Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

The Chad said:
Improved wing meterage (hopefully- Turuva, Skelton, Montoya....To'o) will alleviate some of the metres lost by Utoikamanu.

Pole & Klemmer actually (statistically) make up a good amount of running metres between them as well. Royce Hunt, as much as I'm not sold on him, should offer some good impact. Think what Pole or Sione Fainu offered- but possibly better in some ways.

Then there is Sione Fainu (hopefully) to add to the mix as well. I don't think we are short impact. If anything- we are overloaded.

What we need/lack now is that reliable starter to step into Utoikamanu's role. I don't believe Hunt is THAT guy. And other than spending big on RCG or NAS, I'm not sure THAT guy is even available now.

Which means we NEED the wingers to take some of the slack & we NEED either Pole, Hunt, Twal or some miracle signing to step up. This is why Klemmer remains important- he's the consistent starting option that can be relied on.

I think Pole, Hunt & Sione Fainu is as much impact as the team needs on gameday. In fact, if they are ALL benchies- it's too much.

So, by process of requirement & need- I think Pole has to be thrown into that starting role. He's the guy MOST LIKELY to be a consistent 1st grade front rower. That is where you spend your forward money.

This doesn't allow for our #13 position. Kobe Hetherington makes great sense in that he can ALSO cover #9 while filling the role needed at #13. He's a good defensive player- which will be needed. Bird may be an option here as well, but I don't think he brings the defensive workload.

Bateman's situation offers either a solution or another headache. I still believe he is one of our most consistent wide defenders & if he comes back- I can be satisfied that he fills that role. If he doesn't come back- Alex Seyfarth probably has the inside running on that spot (or Jack Bird, if you think he's a forward). I think both are a downgrade, regardless of how much I might like Seyfarth. Bateman alongside Bird (centres) will GREATLY improve our defence on one edge.

We really need to invest in that #13 spot, potentially a back row starter depending on Bateman & then, just as importantly, 2-3 guys for the KOE that are JUST a step below starting. If we can bring players into the top grade that are 1st grade ready when injury strikes, our season will be greatly improved. Laugh all you want- but that is where a Liam Martin, Joe Stimson type signing (or signings) has great value. If we don't HAVE to bring Kit Lualili'i or Matamua or Jordan Miller into 1st grade next season- we are better already.

I don't know how Benji fits Latu Fainu & Da Silva onto the bench with Hunt/Pole, Sione Fainu, Twal, Seyfarth etc all trying to get into the 17. Our forward pack simply isn't strong enough to run with 2 rotational middles & a hooker as well as a second 5/8.

If Bateman doesn't come back, and Jack Bird goes to the second row....although it's been scoffed at before- that COULD open up a starting position for Latu Fainu in the centres. Remembering that great players like Laurie Daley & Brad Fittler both broke into the top grade in the centres but went on to be dominant halves.

For a club that has 3 wooden spoons- I don't think we have the luxury of not putting our best players on the field. Parramatta played Blaze Talagi all across the backline & nobody laughed at that. What we have seen of Latu Fainu, he's one of our best attacking players in the club. I don't think we can risk having him rot in KOE & give other clubs the idea he could be made available.
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Great post.

I think the anxiety around losing and not replacing Stefano is a little overhyped on here. He was really poor last year. Yeah, show the stats that show decent metres and reasonable tackle efficiency, but watch the effort plays, the errors at crucial times, the passivity in the tackles he makes and it's a different picture. The one thing Stefano did really well was run downhill when we had the momentum. Pole and Hunt can do that too. Stefano was terrible at creating momentum for us or stopping another teams progress. I agree with everyone that our biggest need is getting more props with defensive impact but that was never Stefano.

The other aspect of need, metres out of our own area and creating momentum, is more down to the outside backs and both Turuva and Skelton (whatever their deficiencies elsewhere) are massive upgrades in that aspect of the game. If we don't ruin them, like we do most players, they will help to relieve pressure on the whole team.

So much of our failure lies in our inability to rely on metres from our outside backs and the consequential pressure that puts on the forwards, the kicking game, the kick chase and then the backs again, as they once again must catch contested bombs due to losing the field position battle. It's a vicious cycle. You can tell players like Stefano and Papalii left because they just hated being under the pump all the time because our backs are so weak. Change the start of our sets and everyone starts looking better.
 
Tom Shines said:
This is at NRL headquarters…he was there yesterday to explain the cocaine thing
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Ha!!
Doubt we cld ever get Too....hes on very good $$ at Panthers ,and wld want $80ok ++ to switch to wooden spooners...good as he is,a winger just aint worth that particularly when weve got key deficiencies upfront that need addressing...which only $$$ will fix
So Fox..on about $650 at Dogs,is about to be be jobless one way or another ..soon.
Bennett may rescue him.but doubt he likes the vibe tbh..he has one to manage already,and Latrell and JAC cld be a toxic mix.Personally think Bennett will jettison Latrelle at first oppportunity,like Gould will do to JAC.These guys dont fool around.
So JACs options are very limited
Getting on,slowing down,but still better than anything we have.Issue is price(he will be lucky to get much more than $400k for a cple of years contract ...damaged goods)..and whether his influence on the playing group is more positive than negative with his "habits".
So at half the price, better value than Too..maybe
 
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@Tucker i tried to warn you what happens when you stray.

