Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

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.
I won't be surprised if he starts in 13
 
If only either of them were as good as the players you likened them too...
We are also not paying Laurie or stains 1m a season. (Not sure what Edwards is on but he is likely severely underpaid )
Anyway it was more a reference to playing styles to assist people pulling apart both their games.
Stains makes a lot of meters and although his slight frame he is quite an efficient player in that regard.
 
Both when on their game are direct runners as well, they do straighten into the line and it will create issues if our forwards dominate. They play opposite sides & can compliment each other nicely.

Brooks side is lined with Papa as a hole runner (expect Brooks to go to the line with short pass at line to Papa), mixed with Naden outside of Papa who has some pace and is looking primed with Laurie out the back.

We know AD will run also, just hope Laurie hovers on his inside hip. AD is right handed and when he takes the line on often has the arm free looking inside whilst drawing the inside defender. Then because of his running strength it will allow the outside backrower & centre to benefit if aggressive on the line runs which we saw his options in trial.

I’m nervous but excited to see both have the ability to play attacking footy, they will make mistakes but if they are allowed to play have no doubts they will put on a show.
it is a very nice left side - Brooks.Paps. Naden and either Staines or Jnr Tupou - a lot of pace and should be ok defensively.
 
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.
they will start with Johnson and Martin. I thought Metcalf was injured and i;m not sold on Johnson being at 7 all year- can see him being moved to 14.
 
To some extent they probably have, at least physically. Klemmer has turned into a workhorse rather than a game breaking force of nature, for instance. If he can keep being that for a few more years we'll still have a really good player, but there's no point pretending he's going to be what he was several years ago. Koroisau's game isn't really based on being a physical freak so I'm relatively optimistic about his prospects. I think Bateman is likely to be a really bad signing, though I'd love to be wrong of course.
I noticed that too re Klem.
I was discussing this the other day with me mate, from the outside in it looks like we’ve recruited game changes and key positional players who will add plenty to our attacking style but the one underlying factor that is missed with the majority of our recruits is they are all efficient workers.

I feel this is really important this season and especially for the coaching staff to be enacting a changing of the guard.
Sheens’ natural focus is on attack and has said so throughout the off-season so much so that I was concerned where our defence or focus on defence comes from.
But what I noticed in that trial is how hard Klemmer, Ice work around the field in defence.
Stefano has clearly shown he has focused on endurance in the off season.
Blore is a defensive weapon as does Pole hit and stick.
Twal and Seyfarth are natural workers.
Even young Jake is a player who is determined to tackle everything running in his direction.
Can only improve with Api, Brooks and Joffa coming the side plus the addition of a conditioned Bateman.

Am I being too optimistic in this department?
 
Capewell played Left Centre and Second Row in his 2 Origin wins...
Centre on the left. (Opposing Gutho)
Brenko on the right...

They have highlights online.....
Check em.
Wasn’t it Brenko Lee that had a breakout series that year after spending most of the season in centre for the Storm?
 
To some extent they probably have, at least physically. Klemmer has turned into a workhorse rather than a game breaking force of nature, for instance. If he can keep being that for a few more years we'll still have a really good player, but there's no point pretending he's going to be what he was several years ago. Koroisau's game isn't really based on being a physical freak so I'm relatively optimistic about his prospects. I think Bateman is likely to be a really bad signing, though I'd love to be wrong of course.
Agree, as speed, agility, skill decline, guile and know how improve with experience. Therefore the halves and hookers are possibly more likely to benefit more from experience and have greater longevity in the game.
 
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.
Thought he was one of the best on field , ran hard , tackled hard , and had a big engine
 
He did... Sorta.
Been non existent ever since.

Either way, Old mate reckons Capewell gave Wighton a bath, And he was / is wrong...
It was Gutherson, Wighton was marking Brenko and Edrick on the Other side...
Sorry it was Gagai in game one that Gave Wighton a bath all night.
 
To some extent they probably have, at least physically. Klemmer has turned into a workhorse rather than a game breaking force of nature, for instance. If he can keep being that for a few more years we'll still have a really good player, but there's no point pretending he's going to be what he was several years ago. Koroisau's game isn't really based on being a physical freak so I'm relatively optimistic about his prospects. I think Bateman is likely to be a really bad signing, though I'd love to be wrong of course.
I think the fact that while not cheap none of them are on monster deals really helps the risk factor plus I don't think the club signed them hoping they would be as good as their prime but more to strengthen the forwards a bit while our younger players get used to first grade, they have also been pretty clear they see sheens tenure as a transitional period.
 
