Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[batboy]

For me I could just see things that came natural to him done easy in his first stint as an NRL front rower. So that highlighted a big upside IMO. 2 years ago he was overweight and ineffective. In one off season he completely transformed his body, made his NRL debut, and by seasons end the ease in which he used footwork late at the line, gained post contact metres while looking to offload was a great sign of what he can bring with another huge off-season. There were glimpses of AFB in his attack.

So I'm on the other side of the fence here, I think it's hard not to be excited by him. His defence improved a lot which also excited me. He needs to work hard in that area, but the fact he improved it so much during the season has me really believing in him.

Yeah - Dunno man....
I don't see him doing that in ressies consistently to have any real effect in NRL.
Agree he's lost some weight (About time, He's been top 30 for a few years now)

I have him well behind the likes of Seyfarth, Twal and Klemmer
- And feel we should be looking for upgrades on all 3 of those...

That said, I'd prefer Sione in the top 30 than the likes of Matamua and Tumeth,
Both who I've seen no semblance of a First Grade Future for.

 

[Tom Shines]

For me I could just see things that came natural to him done easy in his first stint as an NRL front rower. So that highlighted a big upside IMO. 2 years ago he was overweight and ineffective. In one off season he completely transformed his body, made his NRL debut, and by seasons end the ease in which he used footwork late at the line, gained post contact metres while looking to offload was a great sign of what he can bring with another huge off-season. There were glimpses of AFB in his attack.

So I'm on the other side of the fence here, I think it's hard not to be excited by him. His defence improved a lot which also excited me. He needs to work hard in that area, but the fact he improved it so much during the season has me really believing in him.

I agree with you that Sione improved a lot over the past year …

Seems a lot of people here want to step on any praise of players coming through the ranks…

In just looking for some more NRL level players … because I’m still not convinced we have 17 of them on the squad let alone 25 like most clubs

 

[cochise]

Source?

Was part of the farewelled players at the awards night.

 

[rihannafan1]

Sure then, restructure his contract. But don't invest years of development and let him go to another club.

Is it a crime? No
Is it his fault? No
Is it a problem to have a top 30 player who is unlikely to contribute when your forwards are very weak? Yes.

 

[batboy]

Was part of the farewelled players at the awards night.

Is there a list of any sort getting about Mate?
Not seen anything published....

 

[batboy]

What the Storm roll out when they go to their back ups

View attachment 16675

Who've usually been toiling away in ressies for a few years and among the best players in the Lower Grade sides....
I'll say it again,
The Kid that banged on about how 'hard he'd worked' for his Debut when he was barely out of Matts almost made me throw up in my mouth....

Running around for a few years with your mates for a couple months a year - Isn't work....
Neither is being 3ft taller and 40 Kilos heavier than all the other kids...

It's easy to see where the attitude could be questioned...

 

[king_sirro]

Yeah - Dunno man....
I don't see him doing that in ressies consistently to have any real effect in NRL.
Agree he's lost some weight (About time, He's been top 30 for a few years now)

I have him well behind the likes of Seyfarth, Twal and Klemmer
- And feel we should be looking for upgrades on all 3 of those...

That said, I'd prefer Sione in the top 30 than the likes of Matamua and Tumeth,
Both who I've seen no semblance of a First Grade Future for.

I'm not worried about reggies. He has done it in the NRL. I used to watch all 3 grades many years ago and there were so many players that didn't do much in reserve grade but stepped up in the NRL. I remember Ben Galea was one. He was an average toiler in second grade but stepped up in the NRL. Then there were players who killed it in reserve grade but were terrible in firsts. Sione has shown some class at NRL level. Not many have that natural ability to get themselves in between defenders. We now have 2 in Pole and Sione. They have to be developed because they can form a lethal one two punch with the right coaching and work ethic.

Please don't give me Klemmer. You lost me there mate

 

[the enforcer.]

Sometimes I wonder......is our Administration really as dumb as they make out...

