Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[BAGNF05]

Just on Pole's game on the weekend, he looked gassed to me. However his footwork still caused massive problems for the opposition on a number of occasions. I expect him to be enormous this weekend with some match fitness behind him.

I haven’t put a line through him and hope we keep developing him but he’s not one that the strong clubs would have in their starting sides every week. I’m always pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong but need to see him improve before I’m in his fan club.

 

[king_sirro]

I haven’t put a line through him and hope we keep developing him but he’s not one that the strong clubs would have in their starting sides every week. I’m always pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong but need to see him improve before I’m in his fan club.

But he is unlikely to be in our starting side too

 

[BAGNF05]

But he is unlikely to be in our starting side too

Somebody above reckons he’s a genuine first grader, just offering my rebuke.

 

[Vicious]

Pole at least has himself in great physical condition to give himself every chance to produce his best.
I agree I expected a bit more from him last week and will be very interested to see how he goes against a big, physical Dragons team in Mudgee.

 

[Vicious]

Just on Pole's game on the weekend, he looked gassed to me. However his footwork still caused massive problems for the opposition on a number of occasions. I expect him to be enormous this weekend with some match fitness behind him.

You could be spot on.
Obviously anywhere around 500k would seem like a good deal for Bula based on potential, but if we are talking 700k per season for him, we’d be hoping to see much more from him in attack to live up to that value. Again it’s only media hearsay, but in comparison it’s been reported Scott Drinkwater is earning 700k and he is no doubt currently a much superior player.

 

[king_sirro]

Somebody above reckons he’s a genuine first grader, just offering my rebuke.

I understand.

Just on that, Pole would make the 17 of every team in the NRL in my opinion. So I would say he is a genuine first grader but he does give a vibe that he may not progress much further, so I understand your caution with him.

 

[king_sirro]

You could be spot on.
Obviously anywhere around 500k would seem like a good deal for Bula based on potential, but if we are talking 700k per season for him, we’d be hoping to see much more from him in attack to live up to that value. Again it’s only media hearsay, but in comparison it’s been reported Scott Drinkwater is earning 700k and he is no doubt currently a much superior player.

Maybe it gets to around 700k towards the final year, I'm not sure.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Apparently his fourth year is an option. Something they don’t tell you in the fine print when announcing these things.

 

[BAGNF05]

I understand.

Just on that, Pole would make the 17 of every team in the NRL in my opinion. So I would say he is a genuine first grader but he does give a vibe that he may not progress much further, so I understand your caution with him.

I’d agree he’s on the bench for most NRL sides but to me that’s not a lock down first grade talent. I’m talking about guys who are picked for first grade without a second thought.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

That’s the figure that’s been widely reported.
Do you have information to say it’s much less than that ?

Mate if you get the calculator out and used your numbers adding Olam and some others we wouldn’t be able to register 5+ player contracts even on min wage.

This year Luai isn’t even on the books.

Re Bula the press reported he is on $2.7 over 5yrs (upgraded last season payment = roughly 540k)

Api got extended and doubt he is on more than what he was to come here, extension was probably more related to restructuring his contract into last and this season for cash into outer years (normally what happens).

A month or so ago we had formal offers to AFB, Luai and Olam on the table + started extension talks with Stefano at the same time to do so you need cap space - that was without Nofa off the books also.

The reported figures if even close (from Buzz we know he makes them up - he says he does) aren’t cap holds & they often include 3rd party (so it’s the package).

Also they are often the average not per season - Bateman probably had moving costs, visa sponsorship etc baked into it. Brooks last year was massively back loaded etc.

Cap management has a science to it and has alot of mechanics around things especially around sponsorship and 3rd party++ dealings. I know someome who is heavily involved in this at another NRL club and it’s very interesting how they manage to find room to make things happen under the right opportunity.

 

[Vicious]

Mate if you get the calculator out and used your numbers adding Olam and some others we wouldn’t be able to register 5+ player contracts even on min wage.

This year Luai isn’t even on the books.

