OFFICIAL Fonua Pole #257

Telltails said:
Definitely a turning point in my eyes. The type of player that we would want to keep, but other clubs in recent seasons would pick up from us. More excellent work from recruitment and quite possible players are backing the coach more than the fans are at this point.
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Yeh right? A few months ago I was thinking we’d lose Pole to Storm. This is another sign of positive development. Things are definitely moving in the right direction now.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
Don’t fool yourself. It’s all Luai.
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Luai hasn't even turned up for training yet, but all signings from now are attributed to Luai, yet Luai only signed for the money.

How do you reconcile this logic when Stef was offered more to stay at WT + Luai, yet decided to leave for a club paying less and no Luai?

So Luai is money hungry and the other players signing love Luai so much, they will sign for 3 time wooden spooners?

Pole was offered by Melbourne. Almost guaranteed to play finals next year, yet signs with us because he loves Luai?

Do you really believe this stuff or you trying to get reactions?
 
weststigers said:
Luai hasn't even turned up for training yet, but all signings from now are attributed to Luai, yet Luai only signed for the money.

How do you reconcile this logic when Stef was offered more to stay at WT + Luai, yet decided to leave for a club paying less and no Luai?

So Luai is money hungry and the other players signing love Luai so much, they will sign for 3 time wooden spooners?

Pole was offered by Melbourne. Almost guaranteed to play finals next year, yet signs with us because he loves Luai?

Do you really believe this stuff or you trying to get reactions?
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I’ve been saying for years that in order to get where we are going that we need to pay huge overs to a superstar. And yes, I realise over the last year, the money we are paying Luai is now worth every penny, but let’s not nit pick. The point is we needed to pay that sort of money to a player, in order to get other players to follow. Seriously, I’m not going to get backed into a corner where it looks like I hate Marshall, because I don’t I love the guy and always will. But I hate him as a coach, because he isn’t one. Just take emotion out of it for a second. What has Benji done as a coach to have so many quality players sign? What’s his record? He’s not Bellamy or Bennett. Luai is what is driving this. He’ll still be playing for us long after Marshall is no longer in charge. Whether players signing realise that or not, idk, but you can’t tell me that they think the idea of playing under Benji, trumps playing beside Luai because that would be categorically false.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
I’ve been saying for years that in order to get where we are going that we need to pay huge overs to a superstar. And yes, I realise over the last year, the money we are paying Luai is now worth every penny, but let’s not nit pick. The point is we needed to pay that sort of money to a player, in order to get other players to follow. Seriously, I’m not going to get backed into a corner where it looks like I hate Marshall, because I don’t I love the guy and always will. But I hate him as a coach, because he isn’t one. Just take emotion out of it for a second. What has Benji done as a coach to have so many quality players sign? What’s his record? He’s not Bellamy or Bennett. Luai is what is driving this. He’ll still be playing for us long after Marshall is no longer in charge. Whether players signing realise that or not, idk, but you can’t tell me that they think the idea of playing under Benji, trumps playing beside Luai because that would be categorically false.
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I think Luai is one of many factors.

But you said Luai signed for money alone. I doubt that. Of course it's a factor, but can you guarantee it's the only factor?

Could it be that our management under Richo is far better? That Benji, having been sold by Wayne Bennett as a player, knows how to construct and sell a vision to a player. Could it be that Richo, having taken bottom teams to premiers before k ows how to sell the vision?

I just think you are oversimplifying it. We are winning bids on players that we would normally miss. Remember Latrell? Remember Moses? Our money was no good there. Is it all about money?

Even at the time, i don't think we paid overs for Luai. Origin and premiership winning half. He was worth around that all day long. It's just the 33% upgrade that made him look expensive, but that is a top half vakue in the NRL.

Other players are probably excited that the administrators are buying players that are actually decent.

I can't imagine how many players would have let at a sigh when they heard our recruitment for first grade consisted of Jordan Rankin, Chris McQueen or Josh Reynolds etc.

The players probably have more faith that the club knows what it's doing now.
 
There seems to be some sort of bandwagon effect happening with recruitment lately. The vision is being sold successfully. That’s a positive.
Over the years our recruits haven’t been the quality level that they are now. Lots of finals, premierships and rep footy played between them all. Plenty of big game experience. Lots of on field leaders.
So why are they not winning? Why can we attract them, but not get results out of them? That’s the issue that requires focus.
I know everyone is getting excited, but a word to the wise…we’ve been down this path before and it ended dreadfully. What is different this time round?
This question is rhetorical of course, as no one can answer it until we’ve seen them put a couple of months of footy together. A sensible level of scepticism is appropriate though…going all in at this stage is wrought with danger.
 
