Who would you cut? who would you keep?

[girvie]

I was wondering which of the unsigned Premier League players would you want to keep, and who would you cut?

This is from my Premier League gains and losses thread: http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=146977

Gains for 2007:
Colin Best (Wing) – from St George Illawarra
Michael Dobson - from Wigan, UK
Steve Irwin - from Wynnum, Qld
Brett Kelly (Centre) - from Cronulla Sutherland
Tony Pamatangi (Centre) - from Parramatta
Glen Turner - from Melbourne/Norths Devils

Losses for 2007:
Jermaine Ale (Centre/Wing) - to West Newcastle
Brent Crisp (Wing/Centre) - to Canterbury Bankstown
Uelese Faumuina - to Northern Suburbs Rugby Union (mid-season)
Michael Hodgson (Second Row) – to Gold Coast
Terry Martin (Second Row) - to Wales
Nathan Smith (Centre) - to Penrith

Retained Players for 2007:
Glen Buttriss (Lock/Second Row), Terry Campese (Five-Eighth/Second Row/Lock), Todd Carney (Halfback), Marshall Chalk (Fullback), Brad Cross (Centre), Craig Frawley (Centre/Wing), Bronx Goodwin (Fullback/Wing), Mark Herbert (Halfback/Five-Eighth), Ryan Hinchcliffe (Hooker), David Howell (Centre), Ben Jones (Second Row), Kris Kahler (Second Row), Brenton Lawrence (Prop), David Milne (Wing), Joe Picker, Adrian Purtell (Centre), Willie Raston (Prop), Alan Rothery (Lock/Second Row), Junior Sau (Centre/Wing), Trevor Thurling (Prop/Lock), Dane Tilse (Prop), Michael Weyman (Prop), Jason Williams (Prop), William Zillman (Halfback/Five-Eighth).

Unsigned - who would you keep? who would you cut?
Michael Chapman,
Tim Donovan (Five-Eighth),
Chad Grintell (Wing),
Luke Jay (Hooker),
Willy Jones,
Cy Lasscock (Prop),
Jarrod Lawrence,
Josh McCrone (Halfback),
Steve McLean,
Troy O'Sullivan (Fullback/Wing),
Jack Pearson (Second Row),
Damien Sears,
Michael Whakatihi.

 

[Raider Jack]

From what many have said Grintell is promising but i haven't seen any of them play. In general, we need to produce stronger outside backs options to cover injuries etc.

 

[thickos]

I'd say some of the younger forwards may be looking for new homes with young fellas like Tilse, TLL, Thurling, Weyman, Costigan etc taking all the forward spots in first grade.

The backs are the big winners in last seasons' clean-out - rapid development of some of them may see them fast-tracked into FG as someone will have to step up.

 

[Chachi]

Geez we've got some good young talent coming through. This is who I'd definitely retain (in order of preference):
Steve McLean (he's signed until end '07)
Chad Grintell
Jack Pearson (he's signed until end '08)
Luke Jay
Jarrod Lawrence
Josh McCrone
Cy Lasscock

I'd either cut or I haven't seen enough to judge the following:
Willy Jones
Michael Chapman
Troy O'Sullivan
Damien Snose
Michael Whakatihi
Tim Donovan

By the way, Kahler has signed with the Titans.

 

[greeneyed]

What is the source of that list? It seems very outdated eg Michael Whakatihi has been playing local Canberra Raiders Cup for some while... McLean and Pearson are in fact signed up... The O'Sullivan brothers go up and down from Canberra Raiders to local Canberra Raiders Cup...

 

[paulquinn49]

We must keep the big c**k, Cy Lasscock imo

The marketing writes itself, and steve says he is pretty big.

