Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

bathursttiger1 said:
How do you know that there’s not a backup plan in place, you’re just guessing that there isn’t anything in place.
If the club has supposedly lowballed Luke then they would have something else planned.
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Unfortunately I’m going on the strong previous experience with the tigers. If they have a backup plan I doubt it’s locked and loaded. But you can have a different view
 
Camel2281 said:
Read an article in NZ that said that with Shaun Johnson's good form he's going to extend at the Warriors and that Volkman will need to be let go to accommodate him. I've liked what I've seen from him. Can kick goals too. Get him Tigers
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Games I've seen he has been very passive.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Here it is. An interesting read indeed …

Volkman & a few others could be options (Sironen etc)

Stuff

i.stuff.co.nz i.stuff.co.nz
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I would be going for Volkman out of the Warriors players if the Johnson signing has a ripple effect.

We did very minimal recruiting in the halves ranks for Flegg or Cup this year and we are seeing that reflect on our performances across all grades. Only recently signing Matai is a positive step forward. Wouldn't hurt us to get a few quality 20 to 23 year olds to push for spots in higher grades (look at Bulldogs...they are stacked in the halves from Harold Matts to NRL).

I understand not blocking the pathways of the young halves...but they have a few years away from being NRL ready. We need to pounce on some players on the cusp of NRL who are currently blocked at their own clubs. Give them a chance to own a spot.

My personal preference would be Latu Fainu (but I struggle to see Manly letting him go) or Ethan Sanders, followed by either Jayden Sullivan, Ronald Volkman or Joseph O'Neill (who I feel would all be gettible with the right negotiation). The Amone court hearing/potential sentencing is what concerns me if we went down that track with him.

For another more experienced half, I dont know who or where we get them from. I guess Fulton needs to get digging and prove his worth.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Here is one take on the direction the Club will go in recruiting Halves for 24 & 25 with some brief reasoning. Sorry for the length, I got carried away. Make a cuppa tea!

Disclaimer, this is not my direction just the direction I think the Club will go based on what we’ve heard from Sheens in interviews this season, the club’s focus to have a clear path for our top 16-19yos & what the market is currently like (i.e. availability & potential of early releases).

Firstly, let’s look at our pathways in the halves:

Onitoni Large 16yo – Possible debut in 25/26
Alex Conti 17yo – Possible debut in 26
Heath Mason 18yo – Possible debut in 25.
Lachlan Galvin 18yo – Possible debut in 25.

I think these are our big 4. Mason played fullback in Ball this season but I see his future in the halves. He was part of the NSW Junior Blues Camp in pre-season so is highly-rated. Many see Galvin’s future in the backrow given his height but he is an exceptional 5/8 atm & may be where his future still lies.

Other potentials are Iverson Matai & Oliver Lawry who are both 19yos, Alex Isdale 16yo & Marc Tannous 17yo (the latter two in CUBS system).

But realistically, the earliest any may get a taste of 1st Grade is 2025, more games in ’26, then permanent fixtures in ’27.

So I think we are looking at halves who can provide experience, leadership, depth & can take us into the Top 8 with our strong Forward Pack and developing Outside Backs, from 2024 to at least 2026.

That’s why I don’t think we’ll focus our halves recruitment on anyone under 23 UNLESS we can secure a generational talent (and that would be Latu Fainu).

TARGETS

Josh Schuster - 23 next season, off contract in 24, x-factor, creative passing & short kicking game.

Chad Townsend - 33 next season, 2 years left in him, organising half only, good long & short kicking game, premiership winner, off contract in 24.

Luke Metcalf - will be 25 next season, has a long-kicking game, goal kicker, speed, very good backing up, good relationship with Fulton, off contract in 24 so would need to be released but something has to give at the Warriors with a surplus of halves for 24.

Lachlan Lam - 26 next season, off contract, quoted as saying wants to return to NRL, long & short kicking game, good speed & agility.

Te Maire Martin - 28 next season, no long kicking game, agile line breaker, good short passing game, good defence, off contract in 25, good relationship with Benji.

Jack Cogger - 26 next season, off contract, nothing flash, solid organiser & kicker, good defensively.

Blake Taafe - 25 next season, off contract, good ball runner, solid passing game, high energy, ok front line defence.

COMBINATIONS

Priority 1 - Schuster with Lam, Townsend or Cogger

Priority 2 (no Schuster) - Townsend with Metcalf, Martin, Taafe

Priority 3 (no Schuster or Townsend) - Metcalf with Lam or Cogger

Priority 4 - Lam with Martin or Taafe
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Hopefully the club reads your post.

Doesn't sound like they have much idea atm
 
You'd think Flanagan ends up at St George with dad. Leads to us/going to market either Amone or Sullivan. Both managed by Tartak, we will end up with one of them. I think Hunt stays put.

From there we may land Fainu or surely the Warriors or the Sharks get rid of 1 of their excess halves.

Warriors for 24: Harris-Tevita, Metcalfe, Walker, Martin, Volkman & Johnson if he resigns

Sharks for 24: Hynes, Moylan, Trindall, Tracey, Dykes, Atkinson

Wakeham possibly also offered a minimum deal again as the NSW Cup half?
 
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