Josh Addo Carr Contract Discussion

[tiga4eva]

My concern is we are a Club who hasn't finished in the top half of the Comp in 8 seasons, and,at this stage,for whatever reason,will go into this season with a weaker squad.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

All this talk about we didnt miss out on a lot of players as only so many players left their original club and went to another is flawed.

Just because they stayed with their club and didn't go to another doesnt mean we had no chance at them. Lomax stayed, but we should have still had a go at him, Brimson too. And if we did have a go at them, then we missed out, regardless of whether they choose another new club or their existing club over us.

That is absolutely illogical . Most players will stay with their current club for unders . It’s not just loyalty. It’s knowing the system , knowing role in The system , feeling secure .
So you have to pay overs to get off the starting block . Especially if youre in perpetually no mans land like the tigers . Too good to truely gut the team , but not bad enough to pull a Knights/bulldogs.
It’s also about value and next year as much as tomorrow. If you buy X player on way overs , you now have to commit to that player , and as in the case of teddy and Paps , lose a promising junior because of lack of opportunity.
Investing in youth is the smart play. Breed an environment of loyalty and trust. The storm were able to do this , as , they were lucky to have had a lot of thier ho-hum buys , perform above standard, whilst maintaining relevance . I’m talking about the Matt Orford years by the way.

 

[hodgo]

I don't know how the Club can explain to members we had between $1.5 and $1.7m available to spend, and are only able to promote development players. No amount of spin could justify that,given the release of Marsters and Matterson. I'm still praying for something favourable

Pretty easy to explain actually.

Firstly we've signed 2 players - Big Lucy and Stefano, obv the latter for 2021 at this stage.

Marsters released 10/Oct/19
Matterson released 31/Oct/19
Matulino medically retired 31/Oct/19

The rep season finished on 16/Nov/19, with the Kangaroos playing their last test on 02/Nov/19.

That whole period, up to today 13/Jan/20, is 10.57 weeks. Leaving in the rep season but accounting for at least the 2 weeks of Christmas and NY that's basically 8 weeks. Taking out the rep season, i.e. your window for test match players, you only get 6 weeks.

You therefore are having to line up players who are willing and able to move clubs in a 6-8 week period, because the Tigers couldn't guarantee this cap space would be available - Marsters had to be taken on, Mats had to be rubber-stamped and Matterson they did not want to lose.

I said this before, since 01/Nov/19 only 16 players have joined new NRL clubs for 2020:
Matterson (3 years)
Enari Tuala (1 year)
Isaac Luke (1 year)
Val Holmes (6 years)
Kurt Capewell (2 years)
Brodie Croft (3 years)
Merrin (2 years)
Big Lucy (3 years)
Ryley Jacks (1 year)
Cameron King (1 year)
Zane Tetevano (2 years)
Gehamat Shibasaki (3 years)
Brock Lamb (2 years development)
Brayden Wiliame (2 years)
Jonus Pearson (2 years)
Tyrell Fuimaono (2 years)

Assuming you add Latrell this month, you honestly have 4 "bigger-name" players taking on new deals for 2020 - Latrell, Croft, Holmes and Matterson. Only 2 of those are legitimate top-tier footballers.

The rest of the signatures are middle-ground to bit-player at most.

Looking specifically at the details - Croft was a direct trade Storm to Broncos, Holmes only ever spoke with Sharks and Cowboys (according to accounts), Latrell we were right in the mix for and Matterson we had to lose.

I really don't know what you expect the club to do, it's like the cap space is burning a hole in your pocket. The point has already been made, last time we had a chunk of cap space available (arguably every time we've had a chunk of space available, casting back to 2000) we've spent it very poorly.

It has been 8 WEEKS. 8 weeks including Christmas. We went hard for Latrell, reportedly made an offer for Arrow and signed two other footballers in that period. Latrell wants to be at Souths and so does Arrow. Nobody else signed those players, just Souths.

Just because there's cap space you don't have to rush out to spend it, and it's unrealistic to expect a raft of signings in the offseason. Sometimes the offseason has horse trade, sometimes it doesn't, depending on who is available, what pieces are being shuffled around and what players/clubs are actually willing to talk terms for 2021.

The most common sense post in the last 10 weeks

 

[tiga4eva]

We should've held onto Marsters then. Him on $350k is better than not using it in 2020

 

[trentrunciman]

i'm not sure how the salary cap works. But if there is a lot left in the cap for the tigers can they just use it to pay players currenlty on contract? so in future years we can use it to buy players?


Yes, and I think this is exactly what will happen. We also need to fill the roster spots though and I can see them being filled with development players

Apparently you cannot do that any longer!