 

[ball boy]

Luke Jay was told his services were not needed.
Pretty sure Tim Donovan was a fill in and with the extra halves we will have next year wont be needed.
Micheal Chapman wasnt used much this year and doubt he would next year.
Would keep Chad for sure, made the step from local comp to PL very well.
Willy Jones was injured most of the year would give him another run and see how he goes.
Big Cy should be retained for sure. I doubt they would have let him and Mclean go.
Jarrod Lawrence only played one game to fill in and wont be needed next year.
Josh Mcrone must be kept not sure if he is to old for Flegg but he is the main priority on that list.
Troy O Sullivan should still be old enough for flegg and should be kept
Damien Seers didnt play a game only played local comp and thats the way it will stay.
Michael Whakatihi only played a few games at the start of the year wont be needed.

 

[greeneyed]

Ballboy... I agree on Josh McCrone... the only truly talented player on that list... apart from maybe Troy O'Sullivan. I'd be stunned if the Raiders didn't have McCrone on some form of contract...

Willie Jones and Damien Sears... I was left wondering... "Who ARE they?"

 

[Edwahu]

Ballboy... I agree on Josh McCrone... the only truly talented player on that list...

Lassock and McLean are pretty handy players too imo.
Only problem with McCrone is he is a halfback. I cant see us fitting in him in anywhere soon.

 

[Chachi]

Ballboy... I agree on Josh McCrone... the only truly talented player on that list... apart from maybe Troy O'Sullivan. I'd be stunned if the Raiders didn't have McCrone on some form of contract...

Willie Jones and Damien Sears... I was left wondering... "Who ARE they?"

McCrone the only talented player on that list?? WTF? I'm glad you're not the CEO greeneyed.

I agree there's probably still time for O'Sullivan to develop - especially if he's still young enough for flegg. I have to say I'm a bit surprised about Jay and Lawrence though. I guess Lawrence has dropped off a bit, but I wouldn't be surprised to see either of them pop up again somewhere.

 

[ball boy]

McCrone the only talented player on that list?? WTF? I'm glad you're not the CEO greeneyed.

I agree there's probably still time for O'Sullivan to develop - especially if he's still young enough for flegg. I have to say I'm a bit surprised about Jay and Lawrence though. I guess Lawrence has dropped off a bit, but I wouldn't be surprised to see either of them pop up again somewhere.

Lawrence actually retired last year and only played one game this year to fill in.

 

[greeneyed]

McCrone the only talented player on that list?? WTF? I'm glad you're not the CEO greeneyed.

I agree there's probably still time for O'Sullivan to develop - especially if he's still young enough for flegg. I have to say I'm a bit surprised about Jay and Lawrence though. I guess Lawrence has dropped off a bit, but I wouldn't be surprised to see either of them pop up again somewhere.

I'd be interested to hear who else you think is truly talented and why... as Ballboy has pointed out Lawrence is "retired" already... I was talking about Ballboy's list to be clear.

Seems to me that I was only being vaguely harsh on Lasscock... and perhaps Grintell, but he is only going to succeed on hard work, not innate talent ... all the others have either already dropped back to Canberra Raiders Cup or stopped playing...

 

[ball boy]

I dont know who my top priority out of Mcrone, Cy and Mclean would be they are all very good players and will be good in the future.

 

[Raider_69]

havnt seen ALOT of most of them, but Lasscock and McCrone would be the picks of them from what ive seen. Both have stood out from what ive seen. McLean im hearing alot about, but cant say ive ever really took a great deal of notice from him. Maybe he is an alan tongue type where often his work might go unnoticed?

 

[greeneyed]

McLean is already signed and he wasn't on Ballboy's list... but out of McCrone, Lasscock and McLean I know who is most talented... it is clearly Josh McCrone.

 

[Chachi]

Lawrence actually retired last year and only played one game this year to fill in.

Well that explains that then! I thought he was injured. I guess Jay is too old for Flegg now, which explains that. It will be interesting to see how Hinchcliffe goes next year if he's the next cab off the rank.

 

[Bay56]

I thought Mclean was a bit lazy at times ... didnt have enough impact for my liking considering his size.

Chad Grintell impressed me on the wing.

 

[dubby]

Bye Bye Lomu.