Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[cochise]

I still think Thommo is good enough at the back

No he is not good enough!

 

[Masterton]

I still think Thommo is good enough at the back

No he is not good enough!

I think he's good enough, but it's obvious Madge doesn't agree with me.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

He’s solid, but he’s not someone you’d settle for imo.

 

[cochise]

I still think Thommo is good enough at the back

No he is not good enough!

I think he's good enough, but it's obvious Madge doesn't agree with me.

No he definitely is not, he is not the modern day fullback that plays as a second 5/8th. He is unable to chime into the backline and ball play for the outside backs which severely limited us in attack during 2019. He is a good ball runner and plays with plenty of heart, I cannot fault his commitment and effort but sometimes that is not enough!

Tell me why you think he is good enough?

 

[happy_tiger]

We need more than a fullback. Besides Talau, our centres are slow and lack any kind of penetration. We need at a minimum, a fullback and centre. Not run of the mill types eithers, top quality.

Is Talau that quick though

 

[bythebeardofzeus]

Momo was terrible at first stint with anything for us, fights his Way thru, then start shining. Could he be our sleeper CNK? Tall, football smarts who seem to get himself in the right place at the right time, ex half so a ball player with kicking skills not to mention fast developing goal kicker.

Wouldn’t mind giving him a shot at 5/8 in planning for Benji’s replacement. He is a smart footballer. The ball is in his court this year, so to speak.

 

[weststigerman]

Don't think we're set for forwards just yet. If we had both Musgrove and Stefano we'd probably be okay. If we can't get both approved as first grade options, we need to find someone.

I think we need a good middle forward to play 13. I think Twal could be that guy, but he's currently needed at prop.

Fullback should be top priority, but outside that we still need someone to play hooker and someone for lock.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Our spine is our biggest weakness

Hooker / Benji replacement & Fullback are large holes.

 

[hodgo]

I find the knocks of momo crazy. The dude was a warrior had plenty of chances to disappear and fought back. Also like 2nd in tries in like a 3rd of the games everyone else. Give the dude his crack at centre his isnt a fullback or winger

 

[PJ_]

I still think Thommo is good enough at the back

No he is not good enough!

He's A grade but to be competitive your fb needs to be a game changer. Hope he proves me wrong. Nice if he turns out like Matty bowen

 

[pawsandclaws1]

We need more than a fullback. Besides Talau, our centres are slow and lack any kind of penetration. We need at a minimum, a fullback and centre. Not run of the mill types eithers, top quality.

Is Talau that quick though

He is quick enough and a big body. He demonstrated in the Manly game he had enough zip to get into the clear. What he needs is really quick wingers and that has always been our Achilles heel since Korobeite and JAC left.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

Don't think we're set for forwards just yet. If we had both Musgrove and Stefano we'd probably be okay. If we can't get both approved as first grade options, we need to find someone.

I think we need a good middle forward to play 13. I think Twal could be that guy, but he's currently needed at prop.

Fullback should be top priority, but outside that we still need someone to play hooker and someone for lock.

Have you actually had a look at the top 30 ? . Severely lopsided to forwards . Whether you’re debating , the quality of the forwards is fair enough , but adding actual plAyers is really bad roster management .
If a player is already in the 30 you can’t release him or drop him . His salary and spot is taken .
If abbey can get fit , then really only 1 spot is available . That has to be a gun back ! (1 spot to be left open for the inevitable mid season , I hate my club signing ) .

 

[2005magic]

I find the knocks of momo crazy. The dude was a warrior had plenty of chances to disappear and fought back. Also like 2nd in tries in like a 3rd of the games everyone else. Give the dude his crack at centre his isnt a fullback or winger

I agree, I think our centre pairing should be Mbye and Momorovski. Talau on 1 wing (he is big and fast) and Nofo on the ohter. Thompson at fullback unless we sign a replacement for him.(maybe Abbey will come through?)

Halves Brooks and Marshall

Forwards- agree looking better now, and hopefully even more so if we can get that kid from Parra's clutches 1 year early.

Hooker- real concern as to Liddle, fill in Walters?

Still have some replacing to do in roster- eg Reynolds and McQueen. Packer probably on last chance and Taylor doing ok now he has changed his style a bit but its his last year with us..

