Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

Back on topic with recruitment I made a point of watching Jack Williams from the Sharks quite closely last night as he is currently off contract for 2025.
I know he’s a good solid performer who nearly always starts off the bench for the Sharks and genuinely comes on providing good energy and value to his team.
I believe he’s 28y.o so now at the back end of his career and he’s a smaller sized forward, but I noticed he looks extremely fit and strong, still runs the ball with more speed and purpose than any other forward on the field and his line speed defending is generally the best and quickest in his team.
It would probably be a waste for us to even contemplate signing both Jack Williams and Dylan Walker as they both play similar roles.
Walker is very attack minded, can be a genuine first receiver style 13 which would be a big help to Luai and Galvin where Williams is more a bash and barge high energy type player that is a big help to his team getting on the front foot with his high energy and aggressive approach.
In a perfect world signing both of them to share our 13 role would be great, I’m just concerned that would limit the opportunities for Latu Fainu and Talyn Da Silva to play as our 14.
Anyway there is no indication we are even signing one of them at the moment, but both have plenty of qualities that could improve our team.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

If we don’t compete with the dragons to sign him , then I really don’t know what the hell Richo and benji are doing ,

Thing is BP we don't know which players we are targeting. It is likely players who are forced out due cap issues. Richardson does his negs behind close doos like Turuva which I prefer.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Our first signing should be a new head of Strength and conditioning. We aren’t fit enough and definitely not strong enough. Our second signing should be any player that can get a kickoff to make the in goal. We give up sometimes 20m just on the kickoff. If we don’t get the S & C right it won’t matter who we sign. Blore was under done according to Bellamy when he arrived. The blokes who joined Panthers have said how much harder the conditioning is Penrith. Our physio department needs a massive overhaul. Our players seem to remain injured for longer periods then most.

Blore and Liddle, two perenially injured players when they were here, suddenly playing big minutes at their new clubs.

 

[tigers.]

Ok, so 5 players to build our squad & cover as many holes as possible.

That wing position is weak. So is centre. Unless we are signing a second rower that plays centre as well, I'm starting to think our new winger also has to cover centre- giving more depth.

Izaac Thompson from the Rabbits is a bigger body that can play both. And would be a budget option. Obviously, the name that fits & has some jazz to it is Val Holmes. His defence is weird, but he certainly an upgrade on the wing in attack. We have the money for him- that's the key. You could overspend (slightly) on a 2-3 year deal without crippling the club and get a genuine superstar.

Faataape needs to be re-signed to become the #3/4 option in the centre ranks & I'd keep Naden simply because of depth purposes. If Naden is centre/winger #4/5 in the squad- we are ok. Luke Lualili'i obviously covers some wing depth as well. At some point Makasini will feature- I suspect he might be the one to push Olam or Doueihi off the roster in time.


The forwards- I'm thinking 1 back row & 3 middles.

Seyfarth is versatile enough to cover 2nd row & actually contributes to my "Bash Brothers" ideal anyway.

That said- watching good teams these days- those wide forwards are really the metre makers. Kleese Haas is young & dynamic & could excel running off Luia. If rumours of Harrison Hassett are true though- he becomes that backrow edge runner. This is why I mention Seyfarth- who might be needed to start until Hassett transitions into a starter. Rueben Porter & Johannssen offer the depth in the backrow, but I think the club needs to look at Fa'agutu & Kit Lualili'i getting some experience there too while numbers are thin.

Our middles are where everyone will have different takes. I've made my ideas pretty clear- I'd sacrifice the explosive runners in place of hard tackling, hard working types & produce that 'hard' edge we are simply not known for. Klemmer will start- he's our best defensive middle despite the critics. Pole & Sione Fainu offer attack (think the way the Roosters use Leniu & Tupouniua) off the bench. Our #13 options are young & untested (Fa'agutu & Kit Lualili'i) and need to earn the starting spot. Twal is a steady player that holds value, but COULD be the guy that floats between 1st grade & 2nd grade.

With Hassett added in the backrow- we need experience in the middle. Horsburgh is still my #1 guy & could play prop or #13 effectively. He adds that starch that makes teams look up before running into the line. WE NEED THAT INTIMIDATION. Currently, teams enjoy running at our middles- that has to stop. Nelson Asofa-Solomona has some value as an enormous human that doesn't get overpowered. He's not the player he used to be, but he does give the forward pack someone teams 'fear'. Good news is- we can afford both. If Nelson isn't available, there are options but none hold that immediate respect he would bring. Jack Hetherington is a big body with a reckless edge & the demeanour I'd want in our forwards- make the opposition wear a few hits running through our middle. I know he has a few of you worried about his discipline, I'm ok with it. Assuming Nelson ISN'T available, Hetherington is my target.

