Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[GNR4LIFE]

That's what I see too. He'll never be a "Benji Marshall" while behind Cleary. But he may well be if he can rebuild the Tigers.

Everyone is going hard on this kind of narrative. It’s easy for our supporters to see the positives in that because they are passionate about the joint. But he’s a born and bred Panther who probably has never wanted to play anywhere else. We’re a basket case and he has a lot to weigh up. I think how we run our club will be weighing more heavily on him than the fairytale idea of coming and taking the club from the outhouse to the penthouse. He has more important things to consider before that. In saying all that, I’m still confident. He’s probably looking at earning at least 600-700k more over the span of our contract as opposed to Penrith. That’s a big difference.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Everyone is going hard on this kind of narrative. It’s easy for our supporters to see the positives in that because they are passionate about the joint. But he’s a born and bred Panther who probably has never wanted to play anywhere else. We’re a basket case and he has a lot to weigh up. I think how we run our club will be weighing more heavily on him than the fairytale idea of coming and taking the club from the outhouse to the penthouse. He has more important things to consider before that. In saying all that, I’m still confident. He’s probably looking at earning at least 600-700k more over the span of our contract as opposed to Penrith. That’s a big difference.

Would he though?
If you add in rep, finals and grandfinal winnings he might not be that far off.

SOO = 30k a match for example.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Would he though?
If you add in rep, finals and grandfinal winnings he might not be that far off.

SOO = 30k a match for example.

He won’t play Origin again though

 

[Tom Shines]

None of us know Luai and what might possibly motivate him …

However …I think it must be a tough to contemplate going from one of the most successful clubs in the history of the game to the complete opposite…

Interesting that the Panthers have decided to fight this time to keep him after they have let half a dozen other big names go over the past couple of years ….

 

[Kelce68]

If there's no premiership at the end of it how will it?

The same way that Kalyn Pomga is bigger at Newcastle than he ever would've been on the wing for North QLD.

 

[Moh]

I really like and admire how the Warriors have asked for the players they have for AFB from the clubs that have been circling.

They're really asking for too much, but is absolutely within their rights.

Whereas us in that situation in the past....

 

[teddy23]

I’m always skeptical when I hear that we’re confident a deal can get done - I feel that with halves because the market can sometimes be so overpriced due to a lack of options. They’ve gone to the club with the most $ to offer and the most desperate for a half to capitalise.

Munster was offered an extension deal from Melbourne - then reports came out we were putting a $1.3-4 million bid…. Melbourne come back with a revised increased offer and he signs.

Moses was offered an extension deal from Parramatta - then reports came out we were putting a $1.3-4 million bid…. Parramatta come back with an increased length and $ and he signs.

Luai was offered an extension deal from Penrith - then reports came out we’re gonna put a $1.2 million bid…. Penrith now reportedly will come back with an increased offer and now we wait.

Regardless it’s a win win for us - either we’ve signed a marquee halfback or we’ve forced a successful club tight on cap space to pay more. This is why I enjoy the Benji recruitment era…. every big fish that comes onto the market we’re right there and I love it.

Back to Luai, I’m still questioning whether he’s worth the $1.1 million deal over 4 years we’re reportedly offering. I personally believe that at the very least one of either Fainu, Sullivan and Galvin is going to be an elite elite 7 moving forward anyways.

However in saying that - if we were to sign him I wouldn’t be against it at all he’s an extremely talented footballer and is a competitor. But to play devils advocate he isn’t proven as a 7 who can lead a team around the park and is that someone you wanna invest $4.5 million over 4 years to do just that for - well I’m not sure but I guess we’ll get our answer very soon….

 

[Ecto-1]

None of us know Luai and what might possibly motivate him …

However …I think it must be a tough to contemplate going from one of the most successful clubs in the history of the game to the complete opposite…

Interesting that the Panthers have decided to fight this time to keep him after they have let half a dozen other big names go over the past couple of years ….

I don’t think they are fighting. I think it’s just to mollify their fans when he goes. They can say they increased their offer but he was after money.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Back to reality…..

I’m always skeptical when I hear that we’re confident a deal can get done - I feel that with halves because the market can sometimes be so overpriced due to a lack of options. They’ve gone to the club with the most $ to offer and the most desperate for a half to capitalise.

Munster was offered an extension deal from Melbourne - then reports came out we were putting a $1.3-4 million bid…. Melbourne come back with a revised increased offer and he signs.

