Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Todd Packer said:
You may be right, I may be overthinking.
It just seemed a very calculated comment. Richo wasn't asked about Blake, he volunteered the information and the comment about the coach needing to get the players he wants.
I t seems to be a very public slight of Fulton. Could it be designed to have Fulton fall on his sword?
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Time will tell. He did say yesterday he has never spoken to Fulton.
 
teddy23 said:
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?
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4 years, i'd only offer 5 years if we can get him for 2024.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
Time will tell. He did say yesterday he has never spoken to Fulton.
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Yes, I like how he indicated a few times that
the buck stops with the coach though and
that it's his roster. Recruitment should be
an advisory role, not limited to that only,
but that should be the core assignment.
Fulton has an ego due in part to his surname.
He needs to stfu & do his damn job lol
 
Tucker said:
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.
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My point was and only was that Benji should have full control in who he brings in/out of the team…… the financial side of things and how we’ll be able to get said player to the club should heavily involve Richo however.

So I guess you’re repeating my stance too. If so, I agree.
 
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rugbygoated said:
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
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Steve Price, JWH, Gallen were all playing well at 34 or 35, depends on the player
 
My biggest takeaway from us withdrawing our offer for AFB is the club must be increasingly confident of there chances re-signing Stefano long term beyond 2024.

There’s no way we withdrew that offer for AFB in 2025 if we’re of the belief that Stefano may test his market and is a chance of leaving.

I’d like to hope not cause if we somehow drop out of the AFB race and lose Stefano then all of a sudden our prop rotation long term isn’t looking as solid as we think. Especially with Blore leaving next year too.
 
jirskyr said:
Honestly I think it highlights that's Richo is brand new and currently being cut slack.
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Richo wasn't here when we made the offer, so you're hypothetical is kind of flawed.
If Pascoe rescinded the offer, it would mean that he was involved in making an offer and rescinding it, and he would be deservedly booed for lack of decisiveness.
Richo has come in and made a call, if he then in a couple weeks times goes and decides he wants to offer AFB a contract then we can boo him.
 
teddy23 said:
My point was and only was that Benji should have full control in who he brings in/out of the team…… the financial side of things and how we’ll be able to get said player to the club should heavily involve Richo however.

So I guess you’re repeating my stance too. If so, I agree.
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If that is your stance now then we are agreed...but thats not what you said originally and thats what I responded to.

"Ricoh won’t have much say in regards to anything recruitment orientated - it has/will be a clear message that Benji has full control in regards to who comes in and out of the squad.
If Benji believes Luai/AFB fits the vision of what he’s trying to build then it’ll remain that way."
 
teddy23 said:
My biggest takeaway from us withdrawing our offer for AFB is the club must be increasingly confident of there chances re-signing Stefano long term beyond 2024.

There’s no way we withdrew that offer for AFB in 2025 if we’re of the belief that Stefano may test his market and is a chance of leaving.

I’d like to hope not cause if we somehow drop out of the AFB race and lose Stefano then all of a sudden our prop rotation long term isn’t looking as solid as we think. Especially with Blore leaving next year too.
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I don't think thats the case. I purely believe from recent commentary that Richardson doesn't believe in paying props that sort of money as they aren't ''game changers''. The funds are better spent elsewhere - halves and fullback for example.
 
Kaito said:
Yes, I like how he indicated a few times that
the buck stops with the coach though and
that it's his roster. Recruitment should be
an advisory role, not limited to that only,
but that should be the core assignment.
Fulton has an ego due in part to his surname.
He needs to stfu & do his damn job lol
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You might point to some comments he's made about recruitment at the Tigers ?
 
pawsandclaws1 said:
I would offer him the deal which gets it done. We need a recruitment win and the bigger the better. This one would be huge for WTs.
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With money available,

I would make it
$6ML for 5 years.

when you compare what we were paying a previous half that we seldomly cheered for doing something great,
this guy would give us a bit of the Benji feeling back, and give our supporters something to cheer about, and he definately would help our team win more games than lose.
I think he would be worth it.
 
Pulling out of the AFB race seems to be the smart move, considering the club is stacked for middle forwards coming through. Stef, Pole, Matamua, Miller, Kit Laulilii and Fa'agutu. Not to mention Twal is also signed long term and Samuela Fainu can also play up front.

Not all may work out long term but it seems to be an area which we have a number of kids coming through and only limited spots. These kids should be the priority, with the added bonus that none will break the bank early on meaning the money can be spent on areas of the squad where we are lacking.
 
Nonotmeagain said:
You might point to some comments he's made about recruitment at the Tigers ?
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Can't figure out if you're trying to act smart
or have been living under a rock lmao.
There's been friction since the appointment
was made behind Benji's back, it came to
a head when Fulton wanted to sign Schuster.
Articles & people talking about this exact
issue for months must have alluded you.
I'm backing the coach, not the recruitment guy.
 
Roar_Power said:
I don't think thats the case. I purely believe from recent commentary that Richardson doesn't believe in paying props that sort of money as they aren't ''game changers''. The funds are better spent elsewhere - halves and fullback for example.
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agreed. look at the forward pack Souths had in 2020 when Richo was there.

Tatola, Tom Burgess, Su'a, Sironen, Murray, Nicholls, Knight, Cartwright, Koloamatangi. a nice mix of toilers, local juniors and discards from other clubs. that's where we're headed.

I think the pack we have now is likely what we'll be with for a good period of time. there's a lot of value there with a lot of potential upside in guys like Utoikamanu, Papali'i, Pole, Twal, Sam Fainu, Laulili'i, Fa'agutu and Matamua.
 
Dennisspicer1 said:
With money available,

I would make it
$6ML for 5 years.

when you compare what we were paying a previous half that we seldomly cheered for doing something great,
this guy would give us a bit of the Benji feeling back, and give our supporters something to cheer about, and he definately would help our team win more games than lose.
I think he would be worth it.
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PERHAPS. But what is the thinking behind offering more than the Dogs on the 5 year deal? Are we that unattractive?

Has offering more money ever guaranteed the player before? If Luai doesn't want to be at the club, the extra money over 5 years won't matter to him. Is that fair to say?
 
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Roar_Power said:
I don't think thats the case. I purely believe from recent commentary that Richardson doesn't believe in paying props that sort of money as they aren't ''game changers''. The funds are better spent elsewhere - halves and fullback for example.
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Richo has said our forwards are stocked fine to be propped up with juniors and should spend the money elsewhere. That was the reason they pulled the AFB deal.
 
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