Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Demps said:
I liked @jrtiger suggestion of Bird at 17.
A really well rounded utility option for the bench, can almost play anywhere.

I know he wants the lock position but I think his value to the team is his ability to play anywhere when needed.

Tim Johannsen a smokey for forcing his way into the 17 and making a name for himself.
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Has bird played much hooker?
Yeah big Scarlett, I’m hoping has a break out year.
 
user118245 said:
Was Lobb not the dragons cup player of the year?
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To be honest i have no idea on that but a couple of dragon supporters i know said he was terrible and they were glad he was leaving.I also saw him play for the dragons in reggies and he was not good and unfortunately that form continues with us.He may improve but somehow i doubt it
 
Demps said:
I liked @jrtiger suggestion of Bird at 17.
A really well rounded utility option for the bench, can almost play anywhere.

I know he wants the lock position but I think his value to the team is his ability to play anywhere when needed.

Tim Johannsen a smokey for forcing his way into the 17 and making a name for himself.
Click to expand...
The thing with Bird is, you can still access his utility value by playing him in the starting 13, allowing you to carry more options on the bench.

If he was to start at lock or edge and someone goes down, he can still cover centre/halves and have someone backfill his pack spot for the rest of the match.

That would still allow you a carry a TDS, Latu or the likes on the bench.

I think that makes us a bit more of a multiple-threat option than running Bird strictly as the utility on the bench. It also means we can run three forwards and a true 14, instead of two forwards, a 14 and another utility in Bird.

Probably semantics, but something to consider.
 
jadtiger said:
To be honest i have no idea on that but a couple of dragon supporters i know said he was terrible and they were glad he was leaving.I also saw him play for the dragons in reggies and he was not good and unfortunately that form continues with us.He may improve but somehow i doubt it
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Yes he was their player of the year. But look at who done of our NSW cup player of the year have been. Not always the best, the ones that played the most and tried hard.
 
Demps said:
That's the storyline I like.

He looks healthy in the training footage.
I think we could make him into a real damaging backrower.

Or continue at prop.
His body shape is something we've kinda lacked for a while.

Think we've got a good one on our hands.

View attachment 17634
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As I said the other day, I think he's one to play around with. Seems he might have a playing style that lends itself to versatility, whether that's testing him on an edge and upping his line running and offload, or really up his passing development and work rate and giving him a run at lock.

Fun project I reckon.
 
Canadian Club said:
All this premature Tim Johannssen hype reminds me of all the premature Alex Lobb hype last off-season.
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No, it's completely different. At this time last year there was no hype over Lobb, only after the trials did anyone say anything.
Johannsen played first grade this year after fighting his way up from Massey. And was a standout in Cup, with several man of the match performances. Praise on him is based on how we've seen him perform throughout 2024, where's no one had really seen Lobb at all so to completely different scenarios
 
balmain boy said:
No, it's completely different. At this time last year there was no hype over Lobb, only after the trials did anyone say anything.
Johannsen played first grade this year after fighting his way up from Massey. And was a standout in Cup, with several man of the match performances. Praise on him is based on how we've seen him perform throughout 2024, where's no one had really seen Lobb at all so to completely different scenarios
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TJ has done it really tough and appears to be a man of real integrity.

I think he will really squeeze everything he can to be the best he can be.

A real Aussie battler.

He is the player I really want to succeed
 
balmain boy said:
No, it's completely different. At this time last year there was no hype over Lobb, only after the trials did anyone say anything.
Johannsen played first grade this year after fighting his way up from Massey. And was a standout in Cup, with several man of the match performances. Praise on him is based on how we've seen him perform throughout 2024, where's no one had really seen Lobb at all so to completely different scenarios
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Well that's a lie.. everyone was talking Lobb up before we had even signed him up.

Talked about him like he was a perfect hybrid between Daniel Tupou and Hazem El Mazri
 
Kaito said:
I don't like predicting teams that much but

1. Bula
2. Skelton
3. To'a
4. Olam
5. Turuva
6. Galvin
7. Luai
8. May
9. Koroisau
10. Klemmer
11. Bateman
12. S. Fainu
13. Bird

14. L. Fainu
15. Pole
16. Hunt
17. Seyfarth
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Separating the backs out:
1. Bula
2. Skelton
3. Bird/Turuva
4. Olam
5. Turuva/Staines/Mason
6. Galvin
7. Luai

It's a far better back line. Galvin is paired with someone who can at least play halfback at the NRL level on current fitness. There will be a lot of adjustment for Luai, but at least at Penrith with a monster pack he can guide the team.

I don't see Toa in the 1-7 but I do see Mason. Maybe not at first but in due time he is in there.

No one above, bar maybe Galvin/Bula should feel really safe.
Which is good because Toa, Olam (as much as that pains me to say. You go you awesome brute you), Staines, Faagatu, etc haven't done anywhere near enough to keep their spots.

Need to look at the WT back defensive record. We need gap stoppers and to ensure we don't have a defensive so SO bad. with Luai and Turuva we will pile on the points. If we can hold our line we will be scoring.
 
S. Fainu and Mats both fit the modern-day mobile lock build. However, both these guys have poor lapses in defence that often lead to line breaks. If they can work on the consistency in defence they'd offer a great duo sharing the lock role. I'd like to see Bird fill the utility role and start when injuries arise later in the year. Bird doesn't off the punch and meters the above two will offer at lock.
 
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see Johannssen kill it and become a first grade regular. But it seems to be a common occurrences to hype up a guy after some good performances in Cup and a game or two in NRL.

We’ve seen plenty of others do the same in Cup and never really stand out in NRL. I also can’t see him getting many games with May, Klemmer, Twal, Hunt, Pole and Sione F (likely) all in the top 30 and ahead of him in the pecking order.

Just think it’s silly to be placing so much hype on a guy so early into his journey. It’s very premature. Let him string a few consecutive NRL games together first.
 
Wiz said:
This is awesome. I hadn’t seen it. Has edge backrower written all over him!
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My only concern reading too much into it due to really feeble defence. Give him the ball against most first grade sides and it may be a different outcome
 
Putting some stats out there:
1732319922871.png

So if were talking defense, were talking a back line of:
Mason,
Skelton
Olam
Turuva
Staines.

^which I guarantee we won't see this lineup all year.

If were talking attack:
Turuva 18 tries
Bula 10 tries
Staines 9 tries
Olam 6 tries

SKelton, Latu and even AD have crossed for 2-3 tries each...

No matter what, I can't see a starting lineup without Olam, Turuva and Staines!
 
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