Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Chainlink said:
Anyone else seriously worried about our fullback depth. With Staines not signed, if anything happens to Bula we are looking at Toa filling in. I don’t even see who we have to play fullback in cup. Massive risk going into the season unless we have something up our sleeve.
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We don’t know what the story is until he (Staines) signs here or elsewhere… maybe they are negotiating with him and playing some hardball…

aren’t they at 30 players as well… so maybe they need to move someone on first ?
 
Chainlink said:
Anyone else seriously worried about our fullback depth. With Staines not signed, if anything happens to Bula we are looking at Toa filling in. I don’t even see who we have to play fullback in cup. Massive risk going into the season unless we have something up our sleeve.
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Is fullback depth a thing? If you go through most other clubs rosters, it’s not like they have a ready made fullback to go if their first choice goes down. A lot just make do.
 
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Chainlink said:
Anyone else seriously worried about our fullback depth. With Staines not signed, if anything happens to Bula we are looking at Toa filling in. I don’t even see who we have to play fullback in cup. Massive risk going into the season unless we have something up our sleeve.
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Naden played fullback in juniors & could see him used there in NSW Cup for his experience & voice directing the defensive line. Might be a way of Benji reinvigorating him & using his leadership.
 
Tom Shines said:
We don’t know what the story is until he (Staines) signs here or elsewhere… maybe they are negotiating with him and playing some hardball…

aren’t they at 30 players as well… so maybe they need to move someone on first ?
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Yes, with the roster at 30, WT cannot sign Staines to a NRL top 30 contract until someone is moved on in the existing 30. As others have mentioned Blore, Kepaoa, Simpkin and Nofo (and maybe even Doueihi) are the surplus in our squad but we have to have takers for them to open up spots for Staines, Olam and even Luai. So there is a fair bit of negotiation in play both coming and going- and whilst there is delay others can swoop in and grab the ones waiting. I also wonder with Staines whether his health and recovery from that bowel rupture maybe more problematic than realised, unless he of course is much more loyal to WT and waiting for things to play out as possibly promised- although for someone that has been here for only a year, I doubt that loyalty to WT is in play.
 
With an injury like that you'd have to be more loyal to the surgeon general.
magpies forever said:
Yes, with the roster at 30, WT cannot sign Staines to a NRL top 30 contract until someone is moved on in the existing 30. As others have mentioned Blore, Kepaoa, Simpkin and Nofo (and maybe even Doueihi) are the surplus in our squad but we have to have takers for them to open up spots for Staines, Olam and even Luai. So there is a fair bit of negotiation in play both coming and going- and whilst there is delay others can swoop in and grab the ones waiting. I also wonder with Staines whether his health and recovery from that bowel rupture maybe more problematic than realised, unless he of course is much more loyal to WT and waiting for things to play out as possibly promised- although for someone that has been here for only a year, I doubt that loyalty to WT is in play.
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With an injury like that you'd have to be more loyal to the surgeon general.
 
Chainlink said:
Anyone else seriously worried about our fullback depth. With Staines not signed, if anything happens to Bula we are looking at Toa filling in. I don’t even see who we have to play fullback in cup. Massive risk going into the season unless we have something up our sleeve.
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AD could be when he returns.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Naden played fullback in juniors & could see him used there in NSW Cup for his experience & voice directing the defensive line. Might be a way of Benji reinvigorating him & using his leadership.
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That's interesting.

I actually value Naden on the Wing. We need a winger who won't give away too many tries and we saw Naden play wing at the Dogs.

But yes Bula may have second year syndrome and we should have some kind of backup option at Fullback. Assuming Staines not signed, we have Sullivan + Sezer in the halves, at a stretch Latu could go fullback and that experience I reckon would be good for his development. ... Totally recognise it's a huge stretch, that's what I would do though for Latu's long term development.

I am far more concerned re Wing and Center. We need to develop defensive combinations and have people trust our defensive structure.... The problem: no defensive structure at all.
 
Kaito said:
Make a play at fifita, move Bateman to 13 and
have Pole as a bench prop. Sign Luai too, and
then we'll start making waves. I'd offer Curtis
Scott a T&T contract, good article up on DT
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don’t need forwards at the minute. could make a case for Fifita in the backrow pending if we offer up Papali’i in a swap for AFB, but I think he’s pretty unlikely to leave the GC.

there’s a stack of players that have played Cup at the minimum in the last few years that would be worth a part time contract. Curtis Scott has been playing local A Grade. best of luck to him but not one for WT. next.
 
jrtiger said:
there’s a stack of players that have played Cup at the minimum in the last few years that would be worth a part time contract. Curtis Scott has been playing local A Grade. best of luck to him but not one for WT. next.
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I agree to a degree, but T&T doesn't hurt mate.
Also agree we need more backs. A guy like AFB
or Fifita goes on the market you make a play
 
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