Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[avocadoontoast]

Fox sports saying that McInnes has toured the facilities at concord and wants his future sorted by the end of the month - but hasn’t received an offer from dragons

Also says if dragons sign McCullough it could send McInnes to us and Billy Walters up to broncos - we apparently asked for Reece Walsh in return for Billy which broncos refused

If we could somehow get McInnes for 21 that would be a hell of an offseason.

It would be ...but while the De Belin case hangs over the Stains heads I can't see them doing anything ....I see he has actually stopped training with the club

Could happen, especially if they're looking to play Bird 13.

 

[JC99]

Fox sports saying that McInnes has toured the facilities at concord and wants his future sorted by the end of the month - but hasn’t received an offer from dragons

Also says if dragons sign McCullough it could send McInnes to us and Billy Walters up to broncos - we apparently asked for Reece Walsh in return for Billy which broncos refused

If we could somehow get McInnes for 21 that would be a hell of an offseason.

Seems more likely for ‘22 but would be awesome for ‘21

 

[Speed2burn]

Fox sports saying that McInnes has toured the facilities at concord and wants his future sorted by the end of the month - but hasn’t received an offer from dragons

Also says if dragons sign McCullough it could send McInnes to us and Billy Walters up to broncos - we apparently asked for Reece Walsh in return for Billy which broncos refused

McInnes averaged 56 tackles last year for 95% tackle efficiency. Definition of work horse. Nuts

I think he would be a fan favourite quickly if he we signed him

 

[balmain boy]

Mbye’s only position in this team is 14.. this is a very important position as a game progresses do not underestimate the value he will be in that position!

I disagree completely.

Mbye would be a complete waste at 14 and our squad currently cannot afford to have him there. If we sign a fullback for 2021 Mbye goes straight to number 18. That's his position moving forwards. If there's an injury he can fill in for a number of positions but he did be nowhere near the 17.

If he's on the bench he's most likely only ever going to play hooker. And he's our 4th best hooker. He doesn't get a spot ahead of either Liddle or Simpkins.

Having your most expensive player not even making your 17 is disgraceful, and hopefully helps him move on to save face.

This is course is contingent on signing a starting fullback

Whilst I agree with your Mbye hooker assessment, I disagree he'd be only playing hooker.

Numerous times last year we had big reshuffles when someone gets injured or goes off for HIA. Look at our last game, Benji goes down, AD to 5/8, Nofa to fullback, Talau to wing and I think Chee-Kam to centre.

I even remember Brooks playing centre at one point due to injuries there.

Would be nice to have someone of Mbye's quality come in if someone in our backline goes down. Yes he's a very expensive benchie, but not playing him is even worse, and I'd argue he still improves our team in the top 17.

So you want to waste a bench spot on the offchance that we suffer an HIA or an injury? That's extremely negative thinking. Garner would play that role in any case. Do we really want to go back to Sheens style having a fullback on the bench? Yes he's a utility of sorts, and that's why he's a no 18.
We will need two hookers in our side for round one. Mbye isn't in our top 2 hookers so he doesn't get that spot. He gets fullback unless we sign a superior player. Can our pack get by with only 3 spots on the bench with the speed today's game is played at?

Why is it the off chance? Go back and watch how many games last year we ended a match with 15 or 16 players.

I'm assuming you're talking about playing Garner off the bench. If Blore and LL are our second rowers, what happens? Garner is a waste of a bench spot of Blore and LL are playing 80 minutes..

Blore won't be an 80 min backrower til mid-season at earliest. And Tuki may challenge Garner and MCK for that bench spot too.

And if ytou look at our HIA's the vast majority of them were by the same players. Lawrence, Taylor, McIntyre, Garner. Replacing these players with bigger players with better defensive technique will help minimise the likelihood of it occurring.

By your definition I presume you're thinking Rankin will grab a bench spot with Parra because he can cover all positions 1-7, +9?

If there's no injuries or HIAs does Mbye sit out the entire match?

