Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[JC99]

According to POM, there are offers in front of three players. From memory they were a winger, centre and 2nd rower. Could be wrong but he provided an update a few days ago. August 3 cutoff not far away now either...

If we are going to sign someone it will have to be soon. Less than two weeks until the cutoff. We only have room for 1 signing for this year so anything else would be for next season

 

[Spud_Murphy]

I mentioned John Asiata in a post previously and now the more I think of him, the more I reckon we should go hard to get him. He has some real class about him as a ball player, as well as toughness and I feel that he would be a great fit in our team.

I know he is looking to go elsewhere after years at the Cowboys, he obviously wants a change and it’s been reported that the Dragons are after him. I honestly don’t think Mary is the right coach to bring out the best in him, not many of the Dragons players have significantly improved their game during his tenure there, in fact some of them have regressed, imo. Madge, on the other hand, I believe would improve his game, as he has with guys like Luciano, Garner, Aloiai, Lawrence & Nofo, who are all playing significantly better than in previous seasons.

Anyway it’s all moot, we’re probably not even looking at him, but it’s just my opinion that he would be a great pick up at the right price, especially if Madge could bring out the best in him because he has loads of talent.

I like him but I think he wants a starting spot and a pay upgrade. Not sure we could accommodate that. Think he’ll end up at titans or dragons

If that’s the case then the Titans will be his best option. Not sure he would get a starting spot at Saints, plus he won’t have to move interstate and he can stay away from COVID!

 

[Spud_Murphy]

I mentioned John Asiata in a post previously and now the more I think of him, the more I reckon we should go hard to get him. He has some real class about him as a ball player, as well as toughness and I feel that he would be a great fit in our team.

I know he is looking to go elsewhere after years at the Cowboys, he obviously wants a change and it’s been reported that the Dragons are after him. I honestly don’t think Mary is the right coach to bring out the best in him, not many of the Dragons players have significantly improved their game during his tenure there, in fact some of them have regressed, imo. Madge, on the other hand, I believe would improve his game, as he has with guys like Luciano, Garner, Aloiai, Lawrence & Nofo, who are all playing significantly better than in previous seasons.

Anyway it’s all moot, we’re probably not even looking at him, but it’s just my opinion that he would be a great pick up at the right price, especially if Madge could bring out the best in him because he has loads of talent.

Didn't Asiata sign with Gold Coast?

I haven’t heard anything about it, just that the Dragons were keen.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Korobeti and put Talau in the centres if Momo doesnt come back.
My mate is good friends with Green and he is definetly looking at sydney clubs but as of tuesday when inlast spoke to him we were not one of them.
Isaako would be good pick up as he kicks goals
Think Johnston will end up at Melbourne and JAC to Souths

 

[tiger_scott]

According to POM, there are offers in front of three players. From memory they were a winger, centre and 2nd rower. Could be wrong but he provided an update a few days ago. August 3 cutoff not far away now either...

Would it be wonderful if?

Winger = JAC
Centre = Staggs
2nd Rower = Fifita

 

[weststigers]

We need three things I reckon
1) a goal kicker
2) raw speed
3) a gun playmaker

Are there any players out there, or coming off contract, who we could realistically sign and can fill these roles? (Hopefully filling multiple roles eg a goal kicking winger).

Not a lot out there off contract next year. However, I still think we should make a play for Isaako, I know he’s playing busted in a busted team, but he does have talent and he can kick goals, we’ve all seen what he can do. He’s not off contract, but I think a change of club will do him the world of good.

I’d also look at a couple of the Titans players who are off contract - Anthony Don & Tyrone Roberts. Don is big, reasonably fast and can score tries, Roberts is an experienced, versatile half. The Cowboys John Asiata is another player off contract who I think would be worth a look, he has that touch of xfactor about him and can play in the forwards or the halves.

As I said, not a real lot of talent off contract, there maybe other more high profile players willing to switch clubs, but I’m just being realistic as to who we could actually have a chance to pick up.

Does anyone know how much cap we have spare?

Unless some trading of players currently contracted is done, there isn't much on the market. Personally, I would try to sure up our depth and wait until Reynolds and Packer are off contract to go hard on some decent players.

Honestly, I think we've done well with our older guys (yes, even Reynolds). It's worth having some of these guys in your team and they come to fill in the gaps until we can buy the player we want for the future.

I think we get the $300k back from the salary cap fine, so that's $300,000 already. Off-contract are:

**GAINS**
Stefano ($300K)

**OFF CONTRACT**
Sam McIntyre (Keep)
Chris Lawrence (Keep for depth as only on $120K or so)
Benji Marshall (Keep for depth as only on $175K or so)
Matthew Eisenhuth (keep unless suitably replaced)

Oliver Clark (release - $100K)
Robert Jennings (release)
Chris McQueen (release - $350k)
Alex Seyfarth (release - $100K?)
Dylan Smith (release - $100K?)
Elijah Taylor (release - $300K?)

