Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Nelson]

It’s no surprise all the usual culprits are bagging the Hodgson signing. We have no leaders, simple as that. Liddle is bog average and has clearly been told he’s not apart of this clubs long term ambitions, further emphasised by Simpkins long term contract. Hodgson for 2 years is the ideal mentor for Simpkin and at no real damage to the salary cap.

Hodgson is what this team need however negativity is again King of this forum.

I wonder why people could be negative. This is such a successful, well run club. What is there to be negative about?

War and poverty are things to be negative about. Not every bloody signing your footy team makes.

War and poverty aren’t topical on a footy forum.

War is pretty standard on this form

 

[GNR4LIFE]

It’s no surprise all the usual culprits are bagging the Hodgson signing. We have no leaders, simple as that. Liddle is bog average and has clearly been told he’s not apart of this clubs long term ambitions, further emphasised by Simpkins long term contract. Hodgson for 2 years is the ideal mentor for Simpkin and at no real damage to the salary cap.

Hodgson is what this team need however negativity is again King of this forum.

I wonder why people could be negative. This is such a successful, well run club. What is there to be negative about?

War and poverty are things to be negative about. Not every bloody signing your footy team makes.

War and poverty aren’t topical on a footy forum.

War is pretty standard on this form

True. I guess poverty is too. Look at the club we support.

 

[Tiger5150]

Some good news

TMM is looking at making a league comeback with the donkeys

Reallt liked him as a player, was quite terrible the way he had to retire, hopefully he is able to return and kill it

great news. such a good bloke, exceptionally talented as well. wish we held onto him as opposed to MM.

Not sure Trent Merrin would describe him as a good bloke!!

wasn't that Moylan?

Not so sure, was shipped up to North Queensland pretty quickly after.

As was Moylan (to Cronulla). After TMM left, Gould very publicly stated how good a bloke TMM was and addressed rumours about him. Gould made it pretty clear it wasnt TMM.

 

[Devon Head]

It’s no surprise all the usual culprits are bagging the Hodgson signing. We have no leaders, simple as that. Liddle is bog average and has clearly been told he’s not apart of this clubs long term ambitions, further emphasised by Simpkins long term contract. Hodgson for 2 years is the ideal mentor for Simpkin and at no real damage to the salary cap.

I am happy to be lumped with the "usual suspects" if it means thinking signing a 32 year old, hot off the worst season he has had in the NRL is a bad idea.

I thought as a supporter base, we were tired of signing all these over the 30 year olds. Yet the majority seemed enthusiastic about Peachy, and now there’s excitement about possibly signing Hodgson. In a position we have covered btw.

So many here complaining we haven't got any leadership, we lack experience and when a player with 270 games experience and a current test player for his nation is mentioned they crap the bed and say he's too old.

Boom. Exactly

I haven’t complained about the leadership though, so it’s irrelevant to my post.

Your post that I commented on was a direct follow on from one that discussed leadership issues. Completely relevant.

Whether you meant to or not though, you claimed I was contradicting myself. Otherwise you would not have quoted me.

lol give it a rest mate I wasn't necessarily commenting on your post directly, yours was just the most recent post for that particular discussion.

You quote my post incorrectly then tell me to give it a rest lol

I quoted the conversation which was clearly about leadership. Never did I mentioned I personally either agreed or disagreed with your point of view. As I previously mentioned your comment was purely the most recent in that particular conversation so I replied to it. It's not all about you ok.


 

[yeahcaz]

It’s no surprise all the usual culprits are bagging the Hodgson signing. We have no leaders, simple as that. Liddle is bog average and has clearly been told he’s not apart of this clubs long term ambitions, further emphasised by Simpkins long term contract. Hodgson for 2 years is the ideal mentor for Simpkin and at no real damage to the salary cap.

I am happy to be lumped with the "usual suspects" if it means thinking signing a 32 year old, hot off the worst season he has had in the NRL is a bad idea.

I thought as a supporter base, we were tired of signing all these over the 30 year olds. Yet the majority seemed enthusiastic about Peachy, and now there’s excitement about possibly signing Hodgson. In a position we have covered btw.

So many here complaining we haven't got any leadership, we lack experience and when a player with 270 games experience and a current test player for his nation is mentioned they crap the bed and say he's too old.

Boom. Exactly

I haven’t complained about the leadership though, so it’s irrelevant to my post.

Your post that I commented on was a direct follow on from one that discussed leadership issues. Completely relevant.

