Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

So let's say one of these juniors turns into a superstar and demands 1.2 million a year. What is your plan?

The plan should be to make sure we have the salary cap space to keep them should that happen.

 

[weststigers]

I can simplify it, He’s worried signing a guy with three premiership rings, Origin and World Cup‘s on his resume will put us in danger of losing,,,,A 16 year old.

Surely we can have both

 

[weststigers]

The plan is make sure we have the salary cap space to keep them should that happen.

But another juniors path will be blocked...are you saying we should just make the cap space at the expense of the next junior?

 

[Vicious]

But another juniors path will be blocked...are you saying we should just make the cap space at the expense of the next junior?

No as Balmain Boy explained, generational talent doesn’t regularly fall in your lap.
We last had Tedesco, Moses and Brooks come though and stuffed that up, I don’t want to see it happen again.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Surely we can have both

Apparently not 🤔

 

[phil1986]

But another juniors path will be blocked...are you saying we should just make the cap space at the expense of the next junior?

You do realise the last 10 years + we have put faith in junior talent, has lead us here?

Dont get me wrong, there’s much more to the story.

But for a team that has come last for 2 years, when an origin and international half becomes available and we don’t try to obtain him….well. How does that work out, or look?

If we can buy a winner, that makes us better, are we doing alright?

 

[weststigers]

You do realise the last 10 years + we have put faith in junior talent, has lead us here?

Dont get me wrong, there’s much more to the story.

But for a team that has come last for 2 years, when an origin and international half becomes available and we don’t try to obtain him….well. How does that work out, or look?

If we can buy a winner, that makes us better, are we doing alright?

Mate, go back and read my post history in this thread with Vicious…I’m on your side.

Lesson in life. Do your research. Don’t go off half cocked before you have all the facts. This will set you up for life. You’re welcome.

 

[weststigers]

No as Balmain Boy explained, generational talent doesn’t regularly fall in your lap.
We last had Tedesco, Moses and Brooks come though and stuffed that up, I don’t want to see it happen again.

So your stance is we shouldn’t have signed Luai because Galvin, Fainu and Sullivan will be NRL ready by 2025?

 

[crazycat]

The story is that Ilias got injured and we deemed he wasn't worth rehabilitating. Poor from us in my opinion. Papenhuyzen a similar story - he was chronically injured, Melbourne came to him and told him how they would build him into a more durable athlete, and he was sold.

We don't do injury management very well at all.

That said, it would be very hard to pick. It's the tragedy of Rugby league. Those injured in the lower grades, don't even make first grade and they have a career ending injury and not much else. I recall a "Diamond?" playing for Manly who played on advice of the coach with a very injured ankle in reserves for a year... Yea guess what sport he will never be playing again (probably most of them).

All said we don't do injury management well. AD clearly was weak, Chris McQueen was signed with a broken Neck crying out loud.

It's amazing how other clubs seem to know the basics and we can't get this stuff right. But hey who needs a Tackling Coach?

 

[crazycat]

Reading the list of off contract halves for 2025 really nails home just how big of a signing Luai is. There's a a dearth of halves talent at the moment. Probably wouldn't of had another chance to sign a half of Luai's calibre for a long time.

Man.... Luai....

Seriously I wish we did this deal without the whole Sezer/Fainu/Sullivan signings.
Yes there is a derth of Halves talent. I don't know who is going to step up, but I suspect we are stuck with Sezer and will punt either Fainu or Sullivan soon.

It's also that test, the "hey would 2023 be very different if we had signed Mitchell Moses"? and if so HOW?

Parra kinda had a ceiling in 2023 of 10th. Luai ain't MM, heck the guy seems far more decent. Yet 2024, with much the same squad as 2023 + Luai... I would be really interested to see how we do.

 

[ancient_magpie]

No as Balmain Boy explained, generational talent doesn’t regularly fall in your lap.
We last had Tedesco, Moses and Brooks come though and stuffed that up, I don’t want to see it happen again.

 

[ancient_magpie]

No as Balmain Boy explained, generational talent doesn’t regularly fall in your lap.
We last had Tedesco, Moses and Brooks come though and stuffed that up, I don’t want to see it happen a

 

[Vicious]

So your stance is we shouldn’t have signed Luai because Galvin, Fainu and Sullivan will be NRL ready by 2025?

No.
I believe we are next to no chance of making the top 4 or wining a GF by spending 1.2 million per season on Luai as he’s not worth near that much and it will heavily restrict our ability to retain and recruit other quality players while paying him that much,
If he was willing to come across for 800k per season my stance would be much different.
We have agreed to pay him 1.2 million per season for the sake of recruiting a high profile player, not paying him on his true ability.

 

[weststigers]

Apparently not 🤔

Indeed

 

[ancient_magpie]

Vicious your pissing into the wind they think Luai is the second coming even though Penrith dont care if he goes.

 

[weststigers]

No.
I believe we are next to no chance of making the top 4 or wining a GF by spending 1.2 million per season on Luai as he’s not worth near that much and it will heavily restrict our ability to retain and recruit other quality players while paying him that much,

I’m still confused. Forgive me.

What is it you think we should have done around Luai?

Sign him, but not pay him as much?

 

[weststigers]

Vicious your pissing into the wind they think Luai is the second coming even though Penrith dont care if he goes.

What’s your idea? Wait for juniors for the next 3-5 years?

Then piss and moan on here how we keep losing while we wait for our “second coming” juniors? Do you think our juniors will stick around while we keep coming last?

 

[crazycat]

So your stance is we shouldn’t have signed Luai because Galvin, Fainu and Sullivan will be NRL ready by 2025?

My stance (not theirs).

We shouldn't go on a halves Spending Spree and then when choosing between:
A gun 5/8
A gun Forward
A Former Gun Center who may have lost form.

Sign the 5/8.

Yes Luai is talent, he could add a stack to the team and combine with Api. Yes halves are in short supply.

Flip it we really needed a halfback who can control our side. 5/8 isn't halfback and Fainu/Sullivan all seem more 5/8 then Halfback.

You hire AFB and suddenly our pack goes from Good to Dominant, You hire our 4th 5/8 and maybe our halves 'gel' or maybe not. Our backline weaknesses and struggles in our forward pack are still present.

Luai, a good player but not exactly what we need.

 

[Vicious]

I’m still confused. Forgive me.

What is it you think we should have done around Luai?

Sign him, but not pay him as much?

No, have the same stance as 15 of the other NRL clubs and only be willing to pay him his true worth which is 800k.
Not pay big overs just for the sake of recruiting somebody with a high profile.

 

[weststigers]

No, have the same stance as 15 of the other NRL clubs and only be willing to pay him his true worth which is 800k.
Not pay big overs just for the sake of recruiting somebody with a high profile.

Ok, so in that scenario, he would have stayed at Penrith or signed with the dogs.

What would you have done then?