Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

I really hope at one point this season Benjj goes guns blazing with a halves combination of Galvin at 6 and Latu at 7 for a full 80.

People judging a kid making his debut as a halfback coming off the bench for 20 min stints at dummy half and then expect to see a superstar. It’s just not reality.

I’m surprised Benji hasn’t given him mins at 7 and I know Bud despite the losses has actually shown some promise. I still believe we gotta at least see what that duo would look like before Luai comes.

Latu is special and when given the chance to properly showcase himself in his natural position for a full game will it be known.
Yep we can't judge Latu until his hamstring is back to 100% & he has confidence in it. Everything so far has just been about getting experience it seems. I hope Benji & Moussa invest in the time to get it right for the long-term.
 
no info and merely a suggestion, but surely Jack Howarth’s had a gutful sitting behind Blore, Katoa, Chan and MacDonald at Melbourne. he’d walk backwards onto our right edge next year if Bateman was to leave in addition to Papali’i.
Howarth would have to be the best prospect in the game...

He's wrapped up at the storm long term.
Would take him in a heart beat though.
He looks a super talent.
 
I watch every ESL game intently in order to identify talent. If I ever get a call up to a coaching gig I want to be on the ball.

If I was Richi this is what I would be doing.
Attempt to offload;
Naden
Sullivan
Staines
Toa

In that order.

Naden has hands like fish, but I think he might do ok in the ESL becasue he has size and speed and that’s a combo that lacks in the English game. They have size, they have speed, but not together. If they are going to England we can subsidise his pay very heavily and it’s not in our cap I don’t think. The dilemma is he’s aboriginal and in my experience they get homesick pretty easily. The PC worship they get here won’t be as much there. But who knows if we tip in 250k and another team offers 100 that might be enough because money talks. I also can’t foresee any other nrl team take him on as anything beyond depth at minimum wage. His cards are marked. I hate him too.
Strike a deal to get Wardle to come here as that adds to our playing IQ. Or give Douehi the centre gig.
Sullivan is just excess. I would be telling Jayden that playing a comp that is in between cup and NRL is the greatest thing for his success. He has flair and that is good to have over there. The players that excel the most in that comp is the Luke Brooks type. Sullivan isn’t that far from that.
Again the issue is same as Naden. Aboriginal issues. Worse for Sullivan as apparently he had real issues leaving the Illawarra. That makes England a tough sell for him even if it’s the best move. A deal could be made that could be very lucrative for him too.

Staines. He has speed. They need speed. However teams will not want to waste a quota spot on a winger unless he’s a star. That is the big problem. He might find a home at a cellar dweller like the London broncos but honestly our best bet is he just sees out his contract as a depth player for us and then we kick him out. He’s just a winger.
You could get Matty Ashton or someone over to replace him but I’d look at skelton or Blake Austin that are currently stuck behind good players in their position but should be playing first grade. Would be cheap too. We can’t waste cap on wingers. We spent too much on Suruva and I’m surprised everyone here is overjoyed at that signing.

Toa. Hated him since he was a kid. He is awkward, dumb and unreliable. Has some moments in him but not what we need.

Just sign Douehi for Lebanese money (300k) and have a centre rotation of Wardle/Doueihi and Euan Aitken, who should be on the bench to cover back row, wing and centre should injuries happen.

I actually think Euan Aitken should be our #1 target
The guys you mention have a contract here and for good $$ so why would they consider the unpleasantness of England far away from family and friends as a realistic option? The club may want to move them on but if they won't leave Australia what's the point. Explain to me why you go to England for $450K or stay here for the same money as the economics don't seem to add up?
 
Interesting looking at the Blues lineup and thinking who Madge would recruit if he stayed here.
1. Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)
2. Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)
3. Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
4. Joseph Sua’ali’i (Sydney Roosters)
5. Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)
6. Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)
7. Nicholas Hynes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
8. Jake Trbojevic (c) (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
9. Reece Robson (North Queensland Cowboys)
10. Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
11. Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
12. Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
13. Cameron McInnes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
14. Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)
15. Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
16. Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters)
17. Hudson Young (Canberra Raiders)
18. Matt Burton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
19. Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)
20. Mitchell Barnett (Warriors)

We see the Boom centers in Crichton and Suaalii. Clearly Madge would have gone for Lomax.
Yet no Center reserves or back reserves. It's Halfbacks and Halves with Keary, Burton as reserves to Hynes/Luai. I would have gone for Latrell as a utility (or at least a utility somewhere).

Otherwise it's a very thuddy front row. I am surprised Cameron McInnes is in there. I believe Madge would have recruited the same Tigers front row we have now, judging by the origin selections.

Not surprised that none of our team made the cut. Also None of our ex players I believe are in this list.
There is no conspiracy - none of our current players would even be considered and none of our ex-players don't have the ability.
 
Sullivan brings explosive strike that this club hasn’t seen since a young Moses.
He has pretty decent vision too.
He digs in and has a go.
Unfortunately at this stage, his abilities fall short of these attributes. His defence and general kicking need a lot of work and his consistency needs to be lengthened to cover more of the game.
A work in progress who is worth the effort for mine.
I think his form has been good the last month but his defensive efforts is not first grade worthy so it really brings his perception as a player down. He was very talented at Dragons in periods
 
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