Why can't Bore play 80 min? And Tuki appears a long way off. No offence but i don't understand.

I don't think Blore has ever played 80 mins in his life. Last season he was largely played in 15-20 min spells. You suddenly think he can play 80??

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Fox sports saying that McInnes has toured the facilities at concord and wants his future sorted by the end of the month - but hasn’t received an offer from dragons

Also says if dragons sign McCullough it could send McInnes to us and Billy Walters up to broncos - we apparently asked for Reece Walsh in return for Billy which broncos refused

McInnes averaged 56 tackles last year for 95% tackle efficiency. Definition of work horse. Nuts

I think he would be a fan favourite quickly if he we signed him

I think McInnes would be a superb signing, if we did get him i imagine that would be to replace Liddle or we may use him at 13 as a ball playing lock that would just top off our pack. Who knows maybe Packer going to the dragqueens and McInnes to us one can dream.

 

[JC99]

Fox sports saying that McInnes has toured the facilities at concord and wants his future sorted by the end of the month - but hasn’t received an offer from dragons

Also says if dragons sign McCullough it could send McInnes to us and Billy Walters up to broncos - we apparently asked for Reece Walsh in return for Billy which broncos refused

McInnes averaged 56 tackles last year for 95% tackle efficiency. Definition of work horse. Nuts

I think he would be a fan favourite quickly if he we signed him

He carried dragons every single week. He also does a lot of running from hooker too. He’s a bloke that players would love to play with, works so hard out there. Definitely agree that he’d become a fan favourite and possible captain if he came over.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

Don't mean to look a gift horse in the mouth, but what are the Saints up to, signing McCullough for 3 years and pushing arguably their best player out the door?? Something is not quite right here.

 

[BAGNF05]

Why can’t Bore play 80 min? And Tuki appears a long way off. No offence but i don’t understand.


I’m no expert but from observation when some young forwards enter first grade (like Cameron Murray and Angus Crichton) they look to have a big motor but need to build size and strength. Others like Blore have the size and strength but need to build their endurance.The speed in which the game is played at now If Blore’s endurance isn’t At the top level he will get found out in defence.
He has only had 5 NRL games. Hopefully in 2021 he can build his minutes up to be an 80 minute player but I’d be surprised if he is there in the early rounds of the season.

This is true and also it is a huge mental challenge to play consistently in the forwards in the NRL. The discipline to get your body right each week and be at your best is something most guys take quite a while to learn. Having Tamou at the club will be a big help for our young forwards.

 

[sleeve]

Mbye’s only position in this team is 14.. this is a very important position as a game progresses do not underestimate the value he will be in that position!

I disagree completely.

Mbye would be a complete waste at 14 and our squad currently cannot afford to have him there. If we sign a fullback for 2021 Mbye goes straight to number 18. That's his position moving forwards. If there's an injury he can fill in for a number of positions but he did be nowhere near the 17.

If he's on the bench he's most likely only ever going to play hooker. And he's our 4th best hooker. He doesn't get a spot ahead of either Liddle or Simpkins.

Having your most expensive player not even making your 17 is disgraceful, and hopefully helps him move on to save face.

This is course is contingent on signing a starting fullback

Whilst I agree with your Mbye hooker assessment, I disagree he'd be only playing hooker.

Numerous times last year we had big reshuffles when someone gets injured or goes off for HIA. Look at our last game, Benji goes down, AD to 5/8, Nofa to fullback, Talau to wing and I think Chee-Kam to centre.

I even remember Brooks playing centre at one point due to injuries there.

Would be nice to have someone of Mbye's quality come in if someone in our backline goes down. Yes he's a very expensive benchie, but not playing him is even worse, and I'd argue he still improves our team in the top 17.

So you want to waste a bench spot on the offchance that we suffer an HIA or an injury? That's extremely negative thinking. Garner would play that role in any case. Do we really want to go back to Sheens style having a fullback on the bench? Yes he's a utility of sorts, and that's why he's a no 18.
We will need two hookers in our side for round one. Mbye isn't in our top 2 hookers so he doesn't get that spot. He gets fullback unless we sign a superior player. Can our pack get by with only 3 spots on the bench with the speed today's game is played at?