1) Richo comes out in the media and states Bateman better toe the line yada yada yada...he clearly gives an indication to other clubs Bateman is not wanted by the club....when we let Bateman go mid point last year it was widely reported the WT were hoping to not see him back.... Now its obvious the WT are trying to offload Bateman and other clubs, clued on are milking us to pay as much freight as they can squeeze out of us knowing how desperate we are wanting Bateman gone...

2) Had Richo played it smarter and been absolutely hush hush about his intentions on Bateman, clubs would have been very keen to take him off our hands at a lot less than what we are going to pitch in if they didn't know our desperation to get rid of him!..

Dumb move by RIcho?.....

3) Ontoni Large, he was contracted to the WT till 2025 or 26(?)...he is an up and coming super talent, possibly a generational player, every club would've salivated to get their hands on him...Beacuse he wants to only play in the halves and we are okay in that area, we release him from his contract for him to sign with Manly....

Dumb move by Richo?.....

Surely we could've gotten something in return for releasing Large from his contract...Manly are laughing at our Administration and thanking them at the same time....No other club would've done this bar the WT!....

I thought Richo was smarter than what he has shown here!..just my vent for the night!.. 🙂

Unfortunately, are these decisions strange, justified or just plain normal for our club.

 

[mtd#2]

Gus spoke very highly of Miller last weekend....he will end up at the Dogs...watch!..Gee he has some attitude for an 19yo

i think most 19 year olds have attitude don't they? Lol

 

[mtd#2]

Seriously, the guy is so far from overweight these days. He was carrying puppy fat when he came through the grades. It isn't a crime and it isnt his fault he was offered a top-30 contract. There are almost no 19 year old forwards who are NRL-ready but he was fine in KOE, especially for his age. He'll be an NRL player and a pretty decent one at that.

puppy fat so your saying hes 110kg of muscle? don't think so

 

[mtd#2]

I'm really starting to think that the WTs are really looking at moving Galvin to the backrow

i think we are too and was originally opposed to it... but now I see the value.

 

[mtd#2]

I don't think we can afford to have both Twal and Seyfarth.

twal to prop, seyfarth back row - works for me.

 

[innsaneink]

Been waiting on someone to mention it…
He went ‘OK’ I don’t get the love for him here…
You’d think he was a 20 yr old Taumalolo the way some posters are hanging their hat on him here…

Let them be excited.by this prospect... People. see him running hard and breaking the line.... Being put into holes... Yes his defence needs a lot of work.... As. They all. Do

Half full half empty type. Of. Thing... We have a choice to. Be either post or neg

 

[Roar_Power]

Anyone know if Declan Casey gone?

We can only hope.

 

[innsaneink]

i think we are too and was originally opposed to it... but now I see the value.

That's all due to recruitment while blindfolded... Very unbalanced

 

[boonboon]

If Sione Fainu replaced Jordan Miller in our top 30 we would have a stronger top 30 for next year so if it happens then it's a tick for me

 

[bryan2005]

Wouldn’t mind having a crack at Frizell for 2 yrs if Bateman is released.

Knights trying to free up cash for Thompson. May be an opportunity there.

 

[batboy]

If Sione Fainu replaced Jordan Miller in our top 30 we would have a stronger top 30 for next year so if it happens then it's a tick for me

But he could replace Tumeth or Matamua - And we could keep Miller....
Wouldn't that be better again?

 

[batboy]

Let them be excited.by this prospect... People. see him running hard and breaking the line.... Being put into holes... Yes his defence needs a lot of work.... As. They all. Do

Half full half empty type. Of. Thing... We have a choice to. Be either post or neg

I'd agree with you if I saw him chopping up Ressies
- In 3 years, for whatever reason - I've not seen it?

Dunno man,
I think the squad is more than half full of Prospects....
if he's the best of them, Elevate him and get rid of another (Prospect)

We need more NRL Players, In my experience - Blokes who aren't making a decent
impact in ressies rarely go on to be NRL Players.

 

[innsaneink]

Hard to shine in our reggies squad, as its hard to shine anywhere at WTs,,,need to be very special ala LG
I dont see much if any reserves so cant comment...but yeah we need guys like Bud & Naden putting pressure on thos in the NRL squad