Whether you meant to or not though, you claimed I was contradicting myself. Otherwise you would not have quoted me.

lol give it a rest mate I wasn't necessarily commenting on your post directly, yours was just the most recent post for that particular discussion.

You quote my post incorrectly then tell me to give it a rest lol

I quoted the conversation which was clearly about leadership. Never did I mentioned I personally either agreed or disagreed with your point of view. As I previously mentioned your comment was purely the most recent in that particular conversation so I replied to it. **It's not all about you ok.**


 

[rihannafan1]

So Elliot to Raiders.
Tapine to the Tigers.

?
Your welcome.

He said he would join us under 1 condition.
His wife has to be in charge of the interchange bench

Haha, I'm taking the wraps on this one when it happens cos I saw him last year at the athletics field and told him to join the Tigers.

???

I'm reading from page 6885 and can see this thread extends to 6896. I'd love it to become a reality like the next man but I'm pretty certain it's just gonna be 11 pages of people going "how are you so certain??" / "Who's your source?" :joy: :joy:

 

[Needaname]

Some good news

TMM is looking at making a league comeback with the donkeys

Reallt liked him as a player, was quite terrible the way he had to retire, hopefully he is able to return and kill it

great news. such a good bloke, exceptionally talented as well. wish we held onto him as opposed to MM.

Not sure Trent Merrin would describe him as a good bloke!!

wasn't that Moylan?

Not so sure, was shipped up to North Queensland pretty quickly after.

As was Moylan (to Cronulla). After TMM left, Gould very publicly stated how good a bloke TMM was and addressed rumours about him. Gould made it pretty clear it wasnt TMM.

Yeah I recall that as well.
I tend to think the truth lies in the middle both Moylan and TMM guilty in association. Moylan being captain and keeping the rumour open. Whether it was or was not TMM it possibly wasn’t as big a event as it was made out to be. I feel Sally had a responsibility in it too but not sure it was ever seen as her doing anything wrong.

 

[rihannafan1]

And from the Mole.... we must fuel the neg stories because they keep finding an angle to publish them

"Tigers under fire"
Parents of many Wests Tigers juniors are up in arms over the way their kids have been treated by the club.

The Tigers have brought several new recruits in from Queensland, cutting local juniors in the SG Ball Cup and other grades as a result.
The Wests Tigers are under fire. (9News)
To make matters worse, the club announced the squads on grand final day last Sunday week, totally spoiling the big day for the kids that missed out.

"You talk about bad timing - couldn't they have waited a day before telling the kids whose dream it was to play for the Tigers that they are no longer wanted - my boy didn't even want to watch the grand final after that," one parent told me.

Kids get cut all a time at ALL clubs but of course we make the main pages as they are running out of ideas for Tigers articles and click baits.

Yeah, it is the very bottom of the barrel to be running this article.

 

[tigerbenji]

Some good news

TMM is looking at making a league comeback with the donkeys

Reallt liked him as a player, was quite terrible the way he had to retire, hopefully he is able to return and kill it

great news. such a good bloke, exceptionally talented as well. wish we held onto him as opposed to MM.

Not sure Trent Merrin would describe him as a good bloke!!


Merrin's partner at the time would probably give you a different opinion

What happened there again?

Talk to Moylan.

 

[TillLindemann]

I was accidentally on the wrong page, was reading very early in the thread, and thought we were signing Dugan, nearly burst an artery.

 

[Devon Head]

I was accidentally on the wrong page, was reading very early in the thread, and thought we were signing Dugan, nearly burst an artery.

Imagine that hahaha

 

[PJ_]

It’s no surprise all the usual culprits are bagging the Hodgson signing. We have no leaders, simple as that. Liddle is bog average and has clearly been told he’s not apart of this clubs long term ambitions, further emphasised by Simpkins long term contract. Hodgson for 2 years is the ideal mentor for Simpkin and at no real damage to the salary cap.

I am happy to be lumped with the "usual suspects" if it means thinking signing a 32 year old, hot off the worst season he has had in the NRL is a bad idea.

I thought as a supporter base, we were tired of signing all these over the 30 year olds. Yet the majority seemed enthusiastic about Peachy, and now there’s excitement about possibly signing Hodgson. In a position we have covered btw.


 

[Needaname]

What are the chances of a Hodgson / Scott double? He spoke out for him the most.

 

[Tiger5150]

It’s no surprise all the usual culprits are bagging the Hodgson signing. We have no leaders, simple as that. Liddle is bog average and has clearly been told he’s not apart of this clubs long term ambitions, further emphasised by Simpkins long term contract. Hodgson for 2 years is the ideal mentor for Simpkin and at no real damage to the salary cap.

