Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

I understand your point and I’m not opposed to him staying in the back row. However, I’ve been watching Samuela for a while and always thought he would be a better prop I guess it’s just a personal preference. He has also played that position often throughout his junior career so it’s not a massive switch up.

We have to also take into account that the prop market is extremely slim for the next 2/3 years hence why Stefano is getting the $ and attention he’s getting. There’s absolutely no one available until at the very most 2027 in that position.

Whilst there’s a lot of quality becoming available in the edge row.

Happy either way.
It’s a good point. His running style on the edge and football could make him a difficult player to handle in the middle, kind of see him like a Joe Tapine mould if he was to move.
Based off that, a move to the middle is probably inevitable but just like how Joe Tapine started off down at the Raiders whilst his young, quick and agile might be best to keep him on the flank.
 
Bateman was roumered to have said that Benji treats the Senior players like Juniors and the Junior players like Seniors...

I don't know if this is true, but it is far past the time Richo gets an exit strategy for Benji. I am hoping that Benji can be moved to coach New Zealand for a few years... I really REALLY hope we are not going to try Benji with Luai and the rest next year. We don't need 6-9 months of coming 17th for another year to see this isn't working.
 
Bateman was roumered to have said that Benji treats the Senior players like Juniors and the Junior players like Seniors...

I don't know if this is true, but it is far past the time Richo gets an exit strategy for Benji. I am hoping that Benji can be moved to coach New Zealand for a few years... I really REALLY hope we are not going to try Benji with Luai and the rest next year. We don't need 6-9 months of coming 17th for another year to see this isn't working.
I have no doubt Benji will be there next year with Morris and a newly appointed (and more experienced) second assistant coach. There is no way the club is going to create more coaching upheaval, especially with Luai's intro to the club.

There will definitely be recruitment movement in the offseason. people on here keep citing the ''off contract'' players but it will be contracted players who become available as clubs manage their salary caps. I reckon our side will continue to strengthen with these new acquisitions.
 
Bateman was roumered to have said that Benji treats the Senior players like Juniors and the Junior players like Seniors...

I don't know if this is true, but it is far past the time Richo gets an exit strategy for Benji. I am hoping that Benji can be moved to coach New Zealand for a few years... I really REALLY hope we are not going to try Benji with Luai and the rest next year. We don't need 6-9 months of coming 17th for another year to see this isn't working.
I understand the sentiment but in this state no coach is going to get massive improvement out of this squad.
If Benji is willing to take the team whilst we are rock bottom, I say let it play out. Ask yourself this as I know a lot of talk has been about St George’s improvement and Flanno’s influence.
How high would Flanno get us? Would we win a premiership with this exact roster and a premiership winning coach?
If the answer is no what’s the point changing until we start to see something that can form that vision.
That’s when you ask yourself do we need a new coach with some fresh ideas etc to get the extra inch out of the squad like the cowboys did when they changed up the hard edged Neil Henry for the new age Paul Green.
The Knights scrapped Nathan Brown two seasons after they got 3 spoons (brown himself got 2 of the 3) and replaced him with then Roosters assistant Adam O’Brien. The Knights since that time have made it as high as 5 at the end of the regular season. Has Adam O’Brien been a successful coach for the Knights?
Fitzgibbon has come in and immediately transformed the sharks to a Top 4 side. If they continue in this fashion for another couple of years and don’t make the big dance Fitzgibbon’s appointment will start to look like a failure.
Likewise Ricky at the Raiders.
The ultimate goal is to win the trophy everything else is a non achievement.
 
Bateman was roumered to have said that Benji treats the Senior players like Juniors and the Junior players like Seniors...

I don't know if this is true, but it is far past the time Richo gets an exit strategy for Benji. I am hoping that Benji can be moved to coach New Zealand for a few years... I really REALLY hope we are not going to try Benji with Luai and the rest next year. We don't need 6-9 months of coming 17th for another year to see this isn't working.
Luai is coming to play for Benji
 
Bateman was roumered to have said that Benji treats the Senior players like Juniors and the Junior players like Seniors...

I don't know if this is true, but it is far past the time Richo gets an exit strategy for Benji. I am hoping that Benji can be moved to coach New Zealand for a few years... I really REALLY hope we are not going to try Benji with Luai and the rest next year. We don't need 6-9 months of coming 17th for another year to see this isn't working.

So your sacking Benji off the back of a rumoured comment made by the worst player in the team (all things considered) when that said player was going to get dropped? This week's actions strengthens Benji's position as coach. Don't get me wrong, I still feel it's a long shot Benji will turn us around, but axing underperforming highly paid senior players is the right move. It's also a really big and significant move.
 
Bateman was roumered to have said that Benji treats the Senior players like Juniors and the Junior players like Seniors...

