Can we just say that Madden was a "decent" buy at 350k?
Not going to pass verdict till were at least 10 rounds in.
(Not aimed at you Vicious, aimed at the thread. We have signed him, the field will tell us if that was a smart decision).
Yea and Heath seems a fine kid.
But no one would describe Heath as a "gun".
It is a little sad to see the Laulili's go but with so many families here.. How many brothers do we want on our team?
Look the family strategy will work, but if our team is built on more families all it takes is an...
Do you mean a 5/8 who lead their squad...
I probably am.
Darryn Lockyer comes to mind, although it's Brisbane and he established himself at Fullback.
Most 5/8 though are more strike weapons:
Munster, GI (at 5/8 fullback or center, he was a strike weapon and not a director of play)...
I kinda agree...
But I also feel if he was that good, he would have made the starting side here.
It's a shame as it's a potential depth option lost, but meh. moving on.
YEP...
and maybe that could be Peter V's long game.
Tigers blow up. Peter may have realised that killing a Sydney team would help the competition.
The Dragons won't die easily, same for Parra...
Chooks are propped up by a millionaire and actually starting to get a fanbase.
the Sharks have...
So your preference at Halfback is Madden or Latu?
We really need 1x halfback and that person gets control of the team.
5/8 is a position that can roam. Only a few 5/8's have really directed teams, Terry Lamb comes to mind.
I wouldn't mind it if Luai were to grab the team by the balls and...
Curious why?
To be honest I don't remember him as a player, but he played in the Easts vs Manly grand final.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Moa I find that more unbelieveable...
Heck, international sides then vs now are very different. Andrew Fifita to his credit raised the importance...
Ah yes, they put coach Nathan Brown as assistant.
"Head Coach Jason Ryles, supported by assistants Nathan Brown, Scott Wisemantel, Sam Moa, and Nathan Cayless"
I just can't believe that we had Shane Flanagan ready to be assistant to Madge and we knocked him back.
Madge would have been...
I don't, but I only don't because of 2023 and earlier.
2024/2025 he really started to toughen up. ...
In fairness I should start calling Twal a first grader. He has been at that level lately. In the past he was definately reserve grade. Ok I will move on.
Look, the squad last year was a good squad. Till you realise how light our forward pack was.
Seriously we lost Bateman, Klemmer, Papalii and Stefano. Only to replace them with T May and Hunt (who underperformed/was misused).
We got LUCKY, so LUCKY that Terrell May was a gun and only Pole got...
I feel Elliott is nothing that special at all. A forward who does the work of a forward.
Curran isn't good enough for the bulldogs. Unless he came to us cheaply,I agree, why would he be good enough here?
Plus, clubs are punting them.
Newcastle is loosing Leo Thomson and KPP, and they want...
BINGO.
That's why I think were waiting, and it's the right call.
Elliott doesn't add much to the pack, a depth option maybe.
Curran would add a lock, he seems to be able to get the ball out. Unsure if Curran is an average lock or a decent lock, but he is not what were looking for at lock.
If...
wait Sexton?
Do you mean Skelton or have I missed big signing news.
That said, I see it differently.
We were missing a first grade forward pack in 2025 and were super lucky that Terrell May turned out to be a great forward. KPP, Bunty, they will elevate our pack to first grade. For those...
Yes and that was before Benji was given 4 more years.
If your a coach, and you have that long a time to play with, you really want to get your side right.
We have a gap at lock, Josh Curran was on the market.
We said NO. Maybe we thought Josh was an Average lock, Maybe we thought he was too...