When do we call time?

[Joshuatheeel]

We going to wait a 3 year rebuild like the knights?

Or better yet reset now like the Tigers did.

See above

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Paid far too much for Reynolds. Benji was a stroke of good fortune. Packer and Matulino also questionable. The jury is definitely still out on Cleary.

Edit: forgot Lolohea. Waste of money.

 

[Bazal]

Pou you commented the coach has to do what he did.

Brown was patient with purchases and went hard for young talent. If I was club manager id buy into Browns plan. If Cleary come up to me and said I want to pay 600k+ for Big ben, Packer,Reynolds and then go for Lolohea and Thompson id want to know the long term plan.

I see guys who will make you better but nothing that will give long term hope.

Ponga, Watson are potential long term stars along with Pierce I see far better purchases. I see 3 guys you can build a team around rather then just trying to build a bits and piece squad like the Tigers have done.

On Cleary, I think it's obvious the long term plan is likely to involve poaching his son

 

[hybrideel]

Pou you commented the coach has to do what he did.

Brown was patient with purchases and went hard for young talent. If I was club manager id buy into Browns plan. If Cleary come up to me and said I want to pay 600k+ for Big ben, Packer,Reynolds and then go for Lolohea and Thompson id want to know the long term plan.

I see guys who will make you better but nothing that will give long term hope.

Ponga, Watson are potential long term stars along with Pierce I see far better purchases. I see 3 guys you can build a team around rather then just trying to build a bits and piece squad like the Tigers have done.

You say we need to be patient and think long term but we had half the clubs fan base calling for BA's head after 6 losses. Imagine the shit storm if we had a 1 win season like the knights 2016

 

[Noise]

Well doesn’t this post contradict the opinion our rebuild will take 3 years?

Don’t we also have the ability to turn over a fair chuck of our squad?

They had 4 of their highest paid stars off contract at once. They also had a new coach who didn’t have a sense of loyalty to existing players. They were able to rebuild quickly. We have mostly backups off contract on back up money. And a coach who is too comfortable with the players and vice versa.

 

[hindy111]

You say we need to be patient and think long term but we had half the clubs fan base calling for BA's head after 6 losses. Imagine the shit storm if we had a 1 win season like the knights 2016

Difference was the squad. I like many thought this season would be big.
We did lose Semi. But had Gutherson missing from about rnd 16 and Moses missed the first what 10 games?
Those two plus the addition of Hayne and Evans had people feeling like we had a better squad for the full 2018 season.
Even Bevan missed a lot of games towards end of season.

 

[hindy111]

On Cleary, I think it's obvious the long term plan is likely to involve poaching his son

Doubt he will leave the Panthers. Strong club with a better future. Plus Brooks and Cleary play alike. And the risk of playing for your dad as coach and the potential dramas? Gee why would Nathan or Ivan want that.

 

[Bazal]

Doubt he will leave the Panthers. Strong club with a better future. Plus Brooks and Cleary play alike. And the risk of playing for your dad as coach and the potential dramas? Gee why would Nathan or Ivan want that.

I didn't say it was a good plan....but he's signed up two old, ploddy halves to partner Brooks.

Seems pretty clear to me he's going to at least have a dip at signing Nathan

 

[hindy111]

Add Moga and Ramien as two more smart recruits by knights.

 

[Eelogical]

You say we need to be patient and think long term but we had half the clubs fan base calling for BA's head after 6 losses. Imagine the shit storm if we had a 1 win season like the knights 2016

Yeah, well. Currently, there are only about a dozen lossers wanting his head in the poll thread. If we were covering this subject with pen on paper the Huon pine forest would now be extinct. As bad as this year is I console myself that there is always the Eels side of the forum to share the pain. Do y'all think Brad enjoys a great steak?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

They had 4 of their highest paid stars off contract at once. They also had a new coach who didn’t have a sense of loyalty to existing players. They were able to rebuild quickly. We have mostly backups off contract on back up money.

Auva'a
King
Matagi
Pritchard
Terepo
Vave

None of them would be on big money but all on more than backup money. In 2016 we had to chase bargains (some won't sign for less than two years) and since then we have tried to recruit over the top of some blokes. This pushes these 'small top 17' contracts to the back of the top 30, where you'd ideally have players on minimum salary. It all adds up.

