Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Heard a rumour we have submitted offers to the May brothers the one at Penrith and Roosters. They are keen to play together. Bulldogs are also in the Karmichael Hunt.

Was the guy telling you the rumour anyone important or just some numpty?
 
After watching him physically handle things with ease I now agree.

Need two animal forwards before it can happen though IMO.

If Latu gets cracking & Galvin shows fitness/effort consistency then I would move him to lock by halfway through the season.

Would give half a season of Api, Bula, Latu and Galvin working in key positions together ahead of Luai coming. Would give them a leg up into next season.
 
I was thinking about this on Saturday, trying to work out how to fit Galvin, Luai and Latu in to the team
I made comment on Saturday in one of the threads we will add another teenager into the side in weeks being Latu. I think it will be Galvin that will be 13, mainly because i think Latu plays more direct and deep into the line which should bring Olam or whoever else is outside him onto the ball.
Thats the way i would go, but then again i'm just a plodder on a keyboard with an opinion.
 
If Latu gets cracking & Galvin shows fitness/effort consistency then I would move him to lock by halfway through the season.

Would give half a season of Api, Bula, Latu and Galvin working in key positions together ahead of Luai coming. Would give them a leg up into next season.

I'd love to see that but that's a small backrow behind a weak front row.

Hopefully by mid year Sam Fainu is killing it on a edge and Sione Fainu, Pole and Stef have exploded up front. Then Galvin at lock would be great. Otherwise I think it will put too much pressure on Galvins body to carry such a load in the middle. It's looks obvious to me he won't shirk any hard work. I'd hate batter the kid because the rest of our forwards are soft.
 
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I'd love to see that but that's a small backrow behind a weak front row.

Hopefully by mid year Sam Fainu is killing it on a edge and Sione Fainu, Pole and Stef have exploded up front. Then Galvin at lock would be great. Otherwise I think it will put too much pressure on Galvins body to carry such a load in the middle. It's looks obvious to me he won't shirk any hard work. I'd hate batter the kid because the rest of our forwards are soft.

I get the size as a concern he is 10kgs under Murray & 20kgs under Yeo/Hopgood etc

Reality is we have the roster we have and we just need to get these kids playing in their position whilst we uplift other areas around them.

Agree on the load but even him at lock for 50-60mins would be a launchpad for him and better than anyone else we have on the books as a lock if he can handle the week to week runnings.

I’m focusing more on 25 than 24 results as think this year is a clear development focus year as such getting people into their 25 positions & combos is important jump starting it this season rather than next.
 
Two options only imo nothing else:

6. Latu Fainu
7. Jarome Luai
12. Lachlan Galvin

Or

6. Jarome Luai
7. Lachlan Galvin
13. Latu Fainu

Take your pick


Well that's just weird. Doesn't make any sense for those to be the only 2 options.

So Galvin plays halback or edge backrow, but not 5/8 or lock. Luai can play 6 or 7, but if he plays 7 it's only with Latu at 6, not Galvin. If he plays 6, Latu goes to 13. The combinations you have make no sense to limit these selections the way you have.
 
Two options only imo nothing else:

6. Latu Fainu
7. Jarome Luai
12. Lachlan Galvin

Or

6. Jarome Luai
7. Lachlan Galvin
13. Latu Fainu

Take your pick
We just have to make sure they all stay here, and I think Samuela is going to be a huge signing for us, his best position and I said when we signed him is on an edge, he has the speed and intimidating running style that will really help us
 
I know its early .. ok very early in the season but I'm gonna call as I've seen it so far (2 trial games and 1 NRL game)

1. Bula - goes ok .. try's hard .. still a work in progress
2. Staines - hmm .. a myth .. doesn't get involved enough
3. Faataape - interesting possibility .. hits the line hard when given the opportunity .. a work in progress
4. To'a - another myth .. one good game in a few years doesn't make him a 1st grader ..
5. Tupou - a possibility .. but too lazy to get involved .. no want or desire in him
6. Galvin - has the ability .. needs to find confidence .. a work in progress
7. Sullivan - great trainer with plenty of promise .. gun shy on the field .. needs to have a crack
8. Klemmer - time has caught up with Klem .. ineffective in his hit ups .. luckily he's tackles are effective for now
9. Api - busts his guts out every game .. needs some help from the guys around him
10. Utoikamanu - try's hard for 1 or 2 hit ups but then goes missing .. a player that big needs to have some mongrel in him
11. Bateman - end of days are coming quick for John .. try's as hard as he can
12. Papali'i - starting to blend into the myth category .. he can do better .. but is he
13. Seyfarth - try's as hard as pillow can with little effect .. :-(

14. Sezer - happy to be just back in Aust .. he appears to be just going through the motions out on the paddock
15. Pole - goes hard .. needs to have more involvement .. a work in progress
16. Twal - does the best he can with what he's got .. just effective
17. Fainu - i like what i see in Samuela so far .. a work in progress

Puts flame proof suit on .. sits back and waits for the fire to come .. :)
 
Galvin could well be Bateman's replacement. I think with his height and ball skills he can create on an edge like nobody we have in the squad, while allowing Luai & Latu to control the middle & other edge. I think it works in a Liam Fulton/Gavin Miller kind of way.

