Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Vicious]

Nobody thought that this backline was top 8 quality in 2005 either:

Hodgson
Fitzhenry
Whatuira
Elford
Richards
Marshall
Prince

I personally got the shits on the old forum that Whatuira was our only signing for 2005 - after the 2004 season had been underwhelming....

I was wrong...

Give the process a chance and trust that Richo knows better than the previous dolts - AND that we have a coach who is invested in the club & looking to build long term success.

You are not seriously comparing Hodgson to Bula or Marshall/Prince to Luai ?
It is very hard to judge different players from different eras, but our 2005 marquee players were genuine marquee players that didn’t need their forward pack to be overly dominant to be able to impose themselves and win games for their team.

 

[mtd#2]

We have a large number of supporters on this forum who believe our backline meaning our 1-7 are genuine top 8 quality and it’s only our forwards that let us down and prevent us from making the top 8.
This is incorrect as our forwards are closer to top 8 quality than what our backline is.
In saying this we still need to improve our forwards and should be looking to recruit to make it better quality, but if we do not also realise our backline is not up to top 8 standard we will be banging our heads against the wall no matter how good our forward pack is.

The biggest issue isn't/wasnt the backs OR the forwards; it was the halves and injured players.

Halves
We built the team around Galvin at 6 and Luai at 7. Galvin left mid-season. It took us 6-8 weeks to start getting it together again due to injuries and wrong combos.

You only need to look at what happened to the Warriors when Metcalf was out to see the impact of losing your main player...

I assume Luai will be #6 and Douhei #7... If we can keep this combo all year then we are gravy.

Injuries
People forget how dominant May and Pole were for those first 7 or so rounds before Pole got injured. There was a bit of media commentary about how they were in the top 2 or 3 prop combos in the comp at the time. Pole didn't come back the same player though...

Toa was on fire early last season. But then he started playing injured and never found the same form again - infact I think he went backwards...

If Pole and Toa stay fit and find the same form, then we are gravy.

 

[Vicious]

Jaxon Purdue will end up being much closer to the standard of a player such as Brett Hodgson than what Bula will, take that to the bank.

 

[innsaneink]

We have a large number of supporters on this forum who believe our backline meaning our 1-7 are genuine top 8 quality and it’s only our forwards that let us down and prevent us from making the top 8.
This is incorrect as our forwards are closer to top 8 quality than what our backline is.
In saying this we still need to improve our forwards and should be looking to recruit to make it better quality, but if we do not also realise our backline is not up to top 8 standard we will be banging our heads against the wall no matter how good our forward pack is.

You gunna hold them all accountable too?

Making broad, generalising statements is cowardly.

Direct your tears to those in charge, no one here can make a difference

 

[Merlot]

The 1st grade team, forwards n backs need miles in the legs together to gel and genuinely trust in each other before we can be serious about semifinal footy

 

[Snidest 0]

Jaxon Purdue will end up being much closer to the standard of a player such as Brett Hodgson than what Bula will, take that to the bank.

Receipt taken - your rose coloured vision of Hodgo's defence is hilarious!

Bula is a one-of-a-kind player and if he stays healthy he will earn your plaudits!

Tell me the first time Jaxon Purdue takes an attacking bomb to score (which is possible from centre too) - or just diffues a bomb at NRL level - and I'll give you a gold star....

 

[Vicious]

The biggest issue isn't/wasnt the backs OR the forwards; it was the halves and injured players.

Halves
We built the team around Galvin at 6 and Luai at 7. Galvin left mid-season. It took us 6-8 weeks to start getting it together again due to injuries and wrong combos.

You only need to look at what happened to the Warriors when Metcalf was out to see the impact of losing your main player...

I assume Luai will be #6 and Douhei #7... If we can keep this combo all year then we are gravy.

Injuries
People forget how dominant May and Pole were for those first 7 or so rounds before Pole got injured. There was a bit of media commentary about how they were in the top 2 or 3 prop combos in the comp at the time. Pole didn't come back the same player though...

Toa was on fire early last season. But then he started playing injured and never found the same form again - infact I think he went backwards...

If Pole and Toa stay fit and find the same form, then we are gravy.

I hope you are right, but I just don’t rate our 1-5 as top 8 quality aside from Taylan May.
Yes Turuva has won grand finals and he is a very solid player. Skelton is also a very solid metre eating winger, Bula offers speed and an aerial threat that we do not have aside from him and To’a is a tackle bust threat when at his best, but as a combination they lack x-factor and lack the overall quality of every rival NRL backline.

 

[Vicious]

You gunna hold them all accountable too?

Making broad, generalising statements is cowardly.

Direct your tears to those in charge, no one here can make a difference

This forum showcases how many of our supporters are happy to accept failure as long as we improve a couple of positions and do not get the wooden soon.
As long as a good portion of our supporter base is satisfied we will continue along the same path.
** There are a few people on this forum who genuinely believe we can make the top 8 in 2026. Time will tell, I hope they prove to be correct.
** Others such as yourself, Snidest, Batman&Robin know it is highly unlikely we will make the top 8 in 2026, but want to dance around our real issues within the salary cap and try and blame roster fillers players such as Seyfarth. If we do not improve in 2026 which is highly likely, who will you blame then ?

 

[Hbom]

This forum showcases how many of our supporters are happy to accept failure as long as we improve a couple of positions and do not get the wooden soon.
As long as a good portion of our supporter base is satisfied we will continue along the same path.
** There are a few people on this forum who genuinely believe we can make the top 8 in 2026. Time will tell, I hope they prove to be correct.
** Others such as yourself and Snidest know it is highly unlikely we will make the top 8 in 2026, but wa then dance around our real issues within the salary cap and try and blame players such as roster fillers such as Seyfarth. If we do not improve in 2026 which is highly likely, who will you blame then ?

