Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Agree on Naden. Bit harsh on Staines. Toa - played 40 mins of football this year, deserves a look under benji and co.
 
mikey said:
That's the strategy but it's like banking on Phar Lap's colt bring like Phar Lap. We're relying on potentiaI, not actual ability.
I'd prefer we recruit to get to the point where 1st grade is strong while developing juniors; and like Penrith we are discarding the chaff to places like us.
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potential just means you haven’t actually done anything yet
 
Tom Shines said:
Douehi is NOT an outside back … you are also contradicting your argument.. won’t he “hold back the “development” of these young guys .., why is it ok for him to do it ::: but not a better player?
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AD is now viewed exclusively as an outside back, by the club.

A good return will likely see an extension.
 
Tom Shines said:
That’s a big if … he won’t have played for like over a year when he comes back …
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It isn't like boxing, with "ring rust"

He's been doing it his whole life.
Team sport.
He knows the whack...

Starford played half a game in cup and was straight into first grade.

AD is coming back, up to him how strong he comes back though. He could really stand up in an area where we're lacking.
 
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Demps said:
It isn't like boxing, with "ring rust"

He's been doing it his whole life.
Team sport.
He knows the whack...

Starford played half a game in cup and was straight into first grade.

AD is coming back, up to him how strong he comes back though. He could really stand up in an area where we're lacking.
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I don’t agree when it comes to long term leg injuries …ACL’s and Achillies
 
Glenji95 said:
Even in Cleary’s absence he hasn’t been the main playmaker although he probably was in last nights game I didn’t watch the second half. I know he was the 7 in lower grades so I’m hoping he plays like that when he’s here for us. I think he can do it but not gonna judge until he arrives.
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That's no problem WT's can make any player a lower grade just give us a season!
 
BAGNF05 said:
How was he a good recruit? He got punted from Penrith for Ill discipline after getting on the coke gf week then did nothing at the dogs. Why did we think we can change people? That was the old regime anyway and I have faith it’s changing.
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Yeah I was critical of him at the time for the Grand Final/Coke episode and he was not performing at the Dogs at the time and it should be added that not all that many were around the time of Trent Barrett "looking a bit tired."

It was publicised at the time that we got him early to mid season for a bargain basement figure with the Dogs paying a fair chunk of freight to move him on.

At the time I thought that no doubt we were probably nearing the mid season point where we had to finalise our numbers for the top 30 to be compliant and as we didn't look like we were going to get some superstar to get to the 30 then why not a bargain basement signing.

Also at the time it was also made known that Brent Naden and Daine Laurie were really good mates and I thought there was the possibility that the two of them at the same club may lift them and bring about some sort of a positive change in their general attitude and performance.

I thought it was a pretty good deal at the time with probably more positives than negatives around it.

I believe we originally signed him from the Dogs for the remainder of 2022 and for the 2023 season, around 18months, not too bad if the Dogs were in fact paying a fair chunk of his contract for that period.

Where it all turned to crap was when only about 3 months later we extended his contract until the end of 2025, which I thought was a totally unjustified knee jerk reaction after playing only a handful of games and scoring 3 or 4 tries for us we thought he had turned full circle and was going to be a superstar with all all the other teams in the NRL set to swoop on November 1.

As usual it turned out to be the wrong move, after a reasonably good finish to the 2022 season he has failed to play regular first grade through a number of injuries and suspensions and when he has been on the field, poor discipline and brain snaps have let both himself and the team down more often than not.

As I said, a good recruit on the initial contract when he came over from Canterbury, a bad signing on the contract we gave him only 3 months later.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
Sure he was cheap, that’s for a reason. You get what you pay for - well we certainly have…

He was a terrible recruit. He showed zero nrl level form for 2yrs+ before joining. We were desperate & we acted like it. Then we renewed him for 3yrs without him showing anything and injured.

At the dogs they couldn’t get rid of him fast enough as he kept dropping the ball and missing tackles. It was the quickest release ever. He only joined us because we were the only club he would be guaranteed to play nrl with (those were his words as well).
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I have already made a reply to @BAGNF05 who was similarly critical of my comments as follows:

Yeah I was critical of him at the time for the Grand Final/Coke episode and he was not performing at the Dogs at the time and it should be added that not all that many were around the time of Trent Barrett "looking a bit tired."

It was publicised at the time that we got him early to mid season for a bargain basement figure with the Dogs paying a fair chunk of freight to move him on.

At the time I thought that no doubt we were probably nearing the mid season point where we had to finalise our numbers for the top 30 to be compliant and as we didn't look like we were going to get some superstar to get to the 30 then why not a bargain basement signing.

Also at the time it was also made known that Brent Naden and Daine Laurie were really good mates and I thought there was the possibility that the two of them at the same club may lift them and bring about some sort of a positive change in their general attitude and performance.

I thought it was a pretty good deal at the time with probably more positives than negatives around it.

I believe we originally signed him from the Dogs for the remainder of 2022 and for the 2023 season, around 18months, not too bad if the Dogs were in fact paying a fair chunk of his contract for that period.

Where it all turned to crap was when only about 3 months later we extended his contract until the end of 2025, which I thought was a totally unjustified knee jerk reaction after playing only a handful of games and scoring 3 or 4 tries for us we thought he had turned full circle and was going to be a superstar with all all the other teams in the NRL set to swoop on November 1.

As usual it turned out to be the wrong move, after a reasonably good finish to the 2022 season he has failed to play regular first grade through a number of injuries and suspensions and when he has been on the field, poor discipline and brain snaps have let both himself and the team down more often than not.