 

[Spud_Murphy]

Yep it obvious that Madge & co are after a game changing fullback. Sadly though, despite our best efforts to secure one over recent months (DWZ no cap space & Mitchell not committing) we still don't have one and available stocks have dwindled. I think the enquiring after JAC was perhaps a desperate measure by our management to acquire a fullback, or at least some speed in the backline, also.

Thommo is a great player and I can't fault his commitment every game, we are lucky to have him, but he not a genuine fullback in the class of the fullbacks that are in the top performing teams from last season. When I look at the list I can see the importance of having a gun fullback.
Roosters - Tedesco, Storm - Hughes/Papenhyzen, Raiders - CNK, Manly - Tom Turbo, Eels - Gutho, Souths - Douehi (a rising star). I don't think it was any coincidence that the Bulldogs started to perform better when DWZ joined their ranks either.

That said there are still those couple of teams (Newcastle and Warriors) who have great fullbacks, yet they failed to perform overall, which is more an indication of problems within their ranks than anything else. RTS was once again outstanding in a side that just never ever lives up to expectations. He is wasted in such a team, imo. Not sure of his contract situation or of his desire to stay in NZ but he'd be an ideal fullback for us I reckon 😁

However I think the reality is if Madge is set on getting a genuine fullback for next season then the only possible options left now are the ones we've already mentioned on here - Milford or Moylan. Not fantastic, but perhaps it could work out. Otherwise it will be more of Thommo or Mbye having to play out of their natural positions again or maybe Brad Abbey will step up, who knows?

 

[cochise]

Yep it obvious that Madge & co are after a game changing fullback. Sadly though, despite our best efforts to secure one over recent months (DWZ no cap space & Mitchell not committing) we still don't have one and available stocks have dwindled. I think the enquiring after JAC was perhaps a desperate measure by our management to acquire a fullback, or at least some speed in the backline, also.

Thommo is a great player and I can't fault his commitment every game, we are lucky to have him, but he not a genuine fullback in the class of the fullbacks that are in the top performing teams from last season. When I look at the list I can see the importance of having a gun fullback.
Roosters - Tedesco, Storm - Hughes/Papenhyzen, Raiders - CNK, Manly - Tom Turbo, Eels - Gutho, Souths - Douehi (a rising star). I don't think it was any coincidence that the Bulldogs started to perform better when DWZ joined their ranks either.

That said there are still those couple of teams (Newcastle and Warriors) who have great fullbacks, yet they failed to perform overall, which is more an indication of problems within their ranks than anything else. RTS was once again outstanding in a side that just never ever lives up to expectations. He is wasted in such a team, imo. Not sure of his contract situation or of his desire to stay in NZ but he'd be an ideal fullback for us I reckon 😁

However I think the reality is if Madge is set on getting a genuine fullback for next season then the only possible options left now are the ones we've already mentioned on here - Milford or Moylan. Not fantastic, but perhaps it could work out. Otherwise it will be more of Thommo or Mbye having to play out of their natural positions again or maybe Brad Abbey will step up, who knows?

Mbye on 2018 form would slot in there nicely, its whether he achieves that again!

 

[851]

I find the knocks of momo crazy. The dude was a warrior had plenty of chances to disappear and fought back. Also like 2nd in tries in like a 3rd of the games everyone else. Give the dude his crack at centre his isnt a fullback or winger

He like Talau are both five eights

 

[Sabre]

Is he really lacking quickness & speed for a fact? Genuine question.

Pretty slow.
Watch him here from the 1:40 mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhUFeqEMNzo

Then here at the 4:37 mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LqfX1rfNsM

 

[WT2K]

3 more spots to fill before March 15. 2 spots if Musgrove is cleared/signed again.

 

[Snake]

Our spine is our biggest weakness

Hooker / Benji replacement & Fullback are large holes.

I never wanted Rowdy signed ...it was never about the money it was always going to be about the spot he takes up ...now the club has money to spend and a top heavy forward unit with no spots left to upgrade the backs ...

 

[Russell]

You say Momo is pretty slow but he was still fast enough to score 8 tries in 11 games.

Speed is not always everything - nowse is a forgotten commodity in this day and age.