Recruitment

[avocadoontoast]

Obviously the club moved in a different direction again with the Pangai Junior deal. Does anyone have an idea what direction that is?

We can’t sign really really good players so now we just have to find some really really average players. I think that’s the plan ??‍♂️

Well no, they're signing talented rookies who are stuck behind more established players like Doueihi, Stefano and Laurie. I wish we could sign really good players straight up but it doesn't seem likely

They need to get it right, and soon.

Otherwise the three you mentioned will have Managers talking about swap deals.

And that's the concern I have. Focusing on young up and comers is great but it takes time, and if the club isn't having success on the field these guys are going to be very tempted to leave. Building from within is a great plan but if you're not aiming to play finals for another 3 years, you might have trouble keeping the talent you've got.

There needs to be a balance imo.

No one has said we aren’t aiming to play finals for 3 years though. That is just made up drama by fans. There really isn't a lot we can do to make the elite players we want to come here.

I wouldn't say it's made up drama, but being realistic if we're looking to build from within it's going to take some time, I don't think anyone would deny that. Saying we're going to play finals in '22 or '23 might be on the optimistic side, especially given the teams around us are taking a more immediate approach to success (albeit perhaps short term) .

I have no issues with our approach due to our difficulty in signing players, but you have to concede that it does come with some risk of retaining players?

Honestly, I won't be surprised to see a couple of short term deals on players in that 100-150 game mark who come loose at other clubs over the next few months.

I hope you're right!

 

[cochise]

The recruitment has been a bit of a shambles for almost the whole existence of the club tbh. We had a couple of good crops that wielded results, but even then we've only had three finals series (albeit we won a comp and could/should have won another).

Since 2011 the club has gone from panic move to panic move, resulting in lots of failed short term moves. Who can forget old mate Grant Mayer speculating that we'd make a GF in the mid 2010s?

I am a bit more confident in the club's direction over the last year or two. We've made some shrewd buys for the first time in a while, and some very promising youngsters on top of that. There have still been mis-steps (e.g. BJ) but I can at least see what we're building towards now. Hopefully we continue along that route in picking up these young guys and developing them into frontline FGers.

Of course, we'll still need to recruit elite players on top of that. The COE should help - I can't imagine the current/past facilities have sold the club very well.
But it's the old conundrum: you can't sign elite players until you have an elite team. And you can't have an elite team until you have elite players.

There is so much denial in this forum. This comment is a great example.

How have the Bulldogs signed Addo Carr, Tevita, and Burton then?

They do not have an elite team. What about the Titans signing Tino and Fifita? Did they have an elite team?

There are more factors at play here. Our location, our lack of success (3 finals in 21 years), our inability to locate and keep talent, our disregard of campbelltown, a lack of identity etc etc etc

If I was an NRL player right now, with my love of the Tigers, and had an option of the Tigers or any one else, I would not go to this club.

Tigers are the last Sydney club you'd choose. No home ground, no identity, it's not prime area to live, there's really nothing much there to attract people off the field let alone our decade of failure and drama. This is why we need to win games and make finals because we are behind other clubs in those other areas.

Exactly but this needs to be done by bringing up juniors and smart signings of youth like Stefano, and Laurie. If I see this club sign another BJ or Roberts or Mbye, it means nothing has changed. That's why some of this season rests on Madge. They were risky signings in a club with a history of risky signings, so in my eyes they were always dumb signings. Always. Have you seen BJ talk? Do you really think that's the type of character we need more of in this club? Like, how did he pass the interview? Do you think Bellamy would have signed BJ? Something makes me think, NO. Also, I respect Roberts for his toughness, but we are not the club to be coddling a first grader who struggles mentally. It's really bad foresight from Madge, and if he doesn't learn, he won't have a job in the future. I think he will though as his best players are the ones that are young.

See I don't really have a huge problems with those signings as they were signings to try and supplement our main goal of building through youth. They were signings with a finite time period that if they worked out would allow us to play finals football in the short term while the younger players develop.

 

[Lauren]

I believe complacency has always played a vital role in our poor success, culture and recruitment/retention. It's the main obstacle and a huge factor to why we're simply unable to address some of our core issues and why some things look unfixable. I feel it's even at the forefront of our identity.

