Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[TSP]

I think even Keith Barnes told him to sign with Superleague. Balmain were going to offer him 50k or something, SL offered him $1m over three years. Can’t blame him for taking the offer. As I recall when he told the Balmain management what the offer was they said he should accept it.

Edit: Turns out it was John Chalk who told him to take the $uper League money. Our offer may have been as low as $40k for one season.

For any youngsters out there, Superleague sold us a vision that the game was so wonderful, the Peoples Republic of China would boast at least 500 clubs.

And we were looking at a situation where we would one day take over all other sports.

We could “enjoy” international versions of Nathan Clearys and Paul Momorovkis.

@Demps will be back me up on that 100%.

I think he got his own secret offer to coach the Alaskan Alligators, but he turned it down.

I miss Momo as a swap pawn. If we had him now, Munster would be on the bus for sure.

 

[TigerSJ]

Just saying…. And i know this hasn’t come to pass … but lets just dream a second.
We have secured Api and Paps, now add Klem and Leniu, maybe lose Musgrove and Simpkins but keep Nu, trade Peachy for Staines.
With the above, our squad will really have had a major overhaul resulting in upgrading many positions and losing a lot of deadwood, and by my calculations we would still have 1 spot left for maybe a mid season swoop.

 

[CCTW]

Good news. Be interesting to see who gets released with thOse 2 plus Twal, Stefano, Pole, Joffa, Musgrove, Fainu, Tuki that’s 9 props in a squad of 30 assume Musgrove at least gets released then prob one more to give us room for a back rower

The style of footy to expect next season will be much different. It will be centred on pushing forward and creating second phase play which Klemmer will help with his offloading. If they can find a suitor, Musgrove would be most likely to go. IF everything goes to plan, we would see a Stefano, Klemmer, Leniu, Offa, Twal and Pole rotation in matchday squads - for both prop positions and lock. Neither Klem or Leniu have officially committed at this stage and there is much more movement this off season so nothing is a for-gone conclusion yet. Players have a habit of committing verbally and officially committing elsewhere.

Pole has also been talked about off the bench as an edge backrower rower. For the eagle eyed viewer, you would have noticed Pole playing in the backrow at the end of the year, for this reason. All but one would likely be in reserve grade or extended bench. Twal has value in his defensive efforts and a favourite of Benji and Farah. Fainu and Tuki need another season in KOE.

Personally think there are too many hurdles with Bateman to get a deal done. Don't think its the worst thing as Blore has been really putting the extra efforts in the gym and in rehab over the year, same with Talau. Both seem to have really bought in and are determined to re-pay the fans and the club.

I personally believe that the player that will break out next season and have us all talking is Tommy Talau. A move to the middle of the park will suit his skill set. His footwork and skill around the ruck is perfect for the modern game and matches the style of footy that made him an Australian Schoolboy.

 

[CCTW]

Any indication we are pushing harder than the other clubs for Leniu ? Or atleast offering more money/ player loan, swap ect ?

Decent chance we get Both Leniu and Klem ?
Cheers for posting the info mate 👍

Lenui is a Western Sydney boy through and through and wants to stay out west. Tigers are the most realistic option in terms of him staying out west and allowing him to be a starting prop. Api has been in his ear, same with Staines.

Bulldogs, Dragons and Manly also after him. I have heard separately that Penrith are interested in Simpkin but no idea or info if that has been offered as a swap or anything like that. That info about Simpkin is less reliable but would make sense given that Penrith are losing Api and do not have a proven hooker in their squad.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

They said get stuffed to a hooker called Farah did they not.

And we sucked ever since.
But hey keep dreaming big without wanting the best players.

 

[TSP]

Just saying…. And i know this hasn’t come to pass … but lets just dream a second.
We have secured Api and Paps, now add Klem and Leniu, maybe lose Musgrove and Simpkins but keep Nu, trade Peachy for Staines.
With the above, our squad will really have had a major overhaul resulting in upgrading many positions and losing a lot of deadwood, and by my calculations we would still have 1 spot left for maybe a mid season swoop.

This.

Other than I’d be market for more swapping and dark arts as the off season unfolds.

Squads are pretty much a work in progress 24/7/365.

Leinu is a talent with a bit of badly needed mongrel, we could do with a bit of attitude.

Klem needs some work, hopefully we could help him with his off-field stuff too.

 

[balmain boy]

Most important quality is a long, varied and effective kicking game.

And we don't have anyone that meets this criteria, why we need to look outside the club for a new half

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Disagree. Both Craig Bellamy & Wayne Bennet have always operated on a no DH policy & have made average players premiership winners.

