Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[BAGNF05]

100% just because they are signed on development deals = squat. 80%+ of those on development contracts don’t actually play regular NRL let alone debut.

Especially when it’s well known the Storm and Roosters get all the quality junior talent. We’re aiming to come good based on 3rd round picks in NFL parlance

 

[Cobarcats]

Size still matters though. Even half backs are huge now. Comparing the two #1 7s from their eras, we see:

Allan Langer:

Height	165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight	76 kg (12 st 0 lb; 168 lb)

Nathan Cleary:

Height	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	92 kg (14 st 7 lb)

That's a fair chunk of difference.

That's a cool table, did you create that?
Hey I had to have a chuckle about little Alfie Langer, he was I think maybe one the shortest halfback ever to have played the game, second to Parramatta ½ in mid 70's, John Kolc who was 160cm.
There is some reasonably tall halves like you said.
Top ½'s today
Nathan Cleary 182cm
Jahrome Hughes 183cm
DCE 183cm
Adam Reynold 173 cm
Sam Walker 183cm
Luke Brooks 180cm
So Adam wins the short a#%e award, out if the top 5.

 

[BAGNF05]

I think we're doing it wrong by having all our development deals tied up in good kids...
There's good reserve grade players around at other clubs on development deals...
Out of all the kids that we've used that position and money for - we've got around 20-30 games back. Blokes like Kelma and the likes, are playing QCup... Go after some of them.

I also believe Freebairn and Dias should be on a dev. deals - If they go full time, We might get that extra out of them they're just short ATM.

There’s bugger all examples of them working out I totally agree

 

[BAGNF05]

Well, That's a moot point - No contract ever seems to stop anyone from ending up somewhere else.
Didn't we sign Laurie for the years after his contract and then agitate a release (Swap Momo) To get him earlier?
Either way, If we have prospects signed to Development deals, That contract is under the same negotiation limitations as all contracts. Young fellas on Train and Trial can be gone anywhere, anytime....

My point is, We tie up hopefuls to these contracts (Usually with not much output)
- When other clubs tie up guys with NRL experience on the same contracts.
Wouldn't surprise me if Naiqama is on one at the Roosters??

Maybe we can better use these Spots / Contracts...

Same BS every year. The player market dries up so we throw these DC’s to a couple of long shot kids.

 

[Tigerwould]

Gamble was going well in Q-cup and looked good in reserve grade. He was up and down in 1st grade.
Targeting good juniors like Steph, Laurie, Blore is going well atm.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Gamble was going well in Q-cup and looked good in reserve grade. He was up and down in 1st grade.
Targeting good juniors like Steph, Laurie, Blore is going well atm.

Stef yes. The other 2, meh

 

[Telltails]

It all comes back to the salary cap and the way it is regulated/or not - to allow the best teams to always monopolize the best talent. Whether they are elite juniors, and or the best in the game - some clubs seem to be able to target and accommodate whoever they need and remain within the cap. Until we can find a way to compete, taking risks on junior talent is probably the best path forward. The problem with that is if there is not enough real junior talent capable of servicing the number of clubs looking to move up the ladder - forcing risk that may not reward.

 

[Fade.To.Black]

Stef yes. The other 2, meh

Laurie played well for us. Fullback is a harder craft to learn than prop. He'll be good again this year.
Blore is only a question mark at this stage because he can't string any games together. Didn't see a whole lot in him to get excited about but he is super raw and not as physically developed as Stefano.

 

[Fade.To.Black]

It all comes back to the salary cap and the way it is regulated/or not - to allow the best teams to always monopolize the best talent. Whether they are elite juniors, and or the best in the game - some clubs seem to be able to target and accommodate whoever they need and remain within the cap. Until we can find a way to compete, taking risks on junior talent is probably the best path forward. The problem with that is if there is not enough real junior talent capable of servicing the number of clubs looking to move up the ladder - forcing risk that may not reward.

Absolutely. The NRL needs to (but seems very reluctant to) introduce some sort of incentives for clubs that identify talent and blood them. Only for the Roosters etc to come crawling in and poach the best young talent they see at other clubs.
Sure that is good management on their behalf, whether they do it legitimately is another argument, but at the moment their is zero incentive for clubs to identify and nurture young superstars only to have them poached. It's a really bad system currently that could be tweaked to benefit every club in the comp, not just the chosen few.
Why are the NRL so reluctant to look into this? Pretty suss IMO.

 

[supercoach]

There is risk in every signing but teams like the Chooks buy the best of the best at all level. They buy the best juniors, they buy the best journey men and the best quality. So they minimise the risk. On the other hand,every signing we make is basically a punt, because we have to take a risk.

