The Warriors Signings Thread

[Fast Eddie]

OK, there has been a lot of talk about different players that people would sign or release etc so I thought we could realistically discuss who we would sign for next year, who we would release etc in here.

OFF CONTRACT LIST
Crockett
Shortland
Wiki
Swann
Koopu
Kirk

 

[blain]

cant forget price....

i think shortland will be offered a contract, and thats about it. for replacements we need an attacking second rower to go with mannering and luck, someone with a bit of experience also. a 7 would be nice, but i would think that we will wait till next season because thats when all our halfs are off contract.

if price is going strong when he comes back, re-sign him!

 

[kingdamo]

Price for certain man, we lack a significant amount of go forward without him.

Also a playmaker half would be nice.

 

[Revelation 3:20]

The only guys i would keep in that list would be Shortland, price!
Taking in to account that around half the NYC squad will be unable
to play for NYC team next year, so the warriors will have to sign some
of them to there top squad

Rangi chase and micheal dobson are off contract

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

6. Rangi Chase (possible, depending on Bennett/Dragons other signings)
7. Matthew Head (Highly unlikely, but I'd at least sound him out)

Re-sign Price
Re-sign Shortland

Promote from the NYC.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Yeah forgot about Pricey. He has said that he is keen to play another season.

I'd look at resigning Price, Shortland and Crockett.

I don't think we will be signing a halfback, Cleary would have to swallow a bit of pride to do so. Although I wouldn't mind Chase, Paea or Mat Head.

 

[Scottey]

The one game Kirk played this season wasn't a bad game, but he just didnt show enough attacking flare you need in a fullback. We got McKinnon signed up to be our long term fullback from what I can see, Hohaia as his reserve when needed and Patty Ah Van has been known to play fullback now and again. So I don't think Kirk Will be resigned to be honest.

Ryan Shortland has looked good in the first two games hes had for the Warriors. With Tate likely to be gone through State of Origin in certain games and Jerome Ropati so injury-prone, I think its important to have a decent back-up centre. Definitely think he will stay, and I say, State of Origin is just around the corner and Ropati is said to be out for a while so I think he will start to be a more regular member of the starting line-up. He's still only young too.

Crockett, I think you would have to keep. He's no star footballer but he does the job and finishes well. I don't think they would get rid of him simply because he's not the best, because he's definitely not the worse either. He has a little bit of pace and I think he could possibly build a nice combo with Tate. Our backline is looking pretty strong at the moment anyway without signing a new dynamo winger.

Wiki's going to Super League obviously. He's an inspirational player but certainly not what he used to be. I think this is a nice year for it to be his last at the Warriors, as i can't see his game improving vastly. I would however love to see him back at the Warriors after the Super League, as i think he is a great role model to young kiwi league fans and players.

Pricey, if he wants to keep going I say sign him. I think a lot depends on how he pulls up after this injury. He does the job, and I think Wiki and Price leaving in the same year might be a bit of a blow, and leave the Warriors slightly leaderless, as they do have a rather young side at the moment. Though if he does retire, it seems as though he is genuinely happy to stay living in New Zealand, and I think the Warriors should definitely pursue gaining him in a mangerial or support staff role. He has expressed his desire to one day become the CEO of the NRL, and keeping such an inspirational player at the club who in my opinion has been the Warriors best ever buy would certainly be no mistake.

Swann is another player who's best by date has gone I fear. He does the job I know, makes a few tackles, but just doesn't offer enough on attack. I think 2008 will be his last year sadly, and I think the Warriors should go about signing an experienced, attacking second rower. When I read about Sonny Bill nearly coming over here, I was beside myself. Sonny Bill IS everything he's cracked up to be. The amount of offloads he gets away and the amount of defenders he attracts is priceless. And before you start screaming SALRAY CAP, I think they could have managed it if Wiki and Swann had departed a year earlier.

Koopu, I've heard rumours is also off to the Super League. I think his agent is in talks over there. If the opportunity arises though I think he should resign with us. He has surprising speed for a second rower, and can even play in the centres should Ropati or Tate be injured. He's another Warriors veteran.

Players I think they should look at signing:

Sonny Bill - I know he's now on a long-term contract at the doggies... but I just can't help thinking of what wonders he could have done for us and New Zealand rugby league...

Cooper Cronk - Pretty sure he's off contract at the end of next year. If Rovelli hasn't produced the goods by then I think they need to look for a more dominant halfback. The Warriors won't be serious premiereship contenders until they have a dominant half. And you can't get rid of Witt... he's kicking goals better then Mr Hasem El Magic at the moment, and you can't underestimate the influence of turning 4 points into 6 in a game of football. In our game against the Knights we scored the same amount of tries, but sill won by six points.

A solid number 12. - We've got Tuimivave, Rapira, Packer and Price in our Props, though I think our second row just needs a solid, attacking number 12 to back up the awesome defensive work that Mannering and Luck does. Also because Wiki, Swann and possibly Koopu are going. That leaves us with Lauaku and Fai. Someone like Anthony Tupuo would be good.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I'm pretty sure Ben Te'o and Jeremy Smith(Storm) are off contract. They would be uselful in the backrow.

