Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[jirskyr]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

A lot of "merkin" talk over on LU?

 

[happy_tiger]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

A lot of "merkin" talk over on LU?

Lot of Merkins on LU

 

[Elderslie_Tiger]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

Franklin Pele?

Great young player. He would fit well with Utoikamanu, Mikaele plus Twal.

Has anyone heard a rumour about Olam?

Olam? Whats the rumour?

Deep within the Shire some Sharks' fans believe he may be released. I don't believe it but he would be nice.

Wtf ? we should start a rumour in leichardt that Taumalolo wants to leave

Does he?

 

[WT2K]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

Franklin Pele?

Great young player. He would fit well with Utoikamanu, Mikaele plus Twal.

Has anyone heard a rumour about Olam?

Olam? Whats the rumour?

Deep within the Shire some Sharks' fans believe he may be released. I don't believe it but he would be nice.

Wtf ? we should start a rumour in leichardt that Taumalolo wants to leave

Does he?

Apparently so, not a fan of Todd.
Do the cowboys back the player revolt or the coach. Interesting times ahead for the north queensland club.

 

[happy_tiger]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

Franklin Pele?

Great young player. He would fit well with Utoikamanu, Mikaele plus Twal.

Has anyone heard a rumour about Olam?

Olam? Whats the rumour?

Deep within the Shire some Sharks' fans believe he may be released. I don't believe it but he would be nice.

Wtf ? we should start a rumour in leichardt that Taumalolo wants to leave

Does he?

Apparently so, not a fan of Todd.
Do the cowboys back the player revolt or the coach. Interesting times ahead for the north queensland club.

James Taumalolo definitely wants out

 

[TheDaBoss]

Maybe the big signing is copper cronk as assistant coach

?

Is he a federal or state copper .....

Russian

 

[happy_tiger]

Maybe the big signing is copper cronk as assistant coach

?

Is he a federal or state copper .....

Russian

International then

 

[weststigerman]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

Franklin Pele?

Great young player. He would fit well with Utoikamanu, Mikaele plus Twal.

Has anyone heard a rumour about Olam?

Olam? Whats the rumour?

Deep within the Shire some Sharks' fans believe he may be released. I don't believe it but he would be nice.

Wtf ? we should start a rumour in leichardt that Taumalolo wants to leave

Does he?

Apparently so, not a fan of Todd.
Do the cowboys back the player revolt or the coach. Interesting times ahead for the north queensland club.

James Taumalolo definitely wants out

I wouldn’t if I were him. Cowboys will be forced to pay him $1M a season even when he’s about 34.

 

[WT2K]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

Franklin Pele?

Great young player. He would fit well with Utoikamanu, Mikaele plus Twal.

Has anyone heard a rumour about Olam?

Olam? Whats the rumour?

Deep within the Shire some Sharks' fans believe he may be released. I don't believe it but he would be nice.

Wtf ? we should start a rumour in leichardt that Taumalolo wants to leave

Does he?

Apparently so, not a fan of Todd.
Do the cowboys back the player revolt or the coach. Interesting times ahead for the north queensland club.

James Taumalolo definitely wants out

Yep, how soon he can get out is the question now

 

[tiger_scott]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

Franklin Pele?

Great young player. He would fit well with Utoikamanu, Mikaele plus Twal.

Has anyone heard a rumour about Olam?

Olam? Whats the rumour?

Deep within the Shire some Sharks' fans believe he may be released. I don't believe it but he would be nice.

Wtf ? we should start a rumour in leichardt that Taumalolo wants to leave

Does he?

Apparently so, not a fan of Todd.
Do the cowboys back the player revolt or the coach. Interesting times ahead for the north queensland club.

James Taumalolo definitely wants out

you would take on his $1M/yr contract without any cowboy money required and dance a little jig in the street. This would transform us.
(I know this is a tongue in cheek response to an earlier post about a Shire rumour, but just imagine 🙂 )

 

[jirskyr]

I felt at the time it was a nervous knee jerk reaction by the club due to Dragons offering him about the same. 2yrs max at that stage would have been more than fair, possibly even 1yr with a 2nd in clubs favour given there was no real extended periods of form to gauge him off.

Depends on the value of the deal. If it's a long-term cheap extension, or with incentives for better / continued performance, then I am fine with that.

It's like Jimmy Jet - very little return in 2021, but at very low cost, so there's not much risk associated with it. Musgrove would be the same if he's not overly expensive but is locked in. Otherwise you are constantly rotating your backups every 2 years and you don't have much consistency of the system.

Clearly Madge knows Musgrove from his Souths days, brought him over, waited for his ban to conclude, then re-signed him: so Madge rates his potential long-term value. Musgrove is also arguably rock-bottom price right now, i.e. we are buying in at the low end of his potential cost.