We are good to go this year , signings we have will do the job , I have a early edition call inthe game against Parra
tigers have the ball 20 out for the red zone , Steph players the balll to Appi , out to brooks on to Ad and a nice pass to Naden who is taken down 35 out , nice run that 15 metres , Naden plays it to Appi out to brooks inside to Bateman who crashed into the defence , another nice gain by the tigers , Bateman to Appi out to brooks on to Klemmer who gets through the first line and is taken down 40 out from the eels line , ( Gee tigers making progress easy mtrs , Klemmer back to Appi , out to brooks who turns it inside to a hard running Pappi who goes straight through , oohhh that was easy from the tigers , wow did you see mosses just bounce of Papi , made him look like a second grader reserve grader , hopeless effort that , , tigers kick to come , AD places the ball , moves in and over it goes , tigers 32 eels 4 , half time is less than 2 minutes away , ( gee the eels have no answer to this tigers side full of running and passing , Klemmer , Bateman , Appi , Papi , Brooks all leading the way , and they haven’t even used the bench yet , ( look at that bench ( Pole , Blore , Simkins , James ) eels better be ready for another lesson in the second half
 
To some extent they probably have, at least physically. Klemmer has turned into a workhorse rather than a game breaking force of nature, for instance. If he can keep being that for a few more years we'll still have a really good player, but there's no point pretending he's going to be what he was several years ago. Koroisau's game isn't really based on being a physical freak so I'm relatively optimistic about his prospects. I think Bateman is likely to be a really bad signing, though I'd love to be wrong of course.
Bateman is the biggest gamble of the lot for sure.
 
Thought he was one of the best on field , ran hard , tackled hard , and had a big engine

Kepaoa more than held his own in his first run as a backrower on the right edge, then went similarly well on the opposite side at centre, including nailing a length of the field try.

Also loved the decision to play him there in the first place, and if he cannot get a starting centre spot, I would be happy to have him on the bench to cover those important positions based on Sunday's performance.
 
We have 3 forwards turning 30 this year, their first season with us, so I hope they haven’t peaked already?
A lot of people don't realise that your athletic peak occurs just after the final growth phase which fills out the body somewhere around the age of 23. At that point the growth hormones which the body has been producing since childhood shut down, blood supply to the lower limbs begins to reduce etc. etc. It's the reason you always stand a much better chance of recovering from a catastrophic injury to ... say ... the Achilles age 20 than at age 25. This doesn't mean performance automatically tails off from then because there's a separate, parallel track of development which is based more around knowledge, experience etc. It's why players often talk about never feeling any pain until they hit 24/25 because as fast as you accrue damage the body is able to patch it up. Most players are able to offset the athletic losses with experience, playing/training smarter, good nutrition, proper sleep and so forth. But there's only so much juice which can be squeezed out of the orange and sooner or later the net result falls into the negatives. Players who can't commit to the lifestyle tail off quickest. A prime candidate for an early career decline is Latrell Mitchell whose current lifestyle, diet and body shape just isn't conducive to longevity. Right now he's hitting an age where he needs to make serious adjustments to his diet or risk being out of the game before the age of 30. It may be too late already.
 
Kepaoa more than held his own in his first run as a backrower on the right edge, then went similarly well on the opposite side at centre, including nailing a length of the field try.

Also loved the decision to play him there in the first place, and if he cannot get a starting centre spot, I would be happy to have him on the bench to cover those important positions based on Sunday's performance.
It was a great challenge for him from Sheens to play him in the second row. The switch got him involved early in the match so he could have maximum impact. I'm a big fan of his.
 
Guys we can pay transfer fees for
Ok.... you realize it doesn't work by just handing over a transfer fee right? UK backs also struggle to make a transition.


Just look at this list, Jai Field pipped Welsby for the spot. A bloke who couldn't crack a spot at the dragons or eels. God damn Chris McQueen even managed to make this list!!

Underrated? Maybe. But in that case, maybe we should just buy Jai Field as our marque?

I'm tired of the Brooks bashers having no plan B, getting on a hype train, or taking a simple approach of correlating our failures with him. Correlation isn't causation. He's a skilled kid, who most professionals rate.

Thank god Sheens and Benji are in charge and not some of the armchair muppets who trawl this forum.
 
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