You definitely can. I think some here are getting confused because you can no longer BACKend contracts.

if that's possible (front end) then i can only see that as a positive. Sign away end of 2020 and 2021! :face_with_cowboy_hat: :+1: :+1: :+1: :call_me_hand: :call_me_hand: :clap: :clap: :call_me_hand: :call_me_hand:


I agree with you and think that is what will happen, but the other side of that coin is we fill the rest of the roster for 2020 with cheap/development players and it could be seen as sacrificing 2020 for future years.

Sacrificing 2020 is unacceptable imo. Not good enough and questions should be asked.

im ok with it mate. tanking for future success!

Ermmmmm....what is the point of tanking if there isn’t a draft ????

good point . I been watching too much NBA and NHL

 

[Spud_Murphy]

We have all the money but no one wants to come here.

I think we should temper this summation. There were very few off contract players this off season, the majority of players prefer to stay with their current club plus the Tigers need to be selective about their signings, not just grab anyone. Ever the optimist, I think our opportunities will come. We just need to be patient.

Fair, and it's 100% frustration from my end.

But after Matterson (and letting go of Esan) we really needed a win, and so far it's been disappointing. Luciano is a good signing don't get me wrong, but we lack a game breaker and I was hoping we'd get one this off-season.

Still plenty of time to go.

My Biggest Frustration is the fact we released Matterson & Marsters without getting anything back or having replacements in place. I think if we played hardball we would of got something or held off until we had replacements but also understand why we did this.
I think we will regret the Marsters one as he was injured last year and him been fully fit will be back to his best..

We did not get nothing. We received full value of his contract plus 3-4 months of this yers salary which the club would be up for while negotiating a suitable release deal.
So on my maths that’s around +$500k.
Hardly nothing.

Not much use when it is sitting there unspent, historically there is not much movement on squads at this time of year!

I agree, with everyone now back after the new year squads are being finalised. Hard to imagine any more major moves we're now in Jan. Bit of a shame, after freeing up all that cash I was getting excited for 2020. Looks like we'll be also rans yet again.

Also disappointed we didn't land the biggest fish, though reckon there is still a fluid market in play at the moment and we are a player in it.

When is there ever a fluid market in January?

Right now. The landscape is still in the process of change in evolving from the reasonably fresh November 1 rule. Plenty of time left for clubs and players wanting to switch rosters and then adapt to a new environment.

Edit; It must be remembered that this is the first full season to which the rules apply, as it wasn't inplace on November 1st 2018, only in 2019.

There will be minimal movement at this point in the year as it is too disruptive to squads, 1 to 2 players max and unlikely to be the high caliber players that we need. In any rate if we fluke getting a player of note at this point of the year it will be because of decisions of other clubs, we need to be putting ourselves in a stronger position then having to rely on other clubs.

Stop it mate, you’re making way too much sense!

 

[cochise]

I don't know how the Club can explain to members we had between $1.5 and $1.7m available to spend, and are only able to promote development players. No amount of spin could justify that,given the release of Marsters and Matterson. I'm still praying for something favourable

Pretty easy to explain actually.

Firstly we've signed 2 players - Big Lucy and Stefano, obv the latter for 2021 at this stage.

Marsters released 10/Oct/19
Matterson released 31/Oct/19
Matulino medically retired 31/Oct/19

The rep season finished on 16/Nov/19, with the Kangaroos playing their last test on 02/Nov/19.

That whole period, up to today 13/Jan/20, is 10.57 weeks. Leaving in the rep season but accounting for at least the 2 weeks of Christmas and NY that's basically 8 weeks. Taking out the rep season, i.e. your window for test match players, you only get 6 weeks.

You therefore are having to line up players who are willing and able to move clubs in a 6-8 week period, because the Tigers couldn't guarantee this cap space would be available - Marsters had to be taken on, Mats had to be rubber-stamped and Matterson they did not want to lose.

I said this before, since 01/Nov/19 only 16 players have joined new NRL clubs for 2020:
Matterson (3 years)
Enari Tuala (1 year)
Isaac Luke (1 year)
Val Holmes (6 years)
Kurt Capewell (2 years)
Brodie Croft (3 years)
Merrin (2 years)
Big Lucy (3 years)
Ryley Jacks (1 year)
Cameron King (1 year)
Zane Tetevano (2 years)
Gehamat Shibasaki (3 years)
Brock Lamb (2 years development)
Brayden Wiliame (2 years)
Jonus Pearson (2 years)
Tyrell Fuimaono (2 years)

Assuming you add Latrell this month, you honestly have 4 "bigger-name" players taking on new deals for 2020 - Latrell, Croft, Holmes and Matterson. Only 2 of those are legitimate top-tier footballers.

