Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

I keep seeing comments stating we have plenty of middles?
Yes like every other NRL club, we have plenty of middles, but not necessarily enough of them that are NRL quality.
It is highly likely we will be naming 6 middles in our NRL top 17 each week, the starting lock, 2 starting props, a utility such as Jack Bird who can come on and play 13, as well as 2 props for the bench rotation.
Without Klemmer that leaves us with;
Terrell May
Royce Hunt
Fonua Pole
Alex Twal
Sione Fainu
Jack Bird

As soon as one of the players on the list above is injured we are calling on Kit Kaulilli and Justin Matamua who are both top 30 contracted.
Each to their own opinion, but I do not think either Kit or Justin would be anywhere near the first or second middle forward call up at any other NRL club.
 
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pawsandclaws1 said:
The final note on Klemmer, we brought Richardson in to oversee the roster and expenditure of the cap as part of his role. Klemmer's likely departure is the implementation of Richardson's charter which will either allow us to recruit or retain more of our younger players.
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Well Said! In Richo we trust!

I get the impression Richo likes to get youngsters signed up earlier than most. Or at least earlier than a mug like Justin Pascoe would.

Also interesting to see how many voices here have changed their tune on Klemmer now he has one foot out of the door. Solid pro but its not 2014 anymore and he's not going to make the difference we're looking for in 2025. I understand paying overs to get him here in 2023, but times have changed and we're WAAAAY more solid when we go to market now. So if its a back rower, or getting some juniors sorted longer term get it done Richo 😀
 
Betterdays22 said:
Yeah I would say that is a mistake from the journo and he meant Sione. Point still stands though, Sam played his juniors in the front row, he has the attitude of a front rower, loves the contact and he has a bit of dog in him. He would need a preseason to sort the body shape out. I'm just sick of seeing teams roll through our middle like its nothing, a front row of May and Sam Fainu is a potential origin front row which would do wonders for Galvin's game too.

It's all pretty irrelevant though, 2nd row is where he will need to be for the midterm at least due to the very obvious weaknesses in our squad. He is also a weapon on the edge.
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There's a bit of Kikau about Samuela Fainu. Believe Kikau was also playing front row in U20s.

Not fussed tbh where he ends up - reckon he'll be a great player in either position.

Our second row though is worryingly weak. Who knows what we would do if we get two injuries at the same time in that position. Bird & Sukkar....? Eeek.
 
Vicious said:
I keep hearing comments stating we have plenty of middles?
Yes like every other NRLclub, we have plenty of middles, but not necessarily enough of them that are NRL quality.
We will be essentially naming 6 middles in our NRL top 17 each week, the starting pick, 2 starting props, a utility such as Jack Bird who can cone on and play 13, as well as 2 props for the bench rotation.
Without Klemmer that leaves us with;
Terrell May
Royce Hunt
Fonua Pole
Alex Twal
Sione Fainu
Jack Bird

As soon as one of the players on the list above is injured we are calling on Kit Kaulilli and Justin Matamua who are both top 30 contracted.
Each to their own opinion, but I do not think either Kit or Justin would be anywhere near the first or second middle forward call up at any other NRL club.
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I get where you are coming from; but should we have let an opportunity to get the cap in order to cover a risk that may, or may not, eventuate? These are the sorts of opportunity decisions that we need to make in order to get from a side in transition to a side in a title window.

To become a side with a shot at the title we need to get our cap in order and our squad balanced. We aren't there yet - but this move allows us to get a step closer to it.
 
Jolls said:
I get where you are coming from; but should we have let an opportunity to get the cap in order to cover a risk that may, or may not, eventuate? These are the sorts of opportunity decisions that we need to make in order to get from a side in transition to a side in a title window.

To become a side with a shot at the title we need to get our cap in order and our squad balanced. We aren't there yet - but this move allows us to get a step closer to it.
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That is true, but way before that thinking we desperately need to ensure season 2025 is a successful season in regards to on field performances and finishing position.
If we neglect the depth surrounding our 2025 playing roster and a few injuries occur which is generally unavoidable, there is a real possibility we could end up with another wooden spoon or very close to it.
We have a good top 17 on paper, but not one that are good enough to carry team mates that are passengers when called upon.
If we do finish with another wooden spoon or close to it, imagine the carnage with many looking to jump off the sinking ship.
 
craigtob said:
If Klemmer is being moved on, what about Tom Hazelton as a replacement would / could this be a plan ??
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I don’t think so personally. it seems as if the club plans on backing May, Pole, Twal and Hunt as it’s main rotation, with Sione and Kit in the wings.

the club needs a lock and at least one backrower, if not two. Kobe Hetherington and Brandon Smith are two options for the 13, while in the backrow we’re going to have to get creative.
 
Vicious said:
It’s a simple equation.
IF we lose Klemmer and do not replace him externally with another forward of proven NRL quality it will mean our likely starting forwards are;
13. Twal
12. Seyfarth
11. Sam Fainu
10. Pole
9. Korisau
8. May
14 Da Silva
15. Bird
16. Sione Fainu
17. Hunt

** I think most of our supporters agree that is a decent looking forward pack and bench rotation. Not brilliant, but hopeful they could get the job done against most opposing forward packs.
** After that we drop in NRL forward standard substantially and will be relying on players not only unproven at NRL level, but all except Tim Johanssen and Reuben Porter who have not even had one dominant game at NSW Cup level.
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Sione Fainu--------------has he ever had a dominate game in KOE? Anywhere?
A work horse the same as Porter. They do a job as part of the team.
 
jrtiger said:
I don’t think so personally. it seems as if the club plans on backing May, Pole, Twal and Hunt as it’s main rotation, with Sione and Kit in the wings.

the club needs a lock and at least one backrower, if not two. Kobe Hetherington and Brandon Smith are two options for the 13, while in the backrow we’re going to have to get creative.
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We need more.
Those players combined are too small, no idea where you are getting the wraps on Kit, he has not even played one better than average reserve grade game yet.
As soon as we get an injury or two, our middle forwards will get bullied by rival forward packs and our yardage and field position will suffer because of it.
 
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