Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[weststigerman]

Have any of you watched Bateman this season?

There’s obviously underlying reasons for indifferent form if he wants to return to Australia so soon.

Could easily still be the best second-rower in the world imo.

He could come back and return to form but it's a big if. I thought last year he wanted to back to UK for family reasons as well.

I see it as risky.

 

[batboy]

Have any of you watched Bateman this season?

There’s obviously underlying reasons for indifferent form if he wants to return to Australia so soon.

Could easily still be the best second-rower in the world imo.

He could come back and return to form but it's a big if. I thought last year he wanted to back to UK for family reasons as well.

I see it as risky.

Bateman is not the "kind of bloke" you want in your squad - He was poison at Canberra, And will be poison anywhere else...

 

[KingRobbie]

Have any of you watched Bateman this season?

There’s obviously underlying reasons for indifferent form if he wants to return to Australia so soon.

Could easily still be the best second-rower in the world imo.

He could come back and return to form but it's a big if. I thought last year he wanted to back to UK for family reasons as well.

I see it as risky.

For a club like us, I think a chance of signing a 27-year-old who on his day is the best player in the world in his position is worth it.

I wouldn’t even think twice about signing him, but as @Geo said, this is literally just a suggestion from Ritchie, there’s been no discussions lol.

 

[mikey]

A few of them need Dr Phil

Them or us :laughing:

Could make a career and fortune out of this forum alone 🙂

 

[PabloX]

Where is Bateman going to play? On current form he's not good enough to replace either of our starting second rowers.

Blore is growing in his role and would hate to see him dropped for someone with "reputation". Reminds me of bringing in Adam Blair and losing Andrew Fifita.

Bateman is not in the same player he was in 2 years ago.

Wtf?! Is my sarcasm detector faulty?

He's a lot better than both. LL is a horrible defender...

I'd have Bateman replace him in the starting side for sure.

 

[TonyTiger]

Where is Bateman going to play? On current form he's not good enough to replace either of our starting second rowers.

Blore is growing in his role and would hate to see him dropped for someone with "reputation". Reminds me of bringing in Adam Blair and losing Andrew Fifita.

Bateman is not in the same player he was in 2 years ago.


It is true Bateman is not playing well in ESL,a wife who is reportedly homesick and unhappy can effect a players form.i would be fine getting him at a realistic price which is based on his current form and not what he used to be with incentives built in if he can find his Canberra form.As for people suggesting Thompson at 850k which is what he wants i doubt if i could think of a worse purchase. The judiciary will keep Thompson off the field a lot in 2022 and future years

Thompson looked a world-beater in the UK so the Bulldogs gave him a wealthy contract - he’s done bugger all for the Bulldogs in the NRL.
Bateman might not be setting the world on fire in the UK at the moment but he was dynamite here in the NRL for the Raiders - I’d target Bateman before Thompson. - I think Thompson is too soft for our requirements- we need to harden up and get some attitude!

 

[PabloX]

Where is Bateman going to play? On current form he's not good enough to replace either of our starting second rowers.

Blore is growing in his role and would hate to see him dropped for someone with "reputation". Reminds me of bringing in Adam Blair and losing Andrew Fifita.

Bateman is not in the same player he was in 2 years ago.

Of course he is. Blore on the left, Bateman on the right. Luc should be on the interchange bench. No brainer

Now you're talkin

 

[Bula]

A few of them need Dr Phil

Them or us :laughing:

Both.

 

[Dumpy]

What is the opinion of members about Billy Magoulias, off contract with the sharks, is a ball playing lock who runs and defends hard. He would not be that expensive and we need forwards that actually do something and not just make up numbers.

 

[Guest]

What is the opinion of members about Billy Magoulias, off contract with the sharks, is a ball playing lock who runs and defends hard. He would not be that expensive and we need forwards that actually do something and not just make up numbers.

Professional reserve grader.
No.

 

[hodgo]

Our forward pack wpuld instantly go from having a softish underbelly to down right nasty.
Stef and thommo
Bateman and blore
Lock whoever.
The reason this is good imo is both Bateman and thomo lead the line speed at their clubs. We NEED a few forwards that do that.

I love Lucy but if we grab those 2 players he becomes excess tbh

 

[Madge]

Our forward pack wpuld instantly go from having a softish underbelly to down right nasty.
Stef and thommo
Bateman and blore
Lock whoever.
The reason this is good imo is both Bateman and thomo lead the line speed at their clubs. We NEED a few forwards that do that.

I love Lucy but if we grab those 2 players he becomes excess tbh

Have Seyfarth at lock and Luciano on the bench. Yum.

 

[The-moP]

Where is Bateman going to play? On current form he's not good enough to replace either of our starting second rowers.

Blore is growing in his role and would hate to see him dropped for someone with "reputation". Reminds me of bringing in Adam Blair and losing Andrew Fifita.

Bateman is not in the same player he was in 2 years ago.

Lock.

