Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Odessa]

A spine of:
Hammer/Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow or Isakko at Fullback, Anthony Milford at 5/8 (who took Brisbane and Canberra to the finals), Sean O'sullivan and Jeremy Marshall King or Ray Stone at Hooker. Yes Halfback is a problem, though Wayne Bennett can coach that.

The bigger questions IMHO are around their Centers/wings. A forward pack that's 50% storm will go well. I honestly expect the Dolphins to be the dark horses of the competition.

Looking at Bennett's squad and Aitken playing centre he will try to strangle teams to get his wins he won't want to have teams scoring more then 8/14 against them because they don't have more the 16/18 points in that lineup

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Hes big enough for the forwards...

AD should be able to play lock if he can tackle better

 

[tony soprano]

Moses's kicking game is nowhere near as good as Cleary's. Cleary is incredibly precise and consistent and smart in his kicking game. It is the best aspect of his play. Moses is good but is less consistent and threatening as a kicker. Cleary's ability to either turn the momentum of the game or provide unrelenting deep and accurate kicks is such a core part of what the Panthers do well.

I would not expect that from Moses if he came here and it's why I hesitate about trying to recruit him as a solution at halfback.

Can't compaire the forward packs.

 

[sleeve]

Then you have to consider if he would be blocking the progression of younger players such as Matamua and Faagutu. Clearly the answer is he would be and that is before you consider the salary cap implications. There is a lot of work balancing a squad.

Good post. We are not the Salvation army. Why keep persevering with ordinary players on good coin. We must duplicate the top sides, and continue to promote or buy the best where possible. To do this as you have said,is down to salary cap implications and roster balance. We cannot progress young players if we are tied to dead wood, and there are no vacancies. We have a few players that either perform or be let go!

 

[Tucker]

Good post. We are not the Salvation army. Why keep persevering with ordinary players on good coin.

We have done it for 23 years. It’s what we are known for

 

[Buttface]

Then you have to consider if he would be blocking the progression of younger players such as Matamua and Faagutu. Clearly the answer is he would be and that is before you consider the salary cap implications. There is a lot of work balancing a squad.

I don’t reckon AD will block their progression, I think they will take the spot from him. I think Faagutu will be way stronger than AD in D. AD’s best bet is centre but he rates himself as a top shelf 6, any position he plays he needs to work on his D.

 

[sleeve]

AD should be able to play lock if he can tackle better

Why do we keep trying to manufacture players ? It hasn't worked for the last 5 yrs .

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Why do we keep trying to manufacture players ? It hasn't worked for the last 5 yrs .

AD runs well and would give us a option with a bomb. If you can pick him up in 2024 for 650k or 700k the he would be a good 13. In regards to AD's defence hoping Furner can work on that.
If he can't make a 13 then look at him for centre.
Just don't think he has the pace that Sheens is looking for in the halves.
2024 we could do worse than
13. AD
6. Brooks
7. Moses
9.Api

 

[sleeve]

In todays game just having a game controlling kick is enough to be worth 900k plus

Clearys kicking game is the prime example, Lui does most of the running, and setting up.

 

[stevied]

Hes big enough for the forwards...

I actually think he would be very damaging as an edge backrower as he likes to run and he is a big, powerful body with some ball skill. The question is whether he has the work ethic or tackling technique for the forwards.

 

[sleeve]

Moses's kicking game is nowhere near as good as Cleary's. Cleary is incredibly precise and consistent and smart in his kicking game. It is the best aspect of his play. Moses is good but is less consistent and threatening as a kicker. Cleary's ability to either turn the momentum of the game or provide unrelenting deep and accurate kicks is such a core part of what the Panthers do well.

I would not expect that from Moses if he came here and it's why I hesitate about trying to recruit him as a solution at halfback.

Cleary's kicking is better, but not a lot better, and Lui does the running. Moses's game has both weapons. Also take into account the makeup of both sides, i doubt Cleary would be as effective in the Eels side.

 

[Tucker]

Hes big enough for the forwards...