No they haven’t. They both have had some of the biggest egos & arrogant players in the game. They just knew how to manage them to get results.

 

[balmain boy]

Pascoe loves Twal, he ain’t going anywhere

Who gives a toss what Pascoe thinks? He's not part of the football department and should have absolutely zero say in whether he stays or leaves the club

 

[cktiger]

No

So Brooks is good enough for better teams than our - But not for you...

How is Pezet stuck behind Hughes? Wasn't Munster leaving a few posts back...
He's straight in for Munster - They've also just released Cooper Johns, (The recognised back up half) So fair chance Pezet is going no where.

Moses - Don't disagree, But getting him back is fantasy atm.... As is Walker.
If Taafe was a better 7 than Brooks, He'd be playing 7 somewhere already...

So - Outside your fantasies, And players not as good as Brooks (Like Taafe)
And your admission that you don't care if we don't have a halfback - Because you just want the one that we have at the moment gone....

I'll ask again, Who you getting?
Maybe we can get Chee Kam back and play him at 7...
It's obvious your point is personal and you don't care if we have an actual half playing there or not.

We’ve already got a 7 and it ain’t Brooks.
He’s only shown anything when Hastings is doing his job for him.
Hastings at 7 and Brooks and his stupid salary gone solve a bunch of problems.

 

[cktiger]

It's not the fans - It's about 10% of them....

And like you - They're yet to offer us a realistic replacement.

Hastings … easy.

 

[CCTW]

Who gives a toss what Pascoe thinks? He's not part of the football department and should have absolutely zero say in whether he stays or leaves the club

There has been a notable difference over the last 6 months between the front office and football department. There seems to be a much greater separation between the front office and the football department (in a good way). Sheens is running a much tighter ship, which is why there less leaks out of the club in terms of player recruitment and retention eg. Naden and Kepaoa re-signings.

Its headed in the right direction, just need a few players to commit to turn it all around as performance on the field keeps the media exposure away.

 

[batboy]

And we sucked ever since.
But hey keep dreaming big without wanting the best players.

News flash - Farah played for the club for 16 years - we made the finals 3 times.

We’ve sucked for a lot more years with him, than without him!!

 

[batboy]

No

We’ve already got a 7 and it ain’t Brooks.
He’s only shown anything when Hastings is doing his job for him.
Hastings at 7 and Brooks and his stupid salary gone solve a bunch of problems.

Is this the new version of the “Madden is far superior to Brooks” narrative?

 

[Tiger-ferret]

No they haven’t. They both have had some of the biggest egos & arrogant players in the game. They just knew how to manage them to get results.

Completely agree with this. Just gotta get the best players to get along and buy in.

 

[cktiger]

That's the worst post i have ever seen. Croft and Brooks are not comparable at all. Different class all together

Andrew Johns but better.

Have a look at the other halves playing then (some injured for multiple games) and ask yourself if that was a joke.

 

[cktiger]

Brooks Has the highest ave takles per game out of all halfbacks (23.65) Cleary makes 17 , Hunt makes 12.2. Hunt also averages 5.00 missed takes per game. THAT is bad defence.
Glen 20, if you want an opinion on Brooks defence that is your right & all the power to you. But have the strength of character to label it as an opinion. Dont try to pass it off as facts. You will find most guys on this forum inform themselves of the facts before they open their mouths. "Its better to remain silent & have people think you are a fool than to open you mouth & remove all doubt". Not my words , but something to live by.

You forgot to mention how many tackles he misses 🤣

 

[CCTW]

Who gives a toss what Pascoe thinks? He's not part of the football department and should have absolutely zero say in whether he stays or leaves the club

To be fair, as much as fans like to label Twal as a 'plodder' you could see the difference in the defensive effort in the middle after Twal was injured. He's not you're athletic powerful front rower we all love to see progress over the advantage line. He won't be the direct reason you score a try in a game, but he will be the guy who prevents 12 being scored...

Every team needs a mix of both. The problem isn't twal.

 

[cktiger]

Is this the new version of the “Madden is far superior to Brooks” narrative?

No … it’s the truth.
Brooks is a dud at halfback.
His only good games this year was when Hastings was a pseudo halfback and he was playing five eighth.
Time to take the blinkers off after 9 years of failure.

 

[batboy]

No … it’s the truth.
Brooks is a dud at halfback.
His only good games this year was when Hastings was a pseudo halfback and he was playing five eighth.
Time to take the blinkers off after 9 years of failure.

With comments like that - the only one who’s wearing blinkers here is you guys…

How come when Benji and Farah take us to 9th, 10th or 12th - they’re club immortals…
Anyone else does it - they’re a complete failure?