Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

We need Sezar - mature and experienced.
Perfect organisational 7.

Then the 6 can be Latu or Sully.
I'd back Latu with Sullivan at 14.

Only downside is pushes TDS to cup which isn't the worst as gives him time to develope instead of being thrown in the deep end or used for 10 mins/game.

That's the most ideal outcome, imo.
That sounds like the way we are heading.
Could be ok from an attack point of view as both Sullivan and Fainu have good running games and as you say, Sezer could do the job as an experienced 7.
Couple of concerns with it, Sullivan has shown he can get rag dolled in defence due to his lack of size and Fainu untested defensively at NRL level.
Sezer is an ageing player, has been injury prone in recent times so we would need a very good back up number 7.
My strong suspicion is South’s are going to do the dirty on Lachlan Illias and demote him to play Wighton at 5/8, Walker to 7.
Would not be surprised if Benji & Co think or know the same and are ready to make a big play at Illias should that happen.
Not saying I agree he’s the answer either, but young NRL experienced halfbacks are very hard to find.
 
Last edited:
Not sure what sort of cash he is asking for, but I’m inclined to agree with you.

On the right money, 2 years, even if he plays the last 12 months in NSW Cup helps with depth.

We need 4-5 halves, 2 for first grade, 2 capable in Cup and 1 up and comer.

I think if we have

Sezer
Doueihi
Fainu
Sullivan

We have decent options. Given Doueihi is out for half the year, we’ll need a 5th option. Maybe that’s Wakeham.

I agree we need to sign those players including Wakeham and then we have a decent number of options. At the same time that would be the weakest pair of halves in the comp and we are desperate for Fainu or Galvin but ideally both of them to come good.
 
That sounds like the way we are heading.
Could be ok from an attack point of view as both Sullivan and Fainu have good running games and as you say, Sezer could do the job as an experienced 7.
Couple of concerns with it, Sullivan has shown he can get rag dolled in defence due to his lack of size and Fainu untested defensively at NRL level.
Sezer is an ageing player, has been injury prone in recent times so we would need a very good back up number 7.
I think it'll be an upgrade on this year / the last decade.

Lesgooo!
 
I agree we need to sign those players including Wakeham and then we have a decent number of options. At the same time that would be the weakest pair of halves in the comp and we are desperate for Fainu or Galvin but ideally both of them to come good.
Galvin to bulk up and transition to the backrow... maybe even #13
 
Galvin to bulk up and transition to the backrow... maybe even #13

That'll take a while though. It'll be interesting seeing how these kids develop, The club is really banking on them. I hope they are picking the right ones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 851
I hope Sullivan is not being looked at as a 7.

He's not a halfback. He's actually not too dissimilar to Laurie.

5/8 or fullback, or at a good club - good #14.
 
I also don't think Sullivan is a bad deal. There aren't too many promising halves on the market these days but he is one of them. There isn't much out there atm you can compare him too either, if anything he is like a young Mitch Moses to me. Can't tackle, couple injuries, carries on like a dick, but with his speed and the way he sees the game he creates opportunity that others don't. He has a mouth on him, but that's good.. I am so over seeing our team dead and lacking spark, Bateman recently has me grinning ear to ear because you can see how personally he takes losing and we need more of that.

If we get Sezer next year we can have both Sullivan & Latu learning the game management side from him & if Sullivan isn't good to go as a 7 by the time Sezer is gone than I am sure his contract will be ending around the same time anyway so we can revisit. What's our other options next year? Wakeham? No team has a plethora of halves so it isn't like we have anyone else. The only reason Sullivan is available is because he plays in the same position as the coaches kid.
 
If he makes the Origin side again the release clause drops away anyway as I understand it. An extension's the way to go (minus any release clause) IF we can organise it.
they will make it so he doesn't make origin thst is not real difficult with payne haas and Jake T able to play front row RCG and Paulo
 
  • Like
Reactions: 851
If we assume Doueihi is potentially paid out for next year with money from this years cap, what do you think the rumoured (and confirmed) halves signings might cost us in 2024? Something like:

Fainu $500k
Sullivan $350k (surely St G kick in a bit)
Sezer $350k
Who else?

Don't appear to be breaking the bank and leaves funds for some decent backs aka Lomax.
 
Some good points you raise balmain boy.
Adam Doueihi will likely not be ready to play until about this time next season, so at best will only be available for our last 7-8 games.
With that in mind, surely there is some type of rule that will allow us to have a top 30 that does not include him, then be able to use him if required when he does become available.
In addition to this surely the writing is on the wall that we potentially offload Keparoa, Nofoaluma, Naden,Reilly, Simpkin and Ngatikaura from our current 2024 top 30 contracted players to allow us room to add some new blood.
Cutting Nofa loose without his consent would be a hard one as he’s been a great player for our club, but I maintain we need genuine speedsters such as Charlie Staines or maybe Xavier Savage on one wing and need a bigger more powerful winger such as Junior Tupou or maybe Edward Kosi on the other wing.
Maybe we can approach NRL to re-register Doueihi's contract as State Cup equivalent and he remains paid as is but by the time he potentially becomes avaialble, even as a State Cup contract, if he can become match fit, he would be eligibel for NRL selection anyway. That would free up his NRL spot taking into accont his injury might not see him play at all next season and we could get another player.
 
Back
Top