Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Tito Santana said:
Yeah Leo Thompson has really dropped his form hasn’t he.
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I think that worries me.
The knights are sitting 16th and were taking KPP and dogs are taking Leo Thompson.

Look, I get sides giving up in their position. But it worries me when we recruit from a team coming near last. This is also a reason why I wouldn't want Tino here, Titans should be going gangbusters, they are not.
 
crazycat said:
I think that worries me.
The knights are sitting 16th and were taking KPP and dogs are taking Leo Thompson.

Look, I get sides giving up in their position. But it worries me when we recruit from a team coming near last. This is also a reason why I wouldn't want Tino here, Titans should be going gangbusters, they are not.
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So, cc, just to confirm, you'd be worried about signing 3 current internationals because of the current position of their respective clubs on the ladder?
 
I'm not too worried about KPP. There is a gun second rower in there. I just think the knights are very poor and play as individuals Ponga & Best are perfect examples, even their young kids coming through have that mentality. They also favour the left side in attack to the point where it's so predictable when you defend against them.
 
crazycat said:
I think that worries me.
The knights are sitting 16th and were taking KPP and dogs are taking Leo Thompson.

Look, I get sides giving up in their position. But it worries me when we recruit from a team coming near last. This is also a reason why I wouldn't want Tino here, Titans should be going gangbusters, they are not.
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I have no worries about KPP signing with the Tigers in fact I can't wait to see the improvement he provides on the right edge.

Our team has been screaming out for a 2RF with his size and ability just bring it on.
 
crazycat said:
I think that worries me.
The knights are sitting 16th and were taking KPP and dogs are taking Leo Thompson.

Look, I get sides giving up in their position. But it worries me when we recruit from a team coming near last. This is also a reason why I wouldn't want Tino here, Titans should be going gangbusters, they are not.
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Melbourne recruited Stefano from us plus no doubt many more players over the last few years.

Sometimes players just don't fit the structure or dislikes the area they live.

If KPP is used properly then he would be fine. Lots of offloads especially
 
crazycat said:
I think that worries me.
The knights are sitting 16th and were taking KPP and dogs are taking Leo Thompson.

Look, I get sides giving up in their position. But it worries me when we recruit from a team coming near last. This is also a reason why I wouldn't want Tino here, Titans should be going gangbusters, they are not.
Click to expand...
Canterbury recruited from a team that won 3 spoons in succession .
 
Kelce68 said:
So, cc, just to confirm, you'd be worried about signing 3 current internationals because of the current position of their respective clubs on the ladder?
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yes...

That sounds crazy right. Except
Newcastle have 2x current internationals and are coming 16th.

If every other player in Newcastle sucks, sure. But they have Ponga + some spine.
Maybe the news of Dylan brown totally deflated their campaign, but we need to ask. Why are they coming near last and is the player we want to poach the reason?
 
crazycat said:
yes...

That sounds crazy right. Except
Newcastle have 2x current internationals and are coming 16th.

If every other player in Newcastle sucks, sure. But they have Ponga + some spine.
Maybe the news of Dylan brown totally deflated their campaign, but we need to ask. Why are they coming near last and is the player we want to poach the reason?
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I think it's pretty well-established that individual ability isn't well correlated to team performance in a team sport like Rugby League; if at all.

There are way too many variables.

If that was the case, you wouldn't see 4x Premiers the Panthers consistently buying our former players and making them into premiership-winning players - Eisenhuth, Garner, and then the likes of Laurie and Papali'i who have slotted in at various times.

There are countless examples. Literally countless, and likewise, buying a player from a successful team doesn't, by itself, mean anything. If the quality of the player isn't there, it doesn't matter who he plays for.
 
Not much news about today so I'm going to do some speculating how I see the 'state-of-play' for our remaining four top 30 spots for next season.

This is based on no players being released from their contracts except Bud Sullivan.

POSITION 1 - a first team centre:
Taylan May
I think that one is fairly obvious!

POSITION 2 - a first team bench utility able to cover Api & provide value in other positions:
Zach Dochar-Clay
Won't be extended by the Roosters. Will be 31 next year. Good dummy half with plenty of experience who can also cover halves & lock. My other thought here was Sivila Havili but reports are he is likely to go to ESL.

POSITION 3 - a depth outside back particularly right centre:
Krystian Mapapalangi
I think the club will leave this until after the final round with priority #1 being Brent Naden re-signing on a much reduced contract and also the opportunity to watch how Mapapalangi finishes the season. If he gets a start in the NRL on Sunday or the next 2 rounds, good chance he could secure this spot.

POSITION 4 - a powerful, experienced & 'low cost' depth prop:
Lazarus Vaalepu
This will be underwhelming to many but unless we release Royce Hunt, I cannot see us recruiting another $500K+ middle. We already have Terrell May, Fonua Pole, Royce Hunt then around the $400k mark are Alex Twal, Alex Seyfarth and hopefully soon Sione Fainu extended. With AD likely to transition to lock and the likes of Kit Laulilii, Taateo & Taupau-Moors not offering much experience, I feel we could do with another experienced, tough, determined & 'low cost' prop. Vaalepu is a beast (27 next year) who dominates most games with the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the QRL (plays 40-50 mins) and is on the periphery of the Storm extended bench most weeks. Did have a short stint in the NRL GF last year as NAS' replacement. Unlikely to be retained by the Storm is the word with youngsters to be promoted. He is strong defensively, good leg drive in contact & may be happy to come to another NRL team to play mainly NSW Cup at first but strive for NRL. If Terrell goes down injured, someone like Vaalepu could come in to play a strong man role.

