Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

It’s no longer tenable that they say they have given the football department all the resources they need, when in fact it’s quite the opposite.

Hammertime just posted that the board is making decisions that should be football department related and that is a big reason why we lost Brooks. That reeks to me of getting involved in decisions they shouldn't be involved in.
 
Attacking structure is an interesting concept, I’ve done some coaching with people who have played at a high enough level and recently a lot of traditional structure has actually been removed as it limits players, especially young ones. Panthers game is built on big talented outside backs who do a hell of a lot of grunt work, saving their forwards to be more ruthless in defense. They obviously have enough quality players to adapt their game plan throughout a game. Their coach was in our building remember and with a lesser roster he couldn’t achieve that much.
Every successful NRL side needs their backs to do the majority of the grunt work with the hard carries out of their own danger zone. We have a few who do this quite well in To’a, Tupou and Bula. We cannot say that Nofa hasn’t done this very well throughout his career, but as neither of the three named above have scintillating speed, i don’t think we can afford to not have anything but players with explosive speed to complement them.
This is why I believe Charlie Staines is a must to hold onto, he has the speed to score long range tries, is generally very good under the high ball, is a natural competitor and seems to be getting much more physical and stronger with his carries as he gets older and stronger.
I wouldn’t even hesitate if we could get Zac Lomax for 800k to add that extra x-factor and class we need in our backline, but I’m sure the Dragons are not stupid enough to let him go and clubs such as the Roosters would pounce if he was gettable.
I’ve heard Talatau Amone is one of our targets, particularly if we don’t land Fainu.
The worry is he’s very hot and cold and drifts out of games too easily, but his last 2 games in NSW Cup and last night against the Raiders have been very impressive.
 
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If I think about the Fainu brothers. One is a 18 yr old five eight and today we had 2 17 yr old five eights from our club named in the Australian schoolboys side so not sure we lose out much their and the other is a backrower the position we are most stocked in already. What we need is a halback now which neither is and a experience five eight to guide the young blokes through neither of which they are. Are we really missing that much if they don't sign
I know bugger all about this 18 year old next best thing 5/8 but it really amazes me that people are pinning so much hope on getting this kid and putting him straight into first grade being the thing that turns the fortunes of this shit show around.

All people are doing by hyping up this kid is setting themselves up for further disappointment when the deal doesn't come off or setting this kid up as our next whipping boy when it turns out that he actually isn't the next boy wonder.
 
Here's the quotes direct from the horse's mouth. Was part of an article in the Australian.

He was determined not to do the wrong thing by the club — or Sheens and Marshall — so he made the decision to reject the offer, which was revealed in this masthead on June 11.

“It was straight after the Titans game I sat down with Benji (on the Friday) and he said the people on the board have come back to him and said they need an answer by Sunday,” Brooks said.
“I guess that probably didn’t sit too well with me, them putting that deadline on me after only about a week and a half.
“I had a think about it and I guess out of respect to Benji I said I didn’t want it to drag on. I called him Sunday and said I wasn’t going take up the offer so he could move forward and they could plan things for next year.
“The whole time Benji and Sheensy were upfront with me and telling me that they really wanted me to say.
“They have stuck up for me the whole time. I definitely got that feeling that they were definitely trying to get me to stay.
“Just speaking to Benji, he was disappointed I made the decision to leave but he congratulated me and backed me on my decision as well.”

Asked whether he felt some people in the club were happy for him to go, Brooks said: “I feel like there may have been. With the way it panned out, it seems that way, just with putting the deadline on me to make a decision.
“In the past there have been players they have been in talks with that have dragged on. Then for someone like me who has been loyal to the club, they put a deadline on me which didn’t really sit well with me.
“It was a tough decision to make, especially after everything that has happened. If you take it back three or four weeks before that, I thought that I would be staying.
“It was hard but in the end I think it was the right decision for me and I think I have made the right move not just for me, but for my family.”


We need that board cleaned out. They are deadset rubbish and it shows with a decision like that. Why did they need it fast? It's not like we had other options on the table. You can say what you want about Luke, but he's been loyal and deserves more respect. They gave Mitch eons to make a decision.

Forget this argument about the top not impacting football operations. You have it right there.

I appreciate that loyal players should be afforded respect, however in this case, as an Isaac Moses client, and noted under achiever in a key position, I think a deadline was entirely appropriate. I am with the board on this one.
 
Just had a look, it was both of them.

It was Mark Sawicki (the CFO) to start with (December 2018-March 2019), and then Cook took over from March 2019 til June 2019, which was when Pascoe's suspension finished.
. . . . . . and I'm still amazed that Pascoe kept his position after the 6 month ban, fine and 2 year hit to our cap.

I am saying this without any bias or reference to my personal thoughts on Pascoe or how he has performed before or since his suspension, just simply amazed that he was able to keep his position all this time.

It appears to be pretty obvious that he has had support from somewhere within this organisation at least, despite all the criticism he has received on here and in the media.
 
I appreciate that loyal players should be afforded respect, however in this case, as an Isaac Moses client, and noted under achiever in a key position, I think a deadline was entirely appropriate. I am with the board on this one.
Why? What does it achieve? Does it stop us with a plan B? No it doesn't. Both your justifications are spite. The $ offer would reflect his "underachievement".

All it does it reduce our bargaining position. Now we are desperate and will have to overpay.

