Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[jadtiger]

Can't see Feledy ever playing NRL again, even for PNG.

He came from Manly with fairly solid wraps but he has done little so far to justify it

 

[jadtiger]

Christ, I hope he wins his court case.

Only if he is innocent,if he is guilty let justice take it's course

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Only if he is innocent,if he is guilty let justice take it's course

Agree obviously not a clean skin but don't want any undesirables.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

May is facing some pretty serious charges. Getting way too ahead of ourselves predicting his signing.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

May is facing some pretty serious charges. Getting way too ahead of ourselves predicting his signing.

Are they DV related

 

[Tigerwould]

Does anyone have faith in T'oa or Feledy stepping up in 2025 now we have a decent side. Naden has talent but nothing upstairs so I don't have faith in him.

Not off there 2024 season. Feledy was too green and not big enough. Toa went o.k in 2023 but was injured most of 2024. Makasini probably won’t be ready until the back end of the season so we’ll need someone to step up.
I thought Solomona Faataape started 2024 pretty good defensively but seemed to regress towards the end.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Are they DV related

Yes

 

[hank37w]

May is facing some pretty serious charges. Getting way too ahead of ourselves predicting his signing.

I don't think anyone is predicting it, more hoping that it MAY be a possibility at some stage.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Yes

Well only would want him if totally innocent for culture reasons

 

[crazycat]

Props are now the third highest paid position in the game after halfbacks and fullbacks. Tino, Haas, AFB, JFH and Taumalolo are all on 1mil+. Tapine, Paulo, RCG, Nelson, Flegler, Papalii and Collins ware all in that 800k+ bracket from when they signed their contracts. Thompson, Stefano, May, Barnett and Leniu seem to all be in that 650-800k bracket.

See plenty of comments about props not being worth more than a certain amount, but the reality is that they are worth whatever clubs are willing to pay them. At this point in time clubs seem willing to pay props good money. With all the analytics in the game, clubs understand the value of props and how big of an impact a good prop has on the outcome of the game. Sometimes, us fans need to recognise that the clubs (all clubs) know what players and positions are worth more than we do.

Honestly, they are right.

You get guys like AFB, Haas and Taumalolo in his prime and they win games.
Get a wrecking ball that can't be tackled 1 on 1 and you get a hole in the line. When 2-3 players have to step in, Boom try.

When I think of the Sharks run to the finals. Gallen really set a platform, but guys like Luke Lewis and Fifita blew it open. You look at Watmough and what Penrith have in Martin/Yeo, you start to see how a powerful player can mix up an attack and add grit to defense.

 

[Tucker]

Props are now the third highest paid position in the game after halfbacks and fullbacks. Tino, Haas, AFB, JFH and Taumalolo are all on 1mil+. Tapine, Paulo, RCG, Nelson, Flegler, Papalii and Collins ware all in that 800k+ bracket from when they signed their contracts. Thompson, Stefano, May, Barnett and Leniu seem to all be in that 650-800k bracket.

See plenty of comments about props not being worth more than a certain amount, but the reality is that they are worth whatever clubs are willing to pay them. At this point in time clubs seem willing to pay props good money. With all the analytics in the game, clubs understand the value of props and how big of an impact a good prop has on the outcome of the game. Sometimes, us fans need to recognise that the clubs (all clubs) know what players and positions are worth more than we do.

Wayne Bennett used to always talk shit about props…he set the benchmark for not paying them properly.
He was wrong then and he’s wrong now.
Great props transform clubs.

 

[JB9918]

First day back for the new year.

I think with all the back room drama the Sione deal will be official this week & likely the May deal made official through the NRL. Possibly a Seyfarth upgrade as well.

Galvin... Who knows but you'd think Moses will be using the backroom stuff to push the price up.

29 out of 30.

I am interested in who gets the 30th spot but I do think one of two things; Either being held for Taylan May or a Backrower. Don't see a result soon here IMO. Not a huge amount of Backrowers on the market.

What does interest me though is who we look to sign for 2026. Hopefully we have a few targets that we push hard for between now & the start of the 2025 season to give clubs & players piece of mind.

 

[crazycat]

First day back for the new year.

I think with all the back room drama the Sione deal will be official this week & likely the May deal made official through the NRL. Possibly a Seyfarth upgrade as well.

Galvin... Who knows but you'd think Moses will be using the backroom stuff to push the price up.