It's the long-term high-cost signings we need to worry about. Musgrove is easily above reserve-grade level, so there's no argument that he cannot be a good backup option. These are "Benji-Lite" type deals where there capability of the player is established, and you agree to the cost/risk relationship of having them as backup, or potentially Top 17 if form / injuries warrant.

Bearing in mind also if we want to retain Stefano long-term and perhaps partner him with another notable prop, we are going to need much cheaper but decent-quality, reliable, in-system backups (if you are going to invest $700-900K on your top-tier prop).

 

[GNR4LIFE]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

Franklin Pele?

Great young player. He would fit well with Utoikamanu, Mikaele plus Twal.

Has anyone heard a rumour about Olam?

Olam? Whats the rumour?

Deep within the Shire some Sharks' fans believe he may be released. I don't believe it but he would be nice.

Wtf ? we should start a rumour in leichardt that Taumalolo wants to leave

Does he?

Apparently so, not a fan of Todd.
Do the cowboys back the player revolt or the coach. Interesting times ahead for the north queensland club.

James Taumalolo definitely wants out

Probably end up at the Roosters. They have tons of cash left over from the players they have lost this year.

 

[balmain boy]

I felt at the time it was a nervous knee jerk reaction by the club due to Dragons offering him about the same. 2yrs max at that stage would have been more than fair, possibly even 1yr with a 2nd in clubs favour given there was no real extended periods of form to gauge him off.


Depends on the value of the deal. If it's a long-term cheap extension, or with incentives for better / continued performance, then I am fine with that.

It's like Jimmy Jet - very little return in 2021, but at very low cost, so there's not much risk associated with it. Musgrove would be the same if he's not overly expensive but is locked in. Otherwise you are constantly rotating your backups every 2 years and you don't have much consistency of the system.

Clearly Madge knows Musgrove from his Souths days, brought him over, waited for his ban to conclude, then re-signed him: so Madge rates his potential long-term value. Musgrove is also arguably rock-bottom price right now, i.e. we are buying in at the low end of his potential cost.

It's the long-term high-cost signings we need to worry about. Musgrove is easily above reserve-grade level, so there's no argument that he cannot be a good backup option. These are "Benji-Lite" type deals where there capability of the player is established, and you agree to the cost/risk relationship of having them as backup, or potentially Top 17 if form / injuries warrant.

Bearing in mind also if we want to retain Stefano long-term and perhaps partner him with another notable prop, we are going to need much cheaper but decent-quality, reliable, in-system backups (if you are going to invest $700-900K on your top-tier prop).

So Musgrove is on a long term deal on over 400k, is that a low risk contract to you?

 

[jirskyr]

He’s got $1.6m to bring to the party but the party is over. All trading is done. All that’s left is rejects/swap deals from other clubs and the bargain basement bin, good luck in there!

Yes, the unsigned market is dross. But surely you know there will be plenty of signings across the NRL before kickoff next year? Mostly from players who sign for 2023 and get released early.

I can’t see that happening at all. Everyone goes on about early releases but I’ll be willing to bet there are none.

None across the NRL? I'd take that bet.

Early releases for 2023? You’re on

What is an "early release for 2023?" Is that a player you sign for 2024 but get him a year early?

I think everyone else is talking about currently contracted players becoming available for 2022. There's been a lot of off-season horse trading the last few seasons - arguably more off-season trading than in-season nowadays. You just need one or two player movements to set off a cascade.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

He’s got $1.6m to bring to the party but the party is over. All trading is done. All that’s left is rejects/swap deals from other clubs and the bargain basement bin, good luck in there!

Yes, the unsigned market is dross. But surely you know there will be plenty of signings across the NRL before kickoff next year? Mostly from players who sign for 2023 and get released early.

I can’t see that happening at all. Everyone goes on about early releases but I’ll be willing to bet there are none.

None across the NRL? I'd take that bet.

Early releases for 2023? You’re on

What is an "early release for 2023?" Is that a player you sign for 2024 but get him a year early?

I think everyone else is talking about currently contracted players becoming available for 2022. There's been a lot of off-season horse trading the last few seasons - arguably more off-season trading than in-season nowadays. You just need one or two player movements to set off a cascade.

Maybe I’m off the mark in this instance, but I’m talking about when people suggest signing someone for 2023, then trying to get them a year early. The only players you’ll get in that instance are players like Laurie who are stuck behind someone. Not the Brandon Smith’s of the world.

 

[jrtiger]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

Franklin Pele?

Great young player. He would fit well with Utoikamanu, Mikaele plus Twal.

Has anyone heard a rumour about Olam?

Olam? Whats the rumour?