IMO it's why we often lose out on potential recruits. They probably question the overall professionalism of the club particularly because it's all they see, and then ultimately wouldn't feel like we're a club who'll be able to further advance their career. It's probably why rookies or reserve grade quality players are more likely to come here - as it's a given that we'll give them experience or an opportunity they may not get elsewhere.
Also, irregardless of their capability, it's why our coaches cannot transform or overturn the culture or success of the team.
Plus it's why most our former players with any ounce of talent easily transcend their game (when they sign at other clubs) and end up becoming dominant in the NRL, as no offence, they're surrounded by more competitive players who want to elevate the players around them.

It's interconnected to and cause for all our problem areas and is the main reason we receive the most media attention/scrutiny.
There's been far too many players who look disinterested and apathetic when at the club. Which is a pity as there's some really ambitious and great competitors currently in our team and we like to be doing everything right.

 

[Demps]

BJ, Roberts...

Saw some mentioning Ferguson, Nene McDonald

... we are better than this.

 

[JC99]

Obviously the club moved in a different direction again with the Pangai Junior deal. Does anyone have an idea what direction that is?

We can’t sign really really good players so now we just have to find some really really average players. I think that’s the plan ??‍♂️

Well no, they're signing talented rookies who are stuck behind more established players like Doueihi, Stefano and Laurie. I wish we could sign really good players straight up but it doesn't seem likely

They need to get it right, and soon.

Otherwise the three you mentioned will have Managers talking about swap deals.

And that's the concern I have. Focusing on young up and comers is great but it takes time, and if the club isn't having success on the field these guys are going to be very tempted to leave. Building from within is a great plan but if you're not aiming to play finals for another 3 years, you might have trouble keeping the talent you've got.

There needs to be a balance imo.

No one has said we aren’t aiming to play finals for 3 years though. That is just made up drama by fans. There really isn't a lot we can do to make the elite players we want to come here.

I wouldn't say it's made up drama, but being realistic if we're looking to build from within it's going to take some time, I don't think anyone would deny that. Saying we're going to play finals in '22 or '23 might be on the optimistic side, especially given the teams around us are taking a more immediate approach to success (albeit perhaps short term) .

I have no issues with our approach due to our difficulty in signing players, but you have to concede that it does come with some risk of retaining players?

Honestly, I won't be surprised to see a couple of short term deals on players in that 100-150 game mark who come loose at other clubs over the next few months.

I bloody hope so there's nothing available right now.

 

[aturkey]

The recruitment has been a bit of a shambles for almost the whole existence of the club tbh. We had a couple of good crops that wielded results, but even then we've only had three finals series (albeit we won a comp and could/should have won another).

Since 2011 the club has gone from panic move to panic move, resulting in lots of failed short term moves. Who can forget old mate Grant Mayer speculating that we'd make a GF in the mid 2010s?

I am a bit more confident in the club's direction over the last year or two. We've made some shrewd buys for the first time in a while, and some very promising youngsters on top of that. There have still been mis-steps (e.g. BJ) but I can at least see what we're building towards now. Hopefully we continue along that route in picking up these young guys and developing them into frontline FGers.

Of course, we'll still need to recruit elite players on top of that. The COE should help - I can't imagine the current/past facilities have sold the club very well.
But it's the old conundrum: you can't sign elite players until you have an elite team. And you can't have an elite team until you have elite players.

There is so much denial in this forum. This comment is a great example.

How have the Bulldogs signed Addo Carr, Tevita, and Burton then?

They do not have an elite team. What about the Titans signing Tino and Fifita? Did they have an elite team?

There are more factors at play here. Our location, our lack of success (3 finals in 21 years), our inability to locate and keep talent, our disregard of campbelltown, a lack of identity etc etc etc

If I was an NRL player right now, with my love of the Tigers, and had an option of the Tigers or any one else, I would not go to this club.

Tigers are the last Sydney club you'd choose. No home ground, no identity, it's not prime area to live, there's really nothing much there to attract people off the field let alone our decade of failure and drama. This is why we need to win games and make finals because we are behind other clubs in those other areas.