Hayne and Scott would be on at least average salary ($300k), which would be in the top dozen contracts in the squad. You can get a solid first grader for $300k. I reckon they'd be on over $800k between them. That plus the ~$200k for each of the other six equals $2M+. Replace them with four kids from the development list and there's still over $1.5M for two players.

And a coach who is too comfortable with the players and vice versa.

This coach has let plenty of merkins go, and hasn't re-signed the dozen currently off contract.

 

[hindy111]

Expect a few guys under contract to move on.

 

[Noise]

Auva'a
King
Matagi
Pritchard
Terepo
Vave

None of them would be on big money but all on more than backup money. In 2016 we had to chase bargains (some won't sign for less than two years) and since then we have tried to recruit over the top of some blokes. This pushes these 'small top 17' contracts to the back of the top 30, where you'd ideally have players on minimum salary. It all adds up.

Hayne and Scott would be on at least average salary ($300k), which would be in the top dozen contracts in the squad. You can get a solid first grader for $300k. I reckon they'd be on over $800k between them. That plus the ~$200k for each of the other six equals $2M+. Replace them with four kids from the development list and there's still over $1.5M for two players.

This coach has let plenty of merkins go, and hasn't re-signed the dozen currently off contract.

2 players for about 1.5million sounds good until you realize we probably need 4 new good players. 2 middle forwards, say Paulo and klemmer - that would go close to 1.5. We also need a good hooker (as you have released Pritchard and king) and that won’t come cheap. Unless you subscribe to BAs will smith at hooker for 80min experiment?? And we are already short of good wingers. You are releasing Hayne and Auvaa. We will need a good one (maybe 2) Where are you going to find a good winger with little money to spend on them? French is a shit winger.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Brown, Alvaro and Smith were re signed and probably upgraded.

 

[Gazzamatta]

I reckon the only player who could change Parras style is Cameron Smith. Make him Captain, Coach and name the Leagues Club and Wanderers Stadium after him.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Pou you commented the coach has to do what he did.

Brown was patient with purchases and went hard for young talent. If I was club manager id buy into Browns plan. If Cleary come up to me and said I want to pay 600k+ for Big ben, Packer,Reynolds and then go for Lolohea and Thompson id want to know the long term plan.

I see guys who will make you better but nothing that will give long term hope.

Ponga, Watson are potential long term stars along with Pierce I see far better purchases. I see 3 guys you can build a team around rather then just trying to build a bits and piece squad like the Tigers have done.

Well unlike the Knights, our signings got us into a premiership window by Arthur's third year. This year was supposed to be year three of that window but injuries change everything.

That round two performance stays with all of us though. We have some personalities we need to get rid of, even after shifting Edwards.

 

[Noise]

That round two performance stays with all of us though. We have some personalities we need to get rid of, even after shifting Edwards.

Agreed - Norman, French, Arthur, Wilmot are a decent start.

 

[hindy111]

Well unlike the Knights, our signings got us into a premiership window by Arthur's third year. This year was supposed to be year three of that window but injuries change everything.

That round two performance stays with all of us though. We have some personalities we need to get rid of, even after shifting Edwards.

I also dont feel we are as bad as 2/11. We do lack some hunger and halves arent controlling games. Lack patience. Im starting to questiin if its an ideal combo.
Two guys who want to attack and not play with patience.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Its all a bit hard to work out Poo. Its either.
A) The players not able to do as coached.
Or
B) The players not buying into whats being coached.
Our course of action is determined by which of these it is.
And we better get it right.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

They had 4 of their highest paid stars off contract at once. They also had a new coach who didn’t have a sense of loyalty to existing players. They were able to rebuild quickly. We have mostly backups off contract on back up money. And a coach who is too comfortable with the players and vice versa.

If BA had a since of loyalty vave, Scott, Pritchard, Jennings, Hayne, matagi, ka, king, T. rex, gower would all be re-signed

Based on our current signed players we have plenty of room to sign players. Those above players plus Ewards/Davis is 12 spots (less any development players moving into the squad, eg ones signed for move then a year).

Out of those above players there is probably one of king/Pritchard, Hayne, one of Scott / Peni / Scott / Matagi / vave / Gower, Jennings, Edwards and t-rex making it around at least 6 top 17 spots available if not more. So plenty of opportunities to improve our squad.