Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

I know. Must be too much common sense for previous coaching regimes & recruitment bosses.

Well let's have a crack ourselves!

Disclaimer being that I think the club will see what players can ultimately be developed from within to fill these necessities.

#1 WING: Big body, tall, reasonably fast, good in the air, get us on the front foot early in sets, a finishing threat by hand or foot.

- Lobb, Alaimalo, Willett are our hopes from within.

#2 LOCK: Strong defensively, very good line speed in defence, strong ball carrier, ability to pass as a link man.

- Seyfarth, Matamua, Faagutu, Laulilii are our internal hopes.

#3 PROP: Powerful runner, good leg speed & drive, impact, aggression, solid defensively.

- Tofaeono could develop, not sure of others

#4 BACK ROW DEPTH: Very good edge defence, solid ball runner, ability to play centre if used as a utility.

- Tumeth, Sukkar, Vaihu (I've written off Kepaoa sorry)

Anything else?
Yes, our issues lie with our previous management giving nrl contracts to players too soon, as the only way they had to entice them to stay. Ideally Miller, Feledy and Kit would be on no more than development contracts this season, if they were then we might have been able to sign proven first graders in the top 30. An extra Brown etc.

That back row depth chart is very scary, and not much coming through the grades, though i look forward to watching out flegg boys on saturday.
 
Yes, our issues lie with our previous management giving nrl contracts to players too soon, as the only way they had to entice them to stay. Ideally Miller, Feledy and Kit would be on no more than development contracts this season, if they were then we might have been able to sign proven first graders in the top 30. An extra Brown etc.

That back row depth chart is very scary, and not much coming through the grades, though i look forward to watching out flegg boys on saturday.

Having Nathan Brown in the Squad would be superior than both Matamua, Tumeth even Seyfarth maybe...
 
I seem to be one of the few who like how the Bulldogs have recruited to get their team off the bottom. One outstanding player and then a whole lot of players who were blocked at good clubs from being regular first graders but have demonstrated that they are more than capable to do the job. They now have options and depth which is often the undoing of lower teams when injuries challenge teams during the season.
Gus the Willy old player recruiter.
Makes public comments like we’ve recruited with purpose.
Not worried about our front row, we’ll have a hard working pack.
Follows that up with we have some exceptional young front rowers. Lock ‘em down ‘Sam Hughes’.
Following that recruits;
Zane Tetevano
Daniel Suluka Fifita
whilst keeping Poasa Faumasili on a Supplementary contract whom I have no doubt will feature in their round 1 team list.
 
Gus the Willy old player recruiter.
Makes public comments like we’ve recruited with purpose.
Not worried about our front row, we’ll have a hard working pack.
Follows that up with we have some exceptional young front rowers. Lock ‘em down ‘Sam Hughes’.
Following that recruits;
Zane Tetevano
Daniel Suluka Fifita
whilst keeping Poasa Faumasili on a Supplementary contract whom I have no doubt will feature in their round 1 team list.
Yeah they will still struggle up front, none of those guys fill you with confidence, bar maybe Hughes, but he'll need time to improve.
Also I think Gus is a willy sometimes too, but I think you mean he's being wily?
 
I know. Must be too much common sense for previous coaching regimes & recruitment bosses.

Well let's have a crack ourselves!

Disclaimer being that I think the club will see what players can ultimately be developed from within to fill these necessities.

#1 WING: Big body, tall, reasonably fast, good in the air, get us on the front foot early in sets, a finishing threat by hand or foot.

- Lobb, Alaimalo, Willett are our hopes from within.

#2 LOCK: Strong defensively, very good line speed in defence, strong ball carrier, ability to pass as a link man.

- Seyfarth, Matamua, Faagutu, Laulilii are our internal hopes.

#3 PROP: Powerful runner, good leg speed & drive, impact, aggression, solid defensively.

- Tofaeono could develop, not sure of others

#4 BACK ROW DEPTH: Very good edge defence, solid ball runner, ability to play centre if used as a utility.

