Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[ovoevo]

Didn't he leave because he was disappointed he didn't get a real Aussie experience, beaches etc.? He was seen with his boogie board under his arm on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin looking forlornly at the horizon for weeks on end.

He left because Sticky wore him out. He tends to have that effect on people.

 

[DJG]

He left because Sticky wore him out. He tends to have that effect on people.

Now they have Madge and Sticky...

 

[KingRobbie]

You could be right.

Just have to keep an eye out on Tuesdays when the teams are announced to see if there are any howlers which should confirm who is actually the real Head Coach.

Kepaoa at second row in the last trial proves Sheens is the Head Coach.

 

[weststigerman]

He left because Sticky wore him out. He tends to have that effect on people.

Doesn't seem to have wore out the elite players. I'd be keen to get Wighton if he's worn out.

 

[Tito Santana]

What pisses me off .. and probably most of us on here is that right from the start we all knew that MM was playing us .. then delaying the decision again and again was only a RED flag to us all which only confirmed our doubt from the start .. except the club who were confident that we would land him .. !! MM played all along only to get the most money out .. yes $1.25 is less than our $1.4 .. but there is a lot of third-party money going on in the background with the Parra deal.

What worries me know is .. how asleep have the recruiting management team been during this pull the wool over their eyes trick by MM .. from the start they always said not to worry that they had a plan "B" .. well it's only 2 weeks out from the season start .. so what is this plan "B".. ??

That’s why I said put a deadline on it. But what does Tito know.

 

[2041]

Matt Rogers was nothing like the player who left. He was a smarter player. But the freakish athleticism wasn't there. Don't think Tuquiri was better or as good. Can't offer an opinion on Chambers. Brad Thorn - wasn't he over thirty when he came back? If so - no way. Just look a Sammy Burgess (who was still a decent age) - nothing like the player who left. I could name a dozen others.

I'm not saying this is definitely wrong but equally there's nothing especially insightful about saying players tend to be less athletically dominant at the end of their careers than the start, and I'm not sure why it would have anything to do with playing rugby union instead of league. Tuqiri left league at 23 and came back at 31. Rogers was 25/31. Thorn was 25/30. Burgess was 28 when he got back to Souths and he started off fine, but his body broke down - hardly surprising for such a physical player and something that I tend to assume would have happened even if he'd played league throughout.

I could also name a dozen physically incredible players who you wouldn't have wanted to sign in their 30s and who never played a game of union. Inglis was done at 31. Shaun Johnson hasn't been the same player physically for at least four years, and he's 32 now. Matt Moylan is 31 and he's had to reinvent his game because he doesn't pose the same threat ball in hand as he used to.

TBF I've often argued on here with people who want to sign blokes who may well be past it - or at least well past their peak - because they don't seem to understand that players age. A player of around 30 is very, very unlikely to be the same physically as they were at 22. I just don't think that has anything to do with playing rugby union.

 

[Buttface]

Doesn't seem to have wore out the elite players. I'd be keen to get Wighton if he's worn out.

To play where for us?

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Brooks will need to have improved his short ball, he throws a stack of rocket hospital passes to his backrower, and Ice ain't gonna like those, ask Rowdy how good they are

Agree. I don’t see Ice putting up with poor quality. Brooks did get the balance right with Garner for half a season until Madge moved Garner the next year. When it’s done right it becomes a real attacking option.

 

[weststigerman]

To play where for us?

I think he'd be able to pick his position. Not my favourite player but he's a Dally M winner and Kangaroo. He'd easily be our best centre, fullback or five-eighth.

 

[851]

He lets them bounce more often than not....
He doesn't attack kicks in general with any real gusto.

50% positioning - 50% desire....

Correct, his positional play is not very good, seems to be always out of position on the attacking kicks on our goal line

 

[Odessa]

The Tigers players are enjoying playing for Benji and the team can make finals. There wasn't anything else.

Mate Benji is the middle man Sheenius is 70 and the brains trust Sheen's can not run around like he use to and Benji is more hands on and does what he is told to do it's a great setup give Benji 3 years and he could be a good young coach

 

[SeanT]

You know "Laurie is probably not the Tigers' long term answer at fullback" and "Charlie Staines isn't a fullback's arsehole" can both be true, right?