What do you mean?

 

[Vicious]

What do you mean?

The high value players within an NRL roster largely determine whether their team makes the top 8.
I am sick to death of the idiocy of people who want to blame roster filler players for our teams failure,.
If our high value players play to their value we will make the top 8, it’s that simple.
I can’t imagine Reece Walsh blaming Corey Jensen or BenTalty for their losses.

 

[user118245]

Did we retain mapalangi and Izaac Tuipulotu?

 

[innsaneink]

This forum showcases how many of our supporters are happy to accept failure as long as we improve a couple of positions and do not get the wooden soon.
As long as a good portion of our supporter base is satisfied we will continue along the same path.

Thats just crazy talk

Not worth wasting time on

No thank you

 

[Telltails]

This forum showcases how many of our supporters are happy to accept failure as long as we improve a couple of positions and do not get the wooden soon.
As long as a good portion of our supporter base is satisfied we will continue along the same path.
** There are a few people on this forum who genuinely believe we can make the top 8 in 2026. Time will tell, I hope they prove to be correct.
** Others such as yourself, Snidest, Batman&Robin know it is highly unlikely we will make the top 8 in 2026, but want to dance around our real issues within the salary cap and try and blame roster fillers players such as Seyfarth. If we do not improve in 2026 which is highly likely, who will you blame then ?

Bula of course!

 

[innsaneink]

The biggest issue isn't/wasnt the backs OR the forwards; it was the halves and injured players.

Halves
We built the team around Galvin at 6 and Luai at 7. Galvin left mid-season. It took us 6-8 weeks to start getting it together again due to injuries and wrong combos.

You only need to look at what happened to the Warriors when Metcalf was out to see the impact of losing your main player...

I assume Luai will be #6 and Douhei #7... If we can keep this combo all year then we are gravy.

Injuries
People forget how dominant May and Pole were for those first 7 or so rounds before Pole got injured. There was a bit of media commentary about how they were in the top 2 or 3 prop combos in the comp at the time. Pole didn't come back the same player though...

Toa was on fire early last season. But then he started playing injured and never found the same form again - infact I think he went backwards...

If Pole and Toa stay fit and find the same form, then we are gravy.

It was a significant disruption, the halves...we all know everything starts there.

Overall Id say 95% of our players are very good, backs and forwards, getting them all ON at the same time and firing as a cohesive unit where everyone knows whats expected of them is the challenge.

Too often this year we saw...I dunno what we saw...it looked like at times theyd all just met that morning, sometimes it was awful and no one had a clue what the hell was going on

Coaching staff....over to you, you have a busy summer

 

[tigahhh]

Halves
We built the team around Galvin at 6 and Luai at 7. Galvin left mid-season. It took us 6-8 weeks to start getting it together again due to injuries and wrong combos.

this is a very overlooked but good point. luai had a total of 6 different halves partners this year alone …. in a team he just joined.
0 chance for combinations to be formed

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Yup - I'd like another hooker. There was least a couple of decent backup options that IMO we should have gone for - now no longer available.

Proper back ups - ie ones that are happy to play cup but can provide some value filling in when needed.

Hope, while he seems like a decent and hard working guy, just doesn't cut it.

The number 9 for PNG had a great attacking/running game and tough in defence.
Don't know his name but I was impressed. Should be looking at him.

 

[lathami]

Could this come down to being left on the field too long, we have seen the bench rotation look head scratching at times.

Fair call, it has been appalling fur some time. Just watch him closer next season in defence and you’ll see what I mean.

 

[Demps]

Did we retain mapalangi and Izaac Tuipulotu?

I hope so.

I'd like to see a cup backline including them.

1. Jack Attard
2. Luke Lualilii
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Isaac Tui'tupou
5. Krystian Mapapalangi

I think that's a very solid backline.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

We have a large number of supporters on this forum who believe our backline meaning our 1-7 are genuine top 8 quality and it’s only our forwards that let us down and prevent us from making the top 8.
This is incorrect as our forwards are closer to top 8 quality than what our backline is.
In saying this we still need to improve our forwards and should be looking to recruit to make it better quality, but if we do not also realise our backline is not up to top 8 standard we will be banging our heads against the wall no matter how good our forward pack is.

I think our forwards did OK and expect improvement with the addition of KPP. Bunty and AD as lock.
The backline was hampered most of the year with a disjointed half - 5/8 combination and To'a injury.
Latu was carried for much of the year when he finally got on the paddock. Young and inexperienced which set the tone for lack of creativity in the red zone, along with others. Enter Madden and some management and short kicking skills.
We came close to winning a number of games which would have made our year end tally much more respectable.
I think 2026 will be a much-improved year.

 

[Camel2281]

I think our forwards did OK and expect improvement with the addition of KPP. Bunty and AD as lock.
The backline was hampered most of the year with a disjointed half - 5/8 combination and To'a injury.
Latu was carried for much of the year when he finally got on the paddock. Young and inexperienced which set the tone for lack of creativity in the red zone, along with others. Enter Madden and some management and short kicking skills.
We came close to winning a number of games which would have made our year end tally much more respectable.
I think 2026 will be a much-improved year.

Madden will play Cup. Our best performances last season were with Douehi as halfback and with Latu missing the start of next season, I expect Adam to be 7 and Latu to end up the 14 once fit