The rest of the signatures are middle-ground to bit-player at most.

Looking specifically at the details - Croft was a direct trade Storm to Broncos, Holmes only ever spoke with Sharks and Cowboys (according to accounts), Latrell we were right in the mix for and Matterson we had to lose.

I really don't know what you expect the club to do, it's like the cap space is burning a hole in your pocket. The point has already been made, last time we had a chunk of cap space available (arguably every time we've had a chunk of space available, casting back to 2000) we've spent it very poorly.

It has been 8 WEEKS. 8 weeks including Christmas. We went hard for Latrell, reportedly made an offer for Arrow and signed two other footballers in that period. Latrell wants to be at Souths and so does Arrow. Nobody else signed those players, just Souths.

Just because there's cap space you don't have to rush out to spend it, and it's unrealistic to expect a raft of signings in the offseason. Sometimes the offseason has horse trade, sometimes it doesn't, depending on who is available, what pieces are being shuffled around and what players/clubs are actually willing to talk terms for 2021.

Then why did we release players we had a right to keep including arguably our best player from 2019?

Releasing players without suitable replacements lined up shows a lack of planning!

 

[Russell]

I don't know how the Club can explain to members we had between $1.5 and $1.7m available to spend, and are only able to promote development players. No amount of spin could justify that,given the release of Marsters and Matterson. I'm still praying for something favourable

Pretty easy to explain actually.

Firstly we've signed 2 players - Big Lucy and Stefano, obv the latter for 2021 at this stage.

Marsters released 10/Oct/19
Matterson released 31/Oct/19
Matulino medically retired 31/Oct/19

The rep season finished on 16/Nov/19, with the Kangaroos playing their last test on 02/Nov/19.

That whole period, up to today 13/Jan/20, is 10.57 weeks. Leaving in the rep season but accounting for at least the 2 weeks of Christmas and NY that's basically 8 weeks. Taking out the rep season, i.e. your window for test match players, you only get 6 weeks.

You therefore are having to line up players who are willing and able to move clubs in a 6-8 week period, because the Tigers couldn't guarantee this cap space would be available - Marsters had to be taken on, Mats had to be rubber-stamped and Matterson they did not want to lose.

I said this before, since 01/Nov/19 only 16 players have joined new NRL clubs for 2020:
Matterson (3 years)
Enari Tuala (1 year)
Isaac Luke (1 year)
Val Holmes (6 years)
Kurt Capewell (2 years)
Brodie Croft (3 years)
Merrin (2 years)
Big Lucy (3 years)
Ryley Jacks (1 year)
Cameron King (1 year)
Zane Tetevano (2 years)
Gehamat Shibasaki (3 years)
Brock Lamb (2 years development)
Brayden Wiliame (2 years)
Jonus Pearson (2 years)
Tyrell Fuimaono (2 years)

Assuming you add Latrell this month, you honestly have 4 "bigger-name" players taking on new deals for 2020 - Latrell, Croft, Holmes and Matterson. Only 2 of those are legitimate top-tier footballers.

The rest of the signatures are middle-ground to bit-player at most.

Looking specifically at the details - Croft was a direct trade Storm to Broncos, Holmes only ever spoke with Sharks and Cowboys (according to accounts), Latrell we were right in the mix for and Matterson we had to lose.

I really don't know what you expect the club to do, it's like the cap space is burning a hole in your pocket. The point has already been made, last time we had a chunk of cap space available (arguably every time we've had a chunk of space available, casting back to 2000) we've spent it very poorly.

It has been 8 WEEKS. 8 weeks including Christmas. We went hard for Latrell, reportedly made an offer for Arrow and signed two other footballers in that period. Latrell wants to be at Souths and so does Arrow. Nobody else signed those players, just Souths.

Just because there's cap space you don't have to rush out to spend it, and it's unrealistic to expect a raft of signings in the offseason. Sometimes the offseason has horse trade, sometimes it doesn't, depending on who is available, what pieces are being shuffled around and what players/clubs are actually willing to talk terms for 2021.

The most common sense post in the last 10 weeks

Agree - one of the few people to make sense

 

[Spud_Murphy]

I don't know how the Club can explain to members we had between $1.5 and $1.7m available to spend, and are only able to promote development players. No amount of spin could justify that,given the release of Marsters and Matterson. I'm still praying for something favourable

Pretty easy to explain actually.

Firstly we've signed 2 players - Big Lucy and Stefano, obv the latter for 2021 at this stage.