Hodgson is what this team need however negativity is again King of this forum.

I wonder why people could be negative. This is such a successful, well run club. What is there to be negative about?

War and poverty are things to be negative about. Not every bloody signing your footy team makes.


 

[Tiger-ferret]

In regards to hodgson, for me it depends on how many roster spots we have left (completely lost track). If we need to fill 5 or 6 then on a short term, cheap deal, he’ll be handy to train/lead boys along. It’s unlikely he’ll play a huge part of the season.

If we only have 1-2 left then I would stay clear.

 

[Tigers79]

I was accidentally on the wrong page, was reading very early in the thread, and thought we were signing Dugan, nearly burst an artery.

Dugan Commits!! :joy:

 

[Demps]

Like SG, Demps is starting to turn into mr look at me look at me with all these “scoops”

Not once.
I posted who told me...

Open book here.
You sound upset because you were the first time to sulk and claim its garbage but when the mods back it up you're taking aim...

Childish really but expected.

I didn’t say it was garbage, I said the Liddle rumour was garbage. On the contrary, it would be right up this clubs ally to sign a player, 3 years past his use by date.

The fish isn't jumping into the boat.

Hodgson is a good mentor for the young hookers at the club.

Anyway, I'll let you get back to attempting to discredit people and defending Luke Brooks.

What do we have Farah for Demps?

Farah has other business and with travel nearing being allowed, he may shift his focus back on that...

I hope he sticks around and is involved in some manner.

It's clear the club needs an on field leader though, with the Tamou experiment failing... it's all lining up.

 

[Demps]

What are the chances of a Hodgson / Scott double? He spoke out for him the most.

Rather a Hodgson / Tapine combo.

Both publicised to have issues with the Raiders.
Sure we have a few we can throw their way in return...

 

[Tiger5150]

From the Greenhouse, a review of Josh Hodgson 2021...

"In 2021, Josh Hodgson, 31, made his second comeback from a knee reconstruction. He spent half of the 2018 season on the sidelines, after suffering an ACL injury in the 2017 World Cup semi final between England and Tonga. He then missed half of the 2020 season due to an ACL injury suffered in the Round 9 loss to the Storm - this time, affecting his other knee.

He made 20 appearances this season, but his comeback was by no means a smooth ride. It was expected by many commentators that the rules of Vlandysball would suit Hodgson. It was thought the quicker rucks and pace of the game would open up the middle of the field for dummy halves. But after two serious knee injuries, it seemed the veteran hooker no longer had the pace for that. In addition, Hodgson is a dominant play maker - and sometimes, he overplays his hand. The spine had gelled well in the second half of 2020, with Siliva Havili and Tom Starling forming an effective hooking duo. Starling, in particular, gave quick service to the halves - and was very nippy around the rucks. With Hodgson's return at the start of this year, the play makers struggled for combinations.





In early May, news seeped out that Hodgson had stood down as co-captain of the club - two weeks earlier, following the back to back losses to the Panthers and Eels. There were also reports suggesting he might switch clubs - and was linked to the Broncos and Bulldogs.

What happened has not been fully explained. But it appears that coach Ricky Stuart had decided to bench Hodgson for the Round 7 clash with the Cowboys - and start the game with Tom Starling in the No. 9. And in those circumstances, Hodgson felt he could not hold the captaincy. Before the team could be announced, Hodgson suffered a calf injury at training. The club only confirmed he'd stood down as captain after the news sensationally broke in the media.

"I've made the decision to stand down as club captain and I informed the team of this a couple of weeks ago," Hodgson said in a club statement.

"I've been out injured for the past two games and I've been working hard on getting myself back on the training field. I can assure everyone that I remain fully committed to the club and I'm looking forward to getting myself back to 100 per cent fitness and helping the team get their season back on track."

When Hodgson faced the media in person, he denied that there was any rift with coach Ricky Stuart - while addressing his future with the club and the emergence of Starling.

"I'm not daft, I'm an old bloke, I've been around a while and I've still got four or five good years in me," Hodgson said.

"Tommy's been playing some good footy and if he's the next generation in terms of what they want to bring throughout the club, I'm fine with that. I love this club more than to let my own ego stand in the way. My first preference would be to spend those first four or five years in Canberra. You've got to do what's best by you, your family and your career."