Exactly but this needs to be done by bringing up juniors and smart signings of youth like Stefano, and Laurie. If I see this club sign another BJ or Roberts or Mbye, it means nothing has changed. That's why some of this season rests on Madge. They were risky signings in a club with a history of risky signings, so in my eyes they were always dumb signings. Always. Have you seen BJ talk? Do you really think that's the type of character we need more of in this club? Like, how did he pass the interview? Do you think Bellamy would have signed BJ? Something makes me think, NO. Also, I respect Roberts for his toughness, but we are not the club to be coddling a first grader who struggles mentally. It's really bad foresight from Madge, and if he doesn't learn, he won't have a job in the future. I think he will though as his best players are the ones that are young.

See I don't really have a huge problems with those signings as they were signings to try and supplement our main goal of building through youth. They were signings with a finite time period that if they worked out would allow us to play finals football in the short term while the younger players develop.

BJ Leilua and James Roberts were never making us finals contenders. They were stupid signings that no other club would make. If a player can't fire under Bennett, he will not fire under Maguire, a much lesser coach. Yet, we did it anyway. These types of signings need to stop. We are not the club to fix struggling players.

 

[aturkey]

BJ, Roberts...

Saw some mentioning Ferguson, Nene McDonald

... we are better than this.

B b b ut these guys played good footy in the past, and where else but the Tigers will they reignite their careers?? Look at our long history of success of sparking players back into form.

 

[Demps]

BJ, Roberts...

Saw some mentioning Ferguson, Nene McDonald

... we are better than this.

B b b ut these guys played good footy in the past, and where else but the Tigers will they reignite their careers?? Look at our long history of success of sparking players back into form.

It's disgraceful that this is how we started the year as these two as our first choice centres... with guys as back up who are literally bottom of the barrel.

Not 1 first grade material centre on the books.
Abhorrent.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

The recruitment has been a bit of a shambles for almost the whole existence of the club tbh. We had a couple of good crops that wielded results, but even then we've only had three finals series (albeit we won a comp and could/should have won another).

Since 2011 the club has gone from panic move to panic move, resulting in lots of failed short term moves. Who can forget old mate Grant Mayer speculating that we'd make a GF in the mid 2010s?

I am a bit more confident in the club's direction over the last year or two. We've made some shrewd buys for the first time in a while, and some very promising youngsters on top of that. There have still been mis-steps (e.g. BJ) but I can at least see what we're building towards now. Hopefully we continue along that route in picking up these young guys and developing them into frontline FGers.

Of course, we'll still need to recruit elite players on top of that. The COE should help - I can't imagine the current/past facilities have sold the club very well.
But it's the old conundrum: you can't sign elite players until you have an elite team. And you can't have an elite team until you have elite players.

There is so much denial in this forum. This comment is a great example.

How have the Bulldogs signed Addo Carr, Tevita, and Burton then?

They do not have an elite team. What about the Titans signing Tino and Fifita? Did they have an elite team?

There are more factors at play here. Our location, our lack of success (3 finals in 21 years), our inability to locate and keep talent, our disregard of campbelltown, a lack of identity etc etc etc

If I was an NRL player right now, with my love of the Tigers, and had an option of the Tigers or any one else, I would not go to this club.

Tigers are the last Sydney club you'd choose. No home ground, no identity, it's not prime area to live, there's really nothing much there to attract people off the field let alone our decade of failure and drama. This is why we need to win games and make finals because we are behind other clubs in those other areas.

The inner west is a highly desirable area in which to live. Balmain, Glebe, Leichhardt, Ashfield and Strathfield just to name a few good suburbs.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

As long as WTs continue to pick up the discards of other teams, the player managers will ensure their big name clients head to the wealthier clubs. When WTs start to push back and say well okay you've put all your big name clients with the wealthier clubs, don't come to us to pick up your client's displaced as a consequence. We'll go with what we have and let the wealthier clubs deal with the fallout.

 

[kiwitiger]

The recruitment has been a bit of a shambles for almost the whole existence of the club tbh. We had a couple of good crops that wielded results, but even then we've only had three finals series (albeit we won a comp and could/should have won another).

