He doesn't need to be top 30 to play NRL this year. Why don't people get this
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
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Betterdays22
Well-known member
Yep. The "freeing up cap space" argument is ridiculous. Cap space is not our issue. We just can't sign quality players at the moment. Joffa is a quality player and person and he will be a loss.
The argument about freeing up a top 30 spot falls down too, because we are now able to select outside top 30.
The only argument with some weight is that he is blocking the pathways of some of our young forwards. Problem with that is, you need one or 2 injuries in the pack to experienced forwards and then we will be crying out for someone like Joffa. Just can't understand it.
It would be a great move if we had someone lined up , other wise it’s a joke . Why don’t we just put a fire sale up at the tigers, come and take who u like , and we will chip in for there wages , it really is getting harder to be a loyal supporter
What a load of crap , so u want us supporters to wait till 2026 now , we have been waiting for 10 years already, can’t see how this helps us in any way , but if we sign someone NOW who is a better player I will stand corrected
Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan
Well-known member
Isn't that exactly the reason that Mitchell Pearce didn't play for us? Didn't wanna be in his old man's footsteps/shadow.
hank37w
Well-known member
Blake could be okay if the price is right as back up depth to replace Tommy Talau because we definitely need some depth for centre, but I wouldn't get involved in a bidding war for him as I believe he is out of contract at the end of this season.
I haven't heard anything about Parramatta wanting to extend him or anyone making offers so far which could have been made since last November if he is off contract this year.
That guy has been known to destroy us when he has played against us in years gone by, but you could guarantee that the way he has been playing in more recent times, dropping bombs and suspect defence wise, if he was playing for us he would destroy us from within.
The guy has some mistakes in his game, admittedly there is the odd flash of brilliance but that isn't too often these days.
I would argue that Toa is as good, if not better than him at the moment and seems to be improving every game with the added advantage of still being young with plenty of up side.
hank37w
Well-known member
Star by name and star by nature.
jrtiger
Well-known member
I think WT have weighed up cost-to-benefit analysis for Joffa.
$600k would cover the contracts of Miller, Laulili’i and Fa’agutu when they come into grade for the first couple years. guys like Fainu, Saukuru and Simpkins heading for the exits will free up the space in the top 30 required, and Joffa’s contract gives us the ability to ensure all of them are duly compensated. guys like Blore, Utoikamanu, Twal and Matamua are all up for renewal come November 1 which will mean they’ll also be topped up.
smart move in this sense. a lot of excellent middle forward prospects coming through that will need to be paid for appropriately.
$600k would cover the contracts of Miller, Laulili’i and Fa’agutu when they come into grade for the first couple years. guys like Fainu, Saukuru and Simpkins heading for the exits will free up the space in the top 30 required, and Joffa’s contract gives us the ability to ensure all of them are duly compensated. guys like Blore, Utoikamanu, Twal and Matamua are all up for renewal come November 1 which will mean they’ll also be topped up.
smart move in this sense. a lot of excellent middle forward prospects coming through that will need to be paid for appropriately.
I
Could the Joffa to Parra move be a sweetener towards getting Mitch? I'm not convinced that deal is dead in the water as Zero Tackle have him on a player option for 2024 rather than a contract, and we're not paying Fulton for doing nothing.
We need to be realistic. We are not playing finals this year. If we want to play finals next year or the year after we need to be putting Joffa’s $600k per year to better use. For comparison, I believe Spencer Leniu signed with the Roosters for $550k per year (on the books that is…). Joffa was way overpaid by that comparison. We brought Fulton in to do a job and now we’ve backed him with more salary cap to spend and an additional roster spot free. Let’s see how it turns out. There’s no guarantee it will work but at least we aren’t being half arsed about it.
Kelce68
Well-known member
Wot.
In a market where no-one of note is available, what exactly do you propose? Teams can only work with what is available at the time. If somebody becomes agitated or unwanted/underutilised, but is under contract, they become an option too. This is how we got Klemmer, this is how the Eels have gotten Joffa.
I really like Joffa, but a reported $600k for our 4/5th choice prop (which is what he's become this year) in the rotation who is playing 30/40 minutes off the bench is bad business. Our forward pack has quickly become our strength and likely greatest depth, therefore, we've got some toys that we can trade in to hopefully strengthen other areas of the squad that are glaringly in need of an upgrade. How is freeing up that cash and a roster spot a bad thing?
Unless of course you're suggesting that we keep paying him $600k to play off the bench for the next 2.5 years.
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Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan
Well-known member
The only downside I see is it weakens the depth of our squad. We have really struggled with injuries over the last few years. We're only two injuries away from starting reserve graders. Joe O is a good guy to have if two of Stefano, Klemmer, Twal, and Pole were to go down. Now my memory isn't perfect but I feel like that exact situation happened last year and is how Austin Dias and Thomas Freebairn were getting a run.
Kelce68
Well-known member
My post was a load of crap?
Thanks.
Is that what you got from my entire post? Plenty of other posters have laid out the numerous ways this situation will help us, I suggest you have a read of these perspectives.
I'm not suggesting we have to wait for anything, I'm saying that smart operators, if there's a dearth of options available in the present, will store resources patiently for a time in the future where they can responsibly and deliberately spend that money.
The alternative is spend millions on what is around now, regardless of what quality is available, i.e. the Ivan approach. If you'd like to go back to Packer, Reynolds, McQueen and Matulino, then best of luck.
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hank37w
Well-known member
What? and he isn't.
Tigerstigerstigers
Well-known member
player option possibly expired as well. where there is smoke there's fire.
Cap space is always good to have. We can front load contracts and pick up players who suddenly become available a lot easier.
Ofahengaue is a good player and teammate for sure, but his role in the team and going forward didn't match up with his contract.
We have four props in the first grade team already without Joe. Klemmer, Stef, Twal and Pole. We also want to shift towards having a ball player at 13. Joe's the odd man out and an easy choice if we can move his salary. Matamua to 13 and Pole to 16 and we're not much worse off, if at all.
We're 2 and 8 this year. I'm not worried about depth this year because we're not winning a comp. We can fix that next year. Klemmer, Bateman, Koroisau, Twal and Papali'i means our pack has plenty of experience without Joe.
Ofahengaue is a good player and teammate for sure, but his role in the team and going forward didn't match up with his contract.
We have four props in the first grade team already without Joe. Klemmer, Stef, Twal and Pole. We also want to shift towards having a ball player at 13. Joe's the odd man out and an easy choice if we can move his salary. Matamua to 13 and Pole to 16 and we're not much worse off, if at all.
We're 2 and 8 this year. I'm not worried about depth this year because we're not winning a comp. We can fix that next year. Klemmer, Bateman, Koroisau, Twal and Papali'i means our pack has plenty of experience without Joe.
Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan
Well-known member
I was confused when we released Maumalo. It meant we could sign Bula to a top 30 contract. That was a great move. Hoping we have someone good lined up.
balmain boy
Well-known member
We have to have someone lined up, whether from eels or not. We have so much cash to splash and now even more
My guess is Schuster.
My guess is Schuster.
balmain boy
Well-known member
We've been doing this for years and still can't spend our money. This is the last resort on the planet kind of option.
Not spending our cap every year is why we won the spoon last year, and why we're coming last this year. Other teams have quality players, we don't.
Everything went quiet on that one, but Mitch has the opportunity to set himself up for life and extend best buddy Luke for a few more years, so no downside for him that I can see. Could be plenty downside for the Tigers, but it could work too.
