Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Canadian Club said:
If we lose Tallyn, it will be our biggest mistake yet. I love Api and I understand the sentiment around retaining Api and rewarding him for staying loyal but he's only got 2-3 years left at the most. I guarantee the same ones that are calling TDS 'unloyal' and saying we should let him go are the same ones that will be the loudest critics in 3 years if we do let him go. Exactly why Richo is trying to retain him, and is willing to go against Benji for the first time.

Tallyn is only 20 and already has clubs offering him a starting role and big money. Hes shown his upside and has easily been the best in our Cup side playing with NRL veterans. Api has been one the best hookers of the past decade and he didnt even debut until he was 21, became a regular starter at 24-25 and an Origin player at 28. No one really knew about Api until he was in his mid 20s. Tallyn has been that good and that dominate that clubs want him to start for their side at 20. Not to mention Tallyn has the SG Ball record for most tries scored in a season by a hooker and most points scored in a season by a hooker.

Just because hes hasn't come into first grade and scored a try every game, it doesn't mean he's not good. That mindset is exactly why we havn't been successful in over a decade and other teams have. Our junior development has been a failure for a long time because we don't back our development and would rather back a mediocre reserve grader whos played 14mins of NRL rather than our own who have carved up the junior grades and has multiple clubs after them.
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Intangibles mate.

People turn down millions offered from us to play for other clubs. Api is here because he's a fan and loves the club. It's been so hard for us to get what he brings to our club. We've taken it too cheaply in the past and its cost us big time. He's still our best player and still an absolutely amazing hooker. He will change a game by himself if he has to. He will win games ruined with influenza.

I didn't think I'd see anyone who could dare to challenge Robbie Farah as the best 9 in the JV history. But there he is. If TDS wants the 9 Jersey I'm happy for him to fight for it. It will make him a better player and it will win us more games.

Everything you said totally stacks up and checks out. But our club? With its rep, and its history? Right Now? You don't let that go.
 
tigahhh said:
it makes no sense , what are they thinking honestly
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If we do end up signing Jonah Glover, he would come as a back up halfback option at a backup halfback price.
A signing like him is no immediate threat to Latu Fainu partnering Luai in our halves, but purely a depth signing.
Our NRL team list tomorrow will be very interesting as it will show us a bit more about what Benji is thinking.
You would think Latu would get named at 6 with Heath Mason at 14, but we will soon see.
Personally I would be getting Da Silva back in our NRL team at 14 and ensuring he gets at least 30 minutes of game time, get Mason playing 6 for our NSW Cup team and giving him game time at 9 also.
 
jrtiger said:
admittedly Brent Read also said it earlier in the week when Reynolds was still a chance. I wouldn't be moving Latu to 13 for Glover though.
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The only 'possible get' I would consider moving Latu to #13 is Jonah Pezet if Hughes extends at Storm - right sided half, game manager & goal kicker too. I thought about Mikey Lewis but he's left-sided and left foot kicker like Luai.
 
Thoughts on Connelly Lemuelu and Simi Sasagi as potential signings ?
Connelly was with us for a couple of seasons after we signed him as schoolboy from Keebra Park and has since transitioned from a fullback/centre to an edge back rower.
He has not been able to nail down a regular starting spot, but his form in recent weeks has been off the charts. Obviously with the success the Dolphins are now having he would likely be keen to stay with them, but once they get Tom Gilbert back from injury his position in their team becomes shaky.
I reckon he would only be on a contract of 250-300k and is more valuable than that based on his genuine attacking threat and line breaking ability. I think he and Samuela sharing our left edge back row role, with the flexibility of Samuela also able to play in the middle and Lemuelu able to cover as a centre if required would add some real value to our team and give us a fast and dangerous edge back row option.
Simi Sasagi is an almost identical player and could do the same job.
Both currently available for 2027, but neither are guaranteed to be in their current teams top 17 when at full strength, so I’d be thinking a good money offer might entice them to try and get out of their contracts a year early.
 
Vicious said:
Thoughts on Connelly Lemuelu and Simi Sassagi as potential signings ?
Connelly was with us for a couple of seasons after we signed him as schoolboy from Keebra Park and has since transitioned from a fullback/centre to an edge back rower.
He has not been able to nail down a regular starting spot, but his form in recent weeks has been off the charts. Obviously with the success the Dolphins are now having he would likely be keen tj stat with them, but once they get Tom Gilbert back from injury his position in their team becomes shaky.
I reckon he would only be on a contract of 250-300k and is more valuable than that based on his genuine attacking threat and line breaking ability. I think he and Samuela sharing our left edge back row role, with the flexibility of Samuela also able to play in the middle and Lemuelu able to cover as a centre if required would add some real value to our team and give us a fast and dangerous edge back row option.
Simi Sasagi is an almost identical player and could do the same job.
Both currently available for 2027, but neither are guaranteed to be in their current teams top 17 when at full strength, so I’d be thinking a good money offer might entice them to try and get out of their contracts a year early.
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I've suggested Lemuelu for a while as has @jrtiger with Sasagi. Not sure either would come without a guaranteed starting spot since KPP has signed a long-term deal though. Hoping for someone like that Warriors backrower Fatialofa or Hassett from Panthers.
 
Tom Shines said:
I’m sure when Alex Johnson breaks the try scoring record they will make a compilation of all his tries …. I would say a big percentage from kicks and the longest he would have ran to score one would be 20m ..( maybe excluding s couple of intercepts …)
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When he draws level with Ken Irvine he should retire there and then.
 
tigahhh said:
it makes no sense , what are they thinking honestly
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I think it's to build out the depth chart and give us options. Latu has his injury troubles, of that there's no doubt. I think you have to recruit with that in mind and give yourself as many options as possible.
 
hank37w said:
Saw Cody Walker getting in Bud's ear yesterday, I suspect Souffs like the kid, he certainly seems to like them. 🤢🤮
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Adrian Proszenko was saying in the Sun Herald yesterday that Bud is on $700k per year … backdated amount last couple of years ? 🤮

www.smh.com.au

Gould and Ciraldo helped Bud Sullivan resurrect his career. Now he’s out to wreck their season

Phil Gould has had his fair share of secret meetings. This one resurrected the career of a playmaker who could come back to haunt Canterbury on Sunday.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au
 
I thought Blocker was actually getting better with his player assessments but after some of his comments last night, it's obvious that "he's not as good as he once was."
 
Tom Shines said:
Adrian Proszenko was saying in the Sun Herald yesterday that Bud is on $700k per year … backdated amount last couple of years ? 🤮

www.smh.com.au

Gould and Ciraldo helped Bud Sullivan resurrect his career. Now he’s out to wreck their season

Phil Gould has had his fair share of secret meetings. This one resurrected the career of a playmaker who could come back to haunt Canterbury on Sunday.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au
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What a wanker, I don't think Souffs even like him at $500k, but if we're chipping in they'll probably be happy to keep him.
 
stephen said:
Quite concerning if it's true that the push for Latu to 13 is coming from Benji. We brought him here as a half & due to injuries, haven't really seen him & Luai together for any significant time. I'm not against it if we can secure a traditional game managing 7, but really think Benji's priority should be adding much more fire-power to our pack.
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Smells of Sheenius dosnt it. He’s been a fantastic half through alll grades, lets play him at lock in a team that already struggles in forwards 🤦🏻‍♂️
 
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