Or- Galvin plays centre. Same deal.

Everyone focussed on him being Yeo, but there's really only 1 Yeo in the NRL. Most are either tackling machines or metre eaters. Galvin is more Schuster than Murray.
 
I know its early .. ok very early in the season but I'm gonna call as I've seen it so far (2 trial games and 1 NRL game)

1. Bula - goes ok .. try's hard .. still a work in progress
2. Staines - hmm .. a myth .. doesn't get involved enough
3. Faataape - interesting possibility .. hits the line hard when given the opportunity .. a work in progress
4. To'a - another myth .. one good game in a few years doesn't make him a 1st grader ..
5. Tupou - a possibility .. but too lazy to get involved .. no want or desire in him
6. Galvin - has the ability .. needs to find confidence .. a work in progress
7. Sullivan - great trainer with plenty of promise .. gun shy on the field .. needs to have a crack
8. Klemmer - time has caught up with Klem .. ineffective in his hit ups .. luckily he's tackles are effective for now
9. Api - busts his guts out every game .. needs some help from the guys around him
10. Utoikamanu - try's hard for 1 or 2 hit ups but then goes missing .. a player that big needs to have some mongrel in him
11. Bateman - end of days are coming quick for John .. try's as hard as he can
12. Papali'i - starting to blend into the myth category .. he can do better .. but is he
13. Seyfarth - try's as hard as pillow can with little effect .. :-(

14. Sezer - happy to be just back in Aust .. he appears to be just going through the motions out on the paddock
15. Pole - goes hard .. needs to have more involvement .. a work in progress
16. Twal - does the best he can with what he's got .. just effective
17. Fainu - i like what i see in Samuela so far .. a work in progress

Puts flame proof suit on .. sits back and waits for the fire to come .. :)
So we have ''possibilities'' and ''work in progresses''.

This doesn't bode well for a successful season lol.
 
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I know its early .. ok very early in the season but I'm gonna call as I've seen it so far (2 trial games and 1 NRL game)

1. Bula - goes ok .. try's hard .. still a work in progress
2. Staines - hmm .. a myth .. doesn't get involved enough
3. Faataape - interesting possibility .. hits the line hard when given the opportunity .. a work in progress
4. To'a - another myth .. one good game in a few years doesn't make him a 1st grader ..
5. Tupou - a possibility .. but too lazy to get involved .. no want or desire in him
6. Galvin - has the ability .. needs to find confidence .. a work in progress
7. Sullivan - great trainer with plenty of promise .. gun shy on the field .. needs to have a crack
8. Klemmer - time has caught up with Klem .. ineffective in his hit ups .. luckily he's tackles are effective for now
9. Api - busts his guts out every game .. needs some help from the guys around him
10. Utoikamanu - try's hard for 1 or 2 hit ups but then goes missing .. a player that big needs to have some mongrel in him
11. Bateman - end of days are coming quick for John .. try's as hard as he can
12. Papali'i - starting to blend into the myth category .. he can do better .. but is he
13. Seyfarth - try's as hard as pillow can with little effect .. :-(

14. Sezer - happy to be just back in Aust .. he appears to be just going through the motions out on the paddock
15. Pole - goes hard .. needs to have more involvement .. a work in progress
16. Twal - does the best he can with what he's got .. just effective
17. Fainu - i like what i see in Samuela so far .. a work in progress

Puts flame proof suit on .. sits back and waits for the fire to come .. :)
Harsh on Utoikamanu and Papali’i, but fairly accurate on the others based on what they have shown so far this season.
Is Sullivan really a hard trainer ? If he is, maybe get the tackling bags out for him.
 
