Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Vicious said:
The teams on top have good quality outside of their best 17 which creates competition to break into the top 17, that’s what we ideally need to create also.
We all know Doueihi won’t stay with us a back up and as much as I like him, I cannot call him a top quality centre.
So if we sign one more high quality sentry such as Mariner or Cobbo, it would mean we have Taylan May competing with To’a and the new signing for our starting centre positions and we would also have Taylan May competing with Turuva and Skelton for our starting wing positions.
That would be good solid competition and even then we would have young up and comers such as Luke Laulilli and Heamasi Makasini also pushing their case as a starting centre or winger.
So to me it’s a no brisker that we still need one more top quality centre/winger.
Click to expand...

Not sure how this is relevant to my statement about Toa choosing to stay or not… but if he leaves then yeah,,,don’t have a problem with signing Mariner …

My problem as stated earlier is paying Mariner like $500k plus to get him to the club and he is behind May and Star and only sees the field through injury …

Let’s wait and see how May looks later this season …if that means Mariner signs elsewhere than so be it
 
Demps said:
He's a good player.
His brother just joined Canberra, on a reserve grade contract.

He hasn't looked out of place in first grade.
I've watched him closely since he's made grade because he's somewhat of a family friend through his partner.
Click to expand...
One of his brothers is a teacher
 
Tom Shines said:
Not sure how this is relevant to my statement about Toa choosing to stay or not… but if he leaves then yeah,,,don’t have a problem with signing Mariner …

My problem as stated earlier is paying Mariner like $500k plus to get him to the club and he is behind May and Star and only sees the field through injury …

Let’s wait and see how May looks later this season …if that means Mariner signs elsewhere than so be it
Click to expand...
Let's give Mariner 2x 400, 450max.
Realistically he'd be a walk up start into our current backline, on wing or in centres.
We need depth, at least 2 of our current backs aren't NRL standard,.so if they get pushed to cup then so be it.
There is not a single outside back at our club who is a lock in their position
 
I can’t see Stains, Doueihi or Naden sticking around apparently we have extended / upgraded Will Craig though not confirmed. Gagai might be a good player to offset the youth with some experience. Be likely to help To’a with some nuances as well.
 
balmain boy said:
Let's give Mariner 2x 400, 450max.
Realistically he'd be a walk up start into our current backline, on wing or in centres.
We need depth, at least 2 of our current backs aren't NRL standard,.so if they get pushed to cup then so be it.
There is not a single outside back at our club who is a lock in their position
Click to expand...

I disagree .. I think Turuva and Skelton were great early this season when the team were having some success and winning games … I love Turuva as a finisher, and Skelton is your definition of a 2025 winger cranking out the yards…I don’t have Mariner ahead of either

Toa has found his mojo this season and the club should be breaking their necks to get him to re- sign …
 
When we're looking at hookers we need to think what we're looking for. Haywood is more similar to Api or Farah in style. He's more of a playmaker, ball in his hands, with skill and guile. He's also a competitive player with a strong with ethic.
TDS is more of a direct, electric hooker. Running game that tears defences apart with speed and gets us on the front foot. More Cook or Watson in style.
So how many playmakers do we want on the field at the same time? Sometimes having too many chefs in the kitchen competing against one another can be too the detriment of the attack, or it can offer more flexibility and options...
Moving Forwards Mason is a 14/backup hooker. But he still needs to fill out before he's ready for that role.
We can most certainly only keep a max of 2 of these three players.

Is Api demanding to be a starting hooker for the duration of his extension? I imagine he'd hope he is but if he's more rotational towards the end of his career I think he'd accept that role too. He's definitely not an 80 minute player now and should be playing less each year. So extend him and extend TDS, saying 2026 will determine who starts in 27. One could also get time at lock.
Secure them both, and then if one ultimately gets upset they can leave down the track.
 
Needaname said:
I can’t see Stains, Doueihi or Naden sticking around apparently we have extended / upgraded Will Craig though not confirmed. Gagai might be a good player to offset the youth with some experience. Be likely to help To’a with some nuances as well.
Click to expand...
The contract Craig was seen signing was a new contract with his agent. Not a playing contract. Given he can barely hold a wing in flegg I doubt the club would want him on a development contract, and definitely not a NRL contract
 
Tom Shines said:
the Knights are turning into a poorly run team … they make dud recruitment decisions as well…they are like us in other words …

I would be gobsmacked if he goes there ..

I have tipped him to go to Manly … I know they are keen
Click to expand...
His manager has to navigate through all the conjecture about their coaches too. Chance Manly has a new coach soon, possible too for the Cows & then O'Brien who knows?
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
His manager has to navigate through all the conjecture about their coaches too. Chance Manly has a new coach soon, possible too for the Cows & then O'Brien who knows?
Click to expand...

You have probably heard like me that Ennis has been connected to the Manly job ? That could suit TDS

If we best them on Friday , Ennis might be in the job come Monday
 
Tom Shines said:
You have probably heard like me that Ennis has been connected to the Manly job ? That could suit TDS

If we best them on Friday , Ennis might be in the job come Monday
Click to expand...
He would certainly learn how to become a grub. Lol sorry all the woke folk out there who are offended by the term grub.

If something does go ahead by June 30, I hope the club frames it as a loan swap for the remainder of 2025 for Caleb Navale.

Then gives all parties the opportunity to see if a permanent swap works. Something a bit different.
 
Tom Shines said:
I would prefer to keep Toa … but I’m guessing we will know soon if he is here for 2027 or not …. If he wants to go to the market he is very likely out the door ..
Click to expand...
I think the entrance of Perth into the player market will be a huge disruption and make competition even harder for player signatures. I suspect many will hold off until end of next season to decide options, so in some way players free end of this season and unsigned for 2026 may be easier to get. As you say I'd like to keep Toa too, but unless we can get him to extend before November, I think he may well go elsewhere.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Total: 802 (members: 49, guests: 753)
Back
Top