I don't know if this is true, but it is far past the time Richo gets an exit strategy for Benji. I am hoping that Benji can be moved to coach New Zealand for a few years... I really REALLY hope we are not going to try Benji with Luai and the rest next year. We don't need 6-9 months of coming 17th for another year to see this isn't working.
Even though the younger players are virtually carrying the side??Bateman, Klemmer and Douehi have been abysmal.
 
So your sacking Benji off the back of a rumoured comment made by the worst player in the team (all things considered) when that said player was going to get dropped? This week's actions strengthens Benji's position as coach. Don't get me wrong, I still feel it's a long shot Benji will turn us around, but axing underperforming highly paid senior players is the right move. It's also a really big and significant move.
I'm absolutely not convinced Benji is the answer as coach but giving bloody Bateman the arsehole is a long, long way down the list of reasons why. It's not on it, in fact.
 
Bateman was roumered to have said that Benji treats the Senior players like Juniors and the Junior players like Seniors...

I don't know if this is true, but it is far past the time Richo gets an exit strategy for Benji. I am hoping that Benji can be moved to coach New Zealand for a few years... I really REALLY hope we are not going to try Benji with Luai and the rest next year. We don't need 6-9 months of coming 17th for another year to see this isn't working.
Or ….. being the captain you don’t drop the ball off the kick off twice. Force offloads when attrition and grind is required . Don’t [This word has been automatically removed] and moan at every single non call you get . Sure Lualiii dropped 2 balls for 2 tries and that was the game , but the senior players are usually the ones getting binned , giving away dumb penalties , and going missing .
If he’s saying that Benji holds the senior players to a higher standard ? Well yea they’re all on 600k +++ what do they think the money is for ?
Seriously if any of you senior players are reading this , than pull your head in . Because , you’re the reason we are in this mess . Not the kids ! And if Galvin is held to a higher standard and propped up . Well it’s because of the kids work rate on the field . Actually watch him ! He runs all game , and is always somewhere near where he’s supposed to be .
I like Bateman , ie the fire and passion . But if it’s fueled by self interest , than that is the worst . Because not only are you a dislikable dickhead on the field , but you’re one off it . Literally the worst combo of personality traits !
 
Or ….. being the captain you don’t drop the ball off the kick off twice. Force offloads when attrition and grind is required . Don’t [This word has been automatically removed] and moan at every single non call you get . Sure Lualiii dropped 2 balls for 2 tries and that was the game , but the senior players are usually the ones getting binned , giving away dumb penalties , and going missing .
If he’s saying that Benji holds the senior players to a higher standard ? Well yea they’re all on 600k +++ what do they think the money is for ?
Seriously if any of you senior players are reading this , than pull your head in . Because , you’re the reason we are in this mess . Not the kids ! And if Galvin is held to a higher standard and propped up . Well it’s because of the kids work rate on the field . Actually watch him ! He runs all game , and is always somewhere near where he’s supposed to be .
I like Bateman , ie the fire and passion . But if it’s fueled by self interest , than that is the worst . Because not only are you a dislikable dickhead on the field , but you’re one off it . Literally the worst combo of personality traits !
The problem is we only have a small number snr players relative to our competition. If you are getting pummeled every week and you’re feeling you’re trying pretty hard, then I don’t blame batemans reaction if he was having a weak moment.

The quality of the squad is the problem so perhaps benji should be supporting the snr players rather than singling them out.

What ever experience we had is now out the door or completely demotivated.
 
Agree with Horsburgh and Hetherington. Tough and won’t cost too much. I would expect to get them both (combined) for less than the $800k we have offered Stef.

I know they both have anger issues but they are the only realistically obtainable targets that excite me in any way.

It’s going to be hard for us to attract talent without paying too much.
To be honest anger issues are the only things that make our games mildly interesting 😅
 
How can you say Douehi has been abysmal. The guys come back after a year and a half off and done pretty well considering
No he hasn't.

Whilst it's a nice story (his recovery), his defence on his return has shown very little improvement from what it always has been. He's made on average 11 tackles per game, missing around two per match. What this doesn't show, though, is both misreads on the edge and lack of effort plays, like cover tackles, chasing half/clean breaks, etc.

At 25 years of age, having played near on 100 NRL games, he should have improved immensely in this area, regardless of time off. In fact, he has had more time than most to reflect on the insufficiencies in his game and come up with a plan to improve. This includes communication and organising his edge, regardless of who is inside or outside of him. Far too often, he continues to take the easy option and look to blame everyone else when his edge falls apart.

He remains a strong ball runner who loves to go himself and is a threat near the line or in broken field play and I'm glad he's back in the rotation.

But until he gets fair dinkum about the other side of his game without the ball, he'll forever be stuck as a mediocre footballer. He's in the same boat as Starford To'a.
 
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