Marsters released 10/Oct/19
Matterson released 31/Oct/19
Matulino medically retired 31/Oct/19

The rep season finished on 16/Nov/19, with the Kangaroos playing their last test on 02/Nov/19.

That whole period, up to today 13/Jan/20, is 10.57 weeks. Leaving in the rep season but accounting for at least the 2 weeks of Christmas and NY that's basically 8 weeks. Taking out the rep season, i.e. your window for test match players, you only get 6 weeks.

You therefore are having to line up players who are willing and able to move clubs in a 6-8 week period, because the Tigers couldn't guarantee this cap space would be available - Marsters had to be taken on, Mats had to be rubber-stamped and Matterson they did not want to lose.

I said this before, since 01/Nov/19 only 16 players have joined new NRL clubs for 2020:
Matterson (3 years)
Enari Tuala (1 year)
Isaac Luke (1 year)
Val Holmes (6 years)
Kurt Capewell (2 years)
Brodie Croft (3 years)
Merrin (2 years)
Big Lucy (3 years)
Ryley Jacks (1 year)
Cameron King (1 year)
Zane Tetevano (2 years)
Gehamat Shibasaki (3 years)
Brock Lamb (2 years development)
Brayden Wiliame (2 years)
Jonus Pearson (2 years)
Tyrell Fuimaono (2 years)

Assuming you add Latrell this month, you honestly have 4 "bigger-name" players taking on new deals for 2020 - Latrell, Croft, Holmes and Matterson. Only 2 of those are legitimate top-tier footballers.

The rest of the signatures are middle-ground to bit-player at most.

Looking specifically at the details - Croft was a direct trade Storm to Broncos, Holmes only ever spoke with Sharks and Cowboys (according to accounts), Latrell we were right in the mix for and Matterson we had to lose.

I really don't know what you expect the club to do, it's like the cap space is burning a hole in your pocket. The point has already been made, last time we had a chunk of cap space available (arguably every time we've had a chunk of space available, casting back to 2000) we've spent it very poorly.

It has been 8 WEEKS. 8 weeks including Christmas. We went hard for Latrell, reportedly made an offer for Arrow and signed two other footballers in that period. Latrell wants to be at Souths and so does Arrow. Nobody else signed those players, just Souths.

Just because there's cap space you don't have to rush out to spend it, and it's unrealistic to expect a raft of signings in the offseason. Sometimes the offseason has horse trade, sometimes it doesn't, depending on who is available, what pieces are being shuffled around and what players/clubs are actually willing to talk terms for 2021.

Then why did we release players we had a right to keep including arguably our best player from 2019?

Releasing players without suitable replacements lined up shows a lack of planning!

Just my opinion but I actually think we were over confident of getting Mitchell and what club with cash to burn wouldn’t be? We offered him everything he wanted and more, which in most cases would see the player sign. His and Leilua’s signings would’ve more than made up for the losses of Matterson and Masters. Who knew Mitchell was gonna be such a head case with a penchant for playing with Souths.

Now it’s fallen through I think we are floundering around trying to make up the shortfall, asking other clubs for their cast off backs, so late in the off season, but it’s just not working as players are happy to stay put, if they are able, at this late stage.

 

[Russell]

I don't know how the Club can explain to members we had between $1.5 and $1.7m available to spend, and are only able to promote development players. No amount of spin could justify that,given the release of Marsters and Matterson. I'm still praying for something favourable

Pretty easy to explain actually.

Firstly we've signed 2 players - Big Lucy and Stefano, obv the latter for 2021 at this stage.

Marsters released 10/Oct/19
Matterson released 31/Oct/19
Matulino medically retired 31/Oct/19

The rep season finished on 16/Nov/19, with the Kangaroos playing their last test on 02/Nov/19.

That whole period, up to today 13/Jan/20, is 10.57 weeks. Leaving in the rep season but accounting for at least the 2 weeks of Christmas and NY that's basically 8 weeks. Taking out the rep season, i.e. your window for test match players, you only get 6 weeks.

You therefore are having to line up players who are willing and able to move clubs in a 6-8 week period, because the Tigers couldn't guarantee this cap space would be available - Marsters had to be taken on, Mats had to be rubber-stamped and Matterson they did not want to lose.

I said this before, since 01/Nov/19 only 16 players have joined new NRL clubs for 2020:
Matterson (3 years)
Enari Tuala (1 year)
Isaac Luke (1 year)
Val Holmes (6 years)
Kurt Capewell (2 years)
Brodie Croft (3 years)
Merrin (2 years)
Big Lucy (3 years)
Ryley Jacks (1 year)
Cameron King (1 year)
Zane Tetevano (2 years)
Gehamat Shibasaki (3 years)
Brock Lamb (2 years development)
Brayden Wiliame (2 years)
Jonus Pearson (2 years)
Tyrell Fuimaono (2 years)

Assuming you add Latrell this month, you honestly have 4 "bigger-name" players taking on new deals for 2020 - Latrell, Croft, Holmes and Matterson. Only 2 of those are legitimate top-tier footballers.