Theyl do for now but I'm two years I want a new fullback.b

 

[sleeve]

To be signing high priced players now would be stupid . We have a new coaching staff, with new ideas, new training methods and a new training facility. We had not played a game yet, only two trials and the last was impressive. Lets wait and see what eventuates, before the forum goes on another black friday sale. It would be like playing poker, and betting on your hand without looking at your cards ,-- Dumb.

 

[ovoevo]

I'm not saying this is definitely wrong but equally there's nothing especially insightful about saying players tend to be less athletically dominant at the end of their careers than the start, and I'm not sure why it would have anything to do with playing rugby union instead of league. Tuqiri left league at 23 and came back at 31. Rogers was 25/31. Thorn was 25/30. Burgess was 28 when he got back to Souths and he started off fine, but his body broke down - hardly surprising for such a physical player and something that I tend to assume would have happened even if he'd played league throughout.

I could also name a dozen physically incredible players who you wouldn't have wanted to sign in their 30s and who never played a game of union. Inglis was done at 31. Shaun Johnson hasn't been the same player physically for at least four years, and he's 32 now. Matt Moylan is 31 and he's had to reinvent his game because he doesn't pose the same threat ball in hand as he used to.

TBF I've often argued on here with people who want to sign blokes who may well be past it - or at least well past their peak - because they don't seem to understand that players age. A player of around 30 is very, very unlikely to be the same physically as they were at 22. I just don't think that has anything to do with playing rugby union.

It's not just that their older. It's that their older and out of match practice. Professional rugby league for the top echelon players represents full-time commitment to the sport. In some cases this commitment may even stretch to forgoing relationships as they demand time and energy which they feel unable to give. Every waking moment is devoted to diet, fitness, studying tactics, tape, honing techniques - grappling, tackling, ball skills etc. etc. The goal is internalize all of these factors so they become second nature to the point where much of the thinking is replaced by muscle memory. It's bad enough to be out long-term injured with maybe an ACL tear or a torn bicep. But at least you're still playing the same game which means you can work on aspects which don't jeopardize recovery. Moving to an entirely different sport is a completely different proposition. Since Union has become professional the degree of specialization has increased exponentially. To compete at the same level requires learning entirely new skills whilst forgetting old ones. Even the body requires different forms of conditioning because you aren't required to pull off thirty tackles in one game but you do have to know what is required at the point of breakdown and the ruck. The idea that a player can jump from one sport to another - and then back again (maybe years later) and pick up right where he left off is delusional. And the older you get the harder it is.

 

[AL The Tiger]

I’ve been told Benji is running the show like a head coach already.

Sheens is only there to take the focus off him and not have to do the media / defend himself if it starts going pear shaped and act like a mentor.

Sheens is pretty much doing his head of football job + media.

Looked a lot like that in the coaches box as well last Sunday. Robbie and Benji seated at the front using the radio while Sheens was standing in the background. I like it

 

[hank37w]

Kepaoa at second row in the last trial proves Sheens is the Head Coach.

You make a very good point and if that was Sheens that came up on with that one, he was pretty much on point from what I got to see.

Just for the record, I always thought Asu could be a pretty good centre but looks like he might go alright one spot closer in as well.

Looks like a real beast this year.

 

[balmain boy]

Laurie is Kayln Ponga where as stains is Dylan Edwards.
Ones elusive and exciting the other is consistent and hard working.

If only either of them were as good as the players you likened them too...

 

[balmain boy]

Metcalf will probably be a fullback and Johnson is past it

They signed Charnze Nickol-klokstad for fullback.

So Martin, Johnson, Metcalfe and Volkman all vying for 2 halves spots.

Johnson gets one if he's fit, due to high salary and experience, unless he loses it via performance...

Then 3 into one is insane depth...! I'd have all three of their boys over Wakeham... And potentially Brooks, but he gets to prove himself first.

 

[Dino]

They signed Charnze Nickol-klokstad for fullback.

So Martin, Johnson, Metcalfe and Volkman all vying for 2 halves spots.

Johnson gets one if he's fit, due to high salary and experience, unless he loses it via performance...

Then 3 into one is insane depth...! I'd have all three of their boys over Wakeham... And potentially Brooks, but he gets to prove himself first.

I think Johnson will lose it he was terrible last year and doesn't look any better so far, it's a bit shit for charnze but it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up at centre sometime this year

 

[sleeve]

If only either of them were as good as the players you likened them too...

I agree, but both 22 with a lot of improvement ahead of them, give them this year to prove themselves'