Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[jrtiger]

The bulldogs stuff is very interesting re. Their rebuild timeline .
Hopefully we have the resurgence we all want this coming season , and if that happens would have meant that we actually rebuilt at more than half the time the bulldogs took .
It’s really gone worst team in the comp ; Parra for a season or 2 , knights for ages , bulldogs for ages , and tigers for 3 years .
All 3 teams have chose to bottom out , and rebuild with youth . , but the dogs only got themselves out last year , and the knights got themselves out as well , but really they moved into mid table mediocrity .
We arnt out yet , but hopefully that happens in 25 , which really only puts 1 year timeline wise , behind the dogs . And even then , we really only chose to bottom out properly in 23 and 24 .Before that is a transit lounge for mercenary footy players .

WT thankfully started investing heavily into their pathways and junior coaching in early 2021 which was effectively the start of the rebuild. the completion of the Centre of Excellence in late 2022 was the next step, and the removal of the board and hiring of Richardson was step three.

while we're ahead on the pathways metric, Canterbury managed to sort their shit out at board level and within recruitment quicker than us, and we lost a lot of ground, which is now reflected on the ladder.

that said, there's a fair chance we'll end up ahead of the Dogs in a few years simply because we've blooded a lot of these kids, whereas Canterbury have not, which could slow their progress.

our premiership window should open from 2026, providing we make the signings and re-signings we require. I feel like, depending on the players they manage to recruit, the Dogs might have their window open for another year or two, before it shuts for a couple years and reopens again for the long run.

time will tell!

 

[jrtiger]

I am all for the new WT standards but this smells to me. Almost like its not so much about the players fitness but going to lengths to free up top 30 roster spots. Its almost too convenient that they have found some fatties to throw the book at...

I don't believe anyone's going to be sacked either, for what it's worth.

this is simply about drawing a line in the sand and changing the culture.

 

[Spacecub]

That doesn’t make sense as it was also mentioned that all 5 are players WT want to keep.

I don't get this I would imagine that most of the players returning November 1 who haven't played since early September would be carrying a few extra kgs, especially the islanders given their love for the dirty bird, you wouldn't think that would warrant breach notices and fronting the board, isn't the off season training system for getting them into shape, there's got to be more to it

 

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

I don't get this I would imagine that most of the players returning November 1 who haven't played since early September would be carrying a few extra kgs, especially the islanders given their love for the dirty bird, you wouldn't think that would warrant breach notices and fronting the board, isn't the off season training system for getting them into shape, there's got to be more to it

It isn't pub footy, they're well paid professional athletes who were all given a minimum standard that they had to return to training at.
Punt them, they've all proven they're mentally weak.

 

[Spacecub]

Michael Chee Kam back to Manly

Manlys top 30 must be sitting at about 45 now ink

 

[Spacecub]

It isn't pub footy, they're well paid professional athletes who were all given a minimum standard that they had to return to training at.
Punt them, they've all proven they're mentally weak.

I don't know there's some pretty unfit looking specimens running around up here in group3 but would still challenge us on 2024 form

 

[Roar_Power]

I don't believe anyone's going to be sacked either, for what it's worth.

this is simply about drawing a line in the sand and changing the culture.

I don't know. I wouldn't want to be either of the fellas facing the board. It's a little more serious when that happens.

 

[Needaname]

Wow … him and Bateman going there ?

Very much doubt that.
Sounds like Benji is stuck trying to make Bateman work.
Seriously I don’t mind this. We need Bateman in my opinion.
We also need a coach that can work with what ever roster he is given.

 

[hsvjones]

Did I just hear Bateman is almost done at manly? 50/50 apparently. Coming from sen sports.

Doubt it now that Manly just signed Chee Kam..

 

[Lestronge]

WT thankfully started investing heavily into their pathways and junior coaching in early 2021 which was effectively the start of the rebuild. the completion of the Centre of Excellence in late 2022 was the next step, and the removal of the board and hiring of Richardson was step three.

while we're ahead on the pathways metric, Canterbury managed to sort their shit out at board level and within recruitment quicker than us, and we lost a lot of ground, which is now reflected on the ladder.

that said, there's a fair chance we'll end up ahead of the Dogs in a few years simply because we've blooded a lot of these kids, whereas Canterbury have not, which could slow their progress.

our premiership window should open from 2026, providing we make the signings and re-signings we require. I feel like, depending on the players they manage to recruit, the Dogs might have their window open for another year or two, before it shuts for a couple years and reopens again for the long run.

time will tell!

