Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Fingers83]

His efforts in defense on the weekend were criminal. It really looked like he wanted Souths to score on many occasions. Really bad attitude

That right edge for us is a huge problem.

 

[Stevec]

One thing that seems to set us apart from the rest ( ignoring the obvious coming last clear by 4 pts) is our complete inability to RECRUIT
It seems every day I read about other clubs being busy in this area .
So far we've recruited 2 brothers who have hardly played 1st grade by offering huge money over an amazing 4 years . That's a long time when your not sure whether they can handle Nrl intensity .Hope they can !
In terms of much needed half's we've been trying for most of this year .We started trying high on the tree . Munster,Moses then Pearce Johnson and now Croft and Sezer and finally a bench back up half at a team coming 2nd last who are glad to offload him .
2 reasons either we are just lousy at recruiting or what is far more likely we are seen as a no go zone with our " basket case image " which fox try to perpetuate each week .
Somehow we need to take dramatic action which says to the NRL community hey a new era is maybe beginning .Perception is everything !
Imo that dramatic action needs to be a shake up of the executive and the crowded coaches box

 

[Fallen Angel]

Welcome to the real world pal. Who is a better option, available and willing to join the reigning wooden spooners?

Hastings is a second tier half and made a significant difference to us. Sezer is a better 7 than Brooks and Wakeham.

There’s no one. But the way you worded it made it sound like he will take us from the outhouse to the penthouse.

 

[jrtiger]

I am really unsure why there has never been any urgency to sign backs. Probably our major achilles heal. The whole backline bar FB needs an overhaul. WT need to get signing asap. The boys we have in there are fringeys at best - decent depth but thats about it!

I think that the immediate need last year was to bolster the forward pack, as it doesn't matter who you have in the backs if you're getting dominated each week. that's now been fixed, but as everyone can see apart from three outside backs (Bula, Tupou, Staines), we need consistent performers.

as you say, a lot of the backs we have are better served as depth. To'a's far too inconsistent, Naden too erratic, Feledy's super raw and and Reilly needs to be blooded so that way we can work him out. Nofo is Nofo.

let's assume Staines is gone as per the rumours. there's some players worth looking at currently off contract in Braidon Burns and Brad Parker that I'd be talking too, as well as Hymel Hunt and Jordan Pereira. there might be an opportunity for guys like Paul Momirovski and Nick Cotric to be potentially released from their current clubs, but again that may prove a hard task.

ultimately I think one wing spot will be kept warm for Luke Laulili'i to take midway through next year, but we need at least two outside backs in the short term. Parker and Cotric would be ideal for me. proven performers who that would instantly improve us. by my count we've only got two spots in the 30 left, so this is what I'd be running with.

1. Bula
2. Cotric
3. To'a
4. Parker
5. Tupou

 

[Halbrowne61]

Is this Sullivan signing a lock or still speculation?
So it’s Cogger to the Knights and Seder/Sullivan to us, correct ?
Any further news about Holbrook ? See his name mentioned in Knights circles as well ?
O Brien must be edgy.

 

[bptiger 0]

I somewhat disagree, are backs are average to say the least , but the problem is the half’s they provide jack shit in direction , we have two of the best backrowers but they can’t even put them in gaps , put two half’s into our team with same backs I guarantee we look a different side

 

[Mistymuzzle]

I hate picking through long posts like this to try and respond to stuff I haven't stated. I started but you get it so wrong so quickly I can't be bothered reading what you posted.

 

[weststigerman]

There’s no one. But the way you worded it made it sound like he will take us from the outhouse to the penthouse.

Let me be clear. He might help us avoid the spoon next year. Maybe only 14th-16th but the point is there is no one better available.

 

[Vicious]

I just watched the highlights of our recent NSW Cup game, the lack of effort from Keparoa was again noticeable, he couldn’t even be bothered bending his knees to try and pick up a grubber kick which he then fumbled and led to a try conceded.
I think he’s at the stage where he’s not interested in playing for us, he’s one we definitely need gone from our top 30.

 

[Betterdays22]

I somewhat disagree, are backs are average to say the least , but the problem is the half’s they provide jack shit in direction , we have two of the best backrowers but they can’t even put them in gaps , put two half’s into our team with same backs I guarantee we look a different side

Agree. There are some massive deficiencies in the outside backs, but the inability of the halves to construct a set or build any pressure doesn't help their cause. Brandon Wakeham has tried his hardest but he is absolutely no running threat with the ball. Brooks is a threat running the ball but can't give quality ball to his outside men.

 

[earl]

I prefer making up stories to make myself look like I'm important.

 

[Halbrowne61]

Lomax was having breakfast with two of his teammates at a local cafe. I should have asked whether he is up for a challenge!

Obviously he is by staying at the Dragons. 🤣

 

[supercoach]

As good as our forwards are we are still missing a very important component of a top forward pack. That is a big very mobile athletic forward on the edge, or if you are really lucky one on both edges.

