Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

slim pickings this year in the player market. we did exceptionally well to land Papali'i and Koroisau considering the circumstances.

Nikora - seems to have gone cold.
Williams - straight out of the Sheens playbook. would do well with us.
Doorey - I'd say he's the most likely. pathway blocked and good relationship with McDonnell.
Hopgood - definite upgrade on Mikaele if we can lure him across.
Bird - seems unlikely at this stage.
Komolafe - killing it in Cup, would be great to have a gun outside back waiting in the wings.
Hoy - not against a genuine backup fullback.

I'm hopeful one of Kepaoa, Doueihi or Talau can become the strike centre we need with To'a on the other side, because apart from Farnworth there's very little to choose from.
 
The nerve of Nikora to see our offer, entice the sharks with it and after receiving a flat out no, hit us up again for an increase. Interesting to see how this plays out.
Bird obviously wants to stay a Dragon. I’m sure he’d prefer not to be Mr Fix it for them and with Sims moving on either mid year or next he’ll get a permanent home there.
Like Jackson Williams. Kinda the low key version of Dale Finucane. Understandably he has no spot after signing Finucane.
Hopgood is similar but more of a dog and bone approach, is he a young Josh MGuire?
Haven’t heard of the winger, but with a lack of depth in the back 5 having a young group pushing each other for spots is a good thing.
Oh and we are not ready for the Pele Project. Probably only Penrith or Melbourne could covert this beast at this stage, or maybe the sharks.
 
Nikora has a young family and from what I read on this forum, there is a big difference between what the Sharks have offered and our offer. I still believe we have a good chance of signing him as it is a decision about his family and financial future.

Hopgood and the young winger from the Eels would be two good acquisitions in the quality of Laurie and Utoikamanu. I see both pushing for NRL positions if they sign.

I just worry about Dillon. He is the type of player Bellamy would acquire and he'd be another superstar. Whatever the issue is, we need to get him back with the programme.
 
InBenjiWeTrust said:
2nd rower can be an easier problem to solve as we have Blore
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Sure, but if we are banking on that the odds are very much against us then.
He is 22yrs old so he has time but it's high risk if we don't have contingency.

Issue is since his big game against the Eels we have seen nothing for 2yrs.
He was ok, didn't shine and his improvement rate when he got game time was minor.
He is injured more than any other player on our roster outside of maybe JTJ.
We just can't bank on him until he gets runs on the board & his body can hold up to things.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
Sure, but if we are banking on that the odds are very much against us then.
He is 22yrs old so he has time but it's high risk if we don't have contingency.

Issue is since his big game against the Eels we have seen nothing for 2yrs.
He was ok, didn't shine and his improvement rate when he got game time was minor.
He is injured more than any other player on our roster outside of maybe JTJ.
We just can't bank on him until he gets runs on the board & his body can hold up to things.
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Can't disagree that the injuries are concerning, but I think it is harsh to say that he has done nothing for 2 years. He really sured up the left side defence when he locked down a starting spot last year. His tackle efficiency is very good and when in condition he is easily an 80min 2RW. His attack was very 1 dimensional and his timing with Brooks was lacking but everything with the team was clunky last year, and there were signs that he can be damaging with ball in hand when he gets some games under his belt.
 
Don’t know much about the Eels SC winger but Parra are very short with injuries in there outside backs atm. Think they have even named Brown in the centres
 
ElleryHanley said:
Laurie 4-6 weeks
AJ 2-4 weeks / coming off a knee AND a pec
Talau most of the season
AD probably 6 more weeks or so and then will need a month / second ACL
Jimmy the Jet: Back surgery 6-8 weeks best case...prob won't see him again.

You would think an outside back immediately has to be a massive priority.

We are one-two more injuries away from having to play state cup backs who are getting hammered every week even at that level.
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I just cannot understand the club's slackness in reacting to the obvious shortcomings that clearly are heading to to the club. Don't like it at all.
 
AdelaideTiger said:
Can't disagree that the injuries are concerning, but I think it is harsh to say that he has done nothing for 2 years. He really sured up the left side defence when he locked down a starting spot last year. His tackle efficiency is very good and when in condition he is easily an 80min 2RW. His attack was very 1 dimensional and his timing with Brooks was lacking but everything with the team was clunky last year, and there were signs that he can be damaging with ball in hand when he gets some games under his belt.
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I look at it this way. He stormed onto the scene and showed everyone what he could do defensively. That was a clear strength. But his work rate with the ball, his avg mtrs and post contact mtrs were ordinary for a backrower.

The issue I have with Blore is that sure he has talent but he hasn't been playing any footy for really 3yrs now with us and had an injury history at the Panthers before coming.

Expecting him to come back from his injury hitting the ground running next year which often takes most rep quality players a good 18-24mths to start finding form again (not his 1st big one of these either) shouldn't be expected.

I actually like Blore but have see far too often players like him to just not have high expectations when they have a long Knee injury history
 
Newtown said:
I just cannot understand the club's slackness in reacting to the obvious shortcomings that clearly are heading to to the club. Don't like it at all.
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It's frustrating but there isn't a lot of quality around at NRL level. We have Trey Peni, Scolari, Dotoi, Feledy, Jahream Bula and rumours of the return of Jordan Hill. Let's hope Dillon gets back with the programme as well. We have significant backline talent so we need to trust in our development systems and Sheens.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
I disagree on Aitken. I think he would be a solid squad signing. We need to accept the chances of us landing a top class centre are slim but what Aitken offers is experience, very good defender & strong runner. I have watched his Warriors games in the back row since he became available for 2023 & he rarely misses a tackle. Even in the Storm debacle, he was one of the few who aimed up defensively. Shane Elford wasn't a world beater back in the day but contributed massively to a GF win.
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Euan Aitken is not who I would class as a 'very good defender'.

In his time in the centres, he failed to tackle above 90% efficiency. But what was worse and what doesn't get highlighted here is his reads out wide. They have been woeful for a very long time.

Credit to him, since moving into the second row his tackle efficiency has risen above 90% now, but I would still have major concerns about his decision making on an edge. Unless he is a cheapy, which I highly doubt would be the case, he isn't worth pursuing imo.

Especially when he have a cheaper, and better, version in Garner currently in the club this year and who is yet to be extended.
 
Kelce68 said:
Euan Aitken is not who I would class as a 'very good defender'.

In his time in the centres, he failed to tackle above 90% efficiency. But what was worse and what doesn't get highlighted here is his reads out wide. They have been woeful for a very long time.

Credit to him, since moving into the second row his tackle efficiency has risen above 90% now, but I would still have major concerns about his decision making on an edge. Unless he is a cheapy, which I highly doubt would be the case, he isn't worth pursuing imo.

Especially when he have a cheaper, and better, version in Garner currently in the club this year and who is yet to be extended.
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Aitken was a junior rep lock forward or second row forward. That is where he belongs with the fill in game in the centres if required. We have Garner imo doing an outstanding job in the centres and his versatility should be rewarded by WTs.
 
THE_POM said:
Sione's future is seen in the 2nd row but comes down to conditioning, needs to build some agility & speed.

Euan Aitken was discussed but nothing has come from it at this point, belief in our juniors coming through more over Aitken, plus would prefer Bird.
Dudley Dotoi was seriously struggling with homesickness early on but seems to be settled now, partner coming down soon so hopeful on retaining him long term.
Tamou & the club in no rush but wouldn't rule out 1 more year if he maintains his form.
The young player from Penrith has not been mentioned to me.
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Siosifa Talakai plays both centre and backrow. Currently on $300K at the Sharks only sign till 2023.
 
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