Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

88 said:
I don’t think he’s been a bust. He started the season very well and his last month or so after returning to the side he was solid as well. His worst period came when he was used as a starter (not his role) and when he was probably carrying an injury.

With high minute props like Twal and May he is a good point of difference. His metres per minute were the best in our team and his post contact metres were really high. When he was on the field we were points positive. We knew what we were buying - a 20min impact player, and I think he fits that bill. We certainly won most of our games when he was in form, so the key is to get him playing like that consistently.

Whether $600K is too much, it is a valid debate. But I think he offers a point of difference and he was targeted to provide exactly that. I’ll take the glass half full approach and back him in for next season.
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Clearly, we need more from him.
Our middles become less effective as the game wears on as they are being asked to shoulder far too much load.
We can’t have a bloke sitting on his arse for 3/4 of the game. This isn’t a pussy sport like NFL where bludgers are celebrated.
We have to get rid of this guy and get some proper big minute footballers in to replace him.
 
426Tlgerland said:
Ryan Matterson on his way back to Parra , when he was with us I thought of memory he was very good and money was an issue not his ability , I would see if Parra want to move him on and pay a bit to do so , he is a good lock option and always runs hard and tackles hard , if cheap after Parra tip in I would look at it , leaves AD at 7 and Latu when fit at 14 or reserve grade to learn more as he progresses
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Matterson is a Gronk....he failed in Super League....a big NO from me
 
Tom Shines said:
My point is not the specific player Briimson replacing Bula at the Wests Tigers …( I like Brimson but I would choose to keep Bula) but the fact that the Dogs are still looking to improve the team that finished 3rd this year …moving on good players and signing better ones … we are told we have our squad and not to expect much change the next two years … which may be our CEO playing 4D chess .. well wait and see …

One thing I’ve said to you previously is that we need more impact in the middle … I would prioritise that over paying big money for new backs … look at the difference that Fonua-Blake has made to the Sharks this finals charge …. That kind of impact is what we are still missing
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As I keep saying you cannot recruit a player in a position that is not available.
There is a big shortage of quality middles, have a look at the depth chart across all NRL clubs for 2026, most of them are lacking middle forward depth just as much as what we are.
The best we can realistically hope for is some low cost experienced depth who might be able to force their way into our top 17, players that are regularly mentioned such as Jack Hetherington, Adam Elliott, Fletcher Baker and even Liam Knight could provide some depth value.
The other issue that many of our supporters love to sweep under the carpet is lack of game breaking match winning quality in our backs.
Between now and 2027 there is plenty of quality players who meet this criteria currently available, but we seem to think our current back 7 will take us to the top,
We better prepare for continued disappointment if we honestly believe our current back 7 will take us to the top.
 
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Vicious said:
As I keep saying you cannot recruit a player in a position that is not available.
There is a big shortage of quality middles, have a look at the depth chart across all NRL clubs for 2026, most of them are lacking middle forward depth just as much as what we are.
The best we can realistically hope for is some experienced depth who might be able to force their way into our top 17, players that are regularly mentioned such as Jack Hetherington, Adam Elliott, Fletcher Baker and even Liam Knight could provide some depth value.
The other issue that many of our supporters love to sweep under the carpet is lack of game breaking match winning quality in our backs.
Between now and 2027 there is plenty of quality players who meet this criteria currently available, but we seem to think our current back 7 will take us to the top,
I think we better prepare for continued disappointment if we honestly believe our current back 7 will take us to the top.
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So your theory is that players at the positions of need aren’t currently available … so recruit someone else ? I keep saying we got limited resources…likely around $700- 800k and three spots left … so best to wait until someone does become available like May did last year …we need an impact player in the middle … not more “depth “…. Do you think any of those depth players will move the needle next year ?
 
