Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

we absolutely need forwards, but Stevie Wonder could see how vital it is we fix our yardage issue in the back five. our pack is constantly being put under pressure because Bula, Staines and Faataape can’t bend the line.

if we’re able to build a powerful backline, then our forward pack can front load their energy into their defensive work and get the ball in their hands downfield.
It doesn't work like that
 
SMH: Rising star Blaize Talagi will leave Parramatta and is poised to join western Sydney rivals Penrith in an early setback for incoming coach Jason Ryles.
 
It certainly looks like Penrith is largely shedding their of premiership team from a few years back and running with the younger brigade rather than pay overs for players. Burton, Crichton, Luai, Leniu, Koriasau, Kikau, JFH etc all leaving

Keep a few key players and replace the key like for like. Only Edwards, Yeo, Cleary and Leota left from the original winning team if To'o goes.
 
The incredible talent drain they have experienced over the past 3 years - including Luai, Fishhead and Turuva must have them right on the line of the downward slope for 2025. Adding To'o to that list prematurely will ensure it Id say. They are smarter than that.
I've no idea what their salary cap looks like for 2025 - in all honesty, looking at their current roster and the players they've already lost for next season I find it hard to imagine they're in that much cap strife. But it's not a question of being "smarter": if their cap is under pressure they may have to let someone walk. The only question is who - and, as I said, looking at the presumed big earners on that roster I wonder who I'd rather see leave than To'o. Liam Martin, maybe? It's not going to be Edwards, Yeo or Cleary, is it?

That said, where I do agree with you is that if they are really in this situation it would be the first time in this era where I'd definitively argue they're not spending their money optimally. It's one thing to let Matt Burton go because you've had to pay Nathan Cleary $1.3m a year (and you have Isak Tago coming through). But is Isaiah Papali'i really a better use of salary cap than Brian To'o? I guess it depends to some extent on who might fill the wing spot - for all I know they can cover To'o and Turuva with cheap kids.
 
I would also much prefer To’o, but take into consideration Holmes is an extremely fit and fast 29 year old, not some broken down hack. His contract with the Cowboys is rumoured to be around that 900k mark hence he reason they are looking to possibly offload him to help balance their own salary cap.
If the Cowboys were even wiling to contribute 100k meaning his new club would have to fork out 800k per season for him, that is still value for a high quality rep standard player in my opinion.
Have you watched Holmes play in the last couple of years?

He is below average in defence and doesn't have the same impact he did in attack before he left for the NFL.

Besides, the Cowboys want to offload 900k to balance their cap and you want to pick him up for close to that and unbalance ours?

Even To'o on 900k is stupid money. Not saying he wouldn't be effective, but it would cripple our cap to have a winger on 900k. He's a unique winger in that he can consistently do 200+ metres a game, so he is valuable, but within the constraints of a salary cap, his position is only worth so much.
 
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