Moses was offered an extension deal from Parramatta - then reports came out we were putting a $1.3-4 million bid…. Parramatta come back with an increased length and $ and he signs.

Luai was offended an extension deal from Penrith - then reports came out we’re gonna put a $1.2 million bid…. Penrith now reportedly will come back with an increased offer and now we wait.

Regardless it’s a win win for us - either we’ve signed a marquee halfback or we’ve forced a successful club tight on cap space to pay more. This is why I enjoy the Benji recruitment era…. every big fish that comes onto the market we’re right there and I love it.

Back to Luai, I’m still questioning whether he’s worth the $1.1 million deal over 4 years we’re reportedly offering. I personally believe that at the very least one of either Fainu, Sullivan and Galvin is going to be an elite elite 7 moving forward anyways.

However in saying that - if we were to sign him I wouldn’t be against it at all he’s an extremely talented footballer and is a competitor. But to play devils advocate he isn’t proven as a 7 who can lead a team around the park and is that someone you wanna invest $4.5 million over 4 years to do just that for - well I’m not sure but I guess we’ll get our answer very soon….

Back to reality? Are you serious?

 

[Flippedy]

Great post Teddy.

Great post Teddy but sadly not very positive news all round if it all goes according to his sources. Looks like we’ll be missing out on all the players we currently are pursuing. I was hoping for something a little more positive.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Very sad. Try and keep strong Flippedy. Aint the end of the world brother.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I actually think Luai will stay put at Riff on a three year deal for less coin. Close to home, familiar surroundings, old mates and a real chance of more silverware.

In saying that we give him the chance to get out of the Cleary shadow. What ever Riff do the media turn their praise to Cleary and seldom guys like Fisher Harris, Yeo and Luai get enough praise for their contributions as Junior Jaw is the NRL poster boy. If by some miracle he came and turned our joint around the media would turn him into a poster boy.

Be interesting how it pans out

I'd like to think positively that his wife/partner will have the biggest say in the decision. Mateship with your western Sydney mates is great, but it won't pay off your mortgage, allow you to accumulate savings for after football and put food on the table/provide for your family in the years ahead.

 

[851]

Not sure why whenever we engage in conversation you feel the need to bring up I went to Prison. It was the darkest time of my life & it's not something i'm proud of.

I worked in a maximum security prison, so I know exactly what goes on in there, so take his posts with a huge grain of salt

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Ok. Now we getting somewhere. Backgrounds of our posters. Our first official screw. Take that with a grain of salt 851. Anyone else want to volunteer?

 

[Moh]

Back to Luai, I’m still questioning whether he’s worth the $1.1 million deal over 4 years we’re reportedly offering. I personally believe that at the very least one of either Fainu, Sullivan and Galvin is going to be an elite elite 7 moving forward anyways.

However in saying that - if we were to sign him I wouldn’t be against it at all he’s an extremely talented footballer and is a competitor. But to play devils advocate he isn’t proven as a 7 who can lead a team around the park and is that someone you wanna invest $4.5 million over 4 years to do just that for - well I’m not sure but I guess we’ll get our answer very soon….

This is exactly how I feel.

That's why I'm not really all that engrossed in our chase for his signature.

Be nice if we get him for sure, but I think any of those guys you've named can be as or almost as good. If Sullivan can play as well as he has shown glimpses of, he's a much cheaper Luai.

Be nice to land a marquee that we've been chasing all off-season for a change though.

 

[Moh]

Also - I'm kinda more interested in getting AFB.

Not sure how we have to prove we're a good club for him but the Bulldogs don't.

 

[teddy23]

Great post Teddy but sadly not very positive news all round if it all goes according to his sources. Looks like we’ll be missing out on all the players we currently are pursuing. I was hoping for something a little more positive.

Still could go either way @Flippedy - we’re definitely still in the fight.

I can’t tell you what Luai is thinking that appears to be the million dollar question. However, both clubs have confidence they can get a deal done.

Usually in these situations when it comes to us and a marquee halfback with both clubs having belief they’ll get him - the player ends up remaining.

Time will tell.

 

[jrtiger]

I’m always skeptical when I hear that we’re confident a deal can get done - I feel that with halves because the market can sometimes be so overpriced due to a lack of options. They’ve gone to the club with the most $ to offer and the most desperate for a half to capitalise.

