OFFICIAL Bunty Afoa - Welcome to the JUNGLE!

[Rock Hopper Steve]

We have made some good improvements to our playing roster, it’s virtually a new team since 2023/2024 which is not a bad thing.
We now have what I would call a very solid looking 1-17 none of the players are hopeless and we are slowly upgrading our depth which has been much needed.
What we still do not have are any players that I would consider in match winner category, players who can produce something out of nothing and come up with regular magical plays when required.
I would say Taylan May is the closest we have to this type of player and to be compared with the top 8 clubs we need more x -factor than what we currently demonstrate.
We have a few players who should or show promise to be this type of player, but until we start seeing it on a regular basis it doesn’t count.

Those elite players are hard to prise away from clubs they play for, or they only go to the clubs at the pointy end of the table, or they want big money that ends up bending your cap out of shape.

We were lucky with Taylan with his brother being here, unless we can rise rapidly next season the players you want will have to be found within our junior system.

It sucks and could take time but that's the nature of the NRL beast.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Those elite players are hard to prise away from clubs they play for, or they only go to the clubs at the pointy end of the table, or they want big money that ends up bending your cap out of shape.

We were lucky with Taylan with his brother being here, unless we can rise rapidly next season the players you want will have to be found within our junior system.

It sucks and could take time but that's the nature of the NRL beast.

Yeah, need to make finals having been in the top eight basically all season to have much attraction other than the Benji factor.

 

[Vicious]

Those elite players are hard to prise away from clubs they play for, or they only go to the clubs at the pointy end of the table, or they want big money that ends up bending your cap out of shape.

We were lucky with Taylan with his brother being here, unless we can rise rapidly next season the players you want will have to be found within our junior system.

It sucks and could take time but that's the nature of the NRL beast.

First step is to work out if we are extending Bula at 900k possibly more as he becomes a genuine marquee player at that price.
Very hard to know if he’s ready to be a genuine marquee player or not, I say I doubt it, plenty of others say he’s ready.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

First step is to work out if we are extending Bula at 900k possibly more as he becomes a genuine marquee player at that price.
Very hard to know if he’s ready to be a genuine marquee player or not, I say I doubt it, plenty of others say he’s ready.

Yeah, mate that's a difficult decision for the club to make needs to improve his last man defense and more involvement in attack, he's still a long way off Reece Walsh level.

Hate to be making that decision especially having to deal with his D head manager as well, leave that to the club clever dicks.

 

[crazycat]

Brown to take Birds spot, if it does happen.

I ... I don't see the point.

(yes we should move this to the right thread).
Re Nathan Brown had a stack of chances to come here. He did not! Stuff us being his last NRL gig.

Look right attitude, bar never taking up an offer from us. I would rather take back Matthew Lodge as he had at least some club history and may want to pay us back.

Or if Dylan Brown and Newcastle want to pay 900k freight for him to come here... SURE. But I think were talking the other brown.

That said, Bird hasn't done much but he provides a lot of cover. 5/8-center-2RF.
I trust the club is punting him because he is well cooked.


We have Bunty now. Yes I would like another forward so May can play lock. But with KPP + Bunty things are looking better.