Justin Olam #281

Tucker said:
Every side needs one elite prop.
The closest we have is Klemmer.
Click to expand...
I ... You see the problem here.

So if I am that Elite prop, do I want to be a clubs sole battering ram?

James Tamou hated that job.
Ryan Matterson wanted $$$, then $$$$$ then $$$$$$$$$$$$$ to do that.

The Sharks kept Paul Gallen who even threatened to walk if they were not going to spend their entire cap. Heck who wants to be a body punching bag so your club doesn't come 17th.
But because the Sharks kept Gallen, he was extremely useful in recruiting Lewis, half our forward pack, Prior and even later on with Dale Finucane.

I have zero doubt that AFB talked to Gallen about injury management past 30 even 35.


Thankfully, we got Papalii... then Klemmer and while Sheens was a factor having Papalii I think helped. Then Bateman looks at us and signs on, which I reckon he wouldn't have touched us without the other 2x players.

We should stop thinking "one elite Prop", because elite props want to play with other elite props. Having a single elite prop to push through gaps means your defense is going to suck, Obviously people won't try to run through Payne Haas.


Yet you have a good point, the difference between "elite" and good players is huge. Payne Haas, AFB, win entire games for their sides. It's worth the money to go for elite over good. Having one player like James Tamou, etc carry the side hasn't worked for us.
 
crazycat said:
I ... You see the problem here.

So if I am that Elite prop, do I want to be a clubs sole battering ram?

James Tamou hated that job.
Ryan Matterson wanted $$$, then $$$$$ then $$$$$$$$$$$$$ to do that.

The Sharks kept Paul Gallen who even threatened to walk if they were not going to spend their entire cap. Heck who wants to be a body punching bag so your club doesn't come 17th.
But because the Sharks kept Gallen, he was extremely useful in recruiting Lewis, half our forward pack, Prior and even later on with Dale Finucane.

I have zero doubt that AFB talked to Gallen about injury management past 30 even 35.


Thankfully, we got Papalii... then Klemmer and while Sheens was a factor having Papalii I think helped. Then Bateman looks at us and signs on, which I reckon he wouldn't have touched us without the other 2x players.

We should stop thinking "one elite Prop", because elite props want to play with other elite props. Having a single elite prop to push through gaps means your defense is going to suck, Obviously people won't try to run through Payne Haas.


Yet you have a good point, the difference between "elite" and good players is huge. Payne Haas, AFB, win entire games for their sides. It's worth the money to go for elite over good. Having one player like James Tamou, etc carry the side hasn't worked for us.
Click to expand...
Tamou was not elite when he came here. Just like Klemmer, his best days were behind him.
We needed that AFB signature.
Look at last years top 4;
Penrith had JFH who was supported by Leota and Leniu
Brisbane had Haas who was supported by Flegler and Palasia
Melbourne had NAS who was supported by Kamikamica and Welch
Warriors had AFB who was supported by Barnett and Curren
 
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innsaneink said:
but I guess as we know we haven't been in a position to pick & choose.
1. Identify what's required
2.short-list of potential candidates
3. Sell the vision

Too often I think we've been reactive rather than proactive... I'd have loved AFB here but I guess Richo knows more then me... Though I remember a long time ago, I think it was PeterMoore saying buy props, buy more props and when yiu think you have enough... Get some more... Dunno how applicable this is these days
Click to expand...

Richo really annoyed me on publicly announcing that we were not chasing AFB. I know we made a play, I wonder if Scott Fulton orchastrated that or offered the Klemmer swap as surely he was heavily involved.

We should have kept this closer to our chest, till the bidding wars had ended.

The Peter Moore saying of having more props is so true, as it was Souths who had almost 7 at one point. That point though was when they made the finals.

If your a prop, you want to play in the sides with Cohen Hess and Jason T or Payne Haas. Buy getting good props you can keep attracting good props... no one wants to get smashed to a pulp.
 
Tucker said:
Tamou was not elite when he came here. Just like Klemmer, his best days were behind him.
We needed that AFB signature.
Look at last years top 4;
Penrith had JFH who was supported by Leota and Leniu
Brisbane had Haas who was supported by Flegler and Palasia
Melbourne had NAS who was supported by Kamikamica and Welch
Warriors had AFB who was supported by Barnett and Curren
Click to expand...
Klemmer is a long way in front of tamou when he played for us
 
Tucker said:
Yes but he isn’t elite anymore.
We needed a top liner that he could support.
Click to expand...
He‘s elite compared to what we’ve had in recent years. Was easily one of our best last year. One thing I learned about him in 23 is that he’s one of those players you can’t help but love when he’s wearing your jersey. Kind of like some other guy we signed recently whose name is escaping me.
 
Tucker said:
Tamou was not elite when he came here. Just like Klemmer, his best days were behind him.
We needed that AFB signature.
Look at last years top 4;
Penrith had JFH who was supported by Leota and Leniu
Brisbane had Haas who was supported by Flegler and Palasia
Melbourne had NAS who was supported by Kamikamica and Welch
Warriors had AFB who was supported by Barnett and Curren
Click to expand...
yep so not "one elite prop"...

But I get it having AFB supported by Klemmer and Stefano is a stack better then
Klemmer supported by Stef and Papalii.

Heck I don't know that I would have gone Luai ahead of AFB, especially considering the amount of Unproven halves we have signed...

At least we have some supporting forwards who earn their P checks and would start in most sides.
 
Tucker said:
Yes but he isn’t elite anymore.
We needed a top liner that he could support.
Click to expand...
I totally agree.

