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.
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.
Being on board with having a crack at AFB is different to wanting over spending to do so.
That says more about the lack of faith in Pascoe than anything else.
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
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.
who's that?
Long time member and protector of time.
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
Seems respectable
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
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
Yeah thats fair. I wasnt surprised Walker went so well.
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
True, but everyone new gets a honeymoon period to see how things work out.
Walker has matured a lot. Thought he would fail after his previous origin performances but he was good with Bradman Best. Interested to see if NSW persist with him as he will be 34 by next year or go with Moses at 6. Not a fan of Hynes personally
Concur option 1. with a club option year 5 - to be negotiated in year 4
Well his rationale for it is right, why break the bank and ruin the salary cap for a front rower
