Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

If there is any truth to Fainu coming over, I don't see much point in investing in another young half from reserve grade.

Brooks & Wakeham could hold the spots until Fainu & Large become ready to take the roles fulltime.

I agree with Blake Taaffe- have mentioned him for a while. His opportunities are only going to dry up further once Wighton joins.

But again, if Fainu is the target (and can actually be gotten) then I wouldn't want to start accumulating roadblocks to his path into the first grade. The young 5/8 at the Dolphins shows that you can play young guys with some success- the process of waiting until they are 20-21 etc is old school thinking. Fainu would be in line to get on the field at some point next season.

I agree that centre could be a target. Feledy will likely get his opportunity soon enough too, but adding someone like Bradman Best out wide would take advantage of the hole running required. Plus, we lack that 'big body' out wide with Kepoua playing back row.

A good hole running backrower wouldn't hurt. Losing Luciano & Garner has really taken away that player for us. Bateman just isn't THAT type of player (and might be better served at #13). A mobile back row option would be very valuable. He's not my favourite player, but Jack Bird on a short contract?
 
Dennisspicer1 said:
Most teams put up a bomb, and maybe 3 or 4 players follow it to the possible catcher with at least one going up to contest the ball, our players maybe 2 run toward the catcher with an occasional 1 player contesting.

Also we have a terrible team when it comes to backing up our own runners, yesterday one of our forwards breaks the line and runs 50 looking for support and only finds one player near him,
he spots him but 5 mtrs behind and he gets tackled an loses ball, and that player trying to support him was another forward, where was any of our fast backs to try and finish the move off.

AND WE HAVE THIS HAPPEN REGULARLY, FORWARDS MAKE THE BIG BUST AND OUR SPEEDSTERS ARE NOT IN THE PICTURE.
Click to expand...
Sometimes where you make the break is not planned and it’s difficult for players to cover 30-50 metres in 2-3 seconds to get into position to take the last pass.
 
Taafe has footy smarts..what we desperately need in the halves.Also has a good kicking game both long and short,with variation based on whats in front
of him rather than the same robotic repeats of Brooks
Brooks plus Wakeham together are NOT the solution going forward if we ever wanna get out of the bottom 4,where were currently destined despite having one of the best packs in the comp
Theres no-one else available in the halves as I see it
You can throw Tass into the centres too to replace Talau
Both currently blocked at Bunnies,and think both off contract???
We need fixes asap ...not in 2 to5 years time
 
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The Chad said:
A good hole running backrower wouldn't hurt. Losing Luciano & Garner has really taken away that player for us. Bateman just isn't THAT type of player (and might be better served at #13). A mobile back row option would be very valuable. He's not my favourite player, but Jack Bird on a short contract?
Click to expand...

I'm so impressed with Bateman and he can fill that right edge spot fine.

I also think he can fill the 13 spot and do a good job.

The question is will being at 13 all game blunt his attack and can we get another edge backrower.

I would probably bite the bullet though and play Blore as an edge backrower and Bateman at 13 all game. Kepoa on the bench. If Blore doesn't cut it we should recruit in that spot as well.
 
clontarfkid said:
Taafe has footy smarts.
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I don't agree that our current halves are bad but we need more options. Brooks has been great. I honestly think we lost the game because we didn't go to him enough. Did you see him kick that field goal. We should have won from that point on. Wakeham is that controlling halfback that we've wanted. He just doesn't have the speed or zip to be a top quality half because he won't threaten with the ball. I think he is better than Hastings though. He has a significantly better kicking game.

I reckon Brooks and Wakeham plus Taafe if we can get him plus look to develop juniors. The area we can probably most improve is a gun half but I can't see us getting one.
 
Realistically Manly are in their premiership window now & next season before DCE retires & the Turbo brothers drop off in form. And Scott Fulton knows this. Manly will be looking to top up in positions of need - Centre, 2nd Row particularly. If they want Tommy Talau now, could they also want Shawn Blore? Could these two be bargaining chips in return for a young player in a position we need - Latu Fainu. This is just me musing btw.
 
