The point we are missing about Stef’s contract clauses is he would have departed the club 2 years ago if it was not for those clauses.
He stayed to see if we improved our results and we haven’t, so if he departs we only have ourselves to blame.
Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion
- Thread starter MacDougall
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He stayed to see if we improved our results and we haven’t, so if he departs we only have ourselves to blame.
jirskyr
Well-known member
In defence of the Paseka decision, he signed for Manly in March 2017. He did not play more than 13 games for each of the first two seasons and only started 2 matches in that same time, the other 24 matches off the bench.
At that particular time our prop rotation was Origin-level Aaron Woods, Ava S, Jesse Sue, Tim Grant, Lawnmower boy, JJ Felise and The Huth. We had also just signed Twal from Parramatta, who played immediately and managed 9 games in total 2017.
I can understand therefore both the desire for the club to want Paseka to stay and bide his time, and also why the player didn't want that. I recall Paseka being huge but struggling with his minutes and the defensive requirements of the game.
I genuinely don't believe Paseka became a legitimate FG prospect until 2021 when he finally began starting matches and played 21 games that season. I still don't think he's a particularly great prop. Guy has never played rep football of any kind, though he would be eligible for both Tonga and NZ.
So if a club wants to buy one of our juniors and invest 4-5 years in their development to get them to consistent FG standard, in that case I say "good luck to them" because it's a very significant investment of both time and money. It's not necessarily the time and/or money we could have or needed to have spent.
It clearly did not help that we were in the process of sacking JT and the further player losses in 2017 would hurt far more than Paseka.
Now if he turned out to be Payne Haas after 1 or 2 seasons then fair enough, but Paseka is not even remotely in that echelon. He doesn't have much competition at Manly, who have always known their prop stocks were low given they headhunted Lawnmower Boy from us, signed both Nathan Brown and Matt Lodge this year from the wilderness, and continue to field Tof Sipley week on week (who is an average player at best).
Nah I'm not going wring hands about Paseka. Your other points are valid but this player isn't a posterchild for our inadequacies in player development.
jirskyr
Well-known member
Surely Coates is a long-term lock for Storm? Anderson is nowhere near that ability.
rugbygoated
Well-known member
Turuva was great at yardage last year. He can do it. I don't think staines will ever be that good. That's why we need a strong centre to help him. Someone like a nick meaney who doesn't stop working hard and wouldn't cost too much
Of course Stef is a loss even if we were offering him way too much, and no doubt will be on the lament list just like Blore Talau Papalli Brooks Tupou Laurie all strengthening other clubs while weakening ours. Who would of thought that retention would become a bigger problem than recruitment. Two steps forward three steps back.
He was little help
Well if he departs we will find out.
Buzz on 360 mentioned he believes the Dragons are expecting the Knights to kick in around 300k of Daniel Saifiti’s 800k contract if they are to sign him.
In my opinion there is no chance the Knights will release a player of his calibre with the intention of clearing up cap space and chipping in 300k per season.
If we ended up even paying 700k per season for Daniel Saifiti, managed to get someone like Royce Hunt for around 450-500k, added a hard nosed aggressive edge forward in Joe Chan from the Storm as well as an experienced no nonsense versatile backbrower such as Jack Williams from the Sharks, I’d say losing Stef and possibly offloading Klemmer and Bateman would see us still finish well in front in regards to our forward strength for 2025.
weststigerman
Well-known member
Based on what Weidler and Hooper have said, it sounds like Stef wants to stay in Sydney. If that is true I think Penrith is the only danger.
I’m in 2 minds. He has the ability to be an 800k front rower and he’s the only player we have that bumps off defenders but is wildly inconsistent.
At least we’ll know this week one way or another.
I’m in 2 minds. He has the ability to be an 800k front rower and he’s the only player we have that bumps off defenders but is wildly inconsistent.
At least we’ll know this week one way or another.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
The more I think about what we lack compared to ALL other clubs is … consistent leaders.
The only ONE we have is Api.
Out of the others …
Olam - could be one but no consistency in staying fit.
Klemmer - gone backwards in performance this year.
Bateman - too many stupid costly moments.
Sezer - inconsistent & costly suspensions.
Doeuihi / Naden - frail defence.
Twal - concussion concerns, lacks impact.
Our next tier of experience like Stef, Staines, iPap & To’a have their heads elsewhere or too passive. Seyfarth has potential with his effort & aggression if he can fix up his brain snaps at times but he’s not a 1st 13 player anyway.
This lack of leadership amongst our experienced core is nothing short of disgraceful.
We need to address this in our next 1-2 seasons of recruitment as a priority.
The Bulldogs have with Chrichton, Tracey, Kikau, Mahoney, Curran, Hutchison, Mann etc & look at the impact on their emerging leaders in Burton, Kiraz, Preston & co.
Yes we have Luai coming but we need at least 2-3 more, especially those high in effort, high in footy IQ and loud in voice.
Another issue is clearing players to create room for incoming.
The only ONE we have is Api.
Out of the others …
Olam - could be one but no consistency in staying fit.