The rest of the signatures are middle-ground to bit-player at most.

Looking specifically at the details - Croft was a direct trade Storm to Broncos, Holmes only ever spoke with Sharks and Cowboys (according to accounts), Latrell we were right in the mix for and Matterson we had to lose.

I really don't know what you expect the club to do, it's like the cap space is burning a hole in your pocket. The point has already been made, last time we had a chunk of cap space available (arguably every time we've had a chunk of space available, casting back to 2000) we've spent it very poorly.

It has been 8 WEEKS. 8 weeks including Christmas. We went hard for Latrell, reportedly made an offer for Arrow and signed two other footballers in that period. Latrell wants to be at Souths and so does Arrow. Nobody else signed those players, just Souths.

Just because there's cap space you don't have to rush out to spend it, and it's unrealistic to expect a raft of signings in the offseason. Sometimes the offseason has horse trade, sometimes it doesn't, depending on who is available, what pieces are being shuffled around and what players/clubs are actually willing to talk terms for 2021.

Then why did we release players we had a right to keep including arguably our best player from 2019?

Releasing players without suitable replacements lined up shows a lack of planning!

Simples Cochise - Matterson did not want to be here, a lot of our players did not want him here. Training was too hard for him, he didn't like it. Lastly he was so disgruntled that he would have created a very toxic environment going into the 2020 season.

You're off your rocker if you want to keep him under those circumstances.

Masters wasn't keen to stay either - pathetic form in 2019 (even taking into account injuries) and the same coach had him for The Tigers and NZ, but was still quite happy for him to go. I'm ok with that decision.

Better off without either of them I think, even if we didn't replace them. However I feel Big Lucy will end up a better forward than Matterson in the years to come.

 

[cochise]

I don't know how the Club can explain to members we had between $1.5 and $1.7m available to spend, and are only able to promote development players. No amount of spin could justify that,given the release of Marsters and Matterson. I'm still praying for something favourable

Pretty easy to explain actually.

Firstly we've signed 2 players - Big Lucy and Stefano, obv the latter for 2021 at this stage.

Marsters released 10/Oct/19
Matterson released 31/Oct/19
Matulino medically retired 31/Oct/19

The rep season finished on 16/Nov/19, with the Kangaroos playing their last test on 02/Nov/19.

That whole period, up to today 13/Jan/20, is 10.57 weeks. Leaving in the rep season but accounting for at least the 2 weeks of Christmas and NY that's basically 8 weeks. Taking out the rep season, i.e. your window for test match players, you only get 6 weeks.

You therefore are having to line up players who are willing and able to move clubs in a 6-8 week period, because the Tigers couldn't guarantee this cap space would be available - Marsters had to be taken on, Mats had to be rubber-stamped and Matterson they did not want to lose.

I said this before, since 01/Nov/19 only 16 players have joined new NRL clubs for 2020:
Matterson (3 years)
Enari Tuala (1 year)
Isaac Luke (1 year)
Val Holmes (6 years)
Kurt Capewell (2 years)
Brodie Croft (3 years)
Merrin (2 years)
Big Lucy (3 years)
Ryley Jacks (1 year)
Cameron King (1 year)
Zane Tetevano (2 years)
Gehamat Shibasaki (3 years)
Brock Lamb (2 years development)
Brayden Wiliame (2 years)
Jonus Pearson (2 years)
Tyrell Fuimaono (2 years)

Assuming you add Latrell this month, you honestly have 4 "bigger-name" players taking on new deals for 2020 - Latrell, Croft, Holmes and Matterson. Only 2 of those are legitimate top-tier footballers.

The rest of the signatures are middle-ground to bit-player at most.

Looking specifically at the details - Croft was a direct trade Storm to Broncos, Holmes only ever spoke with Sharks and Cowboys (according to accounts), Latrell we were right in the mix for and Matterson we had to lose.

I really don't know what you expect the club to do, it's like the cap space is burning a hole in your pocket. The point has already been made, last time we had a chunk of cap space available (arguably every time we've had a chunk of space available, casting back to 2000) we've spent it very poorly.

It has been 8 WEEKS. 8 weeks including Christmas. We went hard for Latrell, reportedly made an offer for Arrow and signed two other footballers in that period. Latrell wants to be at Souths and so does Arrow. Nobody else signed those players, just Souths.