Yep . Agree . It will be interesting . We need to be more competitive . It just makes everything easier . Easier to sign players of all levels , sponsors , the external noise goes silent ( I don’t think it will 💯 because of the people like buzz who are constantly deflecting for his mates at thee roosters and sharks ) .
It’s gotta start now though . Next year is really important .

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I don't get this I would imagine that most of the players returning November 1 who haven't played since early September would be carrying a few extra kgs, especially the islanders given their love for the dirty bird, you wouldn't think that would warrant breach notices and fronting the board, isn't the off season training system for getting them into shape, there's got to be more to it

Have a listen to Betsey's podcast from 22:00 - 25:00 particularly near the end. He's very clear that all players individually were told the kpis they had to meet on return to training & all players agreed.

Players had 2 months off so plenty of time to rip in to off-season training to get themselves in the target shape.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Doubt it now that Manly just signed Chee Kam..

Chee Kam has been going to Manly for months now, just not made official. But his signing plus the young backrower from the Cowboys (in the swap for Jaxon Paulo) makes you wonder why they would go for another backrower.

 

[kiwitiger]

I’m not sure why this needs to be spelled out, but anyway: the single thing this Penrith team is most famous for is that its outside backs do a lot of the hard yards bringing the ball out of defence, thus leaving their forwards fresh for defensive work and attacking closer to the line.

Thats actually how Ivan had us play as well. That is the reason Packer could not cope when Madge came. He was shot as a footy player along with ben m but they signed on Ivans ideas. Then he left And madge came they had to do the hard yards. Both could not do it.
Ivan has a system and it works. The hard yards ie tackles 1 to 3 sometimes 4 are done by backs. Remember how impressive nofa was under him

 

[jrtiger]

Chee Kam has been going to Manly for months now, just not made official. But his signing plus the young backrower from the Cowboys (in the swap for Jaxon Paulo) makes you wonder why they would go for another backrower.

Pua'avase's a middle these days, thankfully. it ain't over til it's over.

 

[BAGNF05]

Thats actually how Ivan had us play as well. That is the reason Packer could not cope when Madge came. He was shot as a footy player along with ben m but they signed on Ivans ideas. Then he left And madge came they had to do the hard yards. Both could not do it.
Ivan has a system and it works. The hard yards ie tackles 1 to 3 sometimes 4 are done by backs. Remember how impressive nofa was under him

Penrith and Cronulla among other clubs also use their backs as battering rams so their forwards are fresh to rip into defence. Hopefully we are better equipped to do the same now.

 

[davey_farrell]

Manlys top 30 must be sitting at about 45 now ink

that is exactly what i was thinking, hopefully they have space for one John Bateman

 

[The Chad]

When Bateman got reinstated on the official website, I'd say that was the biggest indicator of his club status.

Let's be honest though- who are we signing now that is better than Bateman to play that 2nd row spot next season?

A little reality- if they can all be professional, he's the best option available.

 

[Roar_Power]

When Bateman got reinstated on the official website, I'd say that was the biggest indicator of his club status.

Let's be honest though- who are we signing now that is better than Bateman to play that 2nd row spot next season?

A little reality- if they can all be professional, he's the best option available.

Wow, didn't notice that. He's not going anywhere by the looks of it, especially given Manly's acquisition of Chee-Kam.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Bulldogs wanted Luai but didn't get him. Hopefully the Jarome factor can lead to this signing!

I think it is reverse psychology from the doomsdayers?
They tip the Dogs to reduce their disappointment should we miss out.
We need a front rower as much as rhe Dogs, have similar positives and negatives. Who knows where he will end up? Just speculation from everyone.
It's a decision that May will have to make where he will be best suited.

 

[Tito Santana]

I’d be making the 5 fatties wrestle everyone in the squad.

Mmmmm…..