As I said, a good recruit on the initial contract when he came over from Canterbury, a bad signing on the contract we gave him only 3 months later.
 
Spacecub said:
Richo has come out and stated that our recruiting for 25 is complete I'm hoping he's woken up this morning and rethinking that, a few players need to be told to look around, I wouldn't be resigning Stefano, with fanua Blake Shire bound, I'd be looking there to see who has to stand aside, same at the chooks, there's talk about pressure on Angus Crighton with fafita coming, but as they do they'll manage to fit him under there expansive cap, with vilandys blessing of course, Xavier willison was impressive Friday night, I'd be asking him if he'd be interested in a starting spot with us, but firstly, Naden, Seyfarth, stains klemmer and Bateman need to be sold off
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You can't sell contracts in the NRL.
 
Naden has plenty of natural talent, but it seems when he loses confidence such as missing an easy one on one tackle, dropping the ball or running over the sideline, it snowballs and just goes from bad to worse.
At his age and experience it’s unlikely he can overcome this problem.
I’m tipping Benji will give him a chance to redeem himself this weekend, you would have to think if we see another disaster of a game such as last weekend, we would have to come to the conclusion that it’s not going to benefit us moving forward.
 
The Chad said:
The club won't go out & sign a massive amount of new players because they want to ensure there is a path for the juniors coming through.

Miller, Fa'agutu, Lualili'i x 2, Makasini, Mason, Latu Fainu, Sukkar- these guys, while not 'ready', are not going to have new players put in front of them now, only to hold back their path.

So it's a balance of depth, expectation & immediate results that would be incredibly difficult to manage at this stage.

Luai & Turuva at the probable expense of Sezar & someone like Alaimalo.

A decision on if Doueihi is part of the squad. While he has MANY detractors on here, at worst he offers a 1st grade level outside back option. At best- he's a starting player & solid improvement on Naden etc.

A fringe reserve forward or two could be removed to bring in some rotational depth from outside. I don't think it's starting quality forwards required. But players that offer something different to Twal & Seyfarth. Thomas Mikaele for mine, is a good, cheap option to fill that kind of role.

I don't know where too many more additional signings fit, without holding back guys the club expects to be a part of the playing group soon.

When the club has DEPTH of the likes of Faataape, Naden, Staines, Seyfarth, Twal, Mikaele instead of these guys being part of the starting squad- then we are in position to start taking advantage of our junior development.
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I think you're on the money @The Chad about not recruiting from outside which blocks pathways.

I think Benji is giving as much opportunity as he can to our current contracted players so players feel they have his trust & faith.

In the back of his head, I reckon he wants to see Twal & Seyfarth own their positions as well as T'oa & Naden. If more of the same continues, I could see one of each duo moved on. Someone like a Royce Hunt would then be a good option as an experienced impact middle off the bench and someone who could mentor Jordan Miller.
 
Tiger Stripes said:
We need to insert clauses in his contract that he must meet eg. run metres, tackles, rep. selection, top 8 in NRL etc. or whatever; before he is eligible to get the dollars he thinks he is worth.
Not top dollar and relying on him to perform. His efforts fall short on most game days of late.
He needs hard and fast incentives to active his effort displays. Less take home money if they are not met.
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Why would he sign a contract with clauses that aren't to his benefit ?
 
I have said on numerous occasions over the past few years, and on the odd occasions had me head bitten off, that Naden is like Melbourne weather, you never know what you’re going to get. Sadly the good days are not as regular as the bad days. In saying that what options do we really have, given our attack is so poor.

I personally would give Casey a go, no world beater in attack, but solid as a rock in defence and has a football brain. One thing for sure, against the Dolphins we will have to be strong in defence in the outside backs
 
supercoach said:
I have said on numerous occasions over the past few years, and on the odd occasions had me head bitten off, that Naden is like Melbourne weather, you never know what you’re going to get. Sadly the good days are not as regular as the bad days. In saying that what options do we really have, given our attack is so poor.

I personally would give Casey a go, no world beater in attack, but solid as a rock in defence and has a football brain. One thing for sure, against the Dolphins we will have to be strong in defence in the outside backs
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Benji is on a hiding to nothing whether he selects Naden or not. People will lose their minds if he picks him and yet there is no guarantee that anyone else he picks in his place will not be shown up by the speedy Dolphins backline. The joys of coaching a wooden spoon squad starting to rear it's ugly head.
 
balmain boy said:
Actually the saifiti brothers both get more, and frizzel on about the same. So um yeah...
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Well, I saw we were paying Steph Nine hundred thousand, so you are saying Saifiti Brothers get more than that, and Frizzel about the same, so for 4 players including Ponga about 4.5 mil maybe. And we can't afford anymore players.
 
mikey said:
That's the strategy but it's like banking on Phar Lap's colt bring like Phar Lap. We're relying on potentiaI, not actual ability.
I'd prefer we recruit to get to the point where 1st grade is strong while developing juniors; and like Penrith we are discarding the chaff to places like us.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree. The imports set the level of the bar! If the juniors are good enough, they will overcome these imports. They will know exactly what they need to do to oust them.

We are talking of young hopefuls in their early 20's expecting to earn half a million dollars a year and not work their arse off to get it? In a job they love!

Reality is if they feel they are good enough and want to set themselves up [and family] for life they must make sacrifices and knuckle down to overcome the obstacles put in front of them. Unfortunately it may be at another club, so we really need to be able to identify and retain the best.
This is where our board, management and coaches must show their best strengths and judgement.
 
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