Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

kade7 said:
moving this thread on

- sullivan met with the knights, would prefer to stay closer to wollongong as huge family on the south coast, tigers have sent contracts to tartak, unless dogs come in, he will sign next week

- staines and club in discussion

- tedesco has no interest in joining the club

- bevan frenches name keeps popping up, but it does every off season
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Thanks for this info , any other players like centres , etc being discussed or chased
 
The Chad said:
So what does the squad look like next year so far?

Fullback:
Bula

Wingers:
Nofoaluma, Kepaoa, Topou

Centres:
To'a, Naden, Feledy, Reilly

Halves:
Latu Fainu, Douiehi, Galvin

Middle Forwards (Lock & Props):
Klemmer, Pole, Utoikamanu, James, Blore, Twal, Matamua, Faagutu, Sione Fainu

Edge Forwards (Second Row):
Papali'i, Bateman, Samuela Fainu, Tumeth, Mansfield-Webster

Hooker:
Koroisau, Da Silva, Simpkin, Ngatikaura

That's 29 confirmed (at this point).

Rumoured to be adding:
Staines, Sezar, Sullivan, Hawkins, Seyfarth

I think we need to discuss who might be let go at this point!

Obviously Simpkin & Ngatikaura have been suggested/rumoured. That would still put us a couple over. Hawkins on a T & T I think i read, so still 1 over. Is Matamua safe? Sione Fainu after signing his brothers? Nofa &/or Kepaoa? Maybe Seyfarth is the last one without a chair when the music stops?

Unless the club is going to be ruthless in terms of player retention, I suspect Nofa & Kepaoa probably stay. Removing Simpkin & Ngatikaura leaves the club on bare bones at 9. I doubt they do that.

If Staines is retained, that takes us to 30. Simpkin removed allows Sullivan. Hawkins on T & T. Fainu goes to make way for Sezar? Or do the club offer Matamua out? We are heavy on middle forwards- I'd say this is where we likely lose players. Do the club allow someone like Tumeth to explore his options elsewhere? I'd say him & Matamua could be given that chance. I know the coaches love Seyfarth. Do they love him OVER the young guys coming through? Do Faagutu & Luailii (Forgive the spelling) make those boys expendable? Who is hooker #3 next season?
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I would pay Adam out this year or get him to retire and take a job coaching , then remove Simpkin , Seyfarts , Tumeth , Simpkins ,
 
innsaneink said:
Like Ponga and others (incl Hastings) will have a lot to do with them making the semis as it looks like they may... You're contradicting yourself
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just because Hastings in a team playing well does not mean he is the reason they are.
So by 851 example next year if Brooks is playing for manly and they make the semis it will be all because of him ?
Newcastle are playing well that is because of Ponga
 
Telltails said:
Sullivan struggles to retain a position in a team two points ahead of us and incoming smart coach happy to let him move on ... depth player at best and should be regarded as such until he proves otherwise.
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Probably, but the options are very limited. The only question is does he improve our team? I say yes. If people think he does not, who are the better options?
 
weststigerman said:
Probably, but the options are very limited. The only question is does he improve our team? I say yes. If people think he does not, who are the better options?
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We have to have depth players but not at overs and with unrealistic expectations. This is how we have created a club of players paid well with no pressure to perform and plenty dont. Sullivan has skills but how is his attitude and effort. That it is what is tested at a struggling club as is the case with club that is happy to let him go.
 
Why are people always so focused on what other clubs think of players?
It really shouldn't matter if Saints think Sullivan's an Origin player or a Ron Massey Cup player.
In life you have to back your own judgment.
Melbourne thought Nicho was a bench player.
Melbourne have also successfully purchased players that other clubs thought were bums.
It's all about having the right people in the club identifying what a good player looks like and backing their own judgement.
 
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Todd Packer said:
Why are people always so focused on what other clubs think of players?
It really shouldn't matter if Saints think Sullivan's an Origin player or a Ron Massey Cup player.
In life you have to back your own judgment.
Melbourne thought Nicho was a bench player.
Melbourne have also successfully purchased players that other clubs were bums.
It's all about having the right people in the club identifying what a good player looks like and backing their own judgement.
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In our position we take what's available and or not wanted and often at what they are not worth. Not all clubs are on an even playing field when it comes to recruitment.
 
Jedi_Tiger said:
just because Hastings in a team playing well does not mean he is the reason they are.
So by 851 example next year if Brooks is playing for manly and they make the semis it will be all because of him ?
Newcastle are playing well that is because of Ponga
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Newcastle have been trying to solve their halves problem - with Pongha in the team - since Pearce left. Hastings is fullfilling his role as he was paid to do - aim to improvement how the team performs. Like it or not the results are all that matter and they have improved significantly since Hastings has been at 7 and Pongha back where he should be.
 
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I don’t think there can be much argument against saying we would have won another 4-5 games minimum this season had we stuck with a reliable halves combination in Hastings and Brooks.
Unfortunately Sheens didn’t see it this way, for some reason he wanted to try and change a genuine 7 in Hastings to a lock.
It was a terrible decision from Sheens and has caused us to get a second straight wooden spoon.
Now we have no halves and not much chance of finding another halves pairing as good as what Hastings and Brooks could have been.
 
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