Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Could be a big few days ahead before the 1 August top 30 deadline. Questions to be answered ...
  • How many roster spots do we need to fill? I believe it's 1 to replace Mikaele (as Luciano apparently is covered in our quota).
  • If so, do we simply upgrade Fonua Pole onto main list?
  • Or do we sign Nu Brown on a top 30 contract?
  • What's the go with William Kei's contract? Do we need to fill his spot?
  • Will Liddle & Gildart move on this week?
  • Could Nathan Brown be added to our squad this week?
 
GarryOwen said:
There's something there with him. He's still very raw, but he has a fair bit of natural ability. If he continues to improve his hands, and get his defence sorted then we'll have a player. Worth persisting with at least.
I don't see the same with To'a - just a standard replacement level (if that) utility.
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Kepaoa nearly always beats the first tackler. He is big, strong, quick and passes well as we saw against the Eels. Like any young centre he will need to work hard on his defence but hopefully we are making moves to re-sign him. As for Toa, I think he is going to be good as well. He was up against Holmes on the weekend and except for one defensive error did well. He has some speed as well and I think our gain will be a big loss for the Knights.
 
Kepaoa is a natural centre. With him, To'a and Naden to choose from in the centres next year I would prefer us to spend our money bolstering the front and second row as we are bare-arsed in the second row, and we need a couple of experienced props to bring the kids on.

I would personally have Naden and Kepaoa as first choice centres with To'a at first drop.
 
Cultured_Bogan said:
Kepaoa is a natural centre. With him, To'a and Naden to choose from in the centres next year I would prefer us to spend our money bolstering the front and second row as we are bare-arsed in the second row, and we need a couple of experienced props to bring the kids on.

I would personally have Naden and Kepaoa as first choice centres with To'a at first drop.
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Yeah Naden and Kepaoa first choice for me as well.
 
Cultured_Bogan said:
Kepaoa is a natural centre. With him, To'a and Naden to choose from in the centres next year I would prefer us to spend our money bolstering the front and second row as we are bare-arsed in the second row, and we need a couple of experienced props to bring the kids on.

I would personally have Naden and Kepaoa as first choice centres with To'a at first drop.
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Agree a big offseason for Kepaoa, Naden and To'a as they all seem to have some talent and just need to develop aspects of their game. I think Kepaoa has some quality about him.

Really need to buy some Second Rowers and Front Rowers for 2023.

I hope Shaun Blore is the saviour some Forum Members make him out to be in 2023 and stays injury free. Yes he played well in his first game against the Eels then really nothing after that.

Love to find the next Jeremiah Nanai. He has everything we don't have in our back 3.
 
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Its a hard one...

To'a is super strong and beats anyone (except Olam) 1 on 1 in the centres

AJ is a strong lad with great footwork

Naden is athletic and has natural skill

However, all three also have floors in defence and don't show up every week.

I would choose Naden and AJ, but To'a is also up there..

SIGN ZAC LOMAX!
 
Long Term Fan said:
Agree a big offseason for Kepaoa, Naden and To'a as they all seem to have some talent and just need to develop aspects of their game. I think Kepaoa has some quality about him.

Really need to buy some Second Rowers and Front Rowers for 2023.
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Who would you choose (realistically) as some Second / Front rowers?

Top of my list would be Tieg Wilton.
 
DJG said:
Its a hard one...

To'a is super strong and beats anyone (except Olam) 1 on 1 in the centres

AJ is a strong lad with great footwork

Naden is athletic and has natural skill

However, all three also have floors in defence and don't show up every week.

I would choose Naden and AJ, but To'a is also up there..

SIGN ZAC LOMAX!
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Bellamy you know would work hard with Kepaoa and Toa and they would be a star pairing. We need to make them a star pairing by investing in their development. Lomax would want big dollars to leave the Steelers and that is money better spent in the forwards. Manu was often erratic in his early years. Toa and Kepaoa have both followed the same path from the NZ Under age team.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
We have to stand firm. A contract is a contract unless both parties agree to mutually terminate. There is no compassionate grounds. Only the Eels now wanting to keep him on more than they were originally offering when he agreed to sign with us.

