Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tim Sheens]

Yep, not sure I'm ready to see either of them naked either.

I had to stop for a second take as I read it.

 

[Vicious]

Each to their own 😎

Bloody spellcheck has a dirty mind.

 

[Tigerwould]

I get really peeped off when people keep saying, the kid is only 20 , go back through the history of the nrl and see how many 20 year old players have played 1st grade and done well ,if ur good enough, that’s all u need to

In 2023 we fielded the youngest side in the NRL, then beat our own record a few weeks later. We still have a very young side. Makasini will be playing a lot of NRL in 2026. Good teams always have a mixture youth and experience. You don’t need to give every young player a go until they have earnt it.

 

[tiges69]

Don't see a FG future for Kit, maybe way down the road after a long journeyman career. Luke still needs 2 years of development learning to catch balls and defend, but he will only be 21 at that time and will be a decent player.

Would be very disappointed if either Kit or Luke left. I watched Kit closely in the last 10Weeks or so of KOE and he was playing well. He was hitting the line at speed , quick play the ball and he had increased his work load which is what i think has been holding him back. I thought Benji was a bit tough with him as i think he should have been given another shot at first grade after his game against Easts. I would not be letting either go yet , i think Kit is going to surprise people next year and it better not be at bloody StGeorge.

 

[bptiger 0]

Wasn't Terrell already with us in 2020 before Covid changed everything?

Yes

 

[kade7]

Your normally on the money. Any truth to the predictions?

nothing sir , just predictions

 

[Tito Santana]

Would be very disappointed if either Kit or Luke left. I watched Kit closely in the last 10Weeks or so of KOE and he was playing well. He was hitting the line at speed , quick play the ball and he had increased his work load which is what i think has been holding him back. I thought Benji was a bit tough with him as i think he should have been given another shot at first grade after his game against Easts. I would not be letting either go yet , i think Kit is going to surprise people next year and it better not be at bloody StGeorge.

His undoing was his kick off return where he then made an error playing the ball. Momentum killer. I’d give him another run. He’s a real cannon ball.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

His undoing was his kick off return where he then made an error playing the ball. Momentum killer. I’d give him another run. He’s a real cannon ball.

That wasn't the 1st time either, same thing happened on his 1st grade debut.

Interesting to see if the rumours about going is true, on the fence, he could offer something.

 

[user118245]

nothing sir , just predictions

Respectfully, I’m happy this is the only time you’re not giving info 😂

 

[crazycat]

Different players but yeah he’s probably more consistent and grittier at the moment. Bula has a higher ceiling though I reckon, gawd I hope so, otherwise wtf are we paying for?

Look, it's not Kennedy is 350k.
Likewise Adam Reynolds isn't 500k.

Both players have taken unders because... ok I have no idea, must be money or promisses under the table.

Heck were getting Ad for unders, probably only 50k maybe 100k unders... But unders all the same.

Watching Bula in space is like watching a black silk ribbon thread the field. It’s worth the admission price.

It is.
I think that's where the market goes skewey.
Guys like Reece Walsh, Munster, Cleary or Payne Haas win games on their own effort.

You get top players and suddenly your team really performs.
Would Newcastle rather Teddy instead of Kalyn Ponga, Hell yes.
Would we rather pay 1.2m for Reece Walsh instead of Bula, yes.

Bula isn't a top 4 fullback. But he may be a top 8 fullback.
Clearly he can cross the line and be dangerous.

However:
His game management and defense are lacking.
Can we coach this into him?

 

[Lestronge]

Look, it's not Kennedy is 350k.
Likewise Adam Reynolds isn't 500k.

Both players have taken unders because... ok I have no idea, must be money or promisses under the table.

Heck were getting Ad for unders, probably only 50k maybe 100k unders... But unders all the same.

It is.
I think that's where the market goes skewey.
Guys like Reece Walsh, Munster, Cleary or Payne Haas win games on their own effort.

You get top players and suddenly your team really performs.
Would Newcastle rather Teddy instead of Kalyn Ponga, Hell yes.
Would we rather pay 1.2m for Reece Walsh instead of Bula, yes.

Bula isn't a top 4 fullback. But he may be a top 8 fullback.
Clearly he can cross the line and be dangerous.

However:
His game management and defense are lacking.
Can we coach this into him?