Since 2011 the club has gone from panic move to panic move, resulting in lots of failed short term moves. Who can forget old mate Grant Mayer speculating that we'd make a GF in the mid 2010s?

I am a bit more confident in the club's direction over the last year or two. We've made some shrewd buys for the first time in a while, and some very promising youngsters on top of that. There have still been mis-steps (e.g. BJ) but I can at least see what we're building towards now. Hopefully we continue along that route in picking up these young guys and developing them into frontline FGers.

Of course, we'll still need to recruit elite players on top of that. The COE should help - I can't imagine the current/past facilities have sold the club very well.
But it's the old conundrum: you can't sign elite players until you have an elite team. And you can't have an elite team until you have elite players.

There is so much denial in this forum. This comment is a great example.

How have the Bulldogs signed Addo Carr, Tevita, and Burton then?

They do not have an elite team. What about the Titans signing Tino and Fifita? Did they have an elite team?

There are more factors at play here. Our location, our lack of success (3 finals in 21 years), our inability to locate and keep talent, our disregard of campbelltown, a lack of identity etc etc etc

If I was an NRL player right now, with my love of the Tigers, and had an option of the Tigers or any one else, I would not go to this club.

Tigers are the last Sydney club you'd choose. No home ground, no identity, it's not prime area to live, there's really nothing much there to attract people off the field let alone our decade of failure and drama. This is why we need to win games and make finals because we are behind other clubs in those other areas.

The inner west is a highly desirable area in which to live. Balmain, Glebe, Leichhardt, Ashfield and Strathfield just to name a few good suburbs.

But you don't have to live where you play, not since the 70's so it doesn't matter?

 

[izotope]

Dont forget we are a destination club

 

[pawsandclaws1]

The recruitment has been a bit of a shambles for almost the whole existence of the club tbh. We had a couple of good crops that wielded results, but even then we've only had three finals series (albeit we won a comp and could/should have won another).

Since 2011 the club has gone from panic move to panic move, resulting in lots of failed short term moves. Who can forget old mate Grant Mayer speculating that we'd make a GF in the mid 2010s?

I am a bit more confident in the club's direction over the last year or two. We've made some shrewd buys for the first time in a while, and some very promising youngsters on top of that. There have still been mis-steps (e.g. BJ) but I can at least see what we're building towards now. Hopefully we continue along that route in picking up these young guys and developing them into frontline FGers.

Of course, we'll still need to recruit elite players on top of that. The COE should help - I can't imagine the current/past facilities have sold the club very well.
But it's the old conundrum: you can't sign elite players until you have an elite team. And you can't have an elite team until you have elite players.

There is so much denial in this forum. This comment is a great example.

How have the Bulldogs signed Addo Carr, Tevita, and Burton then?

They do not have an elite team. What about the Titans signing Tino and Fifita? Did they have an elite team?

There are more factors at play here. Our location, our lack of success (3 finals in 21 years), our inability to locate and keep talent, our disregard of campbelltown, a lack of identity etc etc etc

If I was an NRL player right now, with my love of the Tigers, and had an option of the Tigers or any one else, I would not go to this club.

Tigers are the last Sydney club you'd choose. No home ground, no identity, it's not prime area to live, there's really nothing much there to attract people off the field let alone our decade of failure and drama. This is why we need to win games and make finals because we are behind other clubs in those other areas.

The inner west is a highly desirable area in which to live. Balmain, Glebe, Leichhardt, Ashfield and Strathfield just to name a few good suburbs.

But you don't have to live where you play, not since the 70's so it doesn't matter?

There are those who live in Balmain and those who wish they could.

 

[JC99]

The recruitment has been a bit of a shambles for almost the whole existence of the club tbh. We had a couple of good crops that wielded results, but even then we've only had three finals series (albeit we won a comp and could/should have won another).

Since 2011 the club has gone from panic move to panic move, resulting in lots of failed short term moves. Who can forget old mate Grant Mayer speculating that we'd make a GF in the mid 2010s?