Munster was offered an extension deal from Melbourne - then reports came out we were putting a $1.3-4 million bid…. Melbourne come back with a revised increased offer and he signs.

Moses was offered an extension deal from Parramatta - then reports came out we were putting a $1.3-4 million bid…. Parramatta come back with an increased length and $ and he signs.

Luai was offended an extension deal from Penrith - then reports came out we’re gonna put a $1.2 million bid…. Penrith now reportedly will come back with an increased offer and now we wait.

Regardless it’s a win win for us - either we’ve signed a marquee halfback or we’ve forced a successful club tight on cap space to pay more. This is why I enjoy the Benji recruitment era…. every big fish that comes onto the market we’re right there and I love it.

Back to Luai, I’m still questioning whether he’s worth the $1.1 million deal over 4 years we’re reportedly offering. I personally believe that at the very least one of either Fainu, Sullivan and Galvin is going to be an elite elite 7 moving forward anyways.

However in saying that - if we were to sign him I wouldn’t be against it at all he’s an extremely talented footballer and is a competitor. But to play devils advocate he isn’t proven as a 7 who can lead a team around the park and is that someone you wanna invest $4.5 million over 4 years to do just that for - well I’m not sure but I guess we’ll get our answer very soon….

you have to look at it objectively. Luai's won three premierships, led his country to a World Cup final, starred at Origin level and has had success at all levels of the game.

Sullivan's played 20 odd first grade games, struggled with injury, form and development. Fainu has done well in the lower grades, but hasn't even made his debut. Lachlan Galvin hasn't even played Jersey Flegg yet.

now I have a lot of faith in the three I just mentioned – Fainu and Galvin especially – but I'd be lying if I knew how their first grade careers are going to turn out. Luai is a known commodity irrespective of whether he plays 6 or 7. excellent team attitude, brilliant on both sides of the ball and incredibly competitive. $1.1m isn't breaking the bank in this day and age. for a two-time wooden spoon-winning franchise we shouldn't even be in the frame to sign Luai, let alone this far advanced in the negotiation stage.

 

[851]

I’m always skeptical when I hear that we’re confident a deal can get done - I feel that with halves because the market can sometimes be so overpriced due to a lack of options. They’ve gone to the club with the most $ to offer and the most desperate for a half to capitalise.

Munster was offered an extension deal from Melbourne - then reports came out we were putting a $1.3-4 million bid…. Melbourne come back with a revised increased offer and he signs.

Moses was offered an extension deal from Parramatta - then reports came out we were putting a $1.3-4 million bid…. Parramatta come back with an increased length and $ and he signs.

Luai was offended an extension deal from Penrith - then reports came out we’re gonna put a $1.2 million bid…. Penrith now reportedly will come back with an increased offer and now we wait.

Regardless it’s a win win for us - either we’ve signed a marquee halfback or we’ve forced a successful club tight on cap space to pay more. This is why I enjoy the Benji recruitment era…. every big fish that comes onto the market we’re right there and I love it.

Back to Luai, I’m still questioning whether he’s worth the $1.1 million deal over 4 years we’re reportedly offering. I personally believe that at the very least one of either Fainu, Sullivan and Galvin is going to be an elite elite 7 moving forward anyways.

However in saying that - if we were to sign him I wouldn’t be against it at all he’s an extremely talented footballer and is a competitor. But to play devils advocate he isn’t proven as a 7 who can lead a team around the park and is that someone you wanna invest $4.5 million over 4 years to do just that for - well I’m not sure but I guess we’ll get our answer very soon….

I agree, I think between Fainu, Sullivan and Galvin we can get the job done, and done well, throw the extra at AFB, don't trade Ice, and buy a decent centre

 

[rugbygoated]

The cost to Luai would be about $180K after tax - nothing to sneeze at but being 4-6 premiership player will get you some endorsement to make up the difference. Plus he's need a new cabinet for the premiership rings he won't get with us.

All up Luai is getting around 700K per year from that 850K deal. With the 1.2 million dollar deal, he is still getting at least 1 million per year (agents fees and after tax included). So a 300K difference at least. That's big money. And totally worth leaving for. He can get more TPAs as the main man than being at penrith where his importance is way lesser. Also, I don't think he will play origin again, so money from that won't come by staying at penrith or anywhere else.