Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

It does dumb it down.

I've already said I'd rather keep him if we can. I'm hardly advocating 'throwing away' a player the way you put it.

But, if it comes down to Api vs TDS & I had to choose- I take Api.

Even your argument against is based on as much conjecture as the argument for letting TDS go.

"He MIGHT have fallen off a cliff come 2027....I've seen it happen a lot with 34 year olds" (quite specific on the age though. 😀

I'd suggest there is as much evidence for 20 year old players not fulfilling potential & exceeding the output of incumbent players to counter it.

I don't WANT to lose TDS. I just don't WANT to lose Api more.

You don’t like it to be that specific … but thats what it appears to be coming down to ,..

I’m specific on the age because that’s how old he will be come 2027 🤪…

Who would have thought that arguing about something in 2027 is based on conjecture ? I wish I knew for sure what was going to happen in 2027 …probably wouldn’t be chewing the fat here as often I suspect

 

[The Chad]

Is it Jonah Pezet in Melbourne who has the clause in his contract that if Hughes & Munster stay on that he can get out of his contract? That's smart.

Re-sign Api & TDS, put a clause in TDS that if Api plays on beyond 2027 that TDS can move on if he gets an offer. Gives Api 2 more years, secures TDS & if Api plays until he's 43, TDS can go play for the Eels instead.

 

[TigerNeddyK]

TDS is far better and we have put a lot of effort into him. He is next up.
Good on this other kid for playing decent footy in the juniors…maybe that will transform to senior footy and then top level one day.

Heywood is a real footy player that could end up playing anywhere , similar to Bailey Hayward and the dogs . We really should be able to keep TDS here as he wants to be here, loves the club and will be able to negotiate a career with a hand off from API

 

[rihannafan1]

Farah was the best option at #9 when the time came to make a decision.

They didn't let Darren Senter go because they had Farah in the pipeline for 2 years time.


This is where we are now.

TDS is not better than Api.

I agree. The game sure has changed. Farah was loyal and i dont think he would have been asking for much. TDS hasn't done much for his agent to pout, imo.

 

[clontarfkid]

Heywood is a real footy player that could end up playing anywhere , similar to Bailey Hayward and the dogs . We really should be able to keep TDS here as he wants to be here, loves the club and will be able to negotiate a career with a hand off from API

Im very ok for them both to stay until end 27 ...TDS longer ...with a guaranteed starting spot for TDS in 27...and if that doesnt happen he has a get out clause.
Pay them both accordingly ie generously in the case of TDS..weve wasted $$ on lesser
If he hasnt leapfrogged Api by then.he never will

 

[Winston Churchill]

Interesting …I’ve asked the question 3-4 times now how much longer they think Api will last past 2027 as the No 1 hooker …and no one wants to answer …. 2 more years most likely would be my guess … even that might be pushing it

I’ll be the first to say that Api has been a very rare fine purchase by the club…one of the best in its 25 yr history …. he has even outplayed in monetary terms the contract he was paid …I couldn’t be more respectful about his performance here ..

Having said that, I’m also a realist …. A dumb sounding cliche …but Father Time remains undefeated… Api is headed towards his mid thirties and we should expect a decline at any time …but certainly within 4 years max … Making an assumption “solely on age “ can also be interpreted as playing the percentages … players in their early /mid thirties tend to decline …

TDS has been one of our highly touted juniors ( another one) for a while now… unlike a lot of others ….he has shown some ability already at 20 at the NRL level …

It’s a tough call to make … and blame the dumb rules for forcing them to make it now … I want them to make the call based on which player come 2027 has the best upside… not on sentimentality about what a well paid player has previously given you, or trying to give some young cocky upstart a crack just because of what we have just gone through with Galvin …

Winston already correctly answered it in post #529 of the TDS thread.

 

[Odessa]

Interesting …I’ve asked the question 3-4 times now how much longer they think Api will last past 2027 as the No 1 hooker …and no one wants to answer …. 2 more years most likely would be my guess … even that might be pushing it

I’ll be the first to say that Api has been a very rare fine purchase by the club…one of the best in its 25 yr history …. he has even outplayed in monetary terms the contract he was paid …I couldn’t be more respectful about his performance here ..

Having said that, I’m also a realist …. A dumb sounding cliche …but Father Time remains undefeated… Api is headed towards his mid thirties and we should expect a decline at any time …but certainly within 4 years max … Making an assumption “solely on age “ can also be interpreted as playing the percentages … players in their early /mid thirties tend to decline …

TDS has been one of our highly touted juniors ( another one) for a while now… unlike a lot of others ….he has shown some ability already at 20 at the NRL level …

It’s a tough call to make … and blame the dumb rules for forcing them to make it now … I want them to make the call based on which player come 2027 has the best upside… not on sentimentality about what a well paid player has previously given you, or trying to give some young cocky upstart a crack just because of what we have just gone through with Galvin …

Couldn't you pay api some money from this year's cap give him a contract for 27 and 28 but 28 at a lower rate and tell him that he will be be playing 14 in 28

And see how he feels about it

 

[Needaname]

At this Stage Api has his nose well in front and should be respected for that. But in terms of retention why does the club have to give priority to either of the players that is the coaches job to pick the best 17. I would look at a 1+1y mutual contract for Api and I would look at a 1+2y player option for TDS. If Api is retained mutually then TDS has the option to leave or the take the security of 2 years to follow knowing that he will still end up on top with the extra contracted year.