Agreed .. if we are serious about Bateman .. lock for me .. Blore and Luc are are starting 2nd rowers .. plus Twal and Ofahengaue don't have the mobility to pay lock, but are good interchange front row rotation players.

So if we have Bateman at Lock .. Hastings is where number 6 .. and our number should be .. Brooks (if we keep him) or Madden . ?? Doueihi .. when he returns .. centre .. ?? Wow lots of positional changes and players going to miss out .. !!

 

[tiger05premier]

Where is Bateman going to play? On current form he's not good enough to replace either of our starting second rowers.

Blore is growing in his role and would hate to see him dropped for someone with "reputation". Reminds me of bringing in Adam Blair and losing Andrew Fifita.

Bateman is not in the same player he was in 2 years ago.

He would be better than LL

 

[Needaname]

Our forward pack wpuld instantly go from having a softish underbelly to down right nasty.
Stef and thommo
Bateman and blore
Lock whoever.
The reason this is good imo is both Bateman and thomo lead the line speed at their clubs. We NEED a few forwards that do that.

I love Lucy but if we grab those 2 players he becomes excess tbh

Have Seyfarth at lock and Luciano on the bench. Yum.

You guys really don’t rate Lucy do you. It’s a fitness thing with him not an effort thing. Madge is doing the right thing in building up his match fitness by continually playing him when he is fatigued. Same as Liddle.
The days of having fresh forwards that don’t break a sweat before they are subbed are done.
Every team in the top tier have long endurance forwards. Even big Tom Burgess gets through average 50mins a game.
That’s the way is going and trust me people rate Luciano he is a real threat in attack. With time he will be in defence.

 

[WT2K]

Dream: Thompson + Bateman

Reality: Woods + Sironen

 

[Madge]

Where is Bateman going to play? On current form he's not good enough to replace either of our starting second rowers.

Blore is growing in his role and would hate to see him dropped for someone with "reputation". Reminds me of bringing in Adam Blair and losing Andrew Fifita.

Bateman is not in the same player he was in 2 years ago.

Lock.

Agreed .. if we are serious about Bateman .. lock for me .. Blore and Luc are are starting 2nd rowers .. plus Twal and Ofahengaue don't have the mobility to pay lock, but are good interchange front row rotation players.

So if we have Bateman at Lock .. Hastings is where number 6 .. and our number should be .. Brooks (if we keep him) or Madden . ?? Doueihi .. when he returns .. centre .. ?? Wow lots of positional changes and players going to miss out .. !!

Seyfarth is going on an upwards trajectory and will cement that lock position for mine. He needs to be in the team somewhere and with Luciano struggling to play long minutes effectively I think it would be wise to get the most out of him from the bench.

 

[Madge]

Our forward pack wpuld instantly go from having a softish underbelly to down right nasty.
Stef and thommo
Bateman and blore
Lock whoever.
The reason this is good imo is both Bateman and thomo lead the line speed at their clubs. We NEED a few forwards that do that.

I love Lucy but if we grab those 2 players he becomes excess tbh

Have Seyfarth at lock and Luciano on the bench. Yum.

You guys really don’t rate Lucy do you. It’s a fitness thing with him not an effort thing. Madge is doing the right thing in building up his match fitness by continually playing him when he is fatigued. Same as Liddle.
The days of having fresh forwards that don’t break a sweat before they are subbed are done.
Every team in the top tier have long endurance forwards. Even big Tom Burgess gets through average 50mins a game.
That’s the way is going and trust me people rate Luciano he is a real threat in attack. With time he will be in defence.

I rate Luciano, a lot. I don’t want to lose him but it’s about getting the most out of the players you have. Luciano is a weapon. Using him for 80mins mitigates any sort of effectiveness and most import any he becomes a liability in defence. The same with Liddle. Alternating between him and Simpkin in each have I think can be better off than just chucking Simpkin on with 20 to go.

 

[PabloX]

Our forward pack wpuld instantly go from having a softish underbelly to down right nasty.
Stef and thommo
Bateman and blore
Lock whoever.
The reason this is good imo is both Bateman and thomo lead the line speed at their clubs. We NEED a few forwards that do that.

I love Lucy but if we grab those 2 players he becomes excess tbh

Have Seyfarth at lock and Luciano on the bench. Yum.

You guys really don’t rate Lucy do you. It’s a fitness thing with him not an effort thing. Madge is doing the right thing in building up his match fitness by continually playing him when he is fatigued. Same as Liddle.
The days of having fresh forwards that don’t break a sweat before they are subbed are done.
Every team in the top tier have long endurance forwards. Even big Tom Burgess gets through average 50mins a game.
That’s the way is going and trust me people rate Luciano he is a real threat in attack. With time he will be in defence.

It's the end of the season, and he's still not fit enough...

 

[Nelson]

Dream: Thompson + Bateman

Reality: Woods + Sironen

Sheens is back, so maybe reality: Groat + Lovett?