That last spot in my middle three recruits is down to 3/4 options, with 2 playing the same role. Dylan Walker & Jazz Tevaga offer that versatile #13/#9 option that is very valuable. But you only need 1 of the 2. I prefer Tevaga for personality, but Walker might be the more available. The other 2 options- Mat Croker from the Knights who is kind of another Twal, or........Josh Schuster. Before you choke on your tea- Schuster on a decent contract value is by far the most talented option & could revolusionize our attack from #13. But, he is a lazy player & doesn't quite fit my ideal. Of that lot- I think I'd go Tevaga, but suspect Dylan Walker.

So, my 5 new additions would likely be Val Holmes, Corey Horsburgh, Jack Hetherington, Harrison Hassett & Dylan Walker.

Not much around on the market , but my opinion is there are better options than Izaac Thompson and keeping Naden and Faataape. I think Bailey Simonsson, Semi Valemei and Issiah Tass are better than Naden and Thompson and Faataape.

 

[bptiger 0]

Thing is BP we don't know which players we are targeting. It is likely players who are forced out due cap issues. Richardson does his negs behind close doos like Turuva which I prefer.

Yes i am with u on doing business behind closed doors , what I don’t like is the lack of signings that we need , we need mongrel pigs up front , yet we watch other clubs sign players that we really could use , and I really hope that the reason we aren’t getting these players , is because Richo and benji think that the kids will fill the void

 

[Lestronge]

I don't know about this. For me, this is the first year where we do look fit. The strength part may come down to having players who are simply incapable of getting as strong as others, for me that's a roster issue. But in regards to fitness, we don't seem to tire this year like previous ones. We have multiple forwards capable of playing 80 minutes. Fainu and Porter do it on their ear, Api does it with a huge workload, Klemmer and Stef can play long minutes, Stef could play 80 at a pinch. Seyfarth, Twal can play 80, Bateman can, Pole plays long minutes.

The only forward who looks like they get gassed is Papali'i.

Fitness looks the best it has in years IMO. It's our intensity that's the issue.

We also had the strongest dude in the comp for a few years and still came down the bottom .
I don’t think it’s strength that people are seeing is the issue .
The real issue is tenacity , and wanting to pump those legs and win every thing from the collision , to the roll , to body control , to finding your front , to playing the ball .
The tackle doesn’t end until the ball leaves your foot . A lot of our players simply don’t fight for that whole 10 seconds . I don’t think it has as much to do with strength as people might think .

 

[batboy]

He’s got 2 years left on his current contract I believe

He isn’t playing for a contract…..

Signed until 2028

That might be the case, but rumours all year that they’re looking to unload him and a stint in reserve grade already this year might suggest otherwise…

I can’t think of the last Storm starting player that was in that position down there - oh, yes I can, it was Justin Olam…

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Back on topic with recruitment I made a point of watching Jack Williams from the Sharks quite closely last night as he is currently off contract for 2025.
I know he’s a good solid performer who nearly always starts off the bench for the Sharks and genuinely comes on providing good energy and value to his team.
I believe he’s 28y.o so now at the back end of his career and he’s a smaller sized forward, but I noticed he looks extremely fit and strong, still runs the ball with more speed and purpose than any other forward on the field and his line speed defending is generally the best and quickest in his team.
It would probably be a waste for us to even contemplate signing both Jack Williams and Dylan Walker as they both play similar roles.
Walker is very attack minded, can be a genuine first receiver style 13 which would be a big help to Luai and Galvin where Williams is more a bash and barge high energy type player that is a big help to his team getting on the front foot with his high energy and aggressive approach.
In a perfect world signing both of them to share our 13 role would be great, I’m just concerned that would limit the opportunities for Latu Fainu and Talyn Da Silva to play as our 14.
Anyway there is no indication we are even signing one of them at the moment, but both have plenty of qualities that could improve our team.

Yeah I did the same. Williams is one of the strongest in the Sharks team & you can tell in contact. He’s experienced & a high effort player as you say. He was also a gun backrower coming through the grades which could be the position we use him in if we targeted him, and has a good offload.

FYI my man Morgan Knowles was one of St Helens’ best last night on return from injury. Knowles or Walker would be very good gets for us as a #13.

 

[king_sirro]

We also had the strongest dude in the comp for a few years and still came down the bottom .
I don’t think it’s strength that people are seeing is the issue .
The real issue is tenacity , and wanting to pump those legs and win every thing from the collision , to the roll , to body control , to finding your front , to playing the ball .
The tackle doesn’t end until the ball leaves your foot . A lot of our players simply don’t fight for that whole 10 seconds . I don’t think it has as much to do with strength as people might think .

Agree 100%

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Not much around on the market , but my opinion is there are better options than Izaac Thompson and keeping Naden and Faataape. I think Bailey Simonsson, Semi Valemei and Issiah Tass are better than Naden and Thompson and Faataape.

Simonsson will miss a fair chunk of next season with his ACL, Valemei has hands like Kepaoa to offset his good carries and tackles & Tass is a poor man’s Reimis Smith but would be ok on a T&T for depth.

 

[Eternal Tiger]

Why would Tass come to the probable 3 times Wooden Spooners, on a Train and Trial?

 

[hank37w]

Yep, but from now on according to Richo any player that does come here has to be mentally tough to do the Crocodile Roll.... and win 🤣
So as @Lauren has questioned...who and where is Our 'top-notch' wrestling coach?

