Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Tucker said:
The hubris from admin after 05 sunk any chances of continued success.
We were starting a dynasty remember? With Bryce and Fulton and Halatau and Heighington etc….great squaddies but not headline superstars.
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no …not superstars … but still competent players …and had the likes of Farah, Hodgson, Richards and later Gareth Ellis who were rep level players …

Benji was in and out of the team with injuries and Scott Prince moving on quickly didn’t help …but they still should have had more than three semi final appearances ….
 
Tom Shines said:
no …not superstars … but still competent players …and had the likes of Farah, Hodgson, Richards and later Gareth Ellis who were rep level players …

Benji was in and out of the team with injuries and Scott Prince moving on quickly didn’t help …but they still should have had more than three semi final appearances ….
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Is Api as good as prime Farah - No
Is Luai as good as prime Scott Prince - No
Is Galvin as good as Benji - No
Is Bula as good as Hodgson - No
 
Tom Shines said:
no …not superstars … but still competent players …and had the likes of Farah, Hodgson, Richards and later Gareth Ellis who were rep level players …

Benji was in and out of the team with injuries and Scott Prince moving on quickly didn’t help …but they still should have had more than three semi final appearances ….
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They lost proper good players in Prince and Laffranchi and failed to replace them with quality of an equal standard.
 
Vicious said:
No I gave him my member number, but still no answer.
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I’m without a response of any kind as well.

He might have given up on us members.

If he’s unwell, or expressly busy,maybe his personal assistant could write a kindly note and explain.

That’s how I would approach it as messiah ceo. You gotta give to the rank and file.

He held out to us that we would be consulted and our views considered.

So he needs to back up.
 
Vicious said:
Is Api as good as prime Farah - No
Is Luai as good as prime Scott Prince - No
Is Galvin as good as Benji - No
Is Bula as good as Hodgson - No
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Yes … not sure of your point ? I’m certainly not gunna argue that they are not the worst team in the comp at the moment …
 
Tom Shines said:
Yes … not sure of your point ? I’m certainly not gunna argue that they are not the worst team in the comp at the moment …
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The point is our current players in our key positions who we need and expect to be superstars are not really superstars, so our only chance of success is to have a very good team around them and we cannot afford any passengers.
 
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Vicious said:
The Poh t is our current players in our key positions who we need and expect to be superstars are not really superstars, so our only chance of success is to have a very good team around them and we cannot afford any passengers.
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well… they won’t be winning any premierships soon like the other team did…In fact ..I don’t expect much improvement next year unless further new players are added ..they will still be bottom or close to it even with JL here
 
Tom Shines said:
They had once in a lifetime talent and won a premiership… but they could still only make three semi final campaigns… what a waste … should have won it in 2010
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The diff with 2010 and 11 was Steve Folkes as assistant/fitness trainer.
Steve Folkes left to coach Oz women I think it was. Surely we could have offered more for him to stay?
Anyway I reckon if it wasn’t for Folkes we would’ve missed the 8 in 2010/11 too and our history would be 1 top 8 from a quarter of a century. As it is, it’s 3 top 8 finishes from a quarter of a century.
Makes it sound a long time when you say it like that.
 
I agree, API’s effect on attack is being nullified by having to perform 50 tackles every week. Sezer is in and out of the team like a yo yo, which is reflected in his form, Galvin is a total greenhorn who is busy but ineffective and Bula struggles for consistency not just week to week but during games also.
Ours
Our spine is awful and is marginally strengthened by the arrival of Luai but we need more. I’m hoping Fainu and TDS can help with Bula fulfilling his potential. Galvin to be our hardworking lock.
 
