potentially foregone 2 years salary (say e.g. $220,000) but maybe he did not do something at the Warriors club he should of or was asked. Like have the shoulder looked at instead of playing rep. Is it the Warriors job to disclose their medical concerns or issues they have or had with him or for us to do our due diligence.
Buyer beware.
That may explain your theory why would they cut him, and if we offered likely some 1st grade and a salary near $200,000 if he was OK then he wins on all reported fronts .

If I am wrong and often am, and there is some sort of foul play then we will hear about a NRL admin please explain and fine etc especially the RLPA will get involved.

 

[justadragon]

^ This.. surely he had no idea of the severity.. he had 2yrs financial security with the Warriors... enough time for surgery and healing.. why would he give that up?

Maybe so, maybe what we were offering him was more than his 2 years at the Warriors, only Volkman the Warriors and his management would be able to answer why he gave that up, but it sure looks like he did for all the wrong reasons now, and guess who has come out better for it, not the Dragons , not Volkman but certainly the Warriors.

 

[TheRev]

potentially foregone 2 years salary (say e.g. $220,000)

Its that amount plus im guessing the club pays all his medical/surgery/rehab bills? I reckon we would have offered him 300k atleast for 2024..... so maybe he figured he was in front.. but he must have been supremely confident that he was ready to fire and make an impression to accept a 1yr deal .. im positive the Dragons would have happily signed him for 2yrs atleast..