Odessa said:
Hi is Blore off to the bunnies?
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He’s still contracted with us for 2024, surely we don’t let him go to South’s we’re he’d likely be a starting back rower, if not definitely in their top 17, he’s clearly better than others such as Chee-Kam and Host.
He also clearly has more upside than an ageing Frizell, that type of signing would be a disaster.
We do need a younger more dynamic, tackle busting, line breaking back rower to allow Bateman or Ice to move to 13. As good as Bateman and Ice both are, they are not a good edge back row combination as neither offer genuine line breaking ability.
Someone like Josh Curran who is not a regular starter at the Warriors and might be keen to move home to Sydney for a regular starting position would be ideal.

13.Bateman
12.Curran
11.Papali’i
10.Utoikamanu
9.Korisau
8.Klemmer
14. Taafe
15.Blore
16.Pole
17.James or Seyfarth
 
Vicious said:
He’s still contracted with us for 2024, surely we don’t let him go to South’s we’re he’d likely be a starting back rower, if not definitely in their top 17, he’s clearly better than others such as Chee-Kam and Host.
He also clearly has more upside than an ageing Frizell, that type of signing would be a disaster.
We do need a younger more dynamic, tackle busting, line breaking back rower to allow Bateman or Ice to move to 13. As good as Bateman and Ice both are, they are not a good edge back row combination as neither offer genuine line breaking ability.
Someone like Josh Curran who is not a regular starter at the Warriors and might be keen to move home to Sydney for a regular starting position would be ideal.

13.Bateman
12.Curran
11.Papali’i
10.Utoikamanu
9.Korisau
8.Klemmer
14. Taafe
15.Blore
16.Pole
17.James or Seyfarth
Click to expand...
Taafe and Curran would be great gets....
 
Vicious said:
He’s still contracted with us for 2024, surely we don’t let him go to South’s we’re he’d likely be a starting back rower, if not definitely in their top 17, he’s clearly better than others such as Chee-Kam and Host.
He also clearly has more upside than an ageing Frizell, that type of signing would be a disaster.
We do need a younger more dynamic, tackle busting, line breaking back rower to allow Bateman or Ice to move to 13. As good as Bateman and Ice both are, they are not a good edge back row combination as neither offer genuine line breaking ability.
Someone like Josh Curran who is not a regular starter at the Warriors and might be keen to move home to Sydney for a regular starting position would be ideal.

13.Bateman
12.Curran
11.Papali’i
10.Utoikamanu
9.Korisau
8.Klemmer
14. Taafe
15.Blore
16.Pole
17.James or Seyfarth
Click to expand...
Good call. Curran would compliment Ice and Bateman beautifully.
 
balmain boy said:
If it was announced during a televised game there would be several articles published by now.
It may have just been a reference that latu and sams brother plays for Wests
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The question that was asked in relation to that answer was what coverage was it apparently on, I only watched the last 15 mins i didnt hear it myself i didnt even know Latu was playing whilst watching.
I read later last night they mentioned on the coverage his brother plays for us which is what people are probably referencing. So its a storm in a tea cup imo, are we after him with the Fulton links maybe who knows.
 
Vicious said:
He’s still contracted with us for 2024, surely we don’t let him go to South’s we’re he’d likely be a starting back rower, if not definitely in their top 17, he’s clearly better than others such as Chee-Kam and Host.
He also clearly has more upside than an ageing Frizell, that type of signing would be a disaster.
We do need a younger more dynamic, tackle busting, line breaking back rower to allow Bateman or Ice to move to 13. As good as Bateman and Ice both are, they are not a good edge back row combination as neither offer genuine line breaking ability.
Someone like Josh Curran who is not a regular starter at the Warriors and might be keen to move home to Sydney for a regular starting position would be ideal.

13.Bateman
12.Curran
11.Papali’i
10.Utoikamanu
9.Korisau
8.Klemmer
14. Taafe
15.Blore
16.Pole
17.James or Seyfarth
Click to expand...
So he is not getting traded for a half ? Got told he is a bunny
 
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