The squad is definitely looking more balanced for next season from where I sit with a mixture of quality in key positions and emerging youth.
Im still prepared to back Benji with a strengthened roster but like all coaches he will wear the burden of poor results. Just hope that back of house sort their crap out so the club gets the media off its back, and give the team the best possible chance for an improved season.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
I’ve been saying for years that in order to get where we are going that we need to pay huge overs to a superstar. And yes, I realise over the last year, the money we are paying Luai is now worth every penny, but let’s not nit pick. The point is we needed to pay that sort of money to a player, in order to get other players to follow. Seriously, I’m not going to get backed into a corner where it looks like I hate Marshall, because I don’t I love the guy and always will. But I hate him as a coach, because he isn’t one. Just take emotion out of it for a second. What has Benji done as a coach to have so many quality players sign? What’s his record? He’s not Bellamy or Bennett. Luai is what is driving this. He’ll still be playing for us long after Marshall is no longer in charge. Whether players signing realise that or not, idk, but you can’t tell me that they think the idea of playing under Benji, trumps playing beside Luai because that would be categorically false.
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so benji just sat in the meeting and scratched his head? And Richo did every thing?

Benji knew Jerome was capable of what he achieved this year and backed his judgment atleast give him some credit for signing Jarome.

Jarome me be a reason players are coming here but benji is also a huge part of it stop lying to your self.
 
weststigers said:
I think Luai is one of many factors.

But you said Luai signed for money alone. I doubt that. Of course it's a factor, but can you guarantee it's the only factor?

Could it be that our management under Richo is far better? That Benji, having been sold by Wayne Bennett as a player, knows how to construct and sell a vision to a player. Could it be that Richo, having taken bottom teams to premiers before k ows how to sell the vision?

I just think you are oversimplifying it. We are winning bids on players that we would normally miss. Remember Latrell? Remember Moses? Our money was no good there. Is it all about money?

Even at the time, i don't think we paid overs for Luai. Origin and premiership winning half. He was worth around that all day long. It's just the 33% upgrade that made him look expensive, but that is a top half vakue in the NRL.

Other players are probably excited that the administrators are buying players that are actually decent.

I can't imagine how many players would have let at a sigh when they heard our recruitment for first grade consisted of Jordan Rankin, Chris McQueen or Josh Reynolds etc.

The players probably have more faith that the club knows what it's doing now.
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Richo is who has changed the landscape off the field. The same thing seems to be happening this off season with Benji that happened last off season with the club in general. Everyone was bouncing off the walls because we finally moved on he who shall not be named and that was going to sky rocket us in 2024. And despite being shouted down as a pessimist, I was right, it didn’t move the needle. It’s happening again this year. While I agree, it’s been a great off season to this point, if I had a time machine, I’d like to go back to the night of spoonbowl and gauge opinions on him as a coach then. Something weird happens over the off season, like one huge case of amnesia gets cast over a good chunk of the forum. I don’t forget. I remember how poor he had us playing and the 40-50 points he had us conceding on the regular, which I don’t think is going to be magically cured by a few good signings. It’s a major concern going into 25. So far he hasn’t proven he’s up to the job. And I don’t buy that he has any sort of pulling power. Other factors are at play.
 
weststigers said:
I think Luai is one of many factors.

But you said Luai signed for money alone. I doubt that. Of course it's a factor, but can you guarantee it's the only factor?
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I made the point at work that unlike Brooks, Luai loves the limelight and isn't fazed by the attention that Brooks was. Brooks is shinung at Manly for this reason, the same was Luai shined without Cleary. Luai wants to lead, and we gave him that opportunity.
 
Twodogs said:
I made the point at work that unlike Brooks, Luai loves the limelight and isn't fazed by the attention that Brooks was. Brooks is shinung at Manly for this reason, the same was Luai shined without Cleary. Luai wants to lead, and we gave him that opportunity.
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Skill is one thing, mentality is another. For a decade we’ve been hoping to transform a skillfull player that doesn’t have the mentality to lead as our leader.
Finally some sense came to the club and we went out and bought what we needed.
 
Spartan117 said:
2026 will be even better with a few more wins and a bunch of players moving on.

We will be a far more attractive and successful club in 12 months.
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Yeah 2026 is what I'm looking forward too. Not sure if Marshall will be there but Richardson will get rid of more dead weight and will have a possible top 8 side.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
I’ve been saying for years that in order to get where we are going that we need to pay huge overs to a superstar. And yes, I realise over the last year, the money we are paying Luai is now worth every penny, but let’s not nit pick. The point is we needed to pay that sort of money to a player, in order to get other players to follow. Seriously, I’m not going to get backed into a corner where it looks like I hate Marshall, because I don’t I love the guy and always will. But I hate him as a coach, because he isn’t one. Just take emotion out of it for a second. What has Benji done as a coach to have so many quality players sign? What’s his record? He’s not Bellamy or Bennett. Luai is what is driving this. He’ll still be playing for us long after Marshall is no longer in charge. Whether players signing realise that or not, idk, but you can’t tell me that they think the idea of playing under Benji, trumps playing beside Luai because that would be categorically false.
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And, very importantly, he is not Maquire!😒
 
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