 

[blain]

smith would be a great signing, doing well for the storm and has a bit of mongral in him

 

[blain]

Ben Hannant would be nice if we dont get price, a hard worker and wouldnt cost TOO much

Neville Costigan, food for thought

Jacob Lillyman? (he hasnt re-signed has he?)

Jason Nightingale, he would be a great replacement for kirk and crockett! also a kiwi so could lure him over here a bit easier.

Ben Te’o, same as ^^

Keith Galloway just another attacking forward.

 

[Alehana]

Which NYC players do u reckon would come into consideration next yr for a contract?

 

[Scottey]

smith would be a great signing, doing well for the storm and has a bit of mongral in him

It's a nice thought isnt it.
Not going to happen though.
He's probably one of the most expensive players in the NRL at the moment, and I doubt the Storm will let their inspirational captain just float away to another club, especially the New Zealand team.
While Fein and Henderson aren't superstars of the game, I don't think they're doing a bad job.

 

[Fast Eddie]

He was talking about Jeremy Smith.

 

[Scottey]

He was talking about Jeremy Smith.

HAHAHA
lol spot the idiot.
my bad.

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

Cant see us signing many tbh.

Koopu is as good as gone i think.

We all know Wiki is gone too.

I'm afraid Kirk will leave our shores too, unless he stays at the Vulcans, Hohaia has pretty much made himself the fullback in McKinnons absence, so not much use for Kirk.

Price is a 50/50 for mine, depends on how well he recovers from his injury, and how much he feels he has in the tank. Would love for him to stay on for another year.

Crockett i think is another 50/50, needs to work his way into a contract given that the backline is pretty much full with Ah Van, Manu, Ropo, Tate, Shortland and there were murmours on this forum about a certain winger whos currently with the Vulcans should be given a chance .

I'd like to see Swann stay for another season, but i dont think he will. He'll probably retire, or even have one more bat in England.

I'd love to see Shortland signed, and think he will be considering he is getting game time with us.

So imo

re-signed will be Shortland.
leaving us will be Crockett, Wiki, Koopu, Kirk, Swann
50/50 is Price

Given our depth in our backline, i dont see any need to replace Crockett nor Kirk, so i'd use their contracts to extend current contracts.
Koopu would be on a fair bit, and Wiki is on 400k i believe.
I'm going to assume we will lose Swann (even though im not too sure). Not sure how much moolah he is on.

Wouldn't mind getting Frank Puletua to come home, i've always felt he's been very under-rated and one of Penriths more consistant players the past 2 seasons or so. One of their best last season for sure. Comes with experience, and is a good benchie.

Galloway is another forward i think the Warriors should look into. He looked impressive at the Sharks while he was their, but seems to have taken a step backwards while at the Tigers. Think he'd be fairly cheap, and i'd love to see Galloway with a bit on mongrel in him. Think he'd be great under the training of Wiki if Wiki signs on as a forwards coach, give him a bit of mongrel and passion and Galloway would be a star.

So for me.

Losses: Wairangi Koopu, Logan Swann, Ruben Wiki, Aiden Kirk, Michael Crockett

Gains: Frank Puletua, Keith Galloway

With some Vulcans players coming into the squad, and we'll most likely get a PL player or two (seems like we do every season)

I think this season we should focus on player retention, and its good to see the likes of Fai and Vatuvei getting extensions.

Heres a thought though, with Wiki, Koopu and Swann likely to leave, and no certainty with Price for next season, would you trust in Rapira, Lauaki, Luck, Mannering, Tuimavavue and the rest of the current Warriors stock to keep us in it? Luck imo is a perfect forward, always goes about his business. Rapira has great potential, but seems to have taken a step back this season, am i the only one who's noticed? Mannering goes well and is often a standout on gameday. BUT im not sold on Lauaki (penalty machine!) or Tuimavavue yet. Thoughts??

 

[JoeD]

Signing Cronk is a dream that will never come true *dreams anyway*

 

[Special K]

Galloway was signed for around 220k a year so I doubt he would come cheap.

Also Kirk -> ESL

 

[Scottey]

Shaun Hewitt... sorry too much stuff to quote.

Puletua... hasn't he just signed with St Hellens? Or was that the other Puletua?

Rapira... yea a small step back. He's still only young though.

Tuimavave... keep him. He makes the metres.

Luck... totally agree. One of the best and most consistent players in our side.

Crockett... he wouldn't be on much money. I like him better then Ah Van. Has more potential to build a combo with Tate imo.

Overall, yes I think we need to sign some experience in our pack. I think we've got a host of up and coming players, but no one that has 'been there and done it' if you know what I mean.

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

Sorry, my post was kinda long. I didn't mean for it to be, just once my fingers went, they didn't stop.

Yeah Puletua has just signed for St Helens, but that was Tony. I was referring to Frank, but i just remembered, perhaps it isn't such a good idea seeing how he got out of his contract with Gold Coast Titans.

To Special K - i didn't realise he was on so much! would have thought it would have been around 150k to 200k.

Anyone know how much Swann and Koopu are on?.

We also need to remember that Steve Price isn't signed for next season, management better pull a finger out and sign him or a replacement asap.

Just and off-thought, anyone thought of Finch or Kimmorley? Not suggesting we sign them, but anyone given that thought?

 

[kingdamo]

Theres also been news that we are looking at extending McKinnons contract.