His defence is one of the best in the game @fullback. He’s got more highlights than most saving tries . Because he can’t save every single try , especially when there’s a 2 on 1 … some unrealistic standards being said on here at times !
Watch how much better his positional play has been as well . He tracks behind the line as good as anyone . He’s young so he’s not going to have the teddy/ Edward’s/Gutho pre-determination or knowledge of knowing what 10-12 years of shape looks like , so they’re already half a step to where the ball is going , but he gets there a lot on where Will power.
He definitely is still finding his voice in organisation , but even then I see heaps of progression from year to year .
I feel like people are slanging shit on him now , because they don’t want to get their heart broken if he leaves …. But make no mistake Bula is now and always was infinitely better than Galvin . Galvin was the most over hyped player I’ve ever seen . I get why Benji did it , because the kids parents and the kid himself had delusions of grandeur , and the club wanted to keep him , but outside of being a triathlete in a footy field , I’ve never seen it . I saw more in AD at 21 than Galvin at 20. Especially for over a mil .
Soo Bula is a gun … and it will hurt if we lose him. Hopefully we can develop Brooke’s/Deninger and get him there by 2028 , as he’s got every bit of the same potential that Bula does . Just needs to find a gym and a steakhouse .

 

[Buttface]

Look, it's not Kennedy is 350k.
Likewise Adam Reynolds isn't 500k.

Both players have taken unders because... ok I have no idea, must be money or promisses under the table.

Heck were getting Ad for unders, probably only 50k maybe 100k unders... But unders all the same.

It is.
I think that's where the market goes skewey.
Guys like Reece Walsh, Munster, Cleary or Payne Haas win games on their own effort.

You get top players and suddenly your team really performs.
Would Newcastle rather Teddy instead of Kalyn Ponga, Hell yes.
Would we rather pay 1.2m for Reece Walsh instead of Bula, yes.

Bula isn't a top 4 fullback. But he may be a top 8 fullback.
Clearly he can cross the line and be dangerous.

However:
His game management and defense are lacking.
Can we coach this into him?

I’m not quite sure what you’re saying in the first bit but the second bit yeah at the moment Bula has football skills that lean towards fullback, and you could watch him run all day, but yeah can we and he develop into a top line fullback is the question we hoping gets answered this season bcoz we’re paying good coin and if he ain’t gunna get any better we need to re-balance the equation. I reckon he’ll get better at it, I just don’t think he’s ever gunna be another ball player it there.
Still we could work his and the teams game around getting him more space.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

I’m not quite sure what you’re saying in the first bit but the second bit yeah at the moment Bula has football skills that lean towards fullback, and you could watch him run all day, but yeah can we and he develop into a top line fullback is the question we hoping gets answered this season bcoz we’re paying good coin and if he ain’t gunna get any better we need to re-balance the equation. I reckon he’ll get better at it, I just don’t think he’s ever gunna be another ball player it there.
Still we could work his and the teams game around getting him more space.

Bula is the only one holding himself back imo.
What I mean is he is passive some of the time. This can be form related but I think it’s just the mental drive just needs a little push.
Of course he will need to work on ball playing etc but if he gets more drive he will go up a gear regardless of up skilling.
He is only young so hoping this will happen in 26

 

[orange&black]

I believe in Bula. I watched that footage of him at the army camp, he stepped up big time. I think he holds a place of great respect in the group.
As for his talents- he is a fabulous athlete with plenty of skills and still working on his game as a fullback. He’s only going to improve.
I said it at the time - when he got injured earlier and was out for that period we lost a huge part of our attack. We were a far better team with him in it.

 

[Buttface]

Bula is the only one holding himself back imo.
What I mean is he is passive some of the time. This can be form related but I think it’s just the mental drive just needs a little push.
Of course he will need to work on ball playing etc but if he gets more drive he will go up a gear regardless of up skilling.
He is only young so hoping this will happen in 26

Yeah I agree with you there and believe like a lot of players he could be a little more proactive and take ownership of his own development, that’s sorta what I meant with “we and he develop”
But if he could be less passive and more proactive, even if the ball doesn’t go his way, he will still learn from that and develop quicker. But as you say it is about mental drive, and some humans have more than others. Some are just hungry all the time and have to feed it, while others are prepared to wait to see what we dish up for them. I hope he is starving to be the best fullback he can be, if so the money will be worth it.

I think I made myself hungry. Did someone just say bacon? 🥓

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

There are Adam Elliott whispers to us, according to Charlie White on this week’s Bye Round podcast with James Graham.

 

[Tom Shines]

There are Adam Elliott whispers to us, according to Charlie White on this week’s Bye Round podcast with James Graham.

Do we get his wife as well for the NRLW?

2 for 1 package deal

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Do we get his wife as well for the NRLW?

2 for 1 package deal

We are all about family so I’m sure Richo & Sandercock are investigating.

 

[Flippedy]

Bula could be anything. You can just see he has loads of talent should he choose to use it. He’s had GI as a mentor for a while now, I was hoping some of his fullback playing experience and wisdom would’ve rubbed off onto Bula by now.

 

[tigahhh]

bula just completes our team imo, without him his absence is so noticeable in attack. an edge of luai, may and sam with bula sweeping around will be so dangerous next year.