The bloke shown in the photo posing with Stefano would have been perfect but unfortunately is unavailable to take on the role.

 

[Bellend]

If we were as fit as some believe, why are we the slowest to turn around chase when opposition kicks the ball deep into our backfield and why can't we move up in a straight line defense after we kick the ball into the other team's backfield??

Nothing this year tells me otherwise we need a new strength and conditioning team, Kicking coach. tackling coach,

 

[hank37w]

Nice.
She gave me this name.

So in actual fact it's a nick name, probably a name she used to try and get you to knick off.

 

[hank37w]

I’m happy seeing the dragons beat the storm

Shows what coaching with no frills and discipline and defensive mindset and structure and patience can do.

I wonder if Benji would consider trying that. 🤣

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Yes i am with u on doing business behind closed doors , what I don’t like is the lack of signings that we need , we need mongrel pigs up front , yet we watch other clubs sign players that we really could use , and I really hope that the reason we aren’t getting these players , is because Richo and benji think that the kids will fill the void

I think part of the issue is room in the Top 30 and making space available. We need to clear the decks for new signings and those won't be announced until space is made available. I am optimistic we are on the right trajectory. Richardson has done this before at other clubs. Our spirited performance last Thursday night won't do our recruitment chances any harm. I prefer to see WTs buying young players such as the second row forward from Penrith, Hassett, who are on the cusp of the NRL. They fit in with out recruitment profile and are hungry for an opportunity.

 

[Vicious]

Yeah I did the same. Williams is one of the strongest in the Sharks team & you can tell in contact. He’s experienced & a high effort player as you say. He was also a gun backrower coming through the grades which could be the position we use him in if we targeted him, and has a good offload.

FYI my man Morgan Knowles was one of St Helens’ best last night on return from injury. Knowles or Walker would be very good gets for us as a #13.

Knowles would be a great signing as he has very good physicality to go with good ball playing ability as a 13.
But he’s contracted to St Helen’s until the end of 2025 isn’t he ?

 

[The Chad]

I like you rationale ,but your ok with big jacky boy gets the sin bin and suspensions ? You might be, his team mates won’t be … deep down you won’t be either if his bin or recklessness costs a few games… buts it’s because he’s an angry hot head?

Not as often sin binned as we might assume. He's famous for some sensational bad plays, but I think his reputation is far worse than the actuality of it.

Put it this way- compare it to JWH or Radley & I bet he comes out of it better.

What he is, is hard. And people know it. If he can control that aggression to a Seyfarth like level, I'm ok with it.

 

[bbobb]

I think a few problems emanate from our back 5 and the starts we get. I believe our players are fit enough but our poor starts mean our forwards are having to do hard yards as well as defence. Some wingers who get beyond the advantage line with a quick PTB would allow our forwards to get a roll- on.
This is where I see the value of the smaller forward who has good footwork and leg speed (Pole, Fainu etc). You still need a solid defensive middle as well but if we are rolling up the field then our field position will help stem attacking positions for opposing teams.

 

[TSP]

I slight flaw in your argument about coaches all being rookies at one point. While that is true, these coaches usually earned their stripes through the grades and were hired based on results and recommendations.

Through no fault of his own, Benji was not able to serve his apprenticeship, however he hadn't so much as coached a juniors team, let alone an adult team.

I agree we should stick it out, but if, for some reason, the holy grail of coaches becomes available, I'd support a decision to demote Benji and allow him to finish his apprenticeship.

If I may respond in the same respectful good faith manner:

“Through no fault of his own, Benji was not able to serve his apprenticeship..”

The assumption you may have made here is that he was somehow forced to take the job and that lets him off the hook and portrays him as some kind of unwilling victim.

I beg to differ.

At all material times, Benji could have declined the first grade coaches position he was offered on several bases.

Including the fact that the contractual expectation was for another year at least under the catastrophic reign of Tim’s less than triumphant second coming.

But he was determined to strike whilst the iron was hot so far as he was concerned and he cared not for his own inexperience.

I don’t wish to the cruel, but when the job is best handled by a master tradesman, I don’t want to see the first year apprentice turn up with some of the wrong tools and try to muddle through.

What Benji failed to realise is that he wasn’t quite ready. Every time he uses the “rookie coach” excuse, that’s an admission of his shortcomings to some extent.

I would have thought that Benji and those throwing the dice on his development, should have realised that he was far better off waiting for the “draining of the swamp” of the roster and more exposure to successful coaching.

Recalling and pointing out that on many occasions Benji has cited Tim as a major influence. That makes me nervous.

Patience can be a virtue.

I remain disappointed that he took off overseas for a 5 star holiday when the ship had been holed and water was gushing in unimpeded.

For the record, I wanted Des Hasler and I don’t dislike Benji in anyway. He is trying, but the Cult of Benji seems to be struggling to get bums on seats these day.

We are stuck with him for awhile, so my views don’t have any force whatsoever at this point!