Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

please. held hostage.

Richardson promised Tartak and Sione that the latter would be given a spot in the top 30 as soon as one became available. if you walk that back then you're going to struggle to regain trust.
What’s the difference if he’s train and trial or top 30? Is it budgetary ceiling or something? Just for Tito to understand better.
 
Come on ur blaming Bateman for everything that went wrong at the club , I guess he also was the cause the nsw team got thrashed nearly every week , be real , yes he was poor in attack but his defence was good now we got to fill that gap with kids who can’t tackle , YES a thorn is gone but really we are worse if in defence
Mmmm…. Yes Bateman got Tito’s 2024 Luke Brooks Award for worst cost benefit ratio.

Brooks undoubtedly took it out annually from 2013 to 2024.
 
When do we resurface the Harrison Hassett rumour?

I actually think he makes perfect sense, given the lost contract value of paying half of Bateman's contract.

Sam Fainu, Seyfarth, Hassett, Porter, Sukkar, Tumeth. Maybe Bird as well.

You'll laugh, but that would be the time I'd add Liam Knight on a T&T for depth as well.
Nup to Knight - Even if he brings Danika.

I like Porter as a solid no frills second rower.
 
I don’t get people saying we should use the money saved on Bateman and possibly Sullivan to upgrade Galvin.
If it was money that Galvin was after he would have taken an upgrade already
He is waiting on how the team performs and how our future looks before signing any new contract with us.
Personally I like how he is dealing with his future , taking a risk that he doesn’t get a major injury and really wants to play in a team that is competing for a title.
 
I don’t get people saying we should use the money saved on Bateman and possibly Sullivan to upgrade Galvin.
If it was money that Galvin was after he would have taken an upgrade already
He is waiting on how the team performs and how our future looks before signing any new contract with us.
Personally I like how he is dealing with his future , taking a risk that he doesn’t get a major injury and really wants to play in a team that is competing for a title.

there are strong rumours he has been made an offer already for an extension …. this will include an upgrade the next two years he has been contracted for … I don’t think the money they save from moving on Bateman and Sullivan changes anything
 
I know, same here. But purely as a NSW Cup signing, he'd be good for the Magpies and excel at Cup level. We'd then have a spine in NSW Cup with ...

Fullbacks - Mason (Staines, Naden)
5/8 - Fainu (Doeuihi, Ackland, Mason, Naden)
Hooker - Hope/Hodges (TDS, Wilson)

Pretty good if we can complement it with an experienced half. Not many on the market who would accept just a Cup contract.
Mason at fullback is a NO NO.
Freezes for bombs when contested by opposition. Lets them bounce or just stuffs up.
 
What’s the difference if he’s train and trial or top 30? Is it budgetary ceiling or something? Just for Tito to understand better.
Top 30 is all under the salary cap and each players salary is guaranteed for the period they are signed for. They can also play from round 1.

My understanding of Train and Trial contracts is that the player gets paid match payments rather than a salary. Their deal can also be terminated at any time (without compensation) and they can only play after a certain round (round 10 i believe). Essentially you get paid less, can get released any time without further payment and can't play until a certain round in the season.
 
Mason at fullback is a NO NO.
Freezes for bombs when contested by opposition. Lets them bounce or just stuffs up.
Hopefully he has been practicing every day over the off & pre-season taking bombs. If he's serious, he'd do that in an hour of extras each day. What's that saying, you become an expert when you've done something for 10,000 hours!
 
Top 30 is all under the salary cap and each players salary is guaranteed for the period they are signed for. They can also play from round 1.

My understanding of Train and Trial contracts is that the player gets paid match payments rather than a salary. Their deal can also be terminated at any time (without compensation) and they can only play after a certain round (round 10 i believe). Essentially you get paid less, can get released any time without further payment and can't play until a certain round in the season.
Development contracts are around $80k + $3k per NRL game. Can play from Round 1.
T&T contracts as I understand were $1,200pw in 2024 + $3k per NRL game. Can play from Round 11 only.
 
When do we resurface the Harrison Hassett rumour?

I actually think he makes perfect sense, given the lost contract value of paying half of Bateman's contract.

Sam Fainu, Seyfarth, Hassett, Porter, Sukkar, Tumeth. Maybe Bird as well.

You'll laugh, but that would be the time I'd add Liam Knight on a T&T for depth as well.
Don’t like tumeth , he’s to light , sukkar is not ready , but like ur last player , think knight would be a good cheap player
 
I don’t get people saying we should use the money saved on Bateman and possibly Sullivan to upgrade Galvin.
If it was money that Galvin was after he would have taken an upgrade already
He is waiting on how the team performs and how our future looks before signing any new contract with us.
Personally I like how he is dealing with his future , taking a risk that he doesn’t get a major injury and really wants to play in a team that is competing for a title.

Either way, the potential Galvin upgrade offer money has to come from somewhere, as do the dollars to pay whichever player takes Sullivan's top 30 spot if/when he officially departs.
 
Has there been any serious chatter about Leo Thompson for next year
The 2 main clubs after him were Bulldogs and Raiders and Bulldogs said today they’re no longer interested. Which likely means he said yes to the Raiders and the Dogs are trying to save face.
Seemed to happen a lot to the Dogs this year, they’re no longer interested in a player right before they sign with another team.
 
a two year deal for a first grade-ready backrower is the logical move for all parties. Ethan Bullemor is probably the ideal candidate. I'm also pretty keen on Simi Sasagi.

means we aren't blooding any of the above too early. Sukkar's the furthest down the development path of those you mentioned and even he hasn't done a full year on an edge in Cup. that's what he needs in 2025.

in regards to the lower-end players you mentioned leaving, I wouldn't be at all surprised if there's a few teams that come knocking in January. the club seemed fairly confident that would happen. Staines and Naden would probably field a few offers.
Bateman had to go but why are we so desperate to get rid of Staines and Naden. You want them playing well in reserve grade and creating competition for spots.
 
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