Deep within the Shire some Sharks' fans believe he may be released. I don't believe it but he would be nice.

Wtf ? we should start a rumour in leichardt that Taumalolo wants to leave

I would like to hear the rumour that Jack Howarth wants to be a WTs really badly.

he is going to be a superstar. unbelievably talented.

 

[fibrodreaming]

Not shooting the messenger ,but firstly The Silverdale Phantom does not have any track record of inside knowledge or even regularly being right about anything. I strongly suspect he is either Alien or King Tigerman.
Secondly, to the extent it matters, pretty sure he is talking about Elliot. I hope its not true.

It does appear that he is talking about Elliot. Every other name thrown at him he has been happy to deny. When Elliot's name was raised he ignored the question.

The only thing that gives me hope that it's not Elliot is that he seems quite excited about the prospect of signing this mystery forward. I can't believe anyone would be excited about signing Elliot, so, hopefully it's not him.

 

[jirskyr]

I felt at the time it was a nervous knee jerk reaction by the club due to Dragons offering him about the same. 2yrs max at that stage would have been more than fair, possibly even 1yr with a 2nd in clubs favour given there was no real extended periods of form to gauge him off.


Depends on the value of the deal. If it's a long-term cheap extension, or with incentives for better / continued performance, then I am fine with that.

It's like Jimmy Jet - very little return in 2021, but at very low cost, so there's not much risk associated with it. Musgrove would be the same if he's not overly expensive but is locked in. Otherwise you are constantly rotating your backups every 2 years and you don't have much consistency of the system.

Clearly Madge knows Musgrove from his Souths days, brought him over, waited for his ban to conclude, then re-signed him: so Madge rates his potential long-term value. Musgrove is also arguably rock-bottom price right now, i.e. we are buying in at the low end of his potential cost.

It's the long-term high-cost signings we need to worry about. Musgrove is easily above reserve-grade level, so there's no argument that he cannot be a good backup option. These are "Benji-Lite" type deals where there capability of the player is established, and you agree to the cost/risk relationship of having them as backup, or potentially Top 17 if form / injuries warrant.

Bearing in mind also if we want to retain Stefano long-term and perhaps partner him with another notable prop, we are going to need much cheaper but decent-quality, reliable, in-system backups (if you are going to invest $700-900K on your top-tier prop).

So Musgrove is on a long term deal on over 400k, is that a low risk contract to you?

We don't know what he is on. We never will. I don't get into speculation about possible deal values. I'll let the club consider low / medium / high costs.

 

[jirskyr]

He’s got $1.6m to bring to the party but the party is over. All trading is done. All that’s left is rejects/swap deals from other clubs and the bargain basement bin, good luck in there!

Yes, the unsigned market is dross. But surely you know there will be plenty of signings across the NRL before kickoff next year? Mostly from players who sign for 2023 and get released early.

I can’t see that happening at all. Everyone goes on about early releases but I’ll be willing to bet there are none.

None across the NRL? I'd take that bet.

Early releases for 2023? You’re on

What is an "early release for 2023?" Is that a player you sign for 2024 but get him a year early?

I think everyone else is talking about currently contracted players becoming available for 2022. There's been a lot of off-season horse trading the last few seasons - arguably more off-season trading than in-season nowadays. You just need one or two player movements to set off a cascade.

Maybe I’m off the mark in this instance, but I’m talking about when people suggest signing someone for 2023, then trying to get them a year early. The only players you’ll get in that instance are players like Laurie who are stuck behind someone. Not the Brandon Smith’s of the world.

I agree except sometimes it also happens to more established players who get a payday, e.g. Marty Taupau, Blake Austin etc. If they are getting a big upgrade for 2023, that the current club can't / won't match, sometimes an early release can be accommodated so the player gets the upgrade early and the incumbent club release the funds to secure the inevitable replacement.

The Stefano situation was much different because it didn't cost Parra much to keep him on for 12 months, and they didn't really need to replace him in any hurry because they already had established top-flight props.

 

[Tiger5150]

@THE_POM any potential signing news? Ash Taylor rumours getting louder and news that we are close to a forward that will go straight into our starting side

I doubt you’d get a response. I feel this will be kept very tight in terms of who it is. You might get some more hints or assurances but for now these are quotes from the other poster.

‘We are hunting down existing first grade players.’
Expect another massive mobile forward as a starter.’
Another potential Lucy type.’
‘We seem to be getting a decent forward’
‘Before we resume for the pre season, at least one new proper forward and another.’
‘No retiree or ex WT merkin coming “home”.’
‘Game ready, battle hardened players.’
‘Old mate is not a useless merkin, still young and fit and will pretty much go straight into the side.’

A lot of "merkin" talk over on LU?

Full of merkins