Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[tigertuff]

Penrith seem to cope alright. Their backs aren't really big.

Sorry JR - ya beat me to it

 

[lathami]

Naden should not be in our team again,his stupidity has cost us 2 games recently due to his poor discipline.Off load him during the off season he is a liability

I agree he should be in KOE but I reckon it’s our attack that is costing us games. Even after the double sinbinning we had more than enough chances to win the game. Attack is our major problem at the moment.

 

[Vicious]

I agree he should be in KOE but I reckon it’s our attack that is costing us games. Even after the double sinbinning we had more than enough chances to win the game. Attack is our major problem at the moment.

I agree he should be in KOE but I reckon it’s our attack that is costing us games. Even after the double sinbinning we had more than enough chances to win the game. Attack is our major problem at the moment.

Exactly right.
The frustration and stupidity only escalates from the frustration of constantly having such a boring predictable attack.
I’ve been saying for 2 years you need a good attack minded fullback and edge back rowers that run a hard fast line all day long to allow the halves to play.
In saying this the kicking game from our halves hasn’t been up the scratch either.

 

[batboy]

Penrith seem to cope alright. Their backs aren't really big.

I see this a lot,
Doesn't seem to be much consideration given to Penriths game.

Easier to have smaller backs when you're mostly playing the game down one end,
And they can graze upfield for 20-30m untouched on the majority of the kick returns.

They do plenty of tough carries, Don't get me wrong....
But To'o and Turuva would struggle in our side atm if they were swapped.
Tito gets monstered plenty don't worry....
To'o not so much monstered,
But has plenty of deficiencies in his game that would be well exposed here.

 

[Vicious]

Penrith seem to cope alright. Their backs aren't really big.

At full strength both of the Panthers centres are wrecking balls who always run hard and tackle hard, plus have the ability play their wingers at the right time.
We have Olam who fits into this category, we desperately need someone capable on the right.
Comparing us the the Panthers makes no sense as they have good halves, good edge back rowers who run hard fast lines every time they play and have a fullback who adds an extra dimension to their attack.
We don’t have this and therefore need an aerial threat out wide to help compensate for what we lack.
Alaimalo showing signs of improvement, would be nice if our kicker could put the ball in the right areas to give him a chance.

 

[rugbygoated]

Seriously if we have Olam, Turuva and Laulilli all in our 2-5 we will have to enter in the Dwarf Competition.
We might get away with 2 short players within our 2-5, definately not any more.

I know you focus on negatives a lot but this is not an issue

 

[Vicious]

I know you focus on negatives a lot but this is not an issue

You don’t think rival teams will target us aerially if we have three of our 2-5 well under 6 foot tall ?
Turuva might play fullback and save it being an issue.

 

[tigertuff]

At full strength both of the Panthers centres are wrecking balls who always run hard and tackle hard, plus have the ability play their wingers at the right time.
We have Olam who fits into this category, we desperately need someone capable on the right.
Comparing us the the Panthers makes no sense as they have good halves, good edge back rowers who run hard fast lines every time they play and have a fullback who adds an extra dimension to their attack.
We don’t have this and therefore need an aerial threat out wide to help compensate for what we lack.
Alaimalo showing signs of improvement, would be nice if our kicker could put the ball in the right areas to give him a chance.

Your original post was about us being dwarfs and not being big enough. Whilst I agree with you (sleepy and Dopey are already in the backline now), size is not always the deciding factor in getting wins. I'll take heart over size any day.

 

[Needaname]

Spot on.

We need to make it like buying a house... Yiu have certain criteria you want and you stick hard and fast to that bar an extrely exceptional circumstance
Big
Powerful
Fast (most crucial)
Don't settle for anything lass however in reality our shopping list is quite restricted in we can't afford to pick and choose... We're beggars and can't be choosy

The most important 2 are intelligence and diligence.

 

[Glenji95]

You don’t think rival teams will target us aerially if we have three of our 2-5 well under 6 foot tall ?
Turuva might play fullback and save it being an issue.

Turuva is under 6 ft so Fullback comes with a risk for him if you’re basing it off our players not being 6 ft tall minimum.

 

[rugbygoated]

You don’t think rival teams will target us aerially if we have three of our 2-5 well under 6 foot tall ?
Turuva might play fullback and save it being an issue.

Turuva is good in the air. Staines is shit so it doesn't matter what his height is. I am certain that we will have someone in the juniors who is a good fit there. Alaimalo isn't short

 

[Vicious]

Turuva is under 6 ft so Fullback comes with a risk for him if you’re basing it off our players not being 6 ft tall minimum.

If Turuva plays fullback we improve as a side dramatically, but even he is not what you would call a classic ball playing fullback with a kicking game to assist the halves.
Someone mentioned it’s much better having shorter smaller players with plenty of heart, than taller bigger players with no heart and I agree with that comment 💯 but surely we can find a couple of big, tall & fast outside backs who also have half a brain and play with heart ?
Jeral Skelton, Sam Stonestreet, Grant Anderson, Blake Wilson just to name a few that can potentially fill a couple of pieces to our puzzle and not cost a lot to find out.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Turuva is good in the air. Staines is shit so it doesn't matter what his height is. I am certain that we will have someone in the juniors who is a good fit there. Alaimalo isn't short

I'm hoping at least two of Haemasi Makasini, Nav Willett & Solo Saukuru can make it. If developed properly, they should all make NRL. All 3 good in the air.