Why is it the off chance? Go back and watch how many games last year we ended a match with 15 or 16 players.

I'm assuming you're talking about playing Garner off the bench. If Blore and LL are our second rowers, what happens? Garner is a waste of a bench spot of Blore and LL are playing 80 minutes..

Blore won't be an 80 min backrower til mid-season at earliest. And Tuki may challenge Garner and MCK for that bench spot too.

And if ytou look at our HIA's the vast majority of them were by the same players. Lawrence, Taylor, McIntyre, Garner. Replacing these players with bigger players with better defensive technique will help minimise the likelihood of it occurring.

By your definition I presume you're thinking Rankin will grab a bench spot with Parra because he can cover all positions 1-7, +9?

If there's no injuries or HIAs does Mbye sit out the entire match?

Why can't Bore play 80 min? And Tuki appears a long way off. No offence but i don't understand.

I don't think Blore has ever played 80 mins in his life. Last season he was largely played in 15-20 min spells. You suddenly think he can play 80??

Blore had just come back from injury,and played 5 games.He will have had months to get his cardio fitness up.Then you mentioned Tuki as a possible replacent for Garner,he has played hardly any RL in more the 2 yrs.and is nowhere near Blores fitness level,.It appears hypocritical.

 

[happy_tiger]

Fox sports saying that McInnes has toured the facilities at concord and wants his future sorted by the end of the month - but hasn’t received an offer from dragons

Also says if dragons sign McCullough it could send McInnes to us and Billy Walters up to broncos - we apparently asked for Reece Walsh in return for Billy which broncos refused

McInnes averaged 56 tackles last year for 95% tackle efficiency. Definition of work horse. Nuts

I think he would be a fan favourite quickly if he we signed him

He carried dragons every single week. He also does a lot of running from hooker too. He’s a bloke that players would love to play with, works so hard out there. Definitely agree that he’d become a fan favourite and possible captain if he came over.

Plays way above his weight as a running player as well

 

[sleeve]

4. Wooden Spoon
The poor Wests Tigers, not only will they miss the finals for a tenth consecutive year, but they’ll pick up the wooden spoon along the way. They have some big salaries in Moses Mbye and Russell Packer clogging their cap, a highly rated young brigade with few NRL games between them, a half with 148 games and zero finals appearances, and a lot of inconsistency in the squad. They’ll be the big improvers of 2022, but this will not be their year.

From Jack Blyth , zero tackle..

Cant wait till he's proven wrong..


Strange logic from Jack Blyth? We had Moses Mbye and Rusty Packer in the squad last year and were at the top end of the bottom 8. OK, sure our wingers are shorter than our 5/8 and we have a young squad but we also have new and improved leadership.
I think Broncos and Bulldogs will fight it out for the spoon. It’s gonna take a while to fix the Broncos shipwreck while the Dogs will have defensive issues, particularly out wide.
I hope we’re also underestimated by other clubs.


Yea its a pretty big call - i would put us in a group of about 7 teams that could all potentially get the spoon. Personally i think its between Saints and Cronulla. Throw us in the mix with Warriors, Dogs, Cowboys and Broncos.

What about Manly,they lost one of, if not the best forwards in the comp and replaced him with JA who is ordinary.Plus J and T Toboyderic when he plays carry the sideTommy is brilliant but always injured and Jakes starting to look burnt out playing above his weight.

 

[happy_tiger]

4. Wooden Spoon
The poor Wests Tigers, not only will they miss the finals for a tenth consecutive year, but they’ll pick up the wooden spoon along the way. They have some big salaries in Moses Mbye and Russell Packer clogging their cap, a highly rated young brigade with few NRL games between them, a half with 148 games and zero finals appearances, and a lot of inconsistency in the squad. They’ll be the big improvers of 2022, but this will not be their year.

From Jack Blyth , zero tackle..