I am a bit more confident in the club's direction over the last year or two. We've made some shrewd buys for the first time in a while, and some very promising youngsters on top of that. There have still been mis-steps (e.g. BJ) but I can at least see what we're building towards now. Hopefully we continue along that route in picking up these young guys and developing them into frontline FGers.

Of course, we'll still need to recruit elite players on top of that. The COE should help - I can't imagine the current/past facilities have sold the club very well.
But it's the old conundrum: you can't sign elite players until you have an elite team. And you can't have an elite team until you have elite players.

There is so much denial in this forum. This comment is a great example.

How have the Bulldogs signed Addo Carr, Tevita, and Burton then?

They do not have an elite team. What about the Titans signing Tino and Fifita? Did they have an elite team?

There are more factors at play here. Our location, our lack of success (3 finals in 21 years), our inability to locate and keep talent, our disregard of campbelltown, a lack of identity etc etc etc

If I was an NRL player right now, with my love of the Tigers, and had an option of the Tigers or any one else, I would not go to this club.

Tigers are the last Sydney club you'd choose. No home ground, no identity, it's not prime area to live, there's really nothing much there to attract people off the field let alone our decade of failure and drama. This is why we need to win games and make finals because we are behind other clubs in those other areas.

The inner west is a highly desirable area in which to live. Balmain, Glebe, Leichhardt, Ashfield and Strathfield just to name a few good suburbs.

Guess it's all personal opinion. I could see footy players being swayed by the beaches and nightlife of other areas in Sydney

 

[TYGA]

The club simply needs to build a club that players want to play for and stay at. They are doing it internally at the moment. Invest in juniors and bring them through.

Our issues have not been so much lack of player development but retention and talent identification. How do you not see the talent of Paseka, Addo Carr, Korobiete, Papynhuyzen and also not be able to keep Tedesco, Moses, Aloai, Matterson etc.

There has been something wrong at the club to be able to keep players. This is where brand damage is done and recruitment becomes difficult.

 

[Needaname]

As long as WTs continue to pick up the discards of other teams, the player managers will ensure their big name clients head to the wealthier clubs. When WTs start to push back and say well okay you've put all your big name clients with the wealthier clubs, don't come to us to pick up your client's displaced as a consequence. We'll go with what we have and let the wealthier clubs deal with the fallout.

It’s a good point.
A team such as the Dragons are being applauded for recruiting half their team still on other teams payroll. But they’re not being spoken about glowingly in terms of a ‘major premiership threat’ the common message is it’s good roster management. Which It may be to some extent but that team whom on experience should lap us was beaten twice this year by a very young developing team.
Warriors are in exactly the same position as the Dragons, some of their recent key signings are still getting paid by their former club.
But it’s really only made the other clubs more available to either recruit better talent or promote better talent.
Penrith in 2019/2020 gave away their star centre and prop offering up nearly half their salary for the duration of their ongoing contract.
It hasn’t impacted Penrith now. Nor Manly in moving on Adinfonua Blake.

Why is that.

And what would of happened to those club had there not been another team desperate enough to help them out?

 

[cochise]

The club simply needs to build a club that players want to play for and stay at. They are doing it internally at the moment. Invest in juniors and bring them through.

Our issues have not been so much lack of player development but retention and talent identification. How do you not see the talent of Paseka, Addo Carr, Korobiete, Papynhuyzen and also not be able to keep Tedesco, Moses, Aloai, Matterson etc.

There has been something wrong at the club to be able to keep players. This is where brand damage is done and recruitment becomes difficult.

Good point mate

 

[tigerballs]

The recruitment has been a bit of a shambles for almost the whole existence of the club tbh. We had a couple of good crops that wielded results, but even then we've only had three finals series (albeit we won a comp and could/should have won another).

Since 2011 the club has gone from panic move to panic move, resulting in lots of failed short term moves. Who can forget old mate Grant Mayer speculating that we'd make a GF in the mid 2010s?

I am a bit more confident in the club's direction over the last year or two. We've made some shrewd buys for the first time in a while, and some very promising youngsters on top of that. There have still been mis-steps (e.g. BJ) but I can at least see what we're building towards now. Hopefully we continue along that route in picking up these young guys and developing them into frontline FGers.

