Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

balmain boy said:
leave admin to Robbie??? Seriously? He has zero experience in league admin. None.

Our club's administration is not the place for a rookie to learn the ropes, especially someone who get's so many people offside. He has to demonstrate that he both has the skills and the temperament for a job like that. He's still too immature, picking fights with people. He 'should' be a long way off our list of priorities.
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Look, I think Admin is the wrong job for Robbie Farah. But Farah could do it.
Yes he is inexperienced. Except 10 years of the Wests tigers, of knowing what tape/supplies to order and what to bring for a game.

I wouldn't put him in Adminstration but Business development with a really good mentor.
 
Lee & Pascoe's #1 Hater said:
If Sullivan doesn't work out I would go hard for Luai to play halfback.
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Luai will be off the market by the time we work out yeah or nah on Sully.

Makes zero sense to have the stockpile of junior quality halves in our ranks and then sign Luai also for 25 on a multi year deal unless we don’t have confidence in those players.

Pivot that money into some quality backs / lock / damaging backrower.
 
king_sirro said:
I really like him. He can play really straight and play inside to out with a big fend like Terry Hill perfected. That's great variety. Plays physical in defence too. So a lot to like IMO.
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Hi he looks like natural left centre with that fend don't understand why he was playing right centre in first grade looks the goods on the left
 
earl said:
I talked to one of our development players who was a fullback a couple of years ago. I forget his name. He said it's a brutal system. He was clearly on the way out when he told me that.

If you don't deliver you aren't going to be retained.
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So true.

But then, think about it.
If you're lucky, you get to play in the junior reps.
Then progress up the grades - where places are limited.
Then it all funnels into the top grade, where opportunities are very very limited.
So if you factor in injuries, luck, "playing favourites" and simple maths, it stands to reason not many really make it.
Hats off to those who do.
 
earl said:
I talked to one of our development players who was a fullback a couple of years ago. I forget his name. He said it's a brutal system. He was clearly on the way out when he told me that.

If you don't deliver you aren't going to be retained.
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Api mentioned as such on the podcast when they threw Bula in there and he expressed concerns.

"Sink or swim" he was told.
 
tiger_one said:
So true.

But then, think about it.
If you're lucky, you get to play in the junior reps.
Then progress up the grades - where places are limited.
Then it all funnels into the top grade, where opportunities are very very limited.
So if you factor in injuries, luck, "playing favourites" and simple maths, it stands to reason not many really make it.
Hats off to those who do.
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The best way to make first grade is to be the best player in reserve grade by the length of the Flemington straight. Unless you’re doing that you don’t really have a right to complain that you were dudded. You just weren’t as good as you thought.
 
hammertime said:
Api mentioned as such on the podcast when they threw Bula in there and he expressed concerns.

"Sink or swim" he was told.
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Thats motivation for these young guys imo, you perform and keep your place you will be rewarded. In Bula's case not only did he perform but he exceeded expectations massively, you have to attribute that to his character.
Inevitably you are going to get these guys who have talent but can't or don't perform when they get their opportunity and they move on. Maybe they do better in another system it happens, we will lose some that turn out to be decent and probably retain some that are not up to it. Tumeth is an example of that imo he is not up to it his extension was a mistake he's someone i'd like to see the club move on, perhaps he performs elsewhere.
 
Coastie_Tiger said:
Thats motivation for these young guys imo, you perform and keep your place you will be rewarded. In Bula's case not only did he perform but he exceeded expectations massively, you have to attribute that to his character.
Inevitably you are going to get these guys who have talent but can't or don't perform when they get their opportunity and they move on. Maybe they do better in another system it happens, we will lose some that turn out to be decent and probably retain some that are not up to it. Tumeth is an example of that imo he is not up to it his extension was a mistake he's someone i'd like to see the club move on, perhaps he performs elsewhere.
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Agree. The key is not setting the bar beyond reasonable expectations.
 
The Chad said:
Reilly showed ability.

But, it's been this 'written in stone' belief of so many young players coming through the ranks that has bitten the club over & over.

Reilly might turn out good. But, until he EARNS that role, he must have decent competition to beat out. The club needs 2 guys, wingers, centres or a combination of both, to make Tupou, To'a, Reilly etc WIN their starting positions. Not just get them because there's not much else.

Momorovski, Hymel Hunt, Corey Allen...these guys fit. Good enough to hold the spot. Not so good that they block the path of the young talent coming through. It makes the club depth that much better if your top line guys are not just handed a position.
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These three are not upgrades on To'a and Tupou as centres, particularly on ceiling alone.

I look at centres stocks across the league as a tiered system.

Top tier would be elite talent, eg, Manu. Quality tier would be rep-quality centres that can, but don't consistently, turn or dictate games, eg, Staggs, Best. Solid tier would be regular first grade centres that are consistently picked and do a decent job, eg, Reimis Smith, Ramien.

Then there's a split tier, you have your journeymen or spot fillers that are good enough, have maxed out their ability, whilst their team is often exploring an upgrade if they can, eg, Momirovski, Allen, Hunt. The other half is the young, inconsistent, but have shown potential to be quality, eg, Tupou, To'a and even someone along the lines of Lomax.

In my opinion, there is very little point moving between the split tier, unless you see someone in that tier that has a particular skill set that suits your team's playing style better than who you currently have. Otherwise, it's a redundant move.

Personally, of players in the split tier, I would mostly lean towards the high ceiling types, as I'd be willing to forgo instant results if it means a greater outcome in terms of the quality of that player in the long term. The caveat to that would be to have the ability to rapidly identify those that will not reach those heights and make a change.

So, for me, I would avoid those types of names you mentioned, considering who we have on deck. Though, that's not to say I wouldn't definitely be looking for an upgrade at centre if there are options in those higher tiers.

Centre is a funny position..
 
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