Connor Watson

[tiger05premier]

Two things, predicting the cap is around 9mil.
What's the harm in spending 8.5mil on 25 players or even 8mil on on 20 players?
Most important thing is to have a strong 1st grade side as that is the part of the club's brand that is most under scrutiny.
With a strong 1st grade team, it will have the flow on effect of others wanting to join a competitive side and for less money.
Unfortunately the remaining players will have to be rookies or over the hill former 1st graders for 100k each.
Brisbane have Moga and Marshall on 100k each.
Mind you our 100k players are not likely to be as quality.

2ndly, I thought the waived cooling off period only apply if the release is effective immediately not from the last year of his contract?

60K each on players 18-25\. Yes it cuts our depth but gives the Juniors chance to play when the full time squad get injured. That leaves 8.5M for the 17.

I'm sure I've read somewhere that an NRL squad from 2018 onwards haa to have 30 men not 25

I know about the 30 man squad next year.
That was my point.
I believe minimum wage is 100k not sure if that is going up any higher.
But the point was stack the first 20 odd (17 plus 1 back utility, 1 forward utility and 1 spine utility. Then fill the remaineder with minimum wage players consisting of either juniors and or solid reserve graders.

Yeah i understood your point fully. It was the reply i was referring to he seemed to think it was still 25 men in a squad.
And I do believe your minimum wage is right and will go up again next year as well.

 

[Pawsandclaws]

My understanding is no contract has been signed yet but Roosters will release him and the Knights aren't in the running. Things change but at this stage it looks a goer.

Thanks. Probably feels like drawing a sharp knife across Nick's teeth. The realisation that you can't keep them all must hit hard.

 

[swag_tiger]

Tui most not feel great at this stage.

 

[Seantice]

Tui most not feel great at this stage.

Mate im unemployed with no cash and no job prospects. Hes getting 350k a year to playfooty in first grade. Who cares if he has to work hard as hell to get the position he wants. Making the side is good enough. If you want a position then you have to train and play better than the competition. Simple!

 

[Pawsandclaws]

I'm sure both are in Cleary's plans because he doesn't appear to be a coach who does things without consideration.

 

[jadtiger]

Watson is unproven. Its easy to look good in a Roosters side who dominates and you come on at the back end of games. So far he's been a downhill skier. Jackson Hastings looked like the next immortal playing next to Pearce. Where is he now? That isn't sarcasm, where is he? Last i heard Manly reserve grade. Not sure if he's still there.

Back to Watson. The above example about Hastings is proof that you take form from a young kid in a strong side with a grain of salt. I hope he's a star, but he's far from the sure thing most are making him out to be. Atm he's a kid with potential. And how many times have we been sucked into that? Both as a club and as supporters. Learn from your mistakes.

Good Call GNR.

All depends on the Pack. We see it each week

Yep well said. Really hope we strengthen our forward pack with a few more quality signings otherwise Watson could get smashed and lose any confidence he had at the Rorters.

With or without any more forward signings our pack next year is already better than this years - by a country mile

Wrong our pack would still be one of the bottom packs.2nd row is still poor and prop rotation at this stage is about the same

 

[swag_tiger]

I'm sure both are in Cleary's plans because he doesn't appear to be a coach who does things without consideration.

Tui got told he would have a shot at Fullback but at this stage i want Watson to be fullback next year.

 

[TYGA]

I'm sure both are in Cleary's plans because he doesn't appear to be a coach who does things without consideration.

Tui get told he would have a shot at Fullback but at this stage i want Watson to be fullback next year.

TBH Tui beating Watson for the fullback role would be the best outcome. Watson can cover hooker, the halves, fullback and centre. Tui is terrible as a centre/ winger and can really only play as a running 5/8 or fullback.

 

[king_sirro]

I'm sure both are in Cleary's plans because he doesn't appear to be a coach who does things without consideration.

Tui get told he would have a shot at Fullback but at this stage i want Watson to be fullback next year.

TBH Tui beating Watson for the fullback role would be the best outcome. Watson can cover hooker, the halves, fullback and centre. Tui is terrible as a centre/ winger and can really only play as a running 5/8 or fullback.

I agree this would be the best outcome too because if Lolo gets fullback then he must be playing well and anyone with his footwork playing well is a big plus for us. Watson can then put pressure on Brooks to perform. I do have massive doubts over Lolo though.

