Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

JB9918 said:
Kobe would be great to lock down the 13 & move Bird to an edge. But looks like Seyfarth may be getting the gig.

The one off contract at the end of 2025 & able to negotiate now is Harrison Hassett from Penrith.

There's been rumours before & obviously have come to nothing but he's the one we want.

Blocked by Liam Martin, Luke Garner, Isaiah Papalili & this year Scott Sorensen.

I would suggest we can get him on budget deal currently as unseen.
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Luke Garner is blocking him ? Yikes
 
Iron Fist said:
Broederlow is slow and lazy. Reports were he dominated Flegg early last season, but I thought he was poor stepping up to Cup vs men. Lack of size, speed and urgency was really evident.

I feel they had to sign either him or Zak Clarke, and decided to go with Broederlow based on his tackle busting Flegg form. Seems now that they picked the wrong one, and Penrith were quick to snap up Clarke. Decision not to sign Clarke seems even more of an error given the edge forward depth chart at the club right now. A big hole, and as the next cabs off the rank, I don’t think Sukkar, Tumeth, or Broederlow are up to it.

Is it true the club has signed Anthony Watmough’s son, Jake, to a cup deal? Was in the Manly system and won a SydneyShield premiership last season with his old man as coach. Could be a roughie. Looks like a strapping lad about 6’2”.
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Love your insights @Iron Fist . I have similar reservations about Broederlow with some of his lazy efforts in the latter half of the NSW Cup season. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt as I did see some big effort plays from him in Flegg early in the season. Let's see what a full pre-season building his fitness & effort does.

Now you say that about Jake Watmough, you may be right and this may be him next to Aaron Payne in this pic on Insta from a couple of days ago. Cayne Nicholas is also in it representing the Magpies.

pic.jpg
 
Year_of_the_Tiger said:
I met Lodge at the airport a few years back. He was a really nice (large) human. If you have ever taken Stillnox (Ala Aussie swim team), with some grog in you as well and push through sleeping, you go batty. What he did is so terrible but he’s paid his dues for me. He’s an intelligent guy that made a (huge) mistake. Most are prepared to take May if he’s cleared and I know lodge is no May - But I actually think Lodge would be good for culture - he’s a different guy now. A senior head that has made life mistakes and paid for them.
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we got one spot left ..and we are pretty set at prop …I was actually ok with Lodge a few months back …but there are bigger needs now ..
 
Iron Fist said:
Falling into a trap of finding him an alternative position because of the roster situation at the moment.

Latu Fainu is a half. A very farking good one at that. Treat him as one because he is next in line after Luai and Galvin and will need to slot straight into that position for 80 minutes in games this year. He gets that time and development in NSW Cup.

Da Silva is tricky. He also needs development with big minutes in lower grades. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a tandem between him and Hope on the NRL bench and Cup team in 2025. Hope is supposedly killing it in NRL pre season, is this true to the actual spies here at training? Geez, I’d even give Da Silva and some of the young guys who are still eligible some time in Flegg. Seems there are better open age options this year in comparison to last year who can play Cup. Guys like Feledy, Makasini, Lauliliis, Da Silva, etc could all get some combination and confidence in their age group.
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Agree with your calls on this. Latu would benefit greatly from consistent 80 mins in Cup honing his craft as a dominant playmaker.

I was thinking the same with TDS giving him some NRL bench time but also sending him back to Cup in periods to build up his reps. That's good news about Hope if true and we also have Kobie Wilson & Bailey Hodges (and Cayne Nicholas & James Valevatu if necessary) in Cup for hooker so we have solid depth.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
What he did was extremely stupid, however I’m pretty positive he did not get into the car with the intent to kill. Hence why it was reckless. Don’t take that as a defence of him either, I couldn’t care less about him. But in the eyes of the law, I think there is a a distinct difference.
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I don’t think we are far apart. If Mam had killed someone, he be in jail for manslaughter at a high level - a decade at least. I also don’t think Lodge went out in New York (which is such an epic experience) with the intent to do what he did. Drugs and alcohol make people do very dumb things
 
Year_of_the_Tiger said:
How many games did Bateman play while here? I think 32 across 2 seasons. Yes a great defender but always suspended or in the bin, His body wasn’t up to it and his crab walks worked very rarely. He’s a competitor for sure but was bog average for us overall. Definitely short in back row experience but even where we are now is massively ahead (on paper of course). 25 is a progress year I think (hope!) we go much better. I won’t be surprised if Galvin leaves whether we come 12th, 10th or 8th. I just hope L Fainu has a big year and Romey buys in regardless
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He was literally never suspended or in the bin whilst here. I agree on the whole he was largely ineffective in attack although at times he also looked like the only bloke who might create something. I agree on the whole we are ahead on paper (wouldn't say massively) and am concerned our forward pack is only just as good (or bad) (on paper) as last year or worse.
 
Latu is an interesting one.

Could he develop more with constant games at 6/7 in KOE or could he develop more with more game time against top level competition?

I think there is an argument for both.

From what we have seen, I think he looks comfortable in 1st grade.

