Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[GNR4LIFE]

I do find it interesting that most people were on-board having a crack at AFB, including myself, and now Richo says we've withdrawn the offer, and many folks are saying "OK probably the right move".

If Pascoe had withdrawn the offer, same folks would probably have lost their minds.

Not me. I think his money is better spent elsewhere.

 

[Vicious]

Question for the forum just curiosity - if you had the option of offering Luai to 2 deals.

1 - 4 years for $4.8 million
2- 5 years for $5.5 million

Which deal do you do? Cause if true that Dogs have offered that extra year at a reduced $ per season. Would you be tempted giving that extra year and dropping 100k each season from our previous offer so we still marginally beat the Dogs offer?

That might be the deal to get it done - not saying we should do it just curious on everyone’s thoughts?

Why do we need to pay him more than what the Bulldogs are offering him ?
It’s been reported they have offered him a flat 5 million for 5 years.
We don’t need him for 5 years, so if we do desperately want him, why not offer him 3.75 million for 3 years which is 250k per season more than what the Bulldogs are offering and it does not block the pathway for our up and coming halves for longer than what they will hopefully hang around waiting to be regular NRL starting players.

 

[Tucker]

They go down hill fast though. Look at Thurston. Greatest example of a playse gotmg one season too long. Cam Smith is the greatest example of a player making age look easy.

Yes. Thursty's final season, following a GF appearance without him the year previous, was awful on every level.
Smith looked like he could have played till he was 50

 

[Tucker]

Benji will have final say on recruitment/retention within reason.
A good CEO such as Richo will advise on how much a player is worth in relation to our Salary Cap and will not approve paying what he believes is too much for any one player.
A big part of our past failures has been paying much more than the true value when recruiting. I think previous management succumbed to the pressure of being labelled a club that nobody wanted to sign for and succumbed to paying well above the market value for far too many recruits in the past.
It appears someone like Richo will not let that be the case while he’s in charge.
I still can’t see how Luai is worth 1 million dollars per season, but that’s another story.

Hang on....what you have said here mirrors what I just said to you.
The discussion was Benji should have final say over recruitment and retention decisions. I disagreed with you...Which do you now believe?

 

[Dino]

I do find it interesting that most people were on-board having a crack at AFB, including myself, and now Richo says we've withdrawn the offer, and many folks are saying "OK probably the right move".

If Pascoe had withdrawn the offer, same folks would probably have lost their minds.

Reputation and past experience matters, pascoe has a history of falling when talking about the football side of the club so he gets little fan trust.
Richardson on the other hand has a proven record of success and unlike Sheens its relatively recent so there are less concerns the games past him bye and so people will trust his decisions unless it starts to clearly be wrong

 

[king_sirro]

I do find it interesting that most people were on-board having a crack at AFB, including myself, and now Richo says we've withdrawn the offer, and many folks are saying "OK probably the right move".

If Pascoe had withdrawn the offer, same folks would probably have lost their minds.

I think this highlights the respect Richo brings.

 

[Tucker]

You’d be foolish to think he wouldn’t have any say that’s not what I meant - more so that Benji regardless of the situation will have final/majority say and if he wants a certain player I don’t think Richo should be involved in telling him who’s right or isn’t for Benji’s vision on how he wants to orientate this football team.

From a financial perspective he should have majority say in regards to what we offer and how long we offer due to his expertise and significance experience in that field though. However, in terms of the particular players I don’t think he should have much input in that department as he’s not the one coaching the team.

There’ll be times where Richo will give his opinion and it’s up to Benji to agree/disagree - and I think we saw that first hand with AFB.

For starters, nowhere have I said that Benji should not be involved. He should present the final recommendation from the football department to the CEO. The CEO then discusses with the board, presenting pathways to get the deal done. The board approve a way forward and the CEO either gets the deal done or rejects it officially. The CEO does not make recommendations of players to the coach, he simply approves or rejects the offering of a contract and aids with negotiations.

 

[Tucker]

I do find it interesting that most people were on-board having a crack at AFB, including myself, and now Richo says we've withdrawn the offer, and many folks are saying "OK probably the right move".

If Pascoe had withdrawn the offer, same folks would probably have lost their minds.

Being on board with having a crack at AFB is different to wanting over spending to do so.
Many on here have gone off the pursuit since other clubs started throwing silly figures about.
I, for one of these many, am feeling a bit of relief that we have a bloke here who looked at the environment and put a lid on our offer.
Do you think Pascoe would have withdrawn the offer or stuck to his guns and got in a bidding war? History says the latter.

 

[weststigerman]

I do find it interesting that most people were on-board having a crack at AFB, including myself, and now Richo says we've withdrawn the offer, and many folks are saying "OK probably the right move".

If Pascoe had withdrawn the offer, same folks would probably have lost their minds.

That says more about the lack of faith in Pascoe than anything else.

 

[rugbygoated]

They go down hill fast though. Look at Thurston. Greatest example of a playse gotmg one season too long. Cam Smith is the greatest example of a player making age look easy.

