Big Thank You To Tiger's Recruitment!

P

pHyR3

New member
Having watched the players come in and out of our squad - and this has absolutely nothing to do with a solid win over an undermanned broncos outfit - i'd like to point out how good i think our recruitment and retention has been over the 2-3 years.

Here's a list of a few players who've come into our club over that time and also note where we got them from

Martin Taupau - fringe FG/NSW Cup
Blake Austin - NSW Cup
Josh Addo-Carr - U20s
Tim Grant - on a big discount from souths
Kevin Naiqama - fringe FG/NSW Cup
Jordan Rankin - England
Elijah Taylor - NSW Cup
Matt Ballin - Manly
Michael Chee Kam - Reserve Grade (i think)
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I've also been reasonably happy with retention. In the past we would have been deathly afraid of losing say Taupau but managment were content to let him pursue a 650k contract at manly. Makes sense for essentially an offence dominated impact player. I'd pay 650-750k for an absolute workhorse like James Graham. Taupau on the other hand, has been hot and cold, in trouble at the judiciary and average defence in both tackles and penalties. Quite happy to see him at manly

Similar story with austin, we couldn't offer him a first grade spot behind moses and brooks. And i think they have more long term upside than Austin. He will never be a controller of the team which are infinitely harder to find than ball runners in the halves.
 
I think the signing of Grant and taylor was a real shift in direction. For once we targeted seasoned experienced pros with great work ethic, In the past we have gone to the bargain shelve and hoped to pull out a diamond.

Its all about getting the right balance of youth and experience and the youth really players like Grant and taylor to show them what is needed to succeed at NRL level.

Be very interesting to see what happens with JAC now,the press have jumped on him as a potential cult hero. If the rumours are correct we may have already missed the boat but I guess he can always have a change of heart. If he is not picked next week against the Chooks I suppose we can assume he is off to the Storm
 
Yep great thread. Taylor deserves the criticism on many fronts but on recruitment and retention it is hard to fault any decision, apart from releasing Nathan Brown, particularly given the cap problems he faced when he came here.
 
@southerntiger said:
Yep great thread. Taylor deserves the criticism on many fronts but on recruitment and retention it is hard to fault any decision, apart from releasing Nathan Brown, particularly given the cap problems he faced when he came here.
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I reckon recruitment and retention from Taylor has been great. I think we need a Taupau like player but we have a bunch of forwards now that can play up the middle.

I also think Taylor picks the team pretty well.
 
I suspect some of the young kids fill that role to some degree. Josh A and JJ.

The great thing about recruitment under JT is that you feel there is a plan and strategy and we aren't just signing up anyone who is available. There is a real Moneyball feel to it and letting go of Tapau isn't inconsistent with that. Don't pay overs for flashy players who go missing.
 
@southerntiger said:
I suspect some of the young kids fill that role to some degree. Josh A and JJ.

The great thing about recruitment under JT is that you feel there is a plan and strategy and we aren't just signing up anyone who is available. There is a real Moneyball feel to it and letting go of Tapau isn't inconsistent with that. Don't pay overs for flashy players who go missing.
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People seem to want marquee signings. I reckon they are hit and miss. Moneyball type signings work though.

I think as a club we seem to be doing this better right now.
 
i disagree that the credit should go completely to Taylor. I dont know what part he's played in ET and Tim grant but i feel the shift in recruitment started with Potter.

I suspect someone came along behind the scenes around that time but i'm not sure who since we only got a GM this year. Or maybe it was just someone incompetent leaving or perhaps both potter and JT have been getting us some solid buys.
 
IMO you shouldn't recruit expensive guns. Try bring in solid players and find guns amongst your own ranks. That's why we're so desperate for brooks/moses to succeed.
 
Omg I'm watching moneyball and reading this thread. Also recruiting guys like grant and et shows there are opportunities for the right players. A strike centre and impact bench player next cabs off the rank, oh plus signing the halves to more realistic long term contracts.
 
We have't signed anyone past 2017 with the exception of Lawrence. Over the last few years we have let players of note go in Ben Teo (QLD), Fifita (NSW), Koro (International Standard, Austin (Country Origin Level) and we lost Taupau after he came good again on a short term deal. My word we have low expectations if we are happy with our recruitment and retention.

Signings of ET, JAC, MCK and Tim Grant were astute however, I don't rate much else.
Ballin is poor and the rest of the signings are not worth mentioning. We are heading in the right direction however, shot term deals for young players simply has us developing players for bigger clubs.
 
At least we have stopped announcing to the world we are just going to sign our juniors.
Managers have raped us for years because of this dumb policy.
 
@TYGA said:
We have't signed anyone past 2017 with the exception of Lawrence. Over the last few years we have let players of note go in Ben Teo (QLD), Fifita (NSW), Koro (International Standard, Austin (Country Origin Level) and we lost Taupau after he came good again on a short term deal. My word we have low expectations if we are happy with our recruitment and retention.
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All from prior administrations. This thread is about recruitment and retention in the last 2 years.

Raising Ben Teo is ridiculous. Why not raise Luke O'Donnell, Glenn Morrison and Terry Hill?

Teo was never going to stay. He has always been a mercenary throughout his career.
 
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