Just because there's cap space you don't have to rush out to spend it, and it's unrealistic to expect a raft of signings in the offseason. Sometimes the offseason has horse trade, sometimes it doesn't, depending on who is available, what pieces are being shuffled around and what players/clubs are actually willing to talk terms for 2021.

Then why did we release players we had a right to keep including arguably our best player from 2019?

Releasing players without suitable replacements lined up shows a lack of planning!

Simples Cochise - Matterson did not want to be here, a lot of our players did not want him here. Training was too hard for him, he didn't like it. Lastly he was so disgruntled that he would have created a very toxic environment going into the 2020 season.

You're off your rocker if you want to keep him under those circumstances.

Masters wasn't keen to stay either - pathetic form in 2019 (even taking into account injuries) and the same coach had him for The Tigers and NZ, but was still quite happy for him to go. I'm ok with that decision.

Better off without either of them I think, even if we didn't replace them. However I feel Big Lucy will end up a better forward than Matterson in the years to come.

Keeping Masters for depth would have been better than how this played out!

 

[balmain boy]

I don't know how the Club can explain to members we had between $1.5 and $1.7m available to spend, and are only able to promote development players. No amount of spin could justify that,given the release of Marsters and Matterson. I'm still praying for something favourable

Pretty easy to explain actually.

Firstly we've signed 2 players - Big Lucy and Stefano, obv the latter for 2021 at this stage.

Marsters released 10/Oct/19
Matterson released 31/Oct/19
Matulino medically retired 31/Oct/19

The rep season finished on 16/Nov/19, with the Kangaroos playing their last test on 02/Nov/19.

That whole period, up to today 13/Jan/20, is 10.57 weeks. Leaving in the rep season but accounting for at least the 2 weeks of Christmas and NY that's basically 8 weeks. Taking out the rep season, i.e. your window for test match players, you only get 6 weeks.

You therefore are having to line up players who are willing and able to move clubs in a 6-8 week period, because the Tigers couldn't guarantee this cap space would be available - Marsters had to be taken on, Mats had to be rubber-stamped and Matterson they did not want to lose.

I said this before, since 01/Nov/19 only 16 players have joined new NRL clubs for 2020:
Matterson (3 years)
Enari Tuala (1 year)
Isaac Luke (1 year)
Val Holmes (6 years)
Kurt Capewell (2 years)
Brodie Croft (3 years)
Merrin (2 years)
Big Lucy (3 years)
Ryley Jacks (1 year)
Cameron King (1 year)
Zane Tetevano (2 years)
Gehamat Shibasaki (3 years)
Brock Lamb (2 years development)
Brayden Wiliame (2 years)
Jonus Pearson (2 years)
Tyrell Fuimaono (2 years)

Assuming you add Latrell this month, you honestly have 4 "bigger-name" players taking on new deals for 2020 - Latrell, Croft, Holmes and Matterson. Only 2 of those are legitimate top-tier footballers.

The rest of the signatures are middle-ground to bit-player at most.

Looking specifically at the details - Croft was a direct trade Storm to Broncos, Holmes only ever spoke with Sharks and Cowboys (according to accounts), Latrell we were right in the mix for and Matterson we had to lose.

I really don't know what you expect the club to do, it's like the cap space is burning a hole in your pocket. The point has already been made, last time we had a chunk of cap space available (arguably every time we've had a chunk of space available, casting back to 2000) we've spent it very poorly.

It has been 8 WEEKS. 8 weeks including Christmas. We went hard for Latrell, reportedly made an offer for Arrow and signed two other footballers in that period. Latrell wants to be at Souths and so does Arrow. Nobody else signed those players, just Souths.

Just because there's cap space you don't have to rush out to spend it, and it's unrealistic to expect a raft of signings in the offseason. Sometimes the offseason has horse trade, sometimes it doesn't, depending on who is available, what pieces are being shuffled around and what players/clubs are actually willing to talk terms for 2021.

Then why did we release players we had a right to keep including arguably our best player from 2019?

Releasing players without suitable replacements lined up shows a lack of planning!

Simples Cochise - Matterson did not want to be here, a lot of our players did not want him here. Training was too hard for him, he didn't like it. Lastly he was so disgruntled that he would have created a very toxic environment going into the 2020 season.

You're off your rocker if you want to keep him under those circumstances.

Masters wasn't keen to stay either - pathetic form in 2019 (even taking into account injuries) and the same coach had him for The Tigers and NZ, but was still quite happy for him to go. I'm ok with that decision.

Better off without either of them I think, even if we didn't replace them. However I feel Big Lucy will end up a better forward than Matterson in the years to come.

