Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[InBenjiWeTrust]

Like Chinese whispers?

These could be the most cited, beaten only by the "warm fuzzy feeliing", and "I think" 🤔

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

I personally don’t think he will leave. But what do you expect him to say in the middle of a finals run? “Yeah I’m leaving” and create a media frenzy and distraction for the team…

All I'm saying is Brian To'o has twice now shut down any speculation of him wanting to leave & the Penrith CEO has come out & shut down any talk of him leaving either. He's contracted to Penrith till 2027 & there is no chance in hell they'll be letting him go early. Just saying so we don't have to see 5 pages of imaginary backlines with Brian To'o in them.

 

[weststigerman]

Not sure why people don’t think Wingers are worth more than 800k, but are ok with Props getting over a million.

There’s probably 5 or 6 props on a million or more, and even more just under a million.

Wingers like To’o make more metres than all the props in the comp and their runs are much more important as they start the sets.

Props might do more work defensively but wingers also score tries and provide points. Wingers play the full 80 minutes and most props only play 40-60mins with the exception of a few.

Everyone is just stuck in the old way of thinking or are just echoing the words of jurnos who’ve never played a minute of football in their lives.

I think you answered your own question there. Defence wins comps and they play an important role in controlling the ruck. Panthers control of the middle is a big reason why they're so successful.

If a team is consistently losing the ruck in defence, the wingers can't do a thing about that.

 

[Kelce68]

Wasn't the point I was making....
Fox does a better job, and is on less money.
Cobbo has more potential - Sure
I don't think he'll get there as it is, If he were here - It would be an absolute disaster.

Either way,
He wants a million and aint worth half that.

He probably is worth half that.

500k for Selwyn would be difficult to turn down, as incomplete a player as he is.

 

[Kelce68]

You obviously don’t watch too many Penrith games.
Expect to be crying if we do sign him. 675-800k will be a bargain deal for us. I think our offer will start with a 9 or even a 1.

850-900 would be my guess.

Over 3-5 years itd be enough to warrant heavy consideration from him in terms of financial incentive.

1 million dollars for a winger would be insanity, even if your name is Brian To'o.

 

[Kelce68]

Some interesting stats around run metres for wingers as opposed to props and how it translates to winning

Top 5 Wingers for Metres 2024:

Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs) - Finals
Brian To’o (Panthers) - Finals
Greg Marzhew (Knights) - Finals
Kyle Feldt (Cowboys) - Finals
Daniel Tupou (Roosters) - Finals

Top 5 Props for Metres 2024:
Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors) - Missed Finals
Joseph Tapine (Raiders) - Missed Finals
Mitchell Barnett (Warriors) - Missed Finals
Jack De Belin (Dragons) - Missed Finals
Corey Jensen/RCG (Broncos/Eels) - both missed finals

This just shows me the form Kiraz has been in to oust both To'o and Marzhew for the top spot.

 

[Canadian Club]

This just shows me the form Kiraz has been in to oust both To'o and Marzhew for the top spot.

Kiraz only finished above To’o because he played more games. To’o has more metres per game, but does show how good Kiraz is.

 

[Roar_Power]

I personally don’t think he will leave. But what do you expect him to say in the middle of a finals run? “Yeah I’m leaving” and create a media frenzy and distraction for the team…

All I'm saying is Brian To'o has twice now shut down any speculation of him wanting to leave & the Penrith CEO has come out & shut down any talk of him leaving either. He's contracted to Penrith till 2027 & there is no chance in hell they'll be letting him go early. Just saying so we don't have to see 5 pages of imaginary backlines with Brian To'o in them.

He's not about to cause speculation and destabilise Penrith midway through the finals.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

Mate To'o again came out last night & shut down any talk of him leaving Penrith. I'm not sure where you are getting your info from but someone is blatantly lying to you.
https://x.com/9newssyd/status/1836325845675258262?s=46&t=oQc0LDI0oEUHx4D7kvMl9A

At least he is generating posts on here......

 

[RonDingo]

At least he is generating posts on here......

Better than reading about Luke Brooks !!!

 

[hodgo]

A couple of things

If the To'o info is accurate ( thanks for the info anyway Odessa) he wont be saying anything until the finals are done.
Added to that I actually am starting to believe forwards arent as important as they used to be. The good teams generate most of their yardage from their back 5. the main purpose of the forwards is defence and compressing defensive lines to create space.

The top 30ish in runs per game and meters per game are mainly backs.

I personally think that's where your money needs to be heavily invested. A back 5 of bula, turuva, skelton too and other centre is pretty dynamic.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

That is waaaay too much for a winger. I don't think a winger has ever been on close to that. Won't be able to afford Galvin if we have 1.2M in Luai and that sort of money for a winger, not to mention the other expensive contracts we're carrying for Sullivan, Klemmer, Latu, Bula, Api etc.

We don't need another expensive winger!
We need a quality bookend and backend before we talk wingers again.

 

[Nadz4483]

Not sure why people don’t think Wingers are worth more than 800k, but are ok with Props getting over a million.

There’s probably 5 or 6 props on a million or more, and even more just under a million.

Wingers like To’o make more metres than all the props in the comp and their runs are much more important as they start the sets.

Props might do more work defensively but wingers also score tries and provide points. Wingers play the full 80 minutes and most props only play 40-60mins with the exception of a few.

Everyone is just stuck in the old way of thinking or are just echoing the words of jurnos who’ve never played a minute of football in their lives.

I don't understand this whole rule of certain positions being worth certain dollars.... Each player is different, you pay them what they are worth, not for what position they play in... Hell, wingers are the ones that score majority of tries, and take the dirty hit ups, they should be on some of the biggest salaries....