I floated the idea a while back with the examples of Fittler, Daley & more recently Burton, as 5/8's who started their careers in the centres- because they were too good for reserve grades.

I think Latu is close to being too good for reserve grade now.

My biggest concern though- if he plays KOE for 2025, at what point do we have ourselves another Bud Sullivan situation? Too much money to be in reserve, too much talent to not WANT to be playing in 1st grade. And the club has invested in his brothers too- the risk of getting one offside triples if the other brothers get agitated.

I think he has to play. If Galvin isn't being shifted to 2nd row (our other weakest oposition), then I think Latu in the centres (the weakest position in the club right now, some might argue) is the best way to get your best 17 players on the field.
 
gregjm87 said:
He was literally never suspended or in the bin whilst here. I agree on the whole he was largely ineffective in attack although at times he also looked like the only bloke who might create something. I agree on the whole we are ahead on paper (wouldn't say massively) and am concerned our forward pack is only just as good (or bad) (on paper) as last year or worse.
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My bad - I assumed his lack of games was for that. Injured then? Don’t disagree. I think May played 2x better than Stef overall last year. We have hunt as impact. Our defense is certainly still a problem on paper.
 
Year_of_the_Tiger said:
My bad - I assumed his lack of games was for that. Injured then? Don’t disagree. I think May played 2x better than Stef overall last year. We have hunt as impact. Our defense is certainly still a problem on paper.
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Yeah. Missed a few games injured. But also not accurate to say over 2 seasons. He missed 2 games at the start of last year due to visa issues then was sent to England with 7 rounds remaining. So 32/40 games. Missed a chunk (5 games) in 2024 due to pec injury then missed 3 more games with 1 round injuries across (from memory 2 x hamstring 1 x rib).
I think May did play slightly better than Utoikamanu but did so in conjunction with 3 rep props. He probably won't get that help here. Hunt is an impact player i think we've needed for a long time but he would have been a nice addition to May/Utoikamanu, Klemmer and Papallii. As it stands we need someone to replace Papallii. Obviously, Hunt can't and wont do that, different style of player. Then we lose Bateman's defence and offloading ability again with no obvious direct replacement.
If May, Bird and Hunt can all perform at their best then they do have the ability to outperform what Utoikamanu, Papallii and Bateman produced here but on paper they do not stack up. Also May and Utoikamanu are really the only like for like it will be a very different pack in terms of style which hopefully inspires some much needed change.
 
The Chad said:
Latu is an interesting one.

Could he develop more with constant games at 6/7 in KOE or could he develop more with more game time against top level competition?

I think there is an argument for both.

From what we have seen, I think he looks comfortable in 1st grade.

I floated the idea a while back with the examples of Fittler, Daley & more recently Burton, as 5/8's who started their careers in the centres- because they were too good for reserve grades.

I think Latu is close to being too good for reserve grade now.

My biggest concern though- if he plays KOE for 2025, at what point do we have ourselves another Bud Sullivan situation? Too much money to be in reserve, too much talent to not WANT to be playing in 1st grade. And the club has invested in his brothers too- the risk of getting one offside triples if the other brothers get agitated.

I think he has to play. If Galvin isn't being shifted to 2nd row (our other weakest oposition), then I think Latu in the centres (the weakest position in the club right now, some might argue) is the best way to get your best 17 players on the field.
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Latu's future with us will be decided by whether Galvin extends.

I guess we'll find out later next year.
 
gregjm87 said:
He was literally never suspended or in the bin whilst here. I agree on the whole he was largely ineffective in attack although at times he also looked like the only bloke who might create something. I agree on the whole we are ahead on paper (wouldn't say massively) and am concerned our forward pack is only just as good (or bad) (on paper) as last year or worse.
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Yeah I wondered about that when I read it.... Knew someone would fact check.
Glad he's gone... No players bigger etc etc... We can fill the void left
 
The Chad said:
Latu is an interesting one.

Could he develop more with constant games at 6/7 in KOE or could he develop more with more game time against top level competition?

I think there is an argument for both.

From what we have seen, I think he looks comfortable in 1st grade.

I floated the idea a while back with the examples of Fittler, Daley & more recently Burton, as 5/8's who started their careers in the centres- because they were too good for reserve grades.

I think Latu is close to being too good for reserve grade now.

My biggest concern though- if he plays KOE for 2025, at what point do we have ourselves another Bud Sullivan situation? Too much money to be in reserve, too much talent to not WANT to be playing in 1st grade. And the club has invested in his brothers too- the risk of getting one offside triples if the other brothers get agitated.

I think he has to play. If Galvin isn't being shifted to 2nd row (our other weakest oposition), then I think Latu in the centres (the weakest position in the club right now, some might argue) is the best way to get your best 17 players on the field.
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Ok, that’s an option.
I see our 26 side as 7. Latu 6. Luai and either 11. or 3. Galvin.
Now if any of this occurs, I would wish Fainu to play 24 or more games in 2025 as a 7 rather than being a fillin centre or replacement for Api.
 
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