**TARGETS**
**Jack Bird** - on $250k - $300k, he's a steal because he would be replacing a player that doesn't play anyway, i.e. McQueen. If he ends up going well, then it's a great buy. If he gets injured and never plays, then nothing lost. Calculated punt on this guy at the right price is worth a shot.
**Jamil Hopoate** - Good talent, would be fairly cheap and quality back up in the 2nd Row.
**Bryson Goodwin** - Depending on Momorovski. Depth signing and quite honestly, he seems to be able to find the try line and kick goals. Can play centre/wing. If you could get him for under $200K, it's a steal.
**Blake Green** - If Marshall retires and at the right price, I would take Green for experience on a 1 or 2 year deal if he was open to that.

Others
**James Tamou**
**Alex Johnston**
**Mitchell Aubusson**

Before I get panned for the above, check the off-contract list and you'll find there's not much out there.

Some absolute howlers in your suggestions. I'm speechless.

Haha...have you seen what's available?

 

[Curly_Tiger]

Go Hard for Korobetti
That will fix our Centre spot and add strike power
A back line of
Doueihi
Nofoaluma
Bj
Korobetti
Talau
That will do me

First reaction was how old would he be, then I checked, he turns 28 this week
Count me in but not sure how much he'd be, $400k is about as high as I think is sensible for a winger, maybe $500k tops
With World Rugby questionable for the foreseeable future, it's got to be a possibility and at least worth making some inquiries. We let him go due to his defence which ironically seems to be a strength now from my very limited rugby watching, although the extra couple of players no doubt help with that

 

[Eca]

Be interesting to see stats on success strike rate of the so called top line / Marquee signings, like big impact on their new team on 1st season.
Potential big signings is so exciting for fans, but success rate seem not much better than Luch type signing. i think of the $$$ outlayed & cap hits for the likes of... Bird Milford croft foran hunt Jrey Packerlino Blair ramien (newc) Moylan questionable value wise iike Mbye Shaun J holmes norman dwz latrell (had he taken our 1.2m)

Its rare, but it can go well.

Knights getting Pearce and Klemmer, with some local talent (Safiti brothers, Bradman Best,) has pretty much turned them around.

Eels getting Ferguson really did wonders for them, though honestly I thought it would flop.

But you're right, usually it does go badly for the team and the player doesn't add enough to the team as a whole.

They definitely do work as well. Spending 600k+ on established top line may have same or worse success rate than the hungry, younger 400k or less with 50nrl games type talent with a blocked path in their club.

Don't get me wrong, when we get to a stage, and we will, where we can attract top players, i'll be wrapped.

 

[tiger_scott]

That's the point. I'd rather save our money than spend overs on someone just to fill a spot. Cotric is not a goood get @ $600K per.

 

[Curly_Tiger]

Winger = JAC
Centre = Staggs
2nd Rower = Fifita

OR
Koroibete
Staggs
TPJ

Both good no doubt, the second one maybe saves a few bucks on Fifita, which we could give to Harry

 

[JC99]

Can’t say I’m keen on Blake Green. Has never stood out to me

 

[tiger_scott]

I like the idea of TPJ, but I was filling my dream spots with winger, centre & second rower and I believe he's a prop only? Which is what they are - dreams only.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

TPJ would be a great pick up for us, wouldnt totally break the bank either

 

[avocadoontoast]

Can’t say I’m keen on Blake Green. Has never stood out to me

He's the sort of guy that's good to have if you have a fantastic 5/8 that doesn't do any organising. We don't have one of those. He would have been a good combo with Benji 10 years ago.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

would green go well with brooks at 6

 

[happy_tiger]

Go Hard for Korobetti
That will fix our Centre spot and add strike power
A back line of
Doueihi
Nofoaluma
Bj
Korobetti
Talau
That will do me

First reaction was how old would he be, then I checked, he turns 28 this week
Count me in but not sure how much he'd be, $400k is about as high as I think is sensible for a winger, maybe $500k tops
With World Rugby questionable for the foreseeable future, it's got to be a possibility and at least worth making some inquiries. We let him go due to his defence which ironically seems to be a strength now from my very limited rugby watching, although the extra couple of players no doubt help with that

I think you will find that Rugby Australia would throw its full weight to keeping Koriobete

As they did with the Souths junior superstar who flipped earlier this week one club can't compete against the ARU ...even in it's very weakened state

 

[Snake]

would green go well with brooks at 6

Why is it that anyone signed needs to compliment Brooks ... well time for Brooks to step up or hit the road ! Maybe a totally new 1/2 and 5/8 combo needs to be applied for 2021 ..

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

just that we have Brooks for another two years dont we ? if another club wants him good luck to him

 

[AJ1]

Green tanked it at Manly to join the Warriors, thats a big no from me

 

[JC99]

I like the idea of TPJ, but I was filling my dream spots with winger, centre & second rower and I believe he's a prop only? Which is what they are - dreams only.

He has played second row. He can do well there in attack, run him at halves close to the line and he’s near impossible to stop just needs to fix his defence up there.

Problem with TPJ is discipline, gets suspended all the time. Can really bite you in the butt as we’ve seen with Joey, weakened not just centre but second row and bench with him being out