Klemmer - gone backwards in performance this year.
Bateman - too many stupid costly moments.
Sezer - inconsistent & costly suspensions.
Doeuihi / Naden - frail defence.
Twal - concussion concerns, lacks impact.
Our next tier of experience like Stef, Staines, iPap & To’a have their heads elsewhere or too passive. Seyfarth has potential with his effort & aggression if he can fix up his brain snaps at times but he’s not a 1st 13 player anyway.
This lack of leadership amongst our experienced core is nothing short of disgraceful.
We need to address this in our next 1-2 seasons of recruitment as a priority.
The Bulldogs have with Chrichton, Tracey, Kikau, Mahoney, Curran, Hutchison, Mann etc & look at the impact on their emerging leaders in Burton, Kiraz, Preston & co.
Yes we have Luai coming but we need at least 2-3 more, especially those high in effort, high in footy IQ and loud in voice.
Another issue is clearing players to create room for incoming.
BAGNF05
Well-known member
Turuva looks much slower this year and always has that knee heavily strapped. It’s a worry to say the least.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Yep I like those suggested recruits. All would help add to our leadership void which I just posted about.
Another who could be a huge get for us is Morgan Knowles from ESL. He is a good age & has the right characteristics to make an impact in the NRL.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Yep would love to know what’s going on with his knee. It’s certainly had an impact on his game this season.
Saifiti on form isn’t worth 700k. He is not the player we should target and pay overs for.
Knights will prefer to free up 500k and cover 300k than keep a roster spot & pay for a player they don’t want.
It’s like us with Naden, Bud, Klemmer, Bateman etc. Form them to move we will have to pay a chunk as they aren’t performing to their contract amounts. Papa was the otherside - he was on a good contract and Panthers covered him.
The Chad
Well-known member
Losing Utoikamanu opens up the chance to get more physical in the middle.
Look how the Dolphins play.
Think how the Roosters forwards play- JWH, Collins & Radley.
It's great to have big, bustling tackle breaking forwards.
It's just as good to have guys that knock the snot out of those guys too.
Siona Fainu, Sam Fainu & Pole are great for running metres. We don't have the snot knockers.
Look how the Dolphins play.
Think how the Roosters forwards play- JWH, Collins & Radley.
It's great to have big, bustling tackle breaking forwards.
It's just as good to have guys that knock the snot out of those guys too.
Siona Fainu, Sam Fainu & Pole are great for running metres. We don't have the snot knockers.
rugbygoated
Well-known member
He's been playing right wing a lot and is probably suffering a bit of second year syndrome. That's ok though. I'd prefer him to have a lean year this year than take it easy as soon as he gets to us. Can't expect him to back up his great 2023 season seamlessly
TSP
Well-known member
Yeah I saw it that way too when I found out about the strange terms, 2 years ago he’s basically said “like it or lump it” so understandably to keep him….we liked it.
I agree with the recent comment, we should have played hard with him, to put ourselves in a better bargaining possie but against that, someone has had the guts to give him a fair offer and stand by it.
And I thought he was a fringe part of origin before- when we were rubbish too, now he’s not. So I don’t see it as our fault.
Richo was almost taunting him in that interview. He didn’t miss him when he said if he didn’t commit we’d have more cash to sign another player.
So pros and cons.
I’m more worried about coaching and other matters tbh.
If he’s not on the bus, I’m not wasting my time fretting. Wasted energy, get rid of him asap.
The season is mush, give his spot to a kid who actually wants to play for us, someone we can play next year when half the squad is wiped out by injury or whatever.
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No...we know what he CAN do when he wants to
He wasnt picked for origin for nothing even if it was way too soon
Weve seen his ability
Agree on the rest of your post
bigsiro
Well-known member
Really? Talau, Papalii, Brooks and Laurie were dreadful for us. All role players at best, who IMO do not strengthen other clubs or provide leadership, despite their experience. They just look good now because they have a few studs in their team and play in a system with go-forward. Big whoop. I don’t lament their loss.
Blore was just ok for us.
Tupou had potential, so if he becomes something, he may be the only one I’d possibly lament the loss of. No doubt Melbourne will make him look amazing. Heck, they did that for Nofoaluma!
LeichhardtTiger
Well-known member
Great points - Which makes Bungies comment in the post Bunnies presser when he agreed (with the journo) that the kids played OK whilst the senior players needed to lift seem so fake - S0 which senior players was he referring to?
Api didn't play
Klemmer didn't step up in the 2nd half cos he wasn't put back on
Bateman made his usual mistakes
Papalli didn't play
Sezar made his usual dodgy tackle which I believe was not his fault
Twal didn't drop easy ball or got sin-binned.
I am struggling to find the senior players who let the side down.
Poor Cold Hand Luke let the side down twice.
Jareme Boola let the side down
Even Lachy G let the side down
Oh and Senior player Seyfarth let the side down cos he got concussed the week before and didn't play.
Bungie is the problem. The elephant in the room was finally spotted.
LukeyTuiaki
Active member
Agree - everywhere he goes the club gets worse… manly, dogs, parra.