Of course every player is different. But of all the positions you would lock down long-term. It's halves. Look how badly Tedesco has regressed this year. He's only 30. Similar to Darius Boyd's ending. Only someone like Slater could maintain longevity of success as a fullback even being QLD fullback before he retired in 2018. Forwards don't last well beyond 30s. Halves being the most protected (in defence and attack) don't tend to have as bad injuries as backs and forwards because they do less contact work and running than centres or forwards have to. Hookers are also durable and long-lasting. Cameron Smith and Api Koroisau good examples. Even Damien Cook is still going ok. In terms of second rowers or locks, have a look at how Boyd Cordner's career was cut short so soon and I reckon Isaah Yeo is starting to become a bit like that too. Yeo's performances have slowly regressed since 2021 and it is exposed in Origin where the toughest opponent exploits him with ease

 

[2041]

I do find it interesting that most people were on-board having a crack at AFB, including myself, and now Richo says we've withdrawn the offer, and many folks are saying "OK probably the right move".

If Pascoe had withdrawn the offer, same folks would probably have lost their minds.

Personally I never wanted AFB on the type of money he seems likely to get. But just to your point, I think there's a difference between a new guy coming in and making decisions to change course on some matters, and a guy who has been in charge for eight years dithering or changing his mind. That said, if we'd been in for AFB on 900k/3yrs and pulled out when the bidding got to 1.2m/4yrs I - and only speaking for myself - wouldn't have blamed Pascoe for, effectively, saying "that's too rich for us". When the facts change, I change my opinion.

 

[rugbygoated]

You seem like a good lad. We would probably get along. Don't listen to what @innsaneink says about me. I won't waste your time.

who's that?

 

[weststigers]

who's that?

Long time member and protector of time.

 

[rugbygoated]

As a QLDer, he doesnt worry me at all at 5/8th.
A bit out of the Mitchel Pearce mould.
He goes well at club level though.

A lot of that has to do with the Pantherisation of NSW that Freddy implemented. Instead of coaching them differently not like a club team, he copied Ivan's homework and got a C minus. A big part of NSW halves struggling (Cleary, Luai) is Yeo getting in the way and doing too much ball-playing. Cody Walker played with Cameron Murray in game 3 and it opened him up a lot more than Yeo at first receiver. Same argument could be used for Cleary who has been underwhelming in the tight Origin games so far. He tends to get the plaudits in the games where NSW dominate forwards and backs but goes missing in deciders. I don't think Luai will get picked by Madge as he is the scapegoat for last year's series despite being one of our better players in game 1 and tried hard in game 2, but Teddy will still somehow get picked despite being the main reason we lost the first two games

 

[rugbygoated]

Long time member and protector of time.

Seems respectable

 

[rugbygoated]

As long as we dont sell the farm for them.
I wouldnt be upping our Luai offer now that we've pulled out of the race for AFB.

We should either go all in (1.2 million 5 years) or not offer him a deal. If you are signing a marquee player, you don't want them to feel like they are just going to be a helping hand and then get moved on after the contract straight away. I think if Benji truly believes in him, he should show 100% conviction and spend wisely

 

[rugbygoated]

Id offer 5 years $6m. Get it done

Not bad but I'd either offer the 1.125 million for 5 years or 1.2 million for 4 years. Gotta save some money where we can with the deal still looking attractive

 

[Tucker]

A lot of that has to do with the Pantherisation of NSW that Freddy implemented. Instead of coaching them differently not like a club team, he copied Ivan's homework and got a C minus. A big part of NSW halves struggling (Cleary, Luai) is Yeo getting in the way and doing too much ball-playing. Cody Walker played with Cameron Murray in game 3 and it opened him up a lot more than Yeo at first receiver. Same argument could be used for Cleary who has been underwhelming in the tight Origin games so far. He tends to get the plaudits in the games where NSW dominate forwards and backs but goes missing in deciders. I don't think Luai will get picked by Madge as he is the scapegoat for last year's series despite being one of our better players in game 1 and tried hard in game 2, but Teddy will still somehow get picked despite being the main reason we lost the first two games

Yeah thats fair. I wasnt surprised Walker went so well.
He is less manic...more organised

 

[rugbygoated]

I do find it interesting that most people were on-board having a crack at AFB, including myself, and now Richo says we've withdrawn the offer, and many folks are saying "OK probably the right move".

If Pascoe had withdrawn the offer, same folks would probably have lost their minds.

I was against signing him on a million for a long term contract. Richo said in a podcast he wouldn't even pay Payne Haas 1.2 million because he's not a difference maker. Agree completely. Only halves or fullbacks or worth that sort of money, because forwards lay the platform and work the hardest, but halves ice the game when it is in the balance

 

[Todd Packer]

I do find it interesting that most people were on-board having a crack at AFB, including myself, and now Richo says we've withdrawn the offer, and many folks are saying "OK probably the right move".

If Pascoe had withdrawn the offer, same folks would probably have lost their minds.

True, but everyone new gets a honeymoon period to see how things work out.
Pascoe had some history.