Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Of course I hate losing ! it burns my soul . But I see no purpose in passive aggressive , underhanded , soft comments . Most games after we lose I’m like Madge , doing everything I can to not put holes in the wall. But once I’m settled mentally , I rewatch most games , and try and be fair and square and objective . I know this game . It’s not very complicated if you’ve spent much time in an open age footy team , let alone a higher level one .
I personally find it weak . It’s criticism with zero constructive element —- so bitching and whinging ! And the justification in bitching whinging , when criticised for it by others , is “you like mediocrity” … which is like doubling down on your bitching whinging , so now you’re justifying it with more bitching and whinging . For me I prefer to concentrate on what I see are areas for growth , and participate in conversations around that . Whether it be , where the improvement in the squad is coming from , or whatever.
I think Benji has done a great job .
We were being run as a vanity project for 2 imbeciles , one ex afl dickhead , and a fedora wearing ambulance chaser.
There was no attention to detail . Whether it be the members pack , or the players we recruit or whatever, even they bullshitted around members numbers . This toxic culture whilst it may have seemed similar to the “white and black is better than oranger and black” or “a feline is better than a bird” , it wasn’t similar at all , but rather we’d let ineptitude seep into the walls . Which early doors the issues was we couldn’t make any decisions without a committee and a bunch of blokes arguing . That shifted to 2 outsiders running the club into the ground IMO.
So we tried it with first with sheens , and unfortunately for him , Father Time remains undefeated , and for many reasons he didn’t have it anymore (despite what Tony Adam’s and his mates now at manly might tell everyone) , and then we had to go with Benji . Which i think will turn out the only smart decision those dipshits will have ever made … and they did it because they thought it would be a publicity stunt to kick the can down the road a few more years for themselves … .
I think I’ve explained where I’m at now mentally . And it’s a healthy place . I’m not happy clapping. But I’m also not putting all the negative energy into the universe you see from guys like gunner , and that fraud from Townsville , whenever they haven’t taken thier antidepressants or are on here stirring shit .
I’m resilient . I don’t quit easy …
Good reply LES.
 
His tackle technique is where all of his injuries have come from bar the hamstring issues.

Needs to fix that and looks like he won’t get the opportunity in the off season now.
His tackle technique needs refining for sure, some refs didn’t know if it was a penalty or not. But you can’t fault his ticker, he’s getting in here.
It reminds me of training when I was a kid, we got towelled up and the next Tuesday and Thursday were spent getting low in a tackle and being yelled at with “they can’t run without legs!!!”
 
As much as I would like another impact prop, I highly doubt we will get one this offseason. Mainly because, there are so many more other teams that are much more desperate for props than us and will pay overs. At this stage, we have 5 props that have over 50 first grade games of experience and Sione with 37. We also have Kit and Tapau-Moors coming through.

Terrell May - One of our best, should be an origin player.
Alex Twal - Not a superstar but super reliable, especially defensively. Good leader and great for culture.
Sione Fainu - One of our most consistent all year and getting better every game. Very underrated.
Fonua Pole - Really good start to the year. Struggled post injury, big offseason needed and still only 23
Royce Hunt - Poor year but showed some glimpses. Needs a big offseason
Alex Seyfarth - Had a poor year but spent most of it in the second row. KPP arrival pushes him back to the front row depth.

Sure its not the best in the comp, but in terms of overall front row depth and quality we are in a better spot than the Dragons, Souths, Manly, Parra, Knights, Cowboys, Bulldogs and Titans. All those teams will be desperately looking for props over the offseason and can see them all spending overs to get anyone that becomes available.

The focus this offseason should be to get guys like Hunt fit and motivated again and pushing the development of Pole, Kit and Sione.
 
Difference is this year Canberra had a fit Fogerty next to Strange. Go back to part of last year and Strange was the organiser along with Weekes. I think next year will be interesting. Strange being a right footer will move across and Sanders will control the team from the left. In our case Latu won’t shine unless Luai becomes that organiser we were hoping for.
This take might ruffle a few feathers but I believe Latu is a clear running 6 and not a 7.
 
As much as I would like another impact prop, I highly doubt we will get one this offseason. Mainly because, there are so many more other teams that are much more desperate for props than us and will pay overs. At this stage, we have 5 props that have over 50 first grade games of experience and Sione with 37. We also have Kit and Tapau-Moors coming through.

Terrell May - One of our best, should be an origin player.
Alex Twal - Not a superstar but super reliable, especially defensively. Good leader and great for culture.
Sione Fainu - One of our most consistent all year and getting better every game. Very underrated.
Fonua Pole - Really good start to the year. Struggled post injury, big offseason needed and still only 23
Royce Hunt - Poor year but showed some glimpses. Needs a big offseason
Alex Seyfarth - Had a poor year but spent most of it in the second row. KPP arrival pushes him back to the front row depth.