Cant wait till he's proven wrong..


Strange logic from Jack Blyth? We had Moses Mbye and Rusty Packer in the squad last year and were at the top end of the bottom 8. OK, sure our wingers are shorter than our 5/8 and we have a young squad but we also have new and improved leadership.
I think Broncos and Bulldogs will fight it out for the spoon. It’s gonna take a while to fix the Broncos shipwreck while the Dogs will have defensive issues, particularly out wide.
I hope we’re also underestimated by other clubs.


Yea its a pretty big call - i would put us in a group of about 7 teams that could all potentially get the spoon. Personally i think its between Saints and Cronulla. Throw us in the mix with Warriors, Dogs, Cowboys and Broncos.

What about Manly,they lost one of, if not the best forwards in the comp and replaced him with JA who is ordinary.Plus J and T Toboyderic when he plays carry the sideTommy is brilliant but always injured and Jakes starting to look burnt out playing above his weight.

Big thing for Manly will be Fainu ...not sure what his court case situation is ..but if they get him back ....good player

 

[MarySt]

@twentyforty
That website is always writing negative articles about us. I swear they nominate us for the spoon every year , and every year,Usually with a far inferior roster to this years , we hang around the 8.
To me it shows most writers have zero talent evaluation skills . Also , the dragons got dramatically worse , the cowboys did nothing , so did the sharks , who are now without thier only creative spark , manly lost AFB which is a massive loss , Broncos look like us when we had the big 4, huge talents zero team culture. Warriors are now in rebuild mode , finally , the dogs have no forward pack , the eels have no centres , as Jennings was dynamite last year , GC still have no backs ,an average pack , especially when tino goes off , and basically are paying a second rower who will touch the ball 10 times a game 1.2 mil , etc. the only givens really , are the panthers and raiders , as the roosters have a rookie half , and 2 of thier 5 best players are 1 concussion away from the 2GB commentary team , and the storm are missing one of the best players to ever play. See how well that went for the knights, cowboys etc when their great retired .

its an economics thing to get more clicks, ie : which fan base will get most mad if we say they will get the spoon

 

[sleeve]

@twentyforty
That website is always writing negative articles about us. I swear they nominate us for the spoon every year , and every year,Usually with a far inferior roster to this years , we hang around the 8.
To me it shows most writers have zero talent evaluation skills . Also , the dragons got dramatically worse , the cowboys did nothing , so did the sharks , who are now without thier only creative spark , manly lost AFB which is a massive loss , Broncos look like us when we had the big 4, huge talents zero team culture. Warriors are now in rebuild mode , finally , the dogs have no forward pack , the eels have no centres , as Jennings was dynamite last year , GC still have no backs ,an average pack , especially when tino goes off , and basically are paying a second rower who will touch the ball 10 times a game 1.2 mil , etc. the only givens really , are the panthers and raiders , as the roosters have a rookie half , and 2 of thier 5 best players are 1 concussion away from the 2GB commentary team , and the storm are missing one of the best players to ever play. See how well that went for the knights, cowboys etc when their great retired .

its an economics thing to get more clicks, ie : which fan base will get most mad if we say they will get the spoon

Agree with both posts,especially Storm without C Smith.He was Captain,coach,sometimes 1/2,goal kicker,attacking kicker,guru at slowing down the game and hardly missed a game.Harry won't supply these options.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Wasn't. McInnis firmly in the Mcgregor camp whereas McCullough has a relationshp with the new Dragons' coach?

 

[finnzo]

Only reason I can see dragons going after Andrew is because cam has said he doesn’t want to renew his contract there that is the only logical explanation

 

[pawsandclaws1]

That earleir post about the WTs asking for Reece. Walsh in exchange for Walters, does it mean the club has spoken to Walsh or more for 2022? He is a great player.

 

[balmain boy]

Mbye’s only position in this team is 14.. this is a very important position as a game progresses do not underestimate the value he will be in that position!

I disagree completely.

