Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

you'd kill for it to be true but surely Saints aren't that stupid.

there's a lot of chatter about that Lomax has already agreed to terms with Parramatta, they're just dotting the i's and crossing the t's.

I hope the rumour's correct tho!
I don't believe it will happen at all but I wouldnt be surprised if this move had been made at some stage, Dragons have zero halves depth atm
 
you'd kill for it to be true but surely Saints aren't that stupid.

there's a lot of chatter about that Lomax has already agreed to terms with Parramatta, they're just dotting the i's and crossing the t's.

I hope the rumour's correct tho!
Who knows?!?! Maybe Lomax to Parramatta is like Latrell, Addo Carr & Moses to Tigers lol
 
Jeral Skelton in Cup last week

1 try
22 runs for 302 metres
2 line breaks
10 tackle breaks

that is a first grader. yes he has issues defensively but I'd back Morris to sort him out. stuck behind Kiraz, Addo-Carr, Tracey and Wilson... we could certainly do worse.
He sure is a beast with the ball going off his highlights

I wonder how his defence, effort areas & aerial ability are? I haven't watched any of his games.

Someone mentioned last year he has a turning circle like a Ken Mamaulo circa 2023.
 
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He sure is a beast with the ball going off his highlights

I wonder how his defence, effort areas & aerial ability are? I haven't watched any of his games.

Someone mentioned last year he has a turning circle like a Ken Mamaulo circa 2023.
his defence needs work but he's pretty good under the high ball from what I've seen. there's definitely a worry in regards to his turning circle and lateral movement, but I certainly think he's worth a look.
 
why would Morris rationally leave the tigers, when we finally start showing promise to the burning ship that Souths is?
Not sure Souths are a burning ship. If Bennett signs on as head coach I'd bet they finish higher up the ladder than we do in 2025. Souths are a good coach and an attitude adjustment away from being a top 4 team. Not a fan of Bennett as a person but he almost always gets results from teams.
 
Not sure Souths are a burning ship. If Bennett signs on as head coach I'd bet they finish higher up the ladder than we do in 2025. Souths are a good coach and an attitude adjustment away from being a top 4 team. Not a fan of Bennett as a person but he almost always gets results from teams.
I'm sure Souths could improve with better coaching, but their roster is on the slide and that's not readily fixable. Cook is 32 and turns 33 this season, Walker is 34, Tom Burgess is about to turn 32 and is gone after this season - that's half the spine and their only impact prop. They don't have a halfback, they're paying a million dollars a year to Latrell Mitchell who while talented is nudging towards liability status. The prop rotation is thin, there isn't a decent winger at the club and the depth is so nonexistent that Michael Chee Kam is getting named every week. Could they get their shit together sufficiently that they make finals this year? Sure. But "top four team"? You're dreaming. Their roster as currently constructed is no longer a contender.

If an up and coming coach goes to Souths now they're taking a gamble that (a) the roster can be turned round fairly quickly, and (b) they'll be given enough time to oversee it and come out the other side rather than being scapegoated in the meantime.

(A) is possible: if nothing else, Souths have an almost Roosters-level ability to get players to walk away from the out years of terrible contracts. If Mitchell can't get his head right watch out for him to take the Greg Inglis approach and "retire" rather than pick up the $1m a year he's owed by Souths until 2027. On the other hand, if the club is looking at Wayne Bennett it means they still think they can win now, which would make me very worried indeed about (b).
 
I'm sure Souths could improve with better coaching, but their roster is on the slide and that's not readily fixable. Cook is 32 and turns 33 this season, Walker is 34, Tom Burgess is about to turn 32 and is gone after this season - that's half the spine and their only impact prop. They don't have a halfback, they're paying a million dollars a year to Latrell Mitchell who while talented is nudging towards liability status. The prop rotation is thin, there isn't a decent winger at the club and the depth is so nonexistent that Michael Chee Kam is getting named every week. Could they get their shit together sufficiently that they make finals this year? Sure. But "top four team"? You're dreaming. Their roster as currently constructed is no longer a contender.

If an up and coming coach goes to Souths now they're taking a gamble that (a) the roster can be turned round fairly quickly, and (b) they'll be given enough time to oversee it and come out the other side rather than being scapegoated in the meantime.