All very emotional and not strategic. Not what a board should do.
 
My post isn't about placing all our hopes on these 2 kids. It's about us still not being able to land their signature despite all the reasons for them to sign outlined by several people. That is a very bad thing and I don't see how you could spin it otherwise. Posters very happy to pin our hopes on a bunch of local 16 years olds though.
I hear you, I understand struggling to sign superstars, but a couple of 16 year olds. May as well just shut the doors of the joint it's a circus full of clowns
 
Here's the quotes direct from the horse's mouth. Was part of an article in the Australian.

He was determined not to do the wrong thing by the club — or Sheens and Marshall — so he made the decision to reject the offer, which was revealed in this masthead on June 11.

“It was straight after the Titans game I sat down with Benji (on the Friday) and he said the people on the board have come back to him and said they need an answer by Sunday,” Brooks said.
“I guess that probably didn’t sit too well with me, them putting that deadline on me after only about a week and a half.
“I had a think about it and I guess out of respect to Benji I said I didn’t want it to drag on. I called him Sunday and said I wasn’t going take up the offer so he could move forward and they could plan things for next year.
“The whole time Benji and Sheensy were upfront with me and telling me that they really wanted me to say.
“They have stuck up for me the whole time. I definitely got that feeling that they were definitely trying to get me to stay.
“Just speaking to Benji, he was disappointed I made the decision to leave but he congratulated me and backed me on my decision as well.”

Asked whether he felt some people in the club were happy for him to go, Brooks said: “I feel like there may have been. With the way it panned out, it seems that way, just with putting the deadline on me to make a decision.
“In the past there have been players they have been in talks with that have dragged on. Then for someone like me who has been loyal to the club, they put a deadline on me which didn’t really sit well with me.
“It was a tough decision to make, especially after everything that has happened. If you take it back three or four weeks before that, I thought that I would be staying.
“It was hard but in the end I think it was the right decision for me and I think I have made the right move not just for me, but for my family.”


We need that board cleaned out. They are deadset rubbish and it shows with a decision like that. Why did they need it fast? It's not like we had other options on the table. You can say what you want about Luke, but he's been loyal and deserves more respect. They gave Mitch eons to make a decision.

Forget this argument about the top not impacting football operations. You have it right there.
They wanted it fast so he could leave, rather than it look like they didn’t want him.. of course it backfired
 
. . . . . . and I'm still amazed that Pascoe kept his position after the 6 month ban, fine and 2 year hit to our cap.

I am saying this without any bias or reference to my personal thoughts on Pascoe or how he has performed before or since his suspension, just simply amazed that he was able to keep his position all this time.

It appears to be pretty obvious that he has had support from somewhere within this organisation at least, despite all the criticism he has received on here and in the media.
The laughable thing is the bloke never fronts the media, if he were a man he would front up to nrl360 sit at the desk and answer their questions and then tell them why he believes there is a media bias against our club. But no nothing total silence, the cat is hiding behind his mates on the board and in his bunker. His position now is just like the boardroom, tenured, lifelong and untouchable. The damage the corporates have done to our brand is criminal. How they aren't forced to step down shows how inept Wests Ashfield are to just allow it to keep happening.
 
I think the opposite, Uncle Wayne has sold the family, that they can start a new life up in QLD and get away from the negatives of Sydney and start a fresh life…plus a fistful of cash
In Redcliff that's a laugh. If they're worried about the company the boys are keeping and they move to Redcliff they'll end up in prison within 2 years. No offense to anyone from Redcliff but the youth gang problem up there is horrendous.
 
Need that love for the jersey again.

Robbie Farrah would have died for the club.

Heighno a great club man

Keffy Galloway, big red loved the club

Liam Fulton & his mate Gibbsy loved the club.

Need the same passion for the jersey and badge.

For all the people jumping off, dont come back in the good times. Its tough, we all hate the hierachy at the club. But lets stick together!!
Joffa & Blore are those guys. Joffa was forced out when he didn’t want to leave & Blore was told mid season he could go. Tells you all need to know really….
 
I appreciate that loyal players should be afforded respect, however in this case, as an Isaac Moses client, and noted under achiever in a key position, I think a deadline was entirely appropriate. I am with the board on this one.
The timing around Fulton arriving and the deadline on Brooks, suggests to me that he may have had more to do with it than the board alone.. Fulton privy to who Manly were targeting with Schuster not working out at 5/8th and IMoses being Siebold and Lukes manager. Coincidence ??
Not one to defend the board of late -.they may have forced Brooks hand but they needed to know if he was interested in negotiating or wanted out. Signed sealed and delivered at Manly soon after.
 
AD is not going anywhere next year, he is just unlikely to be re-signed for '25. The others mostly gone but I'd expect to see Staines and possibly Blore stay on short term deals and I've been told Seyfarth to Parra but again it's all a rumour at this point. The Ben Hunt rumour not entirely going away either I have a feeling we are making sure his manager knows we are an option to make some big $$ staying in Sydney.

Also apparently Cogger told us in no uncertain terms he would not be coming to the club.
That's how you do a roumer.

Everything believeable except Ben Hunt (were never getting him here*)

Seyfarth is not going to Parramatta.

*bar us signing Anthony Griffin, IMHO not the worst move but also NOT HAPPENING.
 
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