29 out of 30.

I am interested in who gets the 30th spot but I do think one of two things; Either being held for Taylan May or a Backrower. Don't see a result soon here IMO. Not a huge amount of Backrowers on the market.

What does interest me though is who we look to sign for 2026. Hopefully we have a few targets that we push hard for between now & the start of the 2025 season to give clubs & players piece of mind.

Sione is a necessary signing to keep the Fainu's happy. Meh so be it.

He definately has the body to be something in NRL. I just hope we haven't paid too much for him.

..

Guaranteed Moses will push Galvin's price up. Suspect he is waiting for MM to confirm when he will retire and he will arrange the contract renewal for then. Giving a 3 way bidding war between us, Parra and Easts.

 

[Buttface]

Wayne Bennett used to always talk shit about props…he set the benchmark for not paying them properly.
He was wrong then and he’s wrong now.
Great props transform clubs.

I don’t know if Wayne was wrong at the time, but the game and I think players like Hass, JT and AFB, has certainly changed and definitely now a good prop will as you say transform ya club. They might also get you a decent half as they know how much better life is behind a true wrecking ball prop.
We have agreed in two different threads at the moment, are you ok? Am I ok? 😎

 

[Tigerdazz2]

Not off there 2024 season. Feledy was too green and not big enough. Toa went o.k in 2023 but was injured most of 2024. Makasini probably won’t be ready until the back end of the season so we’ll need someone to step up.
I thought Solomona Faataape started 2024 pretty good defensively but seemed to regress towards the end.

I think Toa cops a bit too much flack, especially since he was carrying injuries for much of 2024. We'll need him this year because Olam is "broken", he'll spend more time out injured than on the field in 2025.
Bellamy knew Olam was past his used by date and was glad to offload him & pick up Blore. I think if he's injury free, Toa is a better option than Faataape.

 

[Tigerdazz2]

Still don’t have a decent half back, so won’t go to far into finals without one.

They have two gun utility players, either can slot into the 7 and do a decent if not a super star job.

 

[Buttface]

Sione is a necessary signing to keep the Fainu's happy. Meh so be it.

He definately has the body to be something in NRL. I just hope we haven't paid too much for him.

..

Guaranteed Moses will push Galvin's price up. Suspect he is waiting for MM to confirm when he will retire and he will arrange the contract renewal for then. Giving a 3 way bidding war between us, Parra and Easts.

I think Sione I a nesecary signing to show the whole club if you progress you get rewarded, and yes he has improved since his Bros are here he has still improved. I don’t care what motivates a person but I want motivated people around me.
And if you get your good footy playing bros over too, well bonus.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Sione is a necessary signing to keep the Fainu's happy. Meh so be it.

He definately has the body to be something in NRL. I just hope we haven't paid too much for him.

..

Guaranteed Moses will push Galvin's price up. Suspect he is waiting for MM to confirm when he will retire and he will arrange the contract renewal for then. Giving a 3 way bidding war between us, Parra and Easts.

Sione showed enough potential and did enough with it in his debut season to deserve a top 30 spot on merit alone for mine. I expect that he was re-signed on well below average dollars, and even if the club paid up to half a percent or so more cap space than they preferred to to help keep both him and the family happy, like you said, so be it.

Certainly better than almost certainly paying Sullivan and Bateman as much or more to play elsewhere this season.

 

[clontarfkid]

I think Toa cops a bit too much flack, especially since he was carrying injuries for much of 2024. We'll need him this year because Olam is "broken", he'll spend more time out injured than on the field in 2025.
Bellamy knew Olam was past his used by date and was glad to offload him & pick up Blore. I think if he's injury free, Toa is a better option than Faataape.

Olams physicality over many years means his body has copped a battering,but my understanding is he was unwilling to repair his MCLs,which is what irked Bellamy.And understandably
Now been done
Hoping he has a big 25
Need both of Toa/Douhi to perform this year,and if not, May and the rugby kid will supplant them in 26 which will probably happen anyway

 

[Tigerdazz2]

Laundy is bent like every other publican.

Good research over a mill how do they keep all their players under cap just stinks

They are a protected species, like the Roosters, just look at the "slap on the wrist' they (the NRL) gave Ezra Mam.....he should have got 12 months at least!!
They would have a lot of 3rd party money coming in and not necessarily all on the books and above board.