Yet a topliner, called Payne Haas was telling the Broncos that he wanted a get out clause if they did not regularly make the top 4... Can't see him joining #17 somehow.

We got to build our front row and claw back up the ladder, then we will be in a good position to lure guys like Haas.
 
crazycat said:
I ... You see the problem here.

So if I am that Elite prop, do I want to be a clubs sole battering ram?

James Tamou hated that job.
Ryan Matterson wanted $$$, then $$$$$ then $$$$$$$$$$$$$ to do that.

The Sharks kept Paul Gallen who even threatened to walk if they were not going to spend their entire cap. Heck who wants to be a body punching bag so your club doesn't come 17th.
But because the Sharks kept Gallen, he was extremely useful in recruiting Lewis, half our forward pack, Prior and even later on with Dale Finucane.

I have zero doubt that AFB talked to Gallen about injury management past 30 even 35.


Thankfully, we got Papalii... then Klemmer and while Sheens was a factor having Papalii I think helped. Then Bateman looks at us and signs on, which I reckon he wouldn't have touched us without the other 2x players.

We should stop thinking "one elite Prop", because elite props want to play with other elite props. Having a single elite prop to push through gaps means your defense is going to suck, Obviously people won't try to run through Payne Haas.


Yet you have a good point, the difference between "elite" and good players is huge. Payne Haas, AFB, win entire games for their sides. It's worth the money to go for elite over good. Having one player like James Tamou, etc carry the side hasn't worked for us.
Click to expand...
I saw the name Finucane in there. Imo a terrible buy for the Sharks, similar to an Adam Blair, either injured/suspended/ineffective .
Hope we get a lot more bang for our bucks from Olam this year and Luai in 25.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
He‘s elite compared to what we’ve had in recent years. Was easily one of our best last year. One thing I learned about him in 23 is that he’s one of those players you can’t help but love when he’s wearing your jersey. Kind of like some other guy we signed recently whose name is escaping me.
Click to expand...
Agree 👍. Klem had a good season. Just about our best forward. I love his purpose and passion. He gives 100% - 100% of the time, and never goes missing. I'm a fan
 
Halbrowne61 said:
I saw the name Finucane in there. Imo a terrible buy for the Sharks, similar to an Adam Blair, either injured/suspended/ineffective .
Hope we get a lot more bang for our bucks from Olam this year and Luai in 25.
Click to expand...
Finucane and Blair were very similar, although Blair was brought on performance, he was brought on Leadership too. Blair was the 4th person out of Slater, Smith, Cronk and Blair... the leadership group at Melbourne.

Naturally that did not work out for us.

Finucane however did work out for the Sharks. They came 6th, slightly lower then the year before.
Compare this to the Cowboys who went from a top 4 side too: 11th.

What the Sharks have done with Finucane has invested heavily in leadership. His stats as a forward matter, but the attitude he brings is what they wanted and what they want him to push to the players he plays with.

Now they have signed AFB, I kinda expect big things.
 
crazycat said:
Finucane and Blair were very similar, although Blair was brought on performance, he was brought on Leadership too. Blair was the 4th person out of Slater, Smith, Cronk and Blair... the leadership group at Melbourne.

Naturally that did not work out for us.

Finucane however did work out for the Sharks. They came 6th, slightly lower then the year before.
Compare this to the Cowboys who went from a top 4 side too: 11th.

What the Sharks have done with Finucane has invested heavily in leadership. His stats as a forward matter, but the attitude he brings is what they wanted and what they want him to push to the players he plays with.

Now they have signed AFB, I kinda expect big things.
Click to expand...
I do too. Coincidentally most of their starting pack is off contract this year or next. I’d say lots will be keen to secure their next contract to play alongside AFB and will lift.
 
I think most on here have forgot that sheens made Blair drop heaps of weight so he could play in sheens system, Blair was never a bad player just could not play in the way sheens wanted him too. KLEMMER I believe was in the same boat last last year , he had slimmed down and I think he played nearly 65 - 70 minutes a game , he lost his ability to bust the line and he rarely off loaded , hoping Benji doesn’t go down the same road
 
crazycat said:
Finucane and Blair were very similar, although Blair was brought on performance, he was brought on Leadership too. Blair was the 4th person out of Slater, Smith, Cronk and Blair... the leadership group at Melbourne.

Naturally that did not work out for us.

Finucane however did work out for the Sharks. They came 6th, slightly lower then the year before.
Compare this to the Cowboys who went from a top 4 side too: 11th.

What the Sharks have done with Finucane has invested heavily in leadership. His stats as a forward matter, but the attitude he brings is what they wanted and what they want him to push to the players he plays with.

Now they have signed AFB, I kinda expect big things.
Click to expand...
IMHO Finucane has been a poor buy on the field and pray tell, how do you know his leadership and development has worked off it ?
I would have thought the new coach would have been more responsible.
And if you expect big things, all they have to do when they make the finals is win. So is that AFBs role or is he too going to be an off field guru helping other guys attitudes.
Pleeeese !
 
bptiger 0 said:
I think most on here have forgot that sheens made Blair drop heaps of weight so he could play in sheens system, Blair was never a bad player just could not play in the way sheens wanted him too. KLEMMER I believe was in the same boat last last year , he had slimmed down and I think he played nearly 65 - 70 minutes a game , he lost his ability to bust the line and he rarely off loaded , hoping Benji doesn’t go down the same road
Click to expand...
Blair was only here for a year before Sheens was 86’d.
 
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