Ten times a year we blow up about the salary cap but nothing happens and nothing will happen. You just have to pray we get lucky with our pathway system because there is no way the NRL are going to act

 

[bathursttiger1]

Absolutely. The NRL needs to (but seems very reluctant to) introduce some sort of incentives for clubs that identify talent and blood them. Only for the Roosters etc to come crawling in and poach the best young talent they see at other clubs.
Sure that is good management on their behalf, whether they do it legitimately is another argument, but at the moment their is zero incentive for clubs to identify and nurture young superstars only to have them poached. It's a really bad system currently that could be tweaked to benefit every club in the comp, not just the chosen few.
Why are the NRL so reluctant to look into this? Pretty suss IMO.

Everyone at NRL headquarters are not game to upset Unca Nick.

 

[Cobarcats]

Absolutely. The NRL needs to (but seems very reluctant to) introduce some sort of incentives for clubs that identify talent and blood them. Only for the Roosters etc to come crawling in and poach the best young talent they see at other clubs.
Sure that is good management on their behalf, whether they do it legitimately is another argument, but at the moment their is zero incentive for clubs to identify and nurture young superstars only to have them poached. It's a really bad system currently that could be tweaked to benefit every club in the comp, not just the chosen few.
Why are the NRL so reluctant to look into this? Pretty suss IMO.

Good stuff.
I think these rich clubs feather the nest of the NRL because wouldn't there be a better product if each team was competitive with an equal share of marque players rather than a top heavy ladder year in year out.
There was a saying years ago that went, 'when the tigers and the magpies were going well the competition was going well.
The combined Wests and Balmain juniors are awesome, pathways improving, awesome membership numbers yet we still struggle to maintain players.
Keeping players that we developed has been a problem for a long time and will be for forever more unless the system changes and more assistance is given to clubs that develope players.

 

[tiger_scott]

That's a cool table, did you create that?
Hey I had to have a chuckle about little Alfie Langer, he was I think maybe one the shortest halfback ever to have played the game, second to Parramatta ½ in mid 70's, John Kolc who was 160cm.
There is some reasonably tall halves like you said.
Top ½'s today
Nathan Cleary 182cm
Jahrome Hughes 183cm
DCE 183cm
Adam Reynold 173 cm
Sam Walker 183cm
Luke Brooks 180cm
So Adam wins the short a#%e award, out if the top 5.

Just copy & paste from Wikipedia. I know anyone can edit Wikipedia entries, but they generally get fixed to be correct, so I think these would be close.
I picked halfs because it was an easy comparison to make - would be hard to pick the best prop from the two eras, maybe Blocker and JWH? On average though, I would think the current prop would be 10+ kg heavier, same with 2RF.

 

[Cobarcats]

I'm wrapped that we're securing young talent from within.
You guys down in Sydney are more likely to know....Is there any young talent that you would try and tie up now?
We've still got one spot left haven't we?

 

[Leichardt61]

I'm wrapped that we're securing young talent from within.
You guys down in Sydney are more likely to know....Is there any young talent that you would try and tie up now?
We've still got one spot left haven't we?

If we've released Hoffman to the dogs and upgraded Fonua-Pole to the top 30 our roster should be full.

 

[jrtiger]

If we've released Hoffman to the dogs and upgraded Fonua-Pole to the top 30 our roster should be full.

Pole doesn't join the top 30 til 2023. spot 30 should be filled by a backrower/centre.

 

[Newtown]

There is risk in every signing but teams like the Chooks buy the best of the best at all level. They buy the best juniors, they buy the best journey men and the best quality. So they minimise the risk. On the other hand,every signing we make is basically a punt, because we have to take a risk.

Ten times a year we blow up about the salary cap but nothing happens and nothing will happen. You just have to pray we get lucky with our pathway system because there is no way the NRL are going to act

 

[MothMan]

Mike McMeeken is off contract next year and could be another second row option for a couple of years. He’s a decent size, has played for England, 27 years old.

 

[crazycat]

It’s especially confusing giving said player was released 2 years early from his contract. Pretty rare for a club to let a player go under contract if he’s a special talent.

True, but were not talking a big signing here. Were talking Starford Toa.

I remember when Cleary was doing all the big name signings then we signed a nothing hooker from New Zealand. Guy played a few games alright, wasn't first grade level but filled in the gap.

That's all Starford is meant to be. But yes it is rare for him to be released so early. Particularly as the Knights lost Conner Watson too, they must have wingers coming up that they trust. Hopefully he isn't a troublemaker, I suspect it's just a case of the Knights paying him to much and they have punted him.

 

[Odessa]

True, but were not talking a big signing here. Were talking Starford Toa.

I remember when Cleary was doing all the big name signings then we signed a nothing hooker from New Zealand. Guy played a few games alright, wasn't first grade level but filled in the gap.

That's all Starford is meant to be. But yes it is rare for him to be released so early. Particularly as the Knights lost Conner Watson too, they must have wingers coming up that they trust. Hopefully he isn't a troublemaker, I suspect it's just a case of the Knights paying him to much and they have punted him.

Starford will keep Nofo on his toes he does the dirty hitups has a good bump and fend can change direction at speed has alot of good qualities about him but I did notice a few times turning his back on attacking teams and they came down his side to score a try or make a break