I know its early .. ok very early in the season but I'm gonna call as I've seen it so far (2 trial games and 1 NRL game)

1. Bula - goes ok .. try's hard .. still a work in progress
2. Staines - hmm .. a myth .. doesn't get involved enough
3. Faataape - interesting possibility .. hits the line hard when given the opportunity .. a work in progress
4. To'a - another myth .. one good game in a few years doesn't make him a 1st grader ..
5. Tupou - a possibility .. but too lazy to get involved .. no want or desire in him
6. Galvin - has the ability .. needs to find confidence .. a work in progress
7. Sullivan - great trainer with plenty of promise .. gun shy on the field .. needs to have a crack
8. Klemmer - time has caught up with Klem .. ineffective in his hit ups .. luckily he's tackles are effective for now
9. Api - busts his guts out every game .. needs some help from the guys around him
10. Utoikamanu - try's hard for 1 or 2 hit ups but then goes missing .. a player that big needs to have some mongrel in him
11. Bateman - end of days are coming quick for John .. try's as hard as he can
12. Papali'i - starting to blend into the myth category .. he can do better .. but is he
13. Seyfarth - try's as hard as pillow can with little effect .. :-(

14. Sezer - happy to be just back in Aust .. he appears to be just going through the motions out on the paddock
15. Pole - goes hard .. needs to have more involvement .. a work in progress
16. Twal - does the best he can with what he's got .. just effective
17. Fainu - i like what i see in Samuela so far .. a work in progress

Puts flame proof suit on .. sits back and waits for the fire to come .. :)
wow...little tough on the boys having a crack like Fanua and Seizer, Galvin, i dont believe he lacks confidence but overall that is a very fair review on the most of the boys
 
I know its early .. ok very early in the season but I'm gonna call as I've seen it so far (2 trial games and 1 NRL game)

1. Bula - goes ok .. try's hard .. still a work in progress
2. Staines - hmm .. a myth .. doesn't get involved enough
3. Faataape - interesting possibility .. hits the line hard when given the opportunity .. a work in progress
4. To'a - another myth .. one good game in a few years doesn't make him a 1st grader ..
5. Tupou - a possibility .. but too lazy to get involved .. no want or desire in him
6. Galvin - has the ability .. needs to find confidence .. a work in progress
7. Sullivan - great trainer with plenty of promise .. gun shy on the field .. needs to have a crack
8. Klemmer - time has caught up with Klem .. ineffective in his hit ups .. luckily he's tackles are effective for now
9. Api - busts his guts out every game .. needs some help from the guys around him
10. Utoikamanu - try's hard for 1 or 2 hit ups but then goes missing .. a player that big needs to have some mongrel in him
11. Bateman - end of days are coming quick for John .. try's as hard as he can
12. Papali'i - starting to blend into the myth category .. he can do better .. but is he
13. Seyfarth - try's as hard as pillow can with little effect .. :-(

14. Sezer - happy to be just back in Aust .. he appears to be just going through the motions out on the paddock
15. Pole - goes hard .. needs to have more involvement .. a work in progress
16. Twal - does the best he can with what he's got .. just effective
17. Fainu - i like what i see in Samuela so far .. a work in progress

Puts flame proof suit on .. sits back and waits for the fire to come .. :)
You're judging Sezer off what mate? 25 minutes of game time?
 
Galvin could well be Bateman's replacement. I think with his height and ball skills he can create on an edge like nobody we have in the squad, while allowing Luai & Latu to control the middle & other edge. I think it works in a Liam Fulton/Gavin Miller kind of way.

Or- Galvin plays centre. Same deal.

Everyone focussed on him being Yeo, but there's really only 1 Yeo in the NRL. Most are either tackling machines or metre eaters. Galvin is more Schuster than Murray.
to be quite honest I think Galvin will likely remain at 5/8 for the foreseeable future. he has a weapon of a kick, a strong running game and can clearly read shapes on either side of the ball.

if he bulks up to the point where it slows him down then we will obviously have to reassess, but given his fitness levels and talent I do think that Sullivan and Latu may be the odd ones out.
 
You're judging Sezer off what mate? 25 minutes of game time?
I think it's probably a poor take too. when he came on he showed far more effort and desire in 25 minutes than Sullivan managed in double that. our defence also improved down that edge when he turned up and our attack had depth and purpose. "going through the motions", as moP coins it, is inaccurate imo.
 
to be quite honest I think Galvin will likely remain at 5/8 for the foreseeable future. he has a weapon of a kick, a strong running game and can clearly read shapes on either side of the ball.

if he bulks up to the point where it slows him down then we will obviously have to reassess, but given his fitness levels and talent I do think that Sullivan and Latu may be the odd ones out.
While I can agree with that mostly- I do wonder if after chasing Latu Fainu so hard, and securing Luai- would they really let one of these guys miss out?

Obviously Fainu is an unproven commodity & Galvin has 1 game to his name.

But, there is some level of commitment from the club on all three- disregarding Sullivan. It's definitely better to have too many than not enough options- but I wonder if the club will do everything they can to accommodate all three.
 
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