- Tumeth, Sukkar, Vaihu (I've written off Kepaoa sorry)

Anything else?
Just having a look at who is off contract or potentially available in these positions of need that would be worth the club keeping an eye on:

WING: Izaak Thompson, Nick Cotric, Corey Oates. (Cotric & Thompson have the versatility to play centre, Oates previously hasn't wanted to leave Qld)

LOCK: Jack Williams, John Asiata (UK), Jazz Tevaga (Williams versatility in backrow, while Asiata/Tevaga can be lock/hooker utilities if Jake Simpkin moves on).

PROP: Oregon Kaufusi, Patrick Mago (UK).

BACK ROW DEPTH: Luke Garner, Michael Chee Kam, Euan Aitken, Jack Williams.

Any others to add to the watch list?
 
Gus the Willy old player recruiter.
Makes public comments like we’ve recruited with purpose.
Not worried about our front row, we’ll have a hard working pack.
Follows that up with we have some exceptional young front rowers. Lock ‘em down ‘Sam Hughes’.
Following that recruits;
Zane Tetevano
Daniel Suluka Fifita
whilst keeping Poasa Faumasili on a Supplementary contract whom I have no doubt will feature in their round 1 team list.
Poasa was named in the round 1 team
 
Sorry. My bad. Thought they were playing for Bulldogs. Please find it in your heart to forgive me. Land of Opportunity???? Yeh, maybe...
Maybe they were, sorry about the confusion.
On a brighter note, our Jersey Flegg side for Round 1 should be named soon, there might be a couple of future stars named amongst them.
 
Just having a look at who is off contract or potentially available in these positions of need that would be worth the club keeping an eye on:

WING: Izaak Thompson, Nick Cotric, Corey Oates. (Cotric & Thompson have the versatility to play centre, Oates previously hasn't wanted to leave Qld)

LOCK: Jack Williams, John Asiata (UK), Jazz Tevaga (Williams versatility in backrow, while Asiata/Tevaga can be lock/hooker utilities if Jake Simpkin moves on).

PROP: Oregon Kaufusi, Patrick Mago (UK).

BACK ROW DEPTH: Luke Garner, Michael Chee Kam, Euan Aitken, Jack Williams.

Any others to add to the watch list?
Asiata is the only NRL player I have seen play Prop, S/Row, Lock and Halfback. I thought he was very good in all positions. I like him. He would make an outstanding lock. Can ball play, can defend and doesn’t mind the odd niggle. He went well for Leigh last year but haven’t seen him yet this season.
 
2019,2020,2021 and 2022 were failures under Madge. One poor Season, if Ivan stayed for 2019 and we have Bennett 2020. It was a missed opportunity
Hard to say it would’ve just been one poor season. You have to remember our cap was screwed at the time due to Ivan’s overpriced signings on players who were average, or past their peak. Bennett would have struggled the first 2 seasons at best before he could’ve gotten the squad he probably wanted. Also one thing that hasn’t worked out for Bennett has been bad administration. His time at the Knights is proof of that, poor admin and roster is why he struggled there. And let’s be honest our admin was so bad, they probably would’ve sacked Bennett after 2021 or 22 like they did Madge and Sheens.
 
Just having a look at who is off contract or potentially available in these positions of need that would be worth the club keeping an eye on:

WING: Izaak Thompson, Nick Cotric, Corey Oates. (Cotric & Thompson have the versatility to play centre, Oates previously hasn't wanted to leave Qld)
If Thompson can't crack the Souths backline at the moment I wouldn't touch him. Cotric is a myth. Oates is past it.
LOCK: Jack Williams, John Asiata (UK), Jazz Tevaga (Williams versatility in backrow, while Asiata/Tevaga can be lock/hooker utilities if Jake Simpkin moves on).
Don't know much about Williams. Asiata has been out of NRL for three years - surely if he had much to offer someone would have picked him up. I used to like Tevaga as a player, no idea what he has left though.
PROP: Oregon Kaufusi, Patrick Mago (UK).
Kaufusi is ok, nothing special. Mago is a reserve grader.
BACK ROW DEPTH: Luke Garner, Michael Chee Kam, Euan Aitken, Jack Williams.

Any others to add to the watch list?
We've already arseholed Garner and Chee Kam once and neither of them are getting any better. Aitken is a liability. Williams you've already mentioned.

I'd have a look at Tevaga on a train and trial, and will leave it up to others to pass judgement on Williams. The rest would be a waste of a roster spot.
 

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