Sure its not the best in the comp, but in terms of overall front row depth and quality we are in a better spot than the Dragons, Souths, Manly, Parra, Knights, Cowboys, Bulldogs and Titans. All those teams will be desperately looking for props over the offseason and can see them all spending overs to get anyone that becomes available.

The focus this offseason should be to get guys like Hunt fit and motivated again and pushing the development of Pole, Kit and Sione.
I think a guy like Hetherington is exactly where we should be thinking .a guy with a shit tonne of talent , so A1 pedigree , but can’t or hasn’t put it together yet . Because when guys like that are one , the talent is there for everyone to see . At the very least it applies serious pressure to the pack .
For right or wrong , I think May and Pole are the starters for us with Twal moving forward . Pole seems to IMO let his mistakes eat his brain and confidence . Towards the end of this season he seemed to be anticipating mistakes and leaning towards ball security so he wasn’t driving through tackles , and IMO he was creating the mistakes because he was thinking about it . The it wasn’t coming natural to him . He needs to get out of his own head . He really drops his head when he’s playing badly . When and if we get him to become a goldfish , there’s a top 10 prop in the game right there. We gotta fix his mental though!
May is may . He’s a gun . But I personally think he needs to get stronger . He doesn’t always get his legs wide and pivot so , the third man in can get his legs together too often and the 3 defenders can get him on his back .
Thats about the only hole in his game . When he’s tired. Strength training should go a long way to fixing that . And then there’s a truely elite prop right there .
I personally think it’s bad cap management to go after an elite prop . Especially when soo much of our future core is coming off contract in the next couple of years .
 
Sure its not the best in the comp, but in terms of overall front row depth and quality we are in a better spot than the Dragons, Souths, Manly, Parra, Knights, Cowboys, Bulldogs and Titans. All those teams will be desperately looking for props over the offseason and can see them all spending overs to get anyone that becomes available.
Bulldogs came 3rd and are adding Finau Latu & Leo Thompson next year

We are no where near them in terms of forward pack quality and depth
 
His tackle technique needs refining for sure, some refs didn’t know if it was a penalty or not. But you can’t fault his ticker, he’s getting in here.
It reminds me of training when I was a kid, we got towelled up and the next Tuesday and Thursday were spent getting low in a tackle and being yelled at with “they can’t run without legs!!!”
I also remember front rows telling me that they can’t run without heads as well 🤪
Oh the good old days.
 
havent read much so apologies if this is already here

richo playing it cool, we have money, we are looking at someone to fall out of the tree like may last year

plenty to play out
Feels very negative having a war chest and not being proactive. Is our entire recruitment policy now just sitting back and waiting?
 
Feels very negative having a war chest and not being proactive. Is our entire recruitment policy now just sitting back and waiting?

Yes and no, We've told a couple of well paid blokes they can leave already?
Funny, I see a lot of chat on Richo doing everything right (And for the most part I don't disagree with)
Seems he's kicked goal after goal?
No one seems to consider the 900k+ we're paying Hunt and Bird to get bugger all from in the Top 17 week to week.
And now they're free to leave with us carrying the can on them
(Isn't that self admission of getting it wrong?) And he's saying we've got nothing coming? Worrying...
 
Feels very negative having a war chest and not being proactive. Is our entire recruitment policy now just sitting back and waiting?
Rather than going a scattergun approach to recruiting like the Dragons, it seems Richo/Benji/Gallant are being very selective on who they target & will be patient.

1 it has to be for a gap in the roster, 2 player performance & level of experience obviously & 3 character/values of the player.
 
Bulldogs came 3rd and are adding Finau Latu & Leo Thompson next year

We are no where near them in terms of forward pack quality and depth
I said prop, not forward pack.

Latu is a lock and I honestly couldn't tell you if Leo Thompson played a game this year, that's how ineffective he was.

The Dogs seriously lack props and is why they struggled against the top teams. As much as people blamed Galvin and their spine for the losses, their lack of go forward through the middle was their biggest issue.

They got absolutely dominated through the middle in every game they lost. One of the main reasons we beat them was because we dominated them through the middle and sent them backwards. They even had to play Tupouniua and Curran at prop because they lack dominate middles. They're best prop Max King was struggling to crack 100m a game at the backend of the season.
 
Apparently Burton to Cows/Bears

We would be crazy not to be going after him

Whether it is 5/8 or lock, I think he would add so much value to our team.

Luai/Burton halves is crazy good with Fainu playing lock. Reverse the roles, Fainu/Luai halves and Burton lock is also crazy good.
 
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