Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Demps]

Dragons sacked AFB, way back.

Wonder if he'd bother with them...
Not a club on the rise, imo.

Even with the addition of him, they still don't look that good.

 

[king_sirro]

We also extended Joffa then released him 6 months later. If we could do it to him we could do it with Twal and Seyfarth. Although I remember Seyfarth turned down Warriors at the beginning of the year. Twal I would let go for AFB. Ice we can’t unless we’re getting a suitable replacement.

I know they are different positions and we are well stacked for middles, but I would let Ice go in a heartbeat to get AFB. He is the best front rower in the game IMO, at least equal to Haas and Fisher Harris

 

[tigerballs]

I know they are different positions and we are well stacked for middles, but I would let Ice go in a heartbeat to get AFB. He is the best front rower in the game IMO, at least equal to Haas and Fisher Harris

He's bad news.

 

[Glenji95]

I know they are different positions and we are well stacked for middles, but I would let Ice go in a heartbeat to get AFB. He is the best front rower in the game IMO, at least equal to Haas and Fisher Harris

Then our left edge gets severely weak. Unless we had Haumole signed (which I think is very unlikely), letting Ice go is a very dumb move from us. AFB is good no denying that and he helps any team, but as you said we’re stacked with middle forwards more than backrowers. And none of our current ones can replace Ice permanently. They are either too young and not ready for first grade, or just aren’t good enough.

 

[Tito Santana]

Only knobs would not sign AFB. He’s better than all our forwards. I’d be loading up. Trade Stefano for him easily.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Only knobs would not sign AFB. He’s better than all our forwards. I’d be loading up. Trade Stefano for him easily.

I’d be prioritising a half chiko

 

[Mistymuzzle]

I’d be prioritising a half chiko

Id go as far as a full Chiko

 

[tony soprano]

Going to be a superstar

Who identified him?

 

[KCtiger]

So did Joe O

Joffa signed on starting money then klem signing seen him move to the bench twal and seyfarth just took less money to stay completely different scenarios

 

[Needaname]

Favourite emerges for Addin Fonua-Blake

After requesting an immediate release from the New Zealand Warriors, the St George Illawarra Dragons have emerged as the favourites to sign Addin Fonua-Blake.

www.zerotackle.com

Didn’t consider the Dragons.
Wasn’t AFB Dragons junior who left the club for disciplinary reasons.
Makes sense with Flanagan trying to reshape their roster / prospects.
Already brought local Hame Sele home; AFB is a necessary get for them.

 

[Glenji95]

Didn’t consider the Dragons.
Wasn’t AFB Dragons junior who left the club for disciplinary reasons.
Makes sense with Flanagan trying to reshape their roster / prospects.
Already brought local Hame Sele home; AFB is a necessary get for them.

He’s not a Dragons junior. He played for the Mascot Jets so he’s a Souths junior. Played for their NYC team in 2011 but went to Parra in 2012. Then Dragons signed him for 2013 and was there until 2015. He was captain I think for the Dragons when he was there but his contract got torn after he beat up his partner and Manly gave him a second chance.

 

[Merlot]

AFB comes across as a bit of a tart for hire,yes please

 

[Canadian Club]

Fonua-Blake is reportedly on 1 million+ a season and the Warriors only have 3 or 4 player contracted beyond 2025.

If the Warriors release him, i wonder if they go hard at Manu for 2025. If that is the case they could potentially sign Manu for 2025 and ask for an immediate player swap? Manu at FB with CNK and RTS in the centres would be a really good outcome for them from all of this.

 

[Juice]

Didn’t consider the Dragons.
Wasn’t AFB Dragons junior who left the club for disciplinary reasons.
Makes sense with Flanagan trying to reshape their roster / prospects.
Already brought local Hame Sele home; AFB is a necessary get for them.

Dragons kicked him to the curb at the lowest point in his life so it surprises me they are favs for the signature. To me AFB doesn’t seem like the kind of man to just forget that but could be wrong

 

[tigerballs]

Who identified him?

Everyone! He's one of those standout athletes on everyone's radar. Even the Swans wanted him.

 

[Merlot]

be interesting to see if RTS still has his heart in the game -doubt it

 

[Snidest 0]

No - Tyran Smith

Fonua-Blake was granted a release from his deal at Manly at the end of 2020 to join the Warriors on compassionate grounds after requesting a release to leave Sydney.

Don't forget this is just history repeating....

Tyran played the same card at Manly for his move to NZ after having a deal done with the Warriors - and then using another client to agitate for a release to join Manly to replace AFB on another pre-arranged deal!

Yep - our own Josh Aloiai (knowing the Tigers would cave to his demands - especially after Lee's imbecilic lawn mowing statement)!

Which of his clients does he have lined up to dump their current club for NZ to leverage the Warriors release of AFB to the anonymous Sydney club he has already done a deal with is the real question?

 

[innsaneink]

Everyone! He's one of those standout athletes on everyone's radar. Even the Swans wanted him.

so why is he coming to us?
What Position does he play and what grade next year?

 

[Snidest 0]

Why of course - did you think I would just make something like that up or something? It's here: https://www.rugbyleagueeyetest.com/...o-at-projecting-nrl-player-salaries-for-2023/

To be fair, the author acknowledges that a lot of Papali'i's loss in value was down to playing for a crap team. But, again, that only mitigates against the idea that plugging a few mid-range free agents into a garbage side is going to produce value. Also, you don't need to be a data analyst to see that Papali'i went from being very good in 2022 to pretty bad in 2023.

"An example of this is Isaiah Papali’i, who went from the being of the best second rowers in the game by this metric to to playing at a minimum salary level just by joining the Tigers. Clearly, he had regressed statistically, but it’s about finding the right line between individual performance and impact of those around them. There’s always an argument about who a defensive miss should be attributed, and edge players are usually paying for mistakes made inside them or covering for weaker defenders on their outside. I’d like to reduce how much that factors into their rating and reduce the cases like Papali’i."

Thanks @2041 - I do disagree with the analysis though (with full acknowledgement that you are not the author/analyst)

There are intangibles that are not reflected in "output" statistics that reflect the value of the $600K contract - especially when setting standards for a very young playing group.

Despite not being at his best and having a slow start to the season - I believe we are getting value for money with Isaiah!

 

[KingRobbie]

so why is he coming to us?
What Position does he play and what grade next year?

Fullback/centre/five-eighth.

He’s 19 next year, so he’ll probably start in SG Ball.