 

[Needaname]

I guess in saying that Haywood can do the job in the future I don’t think there is anyone behind Haywood that can be brought in in say 4 years time if he end up being the primary hooker we would have to recruit anyway. Unless I’m mistaken and there is another gun hooker in the juniors not quite being spoken about at the moment.

 

[batboy]

True, for all the talk of being a development club atm our development sucks, apart from Talyn, who has come through the Macarthur region that we identified and brought through. Last I can remember who kicked on was Tedesco. There's more than likely others iv forgotten but we don't produce much at all at the moment. We generally would get them young and bring them in. No doubt Richo is working on trying to sort it, so it'll take a few years for the results to show. But really he needs to go to HBG and say your a not for profit start dumping money into our junior development, pathways and scouting networks.

The old Harvey Norman Womens coach mentioned it the other day in a Podcast
Something along the lines of They're bigging up the talent in the South West
- But there's not that much out there.

Made me think, For the size of the area - And it's growth trajectory...
Where's all the kids?

We're here talking about half a dozen of them and a couple that have already gone.

 

[liltiger]

The old Harvey Norman Womens coach mentioned it the other day in a Podcast
Something along the lines of They're bigging up the talent in the South West
- But there's not that much out there.

Made me think, For the size of the area - And it's growth trajectory...
Where's all the kids?

We're here talking about half a dozen of them and a couple that have already gone.

If there isn't much then imo we are either bad at identifying the talent or we are way too slow at identifying it and grabbing it before other clubs do.

 

[Droppy05]

Is it Jonah Pezet in Melbourne who has the clause in his contract that if Hughes & Munster stay on that he can get out of his contract? That's smart.

Re-sign Api & TDS, put a clause in TDS that if Api plays on beyond 2027 that TDS can move on if he gets an offer. Gives Api 2 more years, secures TDS & if Api plays until he's 43, TDS can go play for the Eels instead.

Thats fine if TDS agrees. I doubt that he wants to wait in the wings for 2 years. Especially with new teams coming into the comp.

 

[tigerballs]

In all honesty- this attitude is worse.

Don't want to come across as a nay sayer, but if this is your reason for signing in, it's just making it rubbish for the rest of us.

Yeah, sorry Chad. A bit childish, I know.

 

[mikey]

Da Silva's manager has made this about Api v his client. Api is one of, if not the best hooker, in the NRL and certainly the best hooker at WTs. The club will make the call. Haywood re-signed with the club until end of 28.

The thing that put me TDS is it went public. Telling the club privately is one thing but a gun to the head in the press? He's dead to me if that's the way he wants to go about business.

 

[clontarfkid]

Thats fine if TDS agrees. I doubt that he wants to wait in the wings for 2 years. Especially with new teams coming into the comp.

He needs one more year as an apprentice..he understandably wont wait any longer..ang again we dont have options unless Api does a Benjamin Button.Id keep him as a back up for 27
Cameron Smith played on until he was 100...but a different role and not as Physically involved as Api

 

[mikey]

So basically you want to throw away a kid ( local junior) you have developed and touted a few years now, who might be here another 10:years …all to get 2 more years out of a 34 yr old

He has more value than being a good hooker. He is a clubman that gives his all for the team. That is the culture we want, not a snivelling me first brat.

 

[Bellend]

Well if there is not much so-called talent in the Macarthur area why are Souths, storm the ARU out constantly in the area talking to kids?? Do not get this narrative that the pipeline is drying if you spent the money and invested in the area properly then the talent will come through, and the best example of this is Penrith. They have regular training camps in the Bathurst,Orange areas and look at the steady flow of country kids coming through.

 

[Tom Shines]

He has more value than being a good hooker. He is a clubman that gives his all for the team. That is the culture we want, not a snivelling me first brat.

Cmon …”the me first brat” has said nothing as far as we know ….its a quote from his agent ..

But personally I don’t gaf about whether they are choirboys or not …just win some freaking games for a change

 

[The Chad]

Yeah, sorry Chad. A bit childish, I know.

I'm not angry.

I'm just very disappointed.

 

[mikey]

Cmon …”the me first brat” has said nothing as far as we know ….its a quote from his agent ..

But personally I don’t gaf about whether they are choirboys or not …just win some freaking games for a change

Words may be from agent but he's a conduit for his client - same thing to me.
I couldn't care less whether they are choirboy but it's selfish behaviours that have been one of the causes of the constant failures as a club; both with players and at management and boardroom level.