(A) is possible: if nothing else, Souths have an almost Roosters-level ability to get players to walk away from the out years of terrible contracts. If Mitchell can't get his head right watch out for him to take the Greg Inglis approach and "retire" rather than pick up the $1m a year he's owed by Souths until 2027. On the other hand, if the club is looking at Wayne Bennett it means they still think they can win now, which would make me very worried indeed about (b).
Respect your POV but I'm standing by mine. Souths will get rid of Demetriou and bring in a quality coach, probably Bennett. They will recruit well and bring on some of their quality juniors perhaps a little earlier than they would have wanted. Mitchell will most probably retire but that won't be a big loss for them. Crowe will be heavily involved in the rebirth and I believe it will happen faster than we've been able to do. By the way, I said they are not far away from being a top 4 club. I certainly didn't say they'd be top 4 this year.
 
I'm sure Souths could improve with better coaching, but their roster is on the slide and that's not readily fixable. Cook is 32 and turns 33 this season, Walker is 34, Tom Burgess is about to turn 32 and is gone after this season - that's half the spine and their only impact prop. They don't have a halfback, they're paying a million dollars a year to Latrell Mitchell who while talented is nudging towards liability status. The prop rotation is thin, there isn't a decent winger at the club and the depth is so nonexistent that Michael Chee Kam is getting named every week. Could they get their shit together sufficiently that they make finals this year? Sure. But "top four team"? You're dreaming. Their roster as currently constructed is no longer a contender.

If an up and coming coach goes to Souths now they're taking a gamble that (a) the roster can be turned round fairly quickly, and (b) they'll be given enough time to oversee it and come out the other side rather than being scapegoated in the meantime.

(A) is possible: if nothing else, Souths have an almost Roosters-level ability to get players to walk away from the out years of terrible contracts. If Mitchell can't get his head right watch out for him to take the Greg Inglis approach and "retire" rather than pick up the $1m a year he's owed by Souths until 2027. On the other hand, if the club is looking at Wayne Bennett it means they still think they can win now, which would make me very worried indeed about (b).
I see both sides. Bennett will absolutely get the best out of the problem child, but Walker and Cook are in the twilight and may not have much left to give. Dean Hawkins is a solid half who would do a decent job if he had a decent forward pack to play behind, but he doesn't have that right now.

what I will give Souths credit for is their succession planning. they're pretty damn good at identifying who comes next and backing them in. say what you will about Ilias but he did get them to a prelim in his first full season. Mamouzelos and Teaupa will both have decent careers, Jye Gray is a future rep player. but these players will take 2-3 years to become consistent first graders.

I really think for Souths its as simple as getting a respected coach that can set standards and drive culture and buy in from the players and reshaping their forward pack and making a few tough calls around Mitchell being moved to the centres and Johnston being moved on. I think Wayne will be able to do that very quickly.
 
C'mon Wayne, come to the Tigers. Don't know what drives the man but surely working with Richo and Benji and weaving magic behind the scenes is tempting for this stage in his career, rather than taking on another head coaching role.

Big sliding doors moment for Souths over the last few years was losing Reynolds and taking a gamble on Ilias. They might have missed their window now because of that. In saying that the roster they currently have should 100% still be competing at the top. I agree that in 18 months time they will be looking fairly tired and old and will need some time to rebuild. Hoping Wayne see's the role at the Tigers as a much more attractive proposition.
 
I see both sides. Bennett will absolutely get the best out of the problem child, but Walker and Cook are in the twilight and may not have much left to give. Dean Hawkins is a solid half who would do a decent job if he had a decent forward pack to play behind, but he doesn't have that right now.

what I will give Souths credit for is their succession planning. they're pretty damn good at identifying who comes next and backing them in. say what you will about Ilias but he did get them to a prelim in his first full season. Mamouzelos and Teaupa will both have decent careers, Jye Gray is a future rep player. but these players will take 2-3 years to become consistent first graders.

I really think for Souths its as simple as getting a respected coach that can set standards and drive culture and buy in from the players and reshaping their forward pack and making a few tough calls around Mitchell being moved to the centres and Johnston being moved on. I think Wayne will be able to do that very quickly.
But would Wayne really go to souths though? From what I have heard, both him and Jason Demetriou have a close relationship, which im sure would factor into any decision he would make surrounding joining the club, paired with the fact that joining the tigers would probably be more rewarding, taking a club that recently has struggled more, and giving them success with Benji, another mate
 
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