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Buttface said:
The diff with 2010 and 11 was Steve Folkes as assistant/fitness trainer.
Steve Folkes left to coach Oz women I think it was. Surely we could have offered more for him to stay?
Anyway I reckon if it wasn’t for Folkes we would’ve missed the 8 in 2010/11 too and our history would be 1 top 8 from a quarter of a century. As it is, it’s 3 top 8 finishes from a quarter of a century.
Makes it sound a long time when you say it like that.
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Good point about Folkes ..can’t recall why he left …did he get another coaching job? ( I know he has passed away unfortunately)

Another thing I recall about the 2010-11 teams ..like 2005 ..is that they were down the bottom of the table mid season and strung together a number of games over the second half of the season to finish in the Top 4 …

They have never had a season where they have been near the top of the table all the way through … they are the anti Melbourne Storm … imagine one whole season where they are leading the comp all the way through …. Think the crowds might be going ok then ..
 
Vicious said:
Regardless of whether or not our current roster would be good enough to finish higher on the ladder under a different coach or not, there is still no excuse for well paid NRL players not playing anywhere near their ability.
We still need tp recruit a minimum of one quality outside back and at least two quality forwards to be any chance of climbing the ladder in 2025.
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Like you, I'm continually racking my brain on the types of players to make a difference for us. Yep we're constrained by roster spots but if we can open up 1 to 3 spots (and I'm factoring that Stef is gone), I'd consider any of the following ...

Royce Hunt - size, power, experience, aggression, even if it's for 30 mins each game.
Buny Afoa - off contract in '25, down Warriors pecking order, leg speed, aggression & strong/efficient defender.
Jack Williams - lock, workhorse, effective defender, energy, ballplaying, can slot into backrow too.
Reimis Smith - right centre, solid, reasonably fast, tall, from a winning system, off contract.

Looking as much for leadership, work ethic, desire as traits to help develop our young squad.

In addition to an experienced assistant coach (interesting that Brent Read is on this as he gets some inside mail from Richo) & someone new to drive our S&C standards.
 
Jedi_Tiger said:
looks to SOO Madge only has bash and barge up his sleeve, he will try and bash Queensland into oblivion Wednesday night.
Our pack simply does not have that in them
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I agree, Madge has one style and one style only, if he doesn't have the team for that style, he tries playing it anyway, he is no great coach
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Like you, I'm continually racking my brain on the types of players to make a difference for us. Yep we're constrained by roster spots but if we can open up 1 to 3 spots (and I'm factoring that Stef is gone), I'd consider any of the following ...

Royce Hunt - size, power, experience, aggression, even if it's for 30 mins each game.
Buny Afoa - off contract in '25, down Warriors pecking order, leg speed, aggression & strong/efficient defender.
Jack Williams - lock, workhorse, effective defender, energy, ballplaying, can slot into backrow too.
Reimis Smith - right centre, solid, reasonably fast, tall, from a winning system, off contract.

Looking as much for leadership, work ethic, desire as traits to help develop our young squad.

In addition to an experienced assistant coach (interesting that Brent Read is on this as he gets some inside mail from Richo) & someone new to drive our S&C standards.
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Sounds decent, but if Stef leaves as expected we probably need one bigger name prop such as NAS or Daniel Saifiti.
Obviously with NAS we would be getting the older, past his best injury proned version, but his size, aggression and presence would likely help build the confidence and inspire our other forwards.
Daniel Saifiti some could say is only a slightly better version of Klemmer, but he is very consistent, doesn’t take a backward step, doesn’t get dominated by any opponent and has an offload and pass in his game which is something our current props rarely do.
 
Maybe the club needs to stop focusing on signing new players & starting focusing on why players that come here regress (apart from Api). Also why is it that so many players leave & hit career best form… Talau has been 1 of the signings of the season on a low-ball contract because how bad he looked last year. Blore & Brooks also been good for the most part, I’m sure Papalii will be back to one of the best 2nd rowers next season when he joins Penrith.

It’s good to see guys like Pole, Fainu + Galvin trying hard but if the team constantly keeps losing they will stop caring too so the cycle continues until they leave revive their careers. Stefano is just another example of this now. there is a reason Bellamy wants him badly, I guarantee if he goes to storm he’ll be playing for NSW in either 25/26
 
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