Keeping Masters for depth would have been better than how this played out!

Geez, some people must not watch games. Marsters for 450k, given his lack of attack, defence and goal kicking was a very poor player for us. He is very easily replacable. He wouldn't have even got a start if he was still at the club next season. Why pay your backup that much? Especially when other backups like Jennings and Nof are also on that much. We have to stop overpaying crap players.

 

[Tweed_Tiger]

Masters would of wanted an upgrade to stay after he got his offer from the cowboys. Surprised Cowboys offered more than 450k after last season.

 

[Newtown]

I don't know how the Club can explain to members we had between $1.5 and $1.7m available to spend, and are only able to promote development players. No amount of spin could justify that,given the release of Marsters and Matterson. I'm still praying for something favourable

I think that the club believes that it doesn't have to explain such matters to its fans. It's a case of like it or leave it unfortunately.

 

[jirskyr]

Then why did we release players we had a right to keep including arguably our best player from 2019?
Releasing players without suitable replacements lined up shows a lack of planning!

For starters, we can't say exactly what was going on behind closed doors.

With Matterson, he might be really cancerous and we took some time to consider our options, then let him go.

Look at Roosters for example, all that posturing being reported by the media (may or may not be true), but they released Latrell yesterday with a whimper. No compensation apparently, some $120K down the toilet for a fat centre to skip on his training and do nothing but cause unease within your club. Released Latrell to their absolute arch-rivals.

Yes Roosters have some junior centres up their sleeve, none currently the stature of Latrell however, and off the back of a large contract extension offer to Latrell that he turned down. You can't say putting Billy Smith in for Latrell Rd 1 2020 is flawless future-proofing.

So you can posture all you like, but typically clubs release players because it's ultimately in their best interests to do so, after all options are exhausted.

Esan Marsters - highly underperforming centre in 2019. Let us not forget that Madge had next to zero input on the roster for 2019 and we have no idea what he really thinks about players, or what his plans for them are. He might have had Esan earmarked for an exit since day dot.

Cowboys signed Esan up very quickly, which tells you Tigers knew Cowboys were interested. You can't release a bloke mid-contract if there are not suitors!!!

The idea you only release players when there's a guaranteed replacement is ridiculous. And besides, Tigers then went hard for Latrell once Esan was gone - had that worked out, the Esan release would have been, in hindsight, tactically the best move Tigers have made in years.

Finally, the Melbourne Storm are still a benchmark side, but look at all the players they've released for 2020 - Chambers, Vunivalu, Curtis Scott, Brodie Croft. JAC been granted permission to discuss release subject to transfer terms from new club. Ryley Jacks was signed back from Titans for 1 year. Who exactly will be left to play in Rd 1 after Paps, Jahrome and Munster lace up?

Where exactly are the tailor-made Storm backline replacements, ready to step up as soon as the Storm agreed to release? What a severe lack of planning, apparently, by Melbourne and arguable the most successful coach of all time.

 

[fibrodreaming]

Why pay your backup that much? Especially when other backups like Jennings and Nof are also on that much.

Is Jennings on $450k ? I find that very hard to believe.

 

[JD Tiger]

All this talk about we didnt miss out on a lot of players as only so many players left their original club and went to another is flawed.

Just because they stayed with their club and didn't go to another doesnt mean we had no chance at them. Lomax stayed, but we should have still had a go at him, Brimson too. And if we did have a go at them, then we missed out, regardless of whether they choose another new club or their existing club over us.

That is absolutely illogical . Most players will stay with their current club for unders . It’s not just loyalty. It’s knowing the system , knowing role in The system , feeling secure .
So you have to pay overs to get off the starting block . Especially if youre in perpetually no mans land like the tigers . Too good to truely gut the team , but not bad enough to pull a Knights/bulldogs.
It’s also about value and next year as much as tomorrow. If you buy X player on way overs , you now have to commit to that player , and as in the case of teddy and Paps , lose a promising junior because of lack of opportunity.
Investing in youth is the smart play. Breed an environment of loyalty and trust. The storm were able to do this , as , they were lucky to have had a lot of thier ho-hum buys , perform above standard, whilst maintaining relevance . I’m talking about the Matt Orford years by the way.

Well yes and no. What I said was logical, and every point you made apart from that was imo correct. Each player that we approached, (if indeed we did approach any?) had a choice to either stay, go to us or go elsewhere. The ones that stayed choose to stay. Yes there were a lot of incentives to stay, and they choose those incentives rather than come to us. They could have chosen to forego those incentives, but didn't.