 

[Vicious]

I'm hoping at least two of Haemasi Makasini, Nav Willett & Solo Saukuru can make it. If developed properly, they should all make NRL. All 3 good in the air.

I think there’s a reason why Solo is playing Ron Massey Cup.
Nav looks like he has something, just needs to get physically stronger which should happen before too long and we need to hope we retain Makasini as physical specimens like him don’t grow on trees.

 

[Glenji95]

If Turuva plays fullback we improve as a side dramatically, but even he is not what you would call a classic ball playing fullback with a kicking game to assist the halves.
Someone mentioned it’s much better having shorter smaller players with plenty of heart, than taller bigger players with no heart and I agree with that comment 💯 but surely we can find a couple of big, tall & fast outside backs who also have half a brain and play with heart ?
Jeral Skelton, Sam Stonestreet, Grant Anderson, Blake Wilson just to name a few that can potentially fill a couple of pieces to our puzzle and not cost a lot to find out.

Haven’t seen Turuva play Fullback in first grade so I can’t judge unless he gets that chance. I know he has in Cup but different grade altogether. As for the players you mentioned just because they are stuck doesn’t always mean they’ll go to a club like ours to play footy when some are happy being depth like Jonah Pezet, he’s fine being stuck behind Munster and Hughes. I know he’s injured himself at the moment but even he’s happy to be stuck behind them because he could be playing first grade elsewhere but chose to stay and be depth. Some players are ok with that I’m not saying they are because I don’t know but some are willing to stay where they are than come to us. Besides I think only 2 of them are off contract so you can’t even make a play for all of them.

 

[ancient_magpie]

I think there’s a reason why Solo is playing Ron Massey Cup.
Nav looks like he has something, just needs to get physically stronger which should happen before too long and we need to hope we retain Makasini as physical specimens like him don’t grow on trees.

Vicious any idea why Ngutlic is not playing maybe he's in Ron Massey.?

 

[weststigerman]

Someone for next year

Braidon Burns
Mawene Hiroto
Raymond Vaega
Paul Alamoti
Daniel Tupou

All of those bar Tupou are reserve grade players.

 

[Vicious]

Vicious any idea why Ngutlic is not playing maybe he's in Ron Massey.?

He hasn’t been playing anywhere.
Often seen on the sidelines of NSW Cup games, so I can only assume he’s still injured.
He has all the required physical attributes if he can ever get back on the field and show he has the required skill and commitment.

 

[weststigerman]

You don’t think rival teams will target us aerially if we have three of our 2-5 well under 6 foot tall ?
Turuva might play fullback and save it being an issue.

Couldn't they just bomb to the fullback?

 

[Vicious]

Haven’t seen Turuva play Fullback in first grade so I can’t judge unless he gets that chance. I know he has in Cup but different grade altogether. As for the players you mentioned just because they are stuck doesn’t always mean they’ll go to a club like ours to play footy when some are happy being depth like Jonah Pezet, he’s fine being stuck behind Munster and Hughes. I know he’s injured himself at the moment but even he’s happy to be stuck behind them because he could be playing first grade elsewhere but chose to stay and be depth. Some players are ok with that I’m not saying they are because I don’t know but some are willing to stay where they are than come to us. Besides I think only 2 of them are off contract so you can’t even make a play for all of them.

A little birdy told me that both Sam Stonestreet and Kade Dykes are getting frustrated at lack of NRL opportunities at the Sharks and would be open to a move for better NRL opportunities even though both are currently contracted until the end of the 2025 season.
Dykes has been injury prone which is not ideal, but it’s a well known fact he is one of the most talented emerging playing within the NRL system that is not currently playing regular NRL.
Equally at home at fullback, 5/8 or centre, a player with his talent would improve our attack immensely particularly if playing fullback.
Stonestreet is the prototype big, tall and fast winger who always competes hard for the high ball and regularly makes good post contact metres. He can also play centre and would be a great acquisition for a team like us.
Jeral Skelton and Grant Anderson are both off contract, they are both big, tall, fast powerful athletes who would help improve our depth and push hard for a regular NRL position.
Blake Wilson is another who is under contract with the Bulldogs, but has clearly shown he’s a more than capable NRL standard winger, very good under the high ball and a good finisher. He can’t get a look in at the Bulldogs NRL team when they are full strength, why wouldn’t he be looking elsewhere for a better opportunity?
Toby Sexton is a much more natural halfback than anyone we have, has a much better kicking game than anyone we have also. He’s off contract and I think he’d be well and truly open to a mid season switch frustrated at lack of NRL opportunities at the Bulldogs.
Matt Doorey and Billy Burns both good hole running edge back rowers that would add much needed depth and potentially become NRL regulars with us this season if they made a mid season switch.
Cooper Jenkins a big, tall and mobile prop currently dominating Qld Cuo and currently has a 2nd tier contract with the Dolphins. A definite NRL player of the future, he would definitely improve our depth and offer a prop with good leg speed and try scoring ability, something we don’t have.