Souths, Manly, Cowboys, Titians, Dogs, Penrith, sharks all have a player who can cause havoc on a edge and compete for a high attacking kick.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

FFS, Kepaoa is not a first grader. How many times must a person fail before fans can move on? No other club would touch him.
He's extremely slow, atrocious defence, makes a heap of errors. Turn him into a back rower and see if he can handle the work rate and simplifying his game. If he can dominate in NSW cup then he can get another shot. Any match in which he plays in the back in the NRL we've surrendered and given up

Totally agree, he should never play in the backline in 1st grade. ever again. Why people think he is a winger or centre is beyond me.
He is everything you mentioned, slow, poor defence, prone to errors, looks lazy or not interested, all on display in the KOA game on the weekend!

 

[Fingers83]

Totally agree, he should never play in the backline in 1st grade. ever again. Why people think he is a winger or centre is beyond me.
He is everything you mentioned, slow, poor defence, prone to errors, looks lazy or not interested, all on display in the KOA game on the weekend!

I think you're right - it comes down to laziness and lack of urgency.

The talent is there - he was just about our best player during the preseason, and even over the first 2-3 weeks he had built a case for his position in the team, but form dropped off the edge of a cliff. He didn't make any one position his own.

Then again, it didn't help that he had played second row, centre, winger, and utility in the space of as many weeks though either.

 

[Vicious]

As good as our forwards are we are still missing a very important component of a top forward pack. That is a big very mobile athletic forward on the edge, or if you are really lucky one on both edges.

Souths, Manly, Cowboys, Titians, Dogs, Penrith, sharks all have a player who can cause havoc on an edge and compete for a high attacking kick.

Samuela Fainu fits that description as does Xavier Willlison who some forum members had posted as a rumour signing.
I’ve stated many times that if we don’t get someone like Xavier Willison, Josh Curran looks likely to be flushed out of the top 17 at the Warriors when they are full strength, but he also fits that description and would be great for a team like us.

 

[boonboon]

As good as our forwards are we are still missing a very important component of a top forward pack. That is a big very mobile athletic forward on the edge, or if you are really lucky one on both edges.

Souths, Manly, Cowboys, Titians, Dogs, Penrith, sharks all have a player who can cause havoc on a edge and compete for a high attacking kick.

I think that is where Samuela Fainu comes in. All our talk has been about Latu but Samuela is exactly what you are asking for. Also I think Ipap will be much much better with a decent halfback inside him

 

[Harvey]

Just as a matter of record, none of Moses, Tedesco or Brooks were under 20s premiers. This was the team that won the (2012) comp:

Kurtis Rowe, David Nofoaluma, Brodie Monroe, Asipeli Fine, Marika Koroibete, Matt Mulcahy, Jacob Miller, Sauaso Sue, Ben Saunders, Mosese Fotuaika, Joel Luani, Kyle Lovett, Inno Inosesio
Interchange: Soni Paasi, Nathan Brown, Brenden Santi, Sitaleki Akauola, Shane Lalogafau, Andy Fiagatusa, Manaia Rudolph, Daniel Rakvin

Lucky we have another load of gun juniors coming through

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I just watched the highlights of our recent NSW Cup game, the lack of effort from Keparoa was again noticeable, he couldn’t even be bothered bending his knees to try and pick up a grubber kick which he then fumbled and led to a try conceded.
I think he’s at the stage where he’s not interested in playing for us, he’s one we definitely need gone from our top 30.

I concur!

I think out of our contracted players we may be able to get interest for Kepaoa, Simpkin and hopefully Nofa.

Our off-contract players confirmed or likely to move on are Brooks, Laurie, Talau, Wakeham, Lomi Saukuru, Simpkins, Staines & Offa (already gone).

That'll be 11 possibly gone out of 30.

I reckon we'll retain Seyfarth.

I doubt anyone will pick up the contracts for Reilly or Ngatakuira but it may be strategic to keep them on the roster next season to then upgrade the Laulilii brothers for '25.

 

[Flippedy]

Actually I am glad and excited and prefer the new halves. Hope Sullivan is 100% have wanted him for some time now as a replacement at 7. Fainu will be an awesome 6. Sezer will provide the experience until they mature. Agree that we are so much better off. Just think the numbers are a bit low. That is all. Think Fainu and Sullivan will get paid more for 2024 than the estimate and rightly so. Brooks was back ended because of poor management not his fault. And the rubbish he gets is unjust. We have had a crap spine and forward for so long and I would never put it on one person. Learn’t that as a child. Story for another day. When all the blame is on one person in a team that fails, in reality makes that person most valuable to that team. Will explain that in another post. If it is true about Brooks and how crap he was, then Manly in for a horrible few years. Time will tell.

I’m expecting Brooks to do well in a totally new environment and I’m expecting our mob to go better with a whole new halves pairing/spine - it’s something that should’ve happened about 4 or 5 years ago. I just wish Laurie was staying.