Hodgson did not return to the side from injury until the Round 10 match against the Bulldogs - on the bench. He took back the No. 9 jersey in the Round 12 loss to the Roosters - and held onto to it through the second half of the season. As the controversy subsided, Hodgson started to forge a good partnership with Starling - with the up and comer being injected at around the 25 minute mark and Hodgson moving into the role of a ball playing back rower. That ended when Starling suffered a fractured jaw in the Round 22 loss to the Storm.

I rated Hodgson an average of 6/10 over his 20 appearances season, with his highest rating of "8" coming in the Round 14 win over the Broncos. In Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Player of the Year voting, he picked up man of the match honours in the Round 10 win over the Bulldogs. With a total of 10 points, he finished equal fifth in the overall Fans' Choice count, alongside Corey Harawira-Naera - but he wasn't in the top five in the Meninga Medal voting. His top tackle count (55) came in the one point loss to the Sea Eagles in Round 23, while he produced his highest running metres gained (117) in Round 17 - also against Manly.





This year, Hodgson produced just one try, but delivered nine try assists and posted 14 total try involvements. That's behind the benchmark hookers, but it was not far off some of them. He ranked fourth among NRL regular hookers for try assists, behind Harry Grant (11), Reed Mahoney (11) and Damien Cook (10). He ranked fifth for try involvements, behind Brandon Smith (25), Grant (19), Cook (15) and Mahoney (15).

He ran less from dummy half in 2020 (just over one DHR per game, compared with two in 2019) and that continued in 2021 (1.24 per game). His average running metres per game increased (31 per game, compared with 13 metres in 2020 and around 25 metres in 2019), but he was well behind the benchmark hookers (close to 80 metres per game). He tended to kick less (under two per game, compared with three in 2020 and four in 2019) and produced fewer kick metres per match (54, compared with 89 in 2020 and 123 in 2019). That no doubt reflected a tactical shift to other players, including George Williams.

Hodgson again topped the average tackle count at the Raiders. Like many hookers, he's often targeted by opposition forwards and he does tend to produce a lot of missed or ineffective tackles. His tackle efficiency rate (88 per cent) was roughly the same as in 2020 - again, below the benchmark hookers (in the 90s). That translated into seven try causes this year (one, in half the games, last year).

Josh Hodgson's contract with the Raiders expires at the end of 2021 and rumours linking him with other club have continued to pop up through the year.

At times this year, his public statements seemed to place him at odds with the club - for example, over the departure of George Williams and Curtis Scott. However, I don't think the Raiders' hierarchy was too concerned by that and they were reportedly impressed by how he put his nose to the grindstone after the captaincy controversy. Coach Ricky Stuart has been keen to downplay any suggestion that the Raiders don't want Hodgson to stay on at the club.

"He’s on contract to us," Stuart said after the win over the Broncos.

“He was brilliant tonight, he’s a big reason why we played so well, as all our other leaders were. I’m very happy to have Hodgo here so he’s on contract to us. I keep hearing it but I don’t take any action on it, I don’t even talk to Hodgo about it. He’s here and I’m the lucky one because he’s a brilliant player and he’s a big part of our football team."

Overall, Hodgson performed well this year - but he has been overtaken by hookers like Brandon Smith, Harry Grant and Api Koroisau. I'm not sure that the Raiders will be looking to extend Hodgon's deal beyond 2022, with Tom Starling showing a lot of promise - and in light of his $800,000 price tag.

Tom Starling is still not an 80 minute hooker and the diminutive player has tended to show his best form when playing off the bench. 2022 might be a transitional year - when we again see Hodgson at dummy half during the opening exchanges, and Starling taking over once the opposition forwards tire. That combination worked well in the second half of this year. Time will tell. "

https://www.thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34872&sid=ab8e0d83e7c88e9f6a873338e6d4e9dc

 

[rihannafan1]

It’s no surprise all the usual culprits are bagging the Hodgson signing. We have no leaders, simple as that. Liddle is bog average and has clearly been told he’s not apart of this clubs long term ambitions, further emphasised by Simpkins long term contract. Hodgson for 2 years is the ideal mentor for Simpkin and at no real damage to the salary cap.

Liddle also has a long term contract.

He can talk to clubs in a year. Like I’ve said it shows just how badly we’re run that we’ve already told a guy we re signed recently, he’s not wanted Long term. He never should’ve been re signed before this contract.

Who should we have played at 9 then? Simpkin wasn't ready and Mbye was not the answer. Contracts only mean something if you can't move them.

I'd be more concerned that it's another player under Maguire who seems discontent.