But given that you can no longer consummate your fling with the cows with a grand final, I think we can work on the relationship.

Ill buy some new dresses and start going to the gym.

3E531C2D-A2DF-46CE-BBE9-C8227A9E3317.jpeg

I’m not sure about anyone else, but I enjoyed the intent and energy from both sides. My favourite game of the finals so far, wd both sides and staff.

Putting my head on the chopping block, Manly are my smokies.
 
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clontarfkid said:
Ha!!
Doubt we cld ever get Too....hes on very good $$ at Panthers ,and wld want $80ok ++ to switch to wooden spooners...good as he is,a winger just aint worth that particularly when weve got key deficiencies upfront that need addressing...which only $$$ will fix
So Fox..on about $650 at Dogs,is about to be be jobless one way or another ..soon.
Bennett may rescue him.but doubt he likes the vibe tbh..he has one to manage already,and Latrell and JAC cld be a toxic mix.Personally think Bennett will jettison Latrelle at first oppportunity,like Gould will do to JAC.These guys dont fool around.
So JACs options are very limited
Getting on,slowing down,but still better than anything we have.Issue is price(he will be lucky to get much more than $400k for a cple of years contract ...damaged goods)..and whether his influence on the playing group is more positive than negative with his "habits".
So at half the price, better value than Too..maybe
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Is JAC the player he used to be?

No.

But our best winger in 2024 was Charlie Staines.

Averages 120m a game & tackles at an eye watering 70% efficiency.

Even slowing down- JAC averages 132m a game & has an 85% tackle efficiency.

At any contract number around Staines...he's a genuine upgrade.
 
Iron Fist said:
It would be lazy to claim a NSW Cup coach is good based on results alone. Jersey Flegg were top of the table then too weren't they? I think the pertinent question is where are the players that played in those teams? Did they go onto first grade at WT, or other clubs?

Didn't Souths win NSW Cup last season, and end up second last on the same wins as Magpies this season? Same coach.

NSW Cup are consistently the #23-36 of your NRL contracted and development players, and a few part-timers or train and trailists. Most of them train with the NRL squad. The Cup coach just deals with game day.
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Well considering that the coach of Flegg in 21 was Wayne Lambkin who did coach us to first place then took over for the NSW Cup side in 22 to coach us to second last on the ladder while Gardiner did get us to 3rd the year before, I say Gardiner did a good job certainly better than Lambkin did. I don’t think it’s lazy considering it’s supposed to be the grade before first making the transition to first grade if you’re lucky to get there. Credit to Lambkin to coach the Flegg side to first place in Flegg, but then he just fell off the cliff to get us second last in 22 then only one spot better in 23. Also if Penrith were willing to take Gardiner on as an assistant coach, shows he’s clearly rated given how strong a team they are.
 
hank37w said:
He coached the NRL side for one game in 2022.

It was the game where we were robbed by Cowboys and filthy scum Turdsend, Feldt, "I'll get you Butler" and the Klown in the bunker.
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Yeah I remember Noddy was sick on game day and he had to step in and coach us for that game. That was one of the worst days in NRL history when almost every NRL fan on social media even the fans who don’t support the Tigers agreed they were robbed.
 
Glenji95 said:
Yeah I remember Noddy was sick on game day and he had to step in and coach us for that game. That was one of the worst days in NRL history when almost every NRL fan on social media even the fans who don’t support the Tigers agreed they were robbed.
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Except Paul Kent. He said it was the right call
 
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BZN said:
I purchased a pineapple Fanta from the Kempsey Service Centre yesterday, and I noticed the place that sold all the pies sold 'crocodile pies'...but I forgot to ask if they sold 'Crocodile Rolls' haha.
If they do maybe they can be our major sponsor haha.
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Surely they're from Fredo's Pies down the road? They did some beauties.
 
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BAGNF05 said:
We have stockpile of bog average backs.
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To a degree. I'd say he upgrades Declan Casey though. For me-it's the strength of our depth. I want to see 3-6 players in KOE that DESERVE a 1st grade call up. Kenner may never be a 1st grader. But he might be the reason Doueihi improves his defence. Or it might put the pressure on Luke Lualili'i to push that bit harder again. Our 1st team will be as strong as the guys pushing for their spots. When you are playing a 'development squad', this keeps the youngsters playing to their ability, or teaches them that there are consequences for falling short.

Matt Doorey at the Eels would be another interesting addition if he comes free from the Eels too.
 
The Chad said:
To a degree. I'd say he upgrades Declan Casey though. For me-it's the strength of our depth. I want to see 3-6 players in KOE that DESERVE a 1st grade call up. Kenner may never be a 1st grader. But he might be the reason Doueihi improves his defence. Or it might put the pressure on Luke Lualili'i to push that bit harder again. Our 1st team will be as strong as the guys pushing for their spots. When you are playing a 'development squad', this keeps the youngsters playing to their ability, or teaches them that there are consequences for falling short.

Matt Doorey at the Eels would be another interesting addition if he comes free from the Eels too.
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Fair enough. Probably should be a Magpies signings and suggestions thread.
 
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