 

[swag_tiger]

I'm sure both are in Cleary's plans because he doesn't appear to be a coach who does things without consideration.

Tui get told he would have a shot at Fullback but at this stage i want Watson to be fullback next year.

TBH Tui beating Watson for the fullback role would be the best outcome. Watson can cover hooker, the halves, fullback and centre. Tui is terrible as a centre/ winger and can really only play as a running 5/8 or fullback.

I agree this would be the best outcome too because if Lolo gets fullback then he must be playing well and anyone with his footwork playing well is a big plus for us. Watson can then put pressure on Brooks to perform. I do have massive doubts over Lolo though.

With Watson we have an option if it doesn't work out and we don't want someone of Watson's quality in ISP.

 

[tigerbenji]

I think Lolo will be O.k once he sheds about 8 or 9 Kilos.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

I think Lolo will be O.k once he sheds about 8 or 9 Kilos.

Yep, Given that fullbacks need to cover heaps of ground he will need the rest of the season and preseason to be ready for next year. IC flagged that early on.Tui is quick and can break the line, but his passing is a bit odd though. I think Watson would be a sensation alongside Grub. Brooks needs to lift or leave. UK perhaps? Swap with the 2/R Big Unit - the next Sonny Bill perhaps? Then we'd have Gamble as a 1/2's backup. 2 cents.

 

[tiger05premier]

I think Lolo will be O.k once he sheds about 8 or 9 Kilos.

Yep, Given that fullbacks need to cover heaps of ground he will need the rest of the season and preseason to be ready for next year. IC flagged that early on.Tui is quick and can break the line, but his passing is a bit odd though. I think Watson would be a sensation alongside Grub. Brooks needs to lift or leave. UK perhaps? Swap with the 2/R Big Unit - the next Sonny Bill perhaps? Then we'd have Gamble as a 1/2's backup. 2 cents.

Next sonny bill has signed with broncos

 

[supercoach]

Tui most not feel great at this stage.

You would think Cleary has a plan that involves all his new signings and I am sure he has communicated with his signings. Bottom line a player like Tui can cover a lot of positions so I am sure he will play plenty of games in the top grade. Also at this stage he is the only one who could probably kick at better than 60% so you would think he is a special for the starting 13

 

[swag_tiger]

Tui most not feel great at this stage.

You would think Cleary has a plan that involves all his new signings and I am sure he has communicated with his signings. Bottom line a player like Tui can cover a lot of positions so I am sure he will play plenty of games in the top grade. Also at this stage he is the only one who could probably kick at better than 60% so you would think he is a special for the starting 13

Talent like Watson is a must for the first game team and not the ISP team ( especially the Tigers).

 

[weststigers]

^^ We might be forced to re-sign Grant, but that's not the end of the world IMO.

He has a 1 year option in his favor.

There you go…he might sign on again. He'd probably want to know what his chances are of regular first grade before he does, so I'm guessing he'll wait and see what's going on with WT signings first before he makes his decision.

 

[marzie]

^^ We might be forced to re-sign Grant, but that's not the end of the world IMO.

He has a 1 year option in his favor.

There you go…he might sign on again. He'd probably want to know what his chances are of regular first grade before he does, so I'm guessing he'll wait and see what's going on with WT signings first before he makes his decision.

Honestly if Tim Grant can't get a run in FG with tigers I think his options are pretty limited

 

[weststigerman]

I thought options had to be taken up by round 13? Similar to ET's contract.

 

[Tigersmurf]

Why is this only between Watson and Tui? I think the signing of Watson puts pressure on the entire back line, including Brooks and Reynolds. I am hopeful that the young half from Qld cup will put some pressure on too.

My concerns with our signings was that no-one really had any spark. I am hoping that Watson can fill this void. Tui needs to work hard to get what he wants and for this reason I don't believe he would have been promised anything.

 

[earl]

Why is this only between Watson and Tui? I think the signing of Watson puts pressure on the entire back line, including Brooks and Reynolds. I am hopeful that the young half from Qld cup will put some pressure on too.

My concerns with our signings was that no-one really had any spark. I am hoping that Watson can fill this void. Tui needs to work hard to get what he wants and for this reason I don't believe he would have been promised anything.

This is exactly the way I see it. I'll wait until something official comes out though.