Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

No way that Klemmer has been a bad signing. He's in our top 2-3 players for the season. Probably #2 behind Api.

Our forwards NEXT season (including Seyfarth)

Klemmer
Api
Utoikimanu
Papali'i
Bateman
Pole

Twal/Seyfarth/Blore/Sione Fainu/Matamua/Fa'agutu/Laulili'i
Simpkin/Rua/Da Silva
Samuela Fainu/Tumeth/Mansfield

We are LOADED with middles. And Hookers. We could lose at least 1 hooker easily. Simpkin is the likely one as other teams will want him. Rua....who is going to WANT him?

Sione Fainu would be the guy we would all agree with letting go, but the addition of his brothers makes this...tricky. That said, I don't think he's much behind Aitasi James.

Our bench next year will NOT carry Blore, Twal & Seyfarth as well as a dummy half, as well as a back rower. I'd be quite confident Samuela Fainu is one of our bench players next year. So the question is- in order to upgrade our backs, which forwards either generate interest elsewhere OR are not worth signing?

OR...

If we sign Seyfarth & want to upgrade out wide, which of our BACKS get interest elsewhere? We won't let Tupou or Bula go. Nofa is unlikely to be chased. POSSIBLY Naden or Kepaoa (unlikely).

The most obvious choice in the backs to UPGRADE through interest elsewhere is...To'a. Who, while pretty good, is hardly a guarantee of success long term.

As far as I see it, our 1 available spot is either spent on Seyfarth or Staines (or Staines replacement....Hiroti?)

And that's the 30. If you want to upgrade out wide- Blore, Twal, Simpkin or To'a are the likely victims. Who are we prepared to lose out of these guys?

I can see why Joffa was moved on. I can ALSO see why Blore was given permission to look elsewhere. We need 2-3 outside backs.

How they fill out the roster will be interesting. I expect no matter how it's done, there are going to be upset fans.
 
Last year's recruiting was brilliant
Decisions on players being let go mostly correct
Next year’s recruiting is looking ok as well

Morris coming is a move really like especially with the kids coming through. He works really well with the young brigade and getting them ready.

looking forward to see what comes from the new team in Nov-Feb announcement wise also.

Trying to curb my optimism, but so far happy with the news over last few weeks.
 
I think Morris is a great choice to assist Benji, he knows the club presumably he and Benji have a relationship and have trust together. Benji certainly needs someone to lean on and probably more to the point will be working in conjunction with. Ticks a lot of boxes and whether we like it or not probably appeases the player managers.
 
Now the rumour mill is starting a Papali'i and Utoikamanu back to Parra run. Anyone heard anything apart from the rumour from Riccio?

Riccio didnt say Stef was going back to Parra specifically did mention the noise was around Ice and Parra.
Unless he's mentioned something more specifically than what he said on 360 last night?
 
Glad to see Morris is headed our way, but I must say I don’t think I’ve ever seen an assistant coach signed for 4 years before.

No doubt that will be the thing the idiots on 360 will jump on.
 
Finally some signings official - Latu Fainu
- Samuela Fainu
- Jayden Sullivan
- Adam Sezer
But one im really happy about John Morris as assistant coach .This guy is a pro and should be able to put the right systems in place and support Benji
What I'm confused about is who starts at 6 & 7 ? Weve got 3 half's above for 2 positions
I’d be guessing fainu will be 14 pending how preseason goes and will probably drop to cup and swap with tds
Early injuries will likely give an early chance
 
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