 

[supercoach]

Comparing wingers and props, or should I say stats is silly. They play different roles. These days the only defensive hit up a prop makes is off a kick off. Now wingers and centres take the first three defensive hit ups if not four. Props have their petrol saved for defence. Also they usually still trying to get back on side by play three.

Dont get me wrong, the modern day winger is a very important player

 

[jrtiger]

A couple of things

If the To'o info is accurate ( thanks for the info anyway Odessa) he wont be saying anything until the finals are done.
Added to that I actually am starting to believe forwards arent as important as they used to be. The good teams generate most of their yardage from their back 5. the main purpose of the forwards is defence and compressing defensive lines to create space.

The top 30ish in runs per game and meters per game are mainly backs.

I personally think that's where your money needs to be heavily invested. A back 5 of bula, turuva, skelton too and other centre is pretty dynamic.

good post.

while the club has been slow to do the same, the recruitment of Skelton, Turuva and potentially Montoya or To'o speaks to the fact that they're trying to fix it. a fit Olam will help considerably as well.

the role of the middle forward has evolved considerably of late. in attack the lock is a third half, while the front rowers' jobs are to play off the lock and generate quick play the balls for the spine to play off. in Hunt, Pole and Sione Fainu we have those, but Klemmer and Twal are going to have to work tirelessly to give us that thru preseason.

defensively is where the middles are most important these days. it's why Hetherington has apparently been approached. Pole has some work to do on that part of his game, as does Sione.

big preseason ahead for our middles.

 

[batboy]

How many To’os exist though? Can’t think of many.

He should be the highest paid wing man by far.

Maybe why he’s not happy.

Warbrick will have eclipsed him by mid next year...
Not just Physically.
(Has already IMO)

To'o is a one trick pony - Can make dirty yards....
Limited Speed Wise, Limited in the Air.
I'd rather have a Winger that doesn't make quite as many yards - but is faster, bigger and better with the high ball.
He just doesn't get challenged in the air as much at Penrith as he would elsewhere simply because most teams that play Penrith are kicking from well inside their own half.

Overall,
The Panthers game makes him look much better than he is,
And he costs too much. Anyone talking about buying a Winger for 900k is on Crack.
- We'd be buying a contract the panthers could do without.

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Warbrick will have eclipsed him by mid next year...
Not just Physically.
(Has already IMO)

To'o is a one trick pony - Can make dirty yards....
Limited Speed Wise, Limited in the Air.
I'd rather have a Winger that doesn't make quite as many yards - but is faster, bigger and better with the high ball.
He just doesn't get challenged in the air as much at Penrith as he would elsewhere simply because most teams that play Penrith are kicking from well inside their own half.

Overall,
The Panthers game makes him look much better than he is,
And he costs too much. Anyone talking about buying a Winger for 900k is on Crack.
- We'd be buying a contract the panthers could do without.

Something tells me you don't watch much of Brian To'o

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

good post.

while the club has been slow to do the same, the recruitment of Skelton, Turuva and potentially Montoya or To'o speaks to the fact that they're trying to fix it. a fit Olam will help considerably as well.

the role of the middle forward has evolved considerably of late. in attack the lock is a third half, while the front rowers' jobs are to play off the lock and generate quick play the balls for the spine to play off. in Hunt, Pole and Sione Fainu we have those, but Klemmer and Twal are going to have to work tirelessly to give us that thru preseason.

defensively is where the middles are most important these days. it's why Hetherington has apparently been approached. Pole has some work to do on that part of his game, as does Sione.

big preseason ahead for our middles.

Enjoy your insights @jrtiger what you say does make me wonder about Latu Fainu as a new generation lock!

His ball-playing & link work would be without question. He is actually remarkably strong for his age & size particularly in the legs so he could add acceleration & tackle busting through the middle. And I have heard he is one of the better wrestlers in our squad and a few more pre-seasons to add a bit of size.

Latu has good tackling technique around the waist & legs so he could be our 'low tackling' middle with the 2nd/3rd man up high engaging in the wrestle.

He's not dissimilar in style to Karl Oloapu of the Bulldogs who Gus has wanted to evolve into a lock & some do rate Gus as a good judge lol

 

[Roar_Power]

Overall,
The Panthers game makes him look much better than he is,
And he costs too much. Anyone talking about buying a Winger for 900k is on Crack.
- We'd be buying a contract the panthers could do without.

How do you know how good he is? He has only ever played for Penrith.

 

[yeahcaz]

Warbrick will have eclipsed him by mid next year...
Not just Physically.
(Has already IMO)

To'o is a one trick pony - Can make dirty yards....
Limited Speed Wise, Limited in the Air.
I'd rather have a Winger that doesn't make quite as many yards - but is faster, bigger and better with the high ball.
He just doesn't get challenged in the air as much at Penrith as he would elsewhere simply because most teams that play Penrith are kicking from well inside their own half.

Overall,
The Panthers game makes him look much better than he is,
And he costs too much. Anyone talking about buying a Winger for 900k is on Crack.
- We'd be buying a contract the panthers could do without.

To’o a significantly better defensive winger than Warbrick and I get that it’s your opinion but there’s simply no way he is better than Brian.

If he was so limited in the air, it would be spoken about a lot during this time of the season as these teams actually do spend time in Penriths 20 and it’s basically a non factor. Also why would you want a winger that’s better under the high ball when that’s evidently not our style of play ? The only 2 teams that come to mind that consistently put the ball up for their wingers are Storm and Roosters.

Only player in origin history to average 200 metres a series for 3 straight series. The shouts of system based and just a winger are factually wrong. Not to mention the signing would be a cultural shift for the club. None of these jokers we currently employ have the right to complain about any player of his calibre making that much money