Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

We have 3 spots to fill assuming Olam gets let go - ignoring who exactly we sign I think we need more depth - think it's a big drop at the moment in most positions when injuries strike and when thinking about who to sign I thought about what would we look like with an injury.

Fullback - If Bula goes down we have options in Mason, Staines, Turuva who can all cover

Wing - We have Naden, Staines and possibly Luke L depending on concussions. Think we are short a little here on ball returning ability but Staines is good enough and Nado should be back by round 4 or 5

Centre - Naden, Faatape, Feledy, Bird its not amazing and our 2 centres are coming off injury riddled years - could do with more centre depth but not top priority until someone gets struck down imo.

Halves - Fainu, Douehi, Mason, Kurt Falls, we are fine for halves depth imo.

Lock- Lock we have options Bird, Pole, Kit, Matamua - not amazing but with a 3rd middle option then prob OK at lock

Second Row - Starters are all we have honestly it's a huge concern depth wise with Porter a career reserve grader and Sukkar who isn't ready. Priority for 1 of our free top 30 spot.

Prop - If May or Hunt goes down then we are really short in props with experience especially with Twal as a lock. Those 2 go down which losing 2 props isn't unusual. Priority for a signing otherwise we could be starting with Fainu and having Kit/ Ako coming off the bench anytime now.

Hooker - Plenty of cover

Utility - the Jack Bird position - I really feel we need backup of someone who can play outside backs as well as backrow.

So overall - 1 prop, 1 second rower and 1 utility sr/centre.

Obviously the preference is always stars but realistically we should be looking for 2 forwards with 100 fg games - not old but not kids either and then a utility.
 
liltiger said:
Remember when he was banned for his part in the Parramatta salary cap rort. Even though he was banned it was an open secret he was taking calls organising meetings and sitting in on negotiations while his players had another manager with them signing on behalf of Issac. N.R.L knew but couldn't do anything cause there's no harm in having a "chat".
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Yea , but I think as the game gets bigger it begins to more and more powerful , like the NFL , and they can introduce rules and procedures that can / may not be entirely fair legally , but they get away with it because they are so big . I think that Gus last year said that the nrl was about to introduce a far tighter system . But I don’t think they really care . All this talk means that the nrl is on the back page all year round , and much like nrl dominating round 1 in the northern states so much that the afl hasn’t even got a mention with the Vegas round , all the scuttlebutt is just good for business .
As much personally I think a draft is a must .
 
I actually think a lot of teams have depth issues this year and that will only increase with more teams added to the league

Problem with last management is signing so many kids into the 30 - we are having to play kids instead of guys with experience

We could honestly do with some solid toilers in our top 30 in future years with a sprinkling of kids with potential. Not every young player has to get a development to top 30 deal!
 
Lestronge said:
Yea , but I think as the game gets bigger it begins to more and more powerful , like the NFL , and they can introduce rules and procedures that can / may not be entirely fair legally , but they get away with it because they are so big . I think that Gus last year said that the nrl was about to introduce a far tighter system . But I don’t think they really care . All this talk means that the nrl is on the back page all year round , and much like nrl dominating round 1 in the northern states so much that the afl hasn’t even got a mention with the Vegas round , all the scuttlebutt is just good for business .
As much personally I think a draft is a must .
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Agree totally about the draft, I guess any attention is good attention.
 
liltiger said:
Remember when he was banned for his part in the Parramatta salary cap rort. Even though he was banned it was an open secret he was taking calls organising meetings and sitting in on negotiations while his players had another manager with them signing on behalf of Issac. N.R.L knew but couldn't do anything cause there's no harm in having a "chat".
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They weren't so considerate with Flanno when he was "coaching with stealth" during his ban. 🤣
 
Tiger Stripes said:
Using Brown as a benchmark for a players worth is out of skelter with reality.
Good luck to him for finding a Club willing to squander so many dollars on an average 5/8.
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He's not average at all. He's not trying. There was a time where he was the best defensive 5/8 in the game for a few years. He also has a lot of great attacking stats in a bad side. With Ponga, he will get so much better
 
Odessa said:
I don't honestly understand Newcastle they have been trying to get out of over paying players for the last two years and now they do this
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The money tied up between him and Ponga is just ridiculous they won't have any money for Sharpe when he will need a significant upgrade then there is Best on think 700k.
Can see significant cap problems developing and the good squad they have will become weaker when they have to shed quality it will end in disaster, good maybe for us if we can pick up a good player.
 
Rock Hopper Steve said:
The money tied up between him and Ponga is just ridiculous they won't have any money for Sharpe when he will need a significant upgrade then there is Best on think 700k.
Can see significant cap problems developing and the good squad they have will become weaker when they have to shed quality it will end in disaster, good maybe for us if we can pick up a good player.
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The winger from Canberra is reported to be on 500K
 
BAGNF05 said:
I just think you don’t need both him and Twal in a first grade 17. We really lacked some leg speed in the forwards for the first 25 mins today. A big backrower who gets quick PTB is a serious need.
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Re Seyfarth...

If leg speed is the issue, Seyfarth is not the player to be removed.

Not saying he doesn't have other issues, and speed does explain why we punted Bateman + Klemmer so a fast pack could be what Benji is aiming for.

But Seyfarth isn't our slowest player. Hunt/Twal are our slowest. No I wouldn't be punting either of those battering rams.

Moving Api to lock with Da-Silva or Love as hooker would really give us some speed around dummy half. Maybe not starting there, but 20 minutes in... it would throw some teams.

I would be moving on some of our back row depth. Till the weekends game, that was Starford Toa... Yet Toa aced his first game of 2025 and we appear to have good selection headaches.
 
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