I said this before, but I think it was too early for LM to come to us. We need to do the things you have said, focus on juniors (we are), not pay overs for mediocrity (we are starting not to), start to build as a team and as a unit, and success will come and they will stay (hopefully), then I think we can add the cream like a LM.

 

[Newtown]

i'm not sure how the salary cap works. But if there is a lot left in the cap for the tigers can they just use it to pay players currenlty on contract? so in future years we can use it to buy players?


Yes, and I think this is exactly what will happen. We also need to fill the roster spots though and I can see them being filled with development players

Apparently you cannot do that any longer!


You definitely can. I think some here are getting confused because you can no longer BACKend contracts.

if that's possible (front end) then i can only see that as a positive. Sign away end of 2020 and 2021! :face_with_cowboy_hat: :+1: :+1: :+1: :call_me_hand: :call_me_hand: :clap: :clap: :call_me_hand: :call_me_hand:


I agree with you and think that is what will happen, but the other side of that coin is we fill the rest of the roster for 2020 with cheap/development players and it could be seen as sacrificing 2020 for future years.

Sacrificing 2020 is unacceptable imo. Not good enough and questions should be asked.

im ok with it mate. tanking for future success!

Until the club is again overtaken with financial bidding for 2021 season from other clubs. On latest form it is quite on the cards.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

I don't know how the Club can explain to members we had between $1.5 and $1.7m available to spend, and are only able to promote development players. No amount of spin could justify that,given the release of Marsters and Matterson. I'm still praying for something favourable

Pretty easy to explain actually.

Firstly we've signed 2 players - Big Lucy and Stefano, obv the latter for 2021 at this stage.

Marsters released 10/Oct/19
Matterson released 31/Oct/19
Matulino medically retired 31/Oct/19

The rep season finished on 16/Nov/19, with the Kangaroos playing their last test on 02/Nov/19.

That whole period, up to today 13/Jan/20, is 10.57 weeks. Leaving in the rep season but accounting for at least the 2 weeks of Christmas and NY that's basically 8 weeks. Taking out the rep season, i.e. your window for test match players, you only get 6 weeks.

You therefore are having to line up players who are willing and able to move clubs in a 6-8 week period, because the Tigers couldn't guarantee this cap space would be available - Marsters had to be taken on, Mats had to be rubber-stamped and Matterson they did not want to lose.

I said this before, since 01/Nov/19 only 16 players have joined new NRL clubs for 2020:
Matterson (3 years)
Enari Tuala (1 year)
Isaac Luke (1 year)
Val Holmes (6 years)
Kurt Capewell (2 years)
Brodie Croft (3 years)
Merrin (2 years)
Big Lucy (3 years)
Ryley Jacks (1 year)
Cameron King (1 year)
Zane Tetevano (2 years)
Gehamat Shibasaki (3 years)
Brock Lamb (2 years development)
Brayden Wiliame (2 years)
Jonus Pearson (2 years)
Tyrell Fuimaono (2 years)

Assuming you add Latrell this month, you honestly have 4 "bigger-name" players taking on new deals for 2020 - Latrell, Croft, Holmes and Matterson. Only 2 of those are legitimate top-tier footballers.

The rest of the signatures are middle-ground to bit-player at most.

Looking specifically at the details - Croft was a direct trade Storm to Broncos, Holmes only ever spoke with Sharks and Cowboys (according to accounts), Latrell we were right in the mix for and Matterson we had to lose.

I really don't know what you expect the club to do, it's like the cap space is burning a hole in your pocket. The point has already been made, last time we had a chunk of cap space available (arguably every time we've had a chunk of space available, casting back to 2000) we've spent it very poorly.

It has been 8 WEEKS. 8 weeks including Christmas. We went hard for Latrell, reportedly made an offer for Arrow and signed two other footballers in that period. Latrell wants to be at Souths and so does Arrow. Nobody else signed those players, just Souths.

Just because there's cap space you don't have to rush out to spend it, and it's unrealistic to expect a raft of signings in the offseason. Sometimes the offseason has horse trade, sometimes it doesn't, depending on who is available, what pieces are being shuffled around and what players/clubs are actually willing to talk terms for 2021.

Then why did we release players we had a right to keep including arguably our best player from 2019?

Releasing players without suitable replacements lined up shows a lack of planning!

You already know the answer to this mate ! It’s been said 100 times . If by now you can’t accept the addition by subtraction philosophy, you never will . That’s your answer . You have to build a bridge whether you agree or not .

 

[balmain boy]

Why pay your backup that much? Especially when other backups like Jennings and Nof are also on that much.

Is Jennings on $450k ? I find that very hard to believe.

400k, nof 450k.