Mbye would be a complete waste at 14 and our squad currently cannot afford to have him there. If we sign a fullback for 2021 Mbye goes straight to number 18. That's his position moving forwards. If there's an injury he can fill in for a number of positions but he did be nowhere near the 17.

If he's on the bench he's most likely only ever going to play hooker. And he's our 4th best hooker. He doesn't get a spot ahead of either Liddle or Simpkins.

Having your most expensive player not even making your 17 is disgraceful, and hopefully helps him move on to save face.

This is course is contingent on signing a starting fullback

Whilst I agree with your Mbye hooker assessment, I disagree he'd be only playing hooker.

Numerous times last year we had big reshuffles when someone gets injured or goes off for HIA. Look at our last game, Benji goes down, AD to 5/8, Nofa to fullback, Talau to wing and I think Chee-Kam to centre.

I even remember Brooks playing centre at one point due to injuries there.

Would be nice to have someone of Mbye's quality come in if someone in our backline goes down. Yes he's a very expensive benchie, but not playing him is even worse, and I'd argue he still improves our team in the top 17.

So you want to waste a bench spot on the offchance that we suffer an HIA or an injury? That's extremely negative thinking. Garner would play that role in any case. Do we really want to go back to Sheens style having a fullback on the bench? Yes he's a utility of sorts, and that's why he's a no 18.
We will need two hookers in our side for round one. Mbye isn't in our top 2 hookers so he doesn't get that spot. He gets fullback unless we sign a superior player. Can our pack get by with only 3 spots on the bench with the speed today's game is played at?

Why is it the off chance? Go back and watch how many games last year we ended a match with 15 or 16 players.

I'm assuming you're talking about playing Garner off the bench. If Blore and LL are our second rowers, what happens? Garner is a waste of a bench spot of Blore and LL are playing 80 minutes..

Blore won't be an 80 min backrower til mid-season at earliest. And Tuki may challenge Garner and MCK for that bench spot too.

And if ytou look at our HIA's the vast majority of them were by the same players. Lawrence, Taylor, McIntyre, Garner. Replacing these players with bigger players with better defensive technique will help minimise the likelihood of it occurring.

By your definition I presume you're thinking Rankin will grab a bench spot with Parra because he can cover all positions 1-7, +9?

If there's no injuries or HIAs does Mbye sit out the entire match?

Why can't Bore play 80 min? And Tuki appears a long way off. No offence but i don't understand.

I don't think Blore has ever played 80 mins in his life. Last season he was largely played in 15-20 min spells. You suddenly think he can play 80??

Blore had just come back from injury,and played 5 games.He will have had months to get his cardio fitness up.Then you mentioned Tuki as a possible replacent for Garner,he has played hardly any RL in more the 2 yrs.and is nowhere near Blores fitness level,.It appears hypocritical.

In his entire career, he had never played 80 mins, at any level. You can train as much as you want but nothing beat's match fitness. Blore won't be asked to play 80 in round one. As you saw last year Madge is bringing him on slowly. Even Lucy who's been playing first grade for years has only just started playing 80 mins. And we've usually had a back rower on the bench (Lawrence, McIntyre, MCK etc) so our starting back rowers haven't had to play 80. It will be great once htey all get to that level but i don't tihnk they're there yet.

And yes, i think after a dozen games in NSW Cup Tuki should be in a position to play 10-15 mins off the bench in first grade if required.

 

[balmain boy]

That earleir post about the WTs asking for Reece. Walsh in exchange for Walters, does it mean the club has spoken to Walsh or more for 2022? He is a great player.

It was just mentioned in the article from Foxsports that we had asked for Walsh in exchange for Walters, and were rejected. Can't see us going for both Walsh and Laurie in 2022, they're similar players - one would be certain to play NSW Cup.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

Only reason I can see dragons going after Andrew is because cam has said he doesn’t want to renew his contract there that is the only logical explanation

The people who are most resistant to change are generally of the belief that things don’t need changing. Their captain was firmly in McGregors camp may be a premeditated move. Only speculating though