Re Bula the press reported he is on $2.7 over 5yrs (upgraded last season payment = roughly 540k)

Api got extended and doubt he is on more than what he was to come here, extension was probably more related to restructuring his contract into last and this season for cash into outer years (normally what happens).

A month or so ago we had formal offers to AFB, Luai and Olam on the table + started extension talks with Stefano at the same time to do so you need cap space - that was without Nofa off the books also.

The reported figures if even close (from Buzz we know he makes them up - he says he does) aren’t cap holds & they often include 3rd party (so it’s the package).

Also they are often the average not per season - Bateman probably had moving costs, visa sponsorship etc baked into it. Brooks last year was massively back loaded etc.

Cap management has a science to it and has alot of mechanics around things especially around sponsorship and 3rd party++ dealings. I know someome who is heavily involved in this at another NRL club and it’s very interesting how they manage to find room to make things happen under the right opportunity.

Zero Tackle lists most NRL player salary figures, I’m not sure how close or far off the mark they are ?

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Zero Tackle lists most NRL player salary figures, I’m not sure how close or far off the mark they are ?

I think their is alot of guessing. Player managers do leak some out but their interest is to always inflate the numbers.

 

[Wiz]

Yes.

But we also need a variety of different body sizes in both attack and defence.

Our issue is we've targeted too many nuggety types. Olam, Faatape and Feledy in the centres. Both Laulilii brothers. Fa'agutu, Tofaeano, Mason, Nicholas and these are just the boys under 180cm who've trained with first grade in the off season. We have a few very big boys like Miller, Klem, Stef, Nav, Lobby and Sam F but our average size is smaller than every other nrl club i'd dare say.

Has been for more than a decade.

 

[Moh]

Crichton being named Bulldogs captain is wild to me.

They make some odd decisions. Hope every one of them blows up in their faces.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Crichton being named Bulldogs captain is wild to me.

They make some odd decisions. Hope every one of them blows up in their faces.

That’s really left field. Would have thought Mahoney was the obvious choice.

 

[hank37w]

Hope the announcement of Crichton as sole captain has plenty of noses out of joint and derails their season big time.

 

[Needaname]

Salary Cap was 9.4million in 2022 and there was a 25% increase for the 2023 season. The cap was at 12.3million last season and has gone up again this season (not sure the figure).

This should give a good idea as to why so many player salaries have jumped up quite drastically over the last year, particularly halves and bigger name players. Fans get so up in arms when they hear about these big salaries when players sign contracts, but don't really understand what the value is against the actual cap. In some cases, players get a bigger contract but are actually taking up less cap space.

To put this into context, a player on $800,000 a season in 2022 would be getting around 8.5% of the cap. 8.5% of the cap last season (2023) was around 1.05mil a season.

Thanks, Gese I’m behind in my cap amount assumptions. Probably goes to show how the other teams can put those sort of lists together. We must have a bit of cap space this year surely?

 

[Needaname]

Yes.

But we also need a variety of different body sizes in both attack and defence.

Our issue is we've targeted too many nuggety types. Olam, Faatape and Feledy in the centres. Both Laulilii brothers. Fa'agutu, Tofaeano, Mason, Nicholas and these are just the boys under 180cm who've trained with first grade in the off season. We have a few very big boys like Miller, Klem, Stef, Nav, Lobby and Sam F but our average size is smaller than every other nrl club i'd dare say.

Maybe the club recruits for the juniors based on passing height.

 

[Tito Santana]

None of those except maybe Laulilli possess the powerhouse hit ups out of our own danger zone which every good team requires.
Two I mentioned in Semi Valemai and Tony Francis both possess powerful hit ups out of their teams danger zone, we need someone like that in my opinion.

I’m really excited to see Alimalo this weekend. Very talented and proven in rugby. Hopefully he can bring that across.

 

[Tito Santana]

Every NRL club had plenty of time and opportunity to sign Faatape if they wanted to.
None of them did and Wests Tigers have given him an opportunity. Based on his first game for us, he looks to be a very promising player.

He looked right at home in that centre spot. I’d have him starting in round 2 if he plays like that.