Anyway that's my take (for now) lol
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Not much news about today so I'm going to do some speculating how I see the 'state-of-play' for our remaining four top 30 spots for next season.

This is based on no players being released from their contracts except Bud Sullivan.

POSITION 1 - a first team centre:
Taylan May
I think that one is fairly obvious!

POSITION 2 - a first team bench utility able to cover Api & provide value in other positions:
Zach Dochar-Clay
Won't be extended by the Roosters. Will be 31 next year. Good dummy half with plenty of experience who can also cover halves & lock. My other thought here was Sivila Havili but reports are he is likely to go to ESL.

POSITION 3 - a depth outside back particularly right centre:
Krystian Mapapalangi
I think the club will leave this until after the final round with priority #1 being Brent Naden re-signing on a much reduced contract and also the opportunity to watch how Mapapalangi finishes the season. If he gets a start in the NRL on Sunday or the next 2 rounds, good chance he could secure this spot.

POSITION 4 - a powerful, experienced & 'low cost' depth prop:
Lazarus Vaalepu
This will be underwhelming to many but unless we release Royce Hunt, I cannot see us recruiting another $500K+ middle. We already have Terrell May, Fonua Pole, Royce Hunt then around the $400k mark are Alex Twal, Alex Seyfarth and hopefully soon Sione Fainu extended. With AD likely to transition to lock and the likes of Kit Laulilii, Taateo & Taupau-Moors not offering much experience, I feel we could do with another experienced, tough, determined & 'low cost' prop. Vaalepu is a beast (27 next year) who dominates most games with the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the QRL (plays 40-50 mins) and is on the periphery of the Storm extended bench most weeks. Did have a short stint in the NRL GF last year as NAS' replacement. Unlikely to be retained by the Storm is the word with youngsters to be promoted. He is strong defensively, good leg drive in contact & may be happy to come to another NRL team to play mainly NSW Cup at first but strive for NRL. If Terrell goes down injured, someone like Vaalepu could come in to play a strong man role.

Anyway that's my take (for now) lol
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We've had ZDC before.
Played cup and never got a mention further.

He's been at half the clubs in the NRL.
Think we can do better.

Agree with all the rest though 🫡
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Not much news about today so I'm going to do some speculating how I see the 'state-of-play' for our remaining four top 30 spots for next season.

This is based on no players being released from their contracts except Bud Sullivan.

POSITION 1 - a first team centre:
Taylan May
I think that one is fairly obvious!

POSITION 2 - a first team bench utility able to cover Api & provide value in other positions:
Zach Dochar-Clay
Won't be extended by the Roosters. Will be 31 next year. Good dummy half with plenty of experience who can also cover halves & lock. My other thought here was Sivila Havili but reports are he is likely to go to ESL.

POSITION 3 - a depth outside back particularly right centre:
Krystian Mapapalangi
I think the club will leave this until after the final round with priority #1 being Brent Naden re-signing on a much reduced contract and also the opportunity to watch how Mapapalangi finishes the season. If he gets a start in the NRL on Sunday or the next 2 rounds, good chance he could secure this spot.

POSITION 4 - a powerful, experienced & 'low cost' depth prop:
Lazarus Vaalepu
This will be underwhelming to many but unless we release Royce Hunt, I cannot see us recruiting another $500K+ middle. We already have Terrell May, Fonua Pole, Royce Hunt then around the $400k mark are Alex Twal, Alex Seyfarth and hopefully soon Sione Fainu extended. With AD likely to transition to lock and the likes of Kit Laulilii, Taateo & Taupau-Moors not offering much experience, I feel we could do with another experienced, tough, determined & 'low cost' prop. Vaalepu is a beast (27 next year) who dominates most games with the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the QRL (plays 40-50 mins) and is on the periphery of the Storm extended bench most weeks. Did have a short stint in the NRL GF last year as NAS' replacement. Unlikely to be retained by the Storm is the word with youngsters to be promoted. He is strong defensively, good leg drive in contact & may be happy to come to another NRL team to play mainly NSW Cup at first but strive for NRL. If Terrell goes down injured, someone like Vaalepu could come in to play a strong man role.

Anyway that's my take (for now) lol
Click to expand...
Been saying we should look at Lazarus for a while now. If we can't get an experienced dominant first grade starting prop (hens teeth) , then we need to look at guys that are killing it in 2nd grade.
 
Demps said:
We've had ZDC before.
Played cup and never got a mention further.

He's been at half the clubs in the NRL.
Think we can do better.

Agree with all the rest though 🫡
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Yeah I remember that year. He was decent with the Magpies that season but really flourished when he went to the Rorters and played as a utility dummy half.

I just think as an experienced head who can do a job off the bench for 15-20 mins especially to give Api a rest, he would be good for a season. Basically he'd be a bridge until Jared Haywood is ready.

I don't know who would be better at this role for next season out of who is available, unless Charlie Murray absolutely explodes or somehow we transform Jack Bird into a dummy half.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Yeah I remember that year. He was decent with the Magpies that season but really flourished when he went to the Rorters and played as a utility dummy half.

I just think as an experienced head who can do a job off the bench for 15-20 mins especially to give Api a rest, he would be good for a season. Basically he'd be a bridge until Jared Haywood is ready.

I don't know who would be better at this role for next season out of who is available, unless Charlie Murray absolutely explodes or somehow we transform Jack Bird into a dummy half.
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Bailey Hodges is that ideal player for NSW cup

First grade though, we haven't got that player.
And all the ones we'd like outside the club are locked into contracts.
 
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