Of course, we'll still need to recruit elite players on top of that. The COE should help - I can't imagine the current/past facilities have sold the club very well.
But it's the old conundrum: you can't sign elite players until you have an elite team. And you can't have an elite team until you have elite players.

There is so much denial in this forum. This comment is a great example.

How have the Bulldogs signed Addo Carr, Tevita, and Burton then?

They do not have an elite team. What about the Titans signing Tino and Fifita? Did they have an elite team?

There are more factors at play here. Our location, our lack of success (3 finals in 21 years), our inability to locate and keep talent, our disregard of campbelltown, a lack of identity etc etc etc

If I was an NRL player right now, with my love of the Tigers, and had an option of the Tigers or any one else, I would not go to this club.

Tigers are the last Sydney club you'd choose. No home ground, no identity, it's not prime area to live, there's really nothing much there to attract people off the field let alone our decade of failure and drama. This is why we need to win games and make finals because we are behind other clubs in those other areas.

Exactly but this needs to be done by bringing up juniors and smart signings of youth like Stefano, and Laurie. If I see this club sign another BJ or Roberts or Mbye, it means nothing has changed. That's why some of this season rests on Madge. They were risky signings in a club with a history of risky signings, so in my eyes they were always dumb signings. Always. Have you seen BJ talk? Do you really think that's the type of character we need more of in this club? Like, how did he pass the interview? Do you think Bellamy would have signed BJ? Something makes me think, NO. Also, I respect Roberts for his toughness, but we are not the club to be coddling a first grader who struggles mentally. It's really bad foresight from Madge, and if he doesn't learn, he won't have a job in the future. I think he will though as his best players are the ones that are young.

You're exactly right about juniors and young players but we still needed someone to play FG in the meantime so I have no gripes about BJ and JTJ on short term deals. They'll be gone soon enough. I know most in here can't stop banging on about signing elite players but that's no certainty to work out. Titans were supposed to be contenders this year on the back of signing two of the very best forwards available. Look how it's working out for them, along with their million dollar halfback.

 

[twentyforty]

The recruitment has been a bit of a shambles for almost the whole existence of the club tbh. We had a couple of good crops that wielded results, but even then we've only had three finals series (albeit we won a comp and could/should have won another).

Since 2011 the club has gone from panic move to panic move, resulting in lots of failed short term moves. Who can forget old mate Grant Mayer speculating that we'd make a GF in the mid 2010s?

I am a bit more confident in the club's direction over the last year or two. We've made some shrewd buys for the first time in a while, and some very promising youngsters on top of that. There have still been mis-steps (e.g. BJ) but I can at least see what we're building towards now. Hopefully we continue along that route in picking up these young guys and developing them into frontline FGers.

Of course, we'll still need to recruit elite players on top of that. The COE should help - I can't imagine the current/past facilities have sold the club very well.
But it's the old conundrum: you can't sign elite players until you have an elite team. And you can't have an elite team until you have elite players.

There is so much denial in this forum. This comment is a great example.

How have the Bulldogs signed Addo Carr, Tevita, and Burton then?

They do not have an elite team. What about the Titans signing Tino and Fifita? Did they have an elite team?

There are more factors at play here. Our location, our lack of success (3 finals in 21 years), our inability to locate and keep talent, our disregard of campbelltown, a lack of identity etc etc etc

If I was an NRL player right now, with my love of the Tigers, and had an option of the Tigers or any one else, I would not go to this club.

Tigers are the last Sydney club you'd choose. No home ground, no identity, it's not prime area to live, there's really nothing much there to attract people off the field let alone our decade of failure and drama. This is why we need to win games and make finals because we are behind other clubs in those other areas.

There are only 2 possible reasons we can’t get our player to sign on, you’ve mentioned one, the players don’t see the club as a reputation building club. A club with no home ground. Every time I think about that, it leads me to believe that the club’s administration just don’t get it.
The other reason could be, simply that our negotiating team simply don’t have the skill to close the deal? Now this is more likely the case considering that we are often the front runners for the signature.

 

[loklok]

All is not lost on big name signings let's keep poaching and producing more the better .it will happen with what's in plan .big plus is not paying OVERS .