We have to be clear to IP and his management, that they need to acknowledge what is fair & reasonable:

- We have made roster decisions since his signing based on him being here & how much cap space he is taking up. For example, if he didn't sign it may have completely altered our offers to Luciano & Kelma, we may have gone all out to re-sign Garner & we may have upped our 'supposed' offers to Briton Nikora & Angus Chrichton.

SURELY HIS MANAGEMENT & IP UNDERSTAND THIS and the ramifications it can have for our Club for years.

Now what is possibly fair & reasonable, is that if IP wants us to agree to a contract termination, we must sign another backrower of similar value & qualities as a replacement. The onus must be on his management to help in these negotiations and the arrange the difference in salary for this NEW player to come from the Eels.

There are probably only 2 backrowers (maybe 3) that I would consider:

Liam Martin
Angus Crichton
Jack Howarth (for his potential to be the next big thing)

So let's say Liam Martin wants $650k, then Eels must pay the difference to what IP would be paid by us.

Thoughts?
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I like it.
 
I thought Star was more a winger than a centre.

Naden is our best.
AJ has been average but had played well in cup & grade over the past few weeks.
Definitely a natural centre as someone said.

If the backline plays to their potential, it isn't too bad despite being somewhat no frills


1 Laurie
2 Nofo
3 AJ
4 Naden
5 Maumalo
 
pawsandclaws1 said:
Bellamy you know would work hard with Kepaoa and Toa and they would be a star pairing. We need to make them a star pairing by investing in their development. Lomax would want big dollars to leave the Steelers and that is money better spent in the forwards. Manu was often erratic in his early years. Toa and Kepaoa have both followed the same path from the NZ Under age team.
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I agree, money needs to go into the forwards, our centres need more exposure/experience.

Do you have Naden anywhere in your team? I don't see him as a winger.
 
The clubs legal people must think Pap’s contract either has a out or the Madge sacking may give him a good chance of a successful challenge . We would not even be hearing this stuff if the contract was rock solid.

I think the club will hold off giving the bad news till they can soften the blow with some signing news. Anyway I say the contract has been dissolved but time will tell
 
DJG said:
I agree, money needs to go into the forwards, our centres need more exposure/experience.

Do you have Naden anywhere in your team? I don't see him as a winger.
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Agree, centres were a huge issue to start the year, but seems like the club now has a bit of a plan. I think the prop rotation is fairly resolved when everyone is healthy, but we are at least 2 second rowers short for next year (assuming IP is still on his way).
 
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The right way is the COMMISSON should decide in PAPS v WT.
They should be neutral and judge every case on its merits , fairly.
so
my take ( IF ) the commission did its job properly , they’d have a tribunal , with the intension of delivering a fair and reasonable outcome for all , especially for the good of the game it’s self.

They resolve these issues, not associates, clubs and players who don’t own the game, This is standard. Here ,yeah right
I say
Paps don’t have a leg to stand on. WT broke no rules.
play or sit out 3 years, he should be privileged to play the game , where ever the game needs him. 10 day cooling of period expired , it’s his signature , end of it.
 
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supercoach said:
The clubs legal people must think Pap’s contract either has a out or the Madge sacking may give him a good chance of a successful challenge . We would not even be hearing this stuff if the contract was rock solid.

I think the club will hold off giving the bad news till they can soften the blow with some signing news. Anyway I say the contract has been dissolved but time will tell
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Bennett not happy about players backflipping on their agreements with the Dolphins. Until one club stands firm and says you play or sit on the sidelines this will continue. It's especially aggravating having to watch Brad Arthur in that beany advising the club has an "allocation" if Papali'i wants to stay.

www.foxsports.com.au

‘They’re not growing up’: Bennett’s brutal reality check to NRL players after duo backflips on Dolphins

Grow up: Bennett’s brutal reality check to NRL players after duo backflips on Dolphins
www.foxsports.com.au www.foxsports.com.au
 
supercoach said:
The clubs legal people must think Pap’s contract either has a out or the Madge sacking may give him a good chance of a successful challenge . We would not even be hearing this stuff if the contract was rock solid.

I think the club will hold off giving the bad news till they can soften the blow with some signing news. Anyway I say the contract has been dissolved but time will tell
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All the noise came from the Eels camp, which means Paps contract is rock solid. imo its a case of the Eels recruitment/retention finally switching on and realizing they need Paps, and since there's no loophole try to encourage a backflip.
 
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