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Lestronge said:
This is how Gus got sacked by Penrith , as his impatience and constant meddling wasn’t allowing the players to breathe . This is not a good thing . This “everything Canterbury do is why we are shit” confirmation bias does my head in .
Everyone with half a brain knew Galvin to 7 was akin to putting Hastings at 7, except the best gm to ever do it and the best coach ever in Ciraldo. Without Chricton the team is not even a top 8 side . In fact I’d argue they’re bottom 6. Yet here we are going around again where people jump on the hype train .
Gus’ own hubris is what’s standing in the clubs way now . He’s somehow turned into a modern day Brian smith weirdly. Totally revamp your club to get you to the precipice, but you need a different voice to get it over the top.
It’s been over 20 years since Gus was apart of a premiership winning team . Let that sink in …
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No doubt the Bulldogs also make recruitment errors such as such as signing Galvin, but they are smart enough to realise you need a game breaking match winner or two in your team and they won’t be satisfied until they get them.
 
Tom Shines said:
So your theory is that players at the positions of need aren’t currently available … so recruit someone else ? I keep telling you we got limited resources…likely around $700- 800k and three spots left … so best to wait until someone does become available like May did last year …we need an impact player in the middle … not more “depth “…. Do you think any of those depth players will move the needle next year ?
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No they won’t move the needle, but they are insurance value type of players who could be part of our top 17 and not be any better or worse than a couple of players likely to be part of our best 17.
It’s highly unlikely we will have as few injuries next season as we had this season, so we better be prepared or it could be a disaster.
If we signed Adam Elliott and he somehow managed to stay injury free, he has the skill set to possibly improve us.
 
Vicious said:
No they won’t move the needle, but they are insurance value type of players who could be part of our top 17 and not be any better or worse than a couple of players likely to be part of our best 17.
It’s highly unlikely we will have as few injuries next season as we had this season, so we better be prepared or it could be a disaster.
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Insurance value for what exactly ? You have already said this squad isn’t making the 8…so what would be the point in more depth if you believe that ?

I would rather use the remaining resources on someone who can be a difference maker…and give the depth opportunities that arise next season to younger players already at the club
 
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Tom Shines said:
Insurance value for what exactly ? You have already said this team isn’t making the 8…so what would be the point in more depth if you believe that ?
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That’s correct we need a couple of genuine good standard or better players who are automatic selections in our top 17 to allow us to make the top 8, but we have missed the boat, no more of those players available.
Therefore a couple of depth insurance type of players might at least allow us to finish 9th - 12th rather than finishing worse than that if we don’t improve our depth.
 
Vicious said:
Therefore a couple of depth insurance type of players might at least allow us to finish 9th - 12th rather than finishing worse than that if we don’t improve our depth.
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Will you be happy with that ? I don’t really want to improve one position a year …Richo will be long gone by the time they make the 8,,, it makes no difference to me if they improve position but still miss the 8 …or run 13th again ..

I don’t see depth players doing anything to improve the overall position on the ladder personally ..
 
Tom Shines said:
Will you be happy with that ? I don’t really want to improve one position a year …Richo will be long gone by the time they make the 8,,,

I don’t see depth players doing anything to improve the overall position on the ladder personally ..
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Neither do I, but do you see us making the top 8 with the playing roster we current have for 2026 ?
Yes there are areas where we have good scope for improvement such as the natural improvement you could expect in combinations gelling better and improvement in players, particularly our younger ones, but that’s no different to all other clubs who will also improve and some like Souths surely won’t have as much bad luck with injuries to key players next season.
 
Tom Shines said:
No ,.. thats why I want a difference maker ..
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Welll that’s zero chance of happening for 2026 and its very unlikely there will be a difference making forward available for us in 2027.
Quite a few difference making backs available for 2027 if we want them and make some tough calls to make room for them.
 
Vicious said:
Welll that’s zero chance of happening for 2026 and its very unlikely there will be a difference making forward available for us in 2027.
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Just like last year at this time right …😂

The current season isn’t even over yet …May didn’t become available until November
 
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Vicious said:
That’s correct we need a couple of genuine good standard or better players who are automatic selections in our top 17 to allow us to make the top 8, but we have missed the boat, no more of those players available.
Therefore a couple of depth insurance type of players might at least allow us to finish 9th - 12th rather than finishing worse than that if we don’t improve our depth.
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Elliot and Jack H from Newcastle would be in the price range no problem , I would think both at $ 250/300 each leaving $:200 for another , we need players in position both these guys are what we need position wise
 
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