Love how people think backs can easily transition to the forward pack.
It’s not like we haven’t got guys who have honed their skills over a lifetime on salary. Backrow is a specialist position and in my opinion, the game’s best players ply their trade there.
If AD fails at 5/8 or centre…he should be goneski

 

[stevied]

Taking Moses's history with the club out of the equation I still think this would be a terrible signing at that price and length of contract.
Yes, he was in a Grand Final but he was awful in that final series. The eels forwards led them to the grand final (that and the rails run, avoiding the likes of Penrith, Rabbitohs and Roosters in the other knock out stages). We've seen Moses is also a previous wooden spoon recipient so we know he equally cannot perform behind a bad pack.
All that said, I can accept he probably is probably an upgrade at 7, but at 1.4mil and with the comfort of a 5 year contract I don't see how anyone could possibly think he will perform to that value.
Maybe 3 years at 1mil, I wouldn't like it but I could understand.

Then factoring in his history at the club I can't see why anyone would be happy.

I agree with all of that. To sum it up, despite the fact that we have to pay overs to get any half of quality, the purported deal of 1.4 mil for 4/ 5 years is just plain bad business. Those dollars and length of deal are what you'd offer to one of the best players in the game (think Cleary, Munster, Turbo, etc) and there's no way Moses falls into that category. He's 28, a tempestuous character who shafted the club previously, and tends to be a running, broken field style half, not a true organiser.

 

[Tucker]

Cleary's kicking is better, but not a lot better, and Lui does the running. Moses's game has both weapons. Also take into account the makeup of both sides, i doubt Cleary would be as effective in the Eels side.

Your opinion of course but I heavily disagree….with everything.
Cleary is a step higher in kicking ability.
Cleary is a damaging runner and good ball player.
Luai is a foil only as witnessed in the World Cup.
Cleary is an all round better player, and leader as detailed in the 2021 SOO series. With him present, NSW were a 35 point better team on average across games 1 and 2. Moses came in for game 3 and with the same side got beaten.

 

[Tucker]

I actually think he would be very damaging as an edge backrower as he likes to run and he is a big, powerful body with some ball skill. The question is whether he has the work ethic or tackling technique for the forwards.

He doesn’t.

 

[the_third]

Why do we keep trying to manufacture players ? It hasn't worked for the last 5 yrs .

Your opinion of course but I heavily disagree….with everything.
Cleary is a step higher in kicking ability.
Cleary is a damaging runner and good ball player.
Luai is a foil only as witnessed in the World Cup.
Cleary is an all round better player, and leader as detailed in the 2021 SOO series. With him present, NSW were a 35 point better team on average across games 1 and 2. Moses came in for game 3 and with the same side got beaten.

agree with a lot of that, but moses broke his back in the first few minutes of that origin game. he's not in Cleary's class and I cant stand him for the way he left though

 

[sleeve]

Your opinion of course but I heavily disagree….with everything.
Cleary is a step higher in kicking ability.
Cleary is a damaging runner and good ball player.
Luai is a foil only as witnessed in the World Cup.
Cleary is an all round better player, and leader as detailed in the 2021 SOO series. With him present, NSW were a 35 point better team on average across games 1 and 2. Moses came in for game 3 and with the same side got beaten.

Luai is up there with Teddy and Munster as an attacking player. Look at the finals last year! Moses is a far better attacking player, and still with an excellent kicking game, though not as good as Cleary's. I am a Cleary fan, but i think Moses would be more valuable to us then Cleary with the side we have.

 

[Tucker]

Luai is up there with Teddy and Munster as an attacking player. Look at the finals last year! Moses is a far better attacking player, and still with an excellent kicking game, though not as good as Cleary's. I am a Cleary fan, but i think Moses would be more valuable to us then Cleary with the side we have.

I may be biased against Luai as I think he is extremely lucky he came through the system he did. I’m convinced he is a genuine flat tracker.
For mine, Moses is a slight upgrade on Brooks. At 28 I wouldn’t offer him a comfy bed to lie in.

 

[sleeve]

I actually think he would be very damaging as an edge backrower as he likes to run and he is a big, powerful body with some ball skill. The question is whether he has the work ethic or tackling technique for the forwards.

He's tall and lanky,but to think he will transform into a Steve Menzies is a long shot.
He has some talent, and if he can lift his game at 5/8 , he might succeed, otherwise he will be gone.

 

[gregjm87]

Can't compaire the forward packs.

the eels pack is the one pack that could compare to the Panthers last year (and beats probably every other pack). Eels had 3 middles play Origin, a NZ backrower and another NZ rep that swaps between middle and edge. Their other backrower was exceptional without achieving rep honours. They were probably one decent bench forward short of matching the Panthers.