Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[OzLuke]

Gotta disagree.. Smith for his whole carrer, played behind exceptional forwards. At Melbourne , extremely talented ,well coached, salary cap cheating forwards. Please look at the Origin stats of Farah & Smith. Farah beats him in all bar 2. Unfortunately , some NSW supporters also bought into this QLD crap that Smith was a demi god. Swap teams - Farah for Smith. Under those conditions , I dont believe Smith would have made as many origin appearances as Robbie. IMO, Smith is like Cleary.......anyone who has played footy know its easy to dominate a game when you have good forwards lay the platform........ It is a true champion that plays behind the eight ball for most of his career & still comes up trumps.(eg Andrew Johns)

Smith also never took the line on from memory....always distributing and never let himself get tackled.
Could organise the bejesus out of an attack, but with those forwards he could do whatever and not worry about getting belted in tackles.

 

[Tigerwould]

Gee I love the way a lot of u on this forum want to throw spots to untried kids , most of them are at least 2 years away from been 1st grade standard , blokes like brown my not be the player he was years ago but he is way ahead of what we had last year, he will teach these kids what it takes to play week in week out , so unless u to have another wooden spoon , have faith in sheens , I think he is pulling together a great forward pack , and next year he wii address the backs

re: next year addressing the backs.
I noticed at this stage we only have 5 backs signed for 2024 & no halves.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Yep saw Benny play & a great admirer. I think Benny was the first hooker i remember playing that third playmaker role & kicking from dummy half. But i still think Robbie perfected it.

Elias changed the hooker role, then Andrew Johns played that role for Australia and nsw
Robbie was terrific but do think Elias was a better number 9 than Robbie

 

[bathursttiger1]

How can you say his toughness is a myth simply because Blore got a good shot on him?
Brown continued playing and got one back, never backed down, had a good tussle with the young bloke and most importantly, won the game. He also backed up and did the same week after week.

That was 2 years ago, a lot has changed since, Brown is not the same physically now, otherwise Parra wouldn’t be shopping him around, especially after losing 3 back rowers.

 

[KingRobbie]

re: next year addressing the backs.
I noticed at this stage we only have 5 backs signed for 2024 & no halves.

Seven backs signed to the Top 30 in ‘24 so far, no halves.
1. Tupou
2. Nofoaluma
3. To’a
4. Kepaoa
5. Naden
6. Feledy
7. Reilly

 

[Tigerwould]

Seven backs signed to the Top 30 in ‘24 so far, no halves.
1. Tupou
2. Nofoaluma
3. To’a
4. Kepaoa
5. Naden
6. Feledy
7. Reilly

Sorry there. I missed Feledy & Reilly. I would imagine these two would only be on a small contract.
I’d like to see the WTs use the same strategy in picking up Papali’i & Api a year so so out. And go for top tier back & halves sooner than later for 2024

 

[KingRobbie]

Sorry there. I missed Feledy & Reilly. I would image these two would only be on a small contract.

Yeah, probably.

You’re right though it is interesting, obviously there’ll be changes, but we’ve already got 20 out of 30 spots filled for 2024 and none of them are halves or fullback.

Everything points to them banking on bringing in more big-name spine players to accompany Api.

 

[The-moP]

The Brown swap from Parra is real, the suggested that they would release Brown 1 year early from his contract, if we are prepared to give them a player in return. They have signed Josh Hodgson from Canberra as their hooker for next season, Josh has suffered 2 career threatening Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries, in 2018 and 2020, on both knees and at 33 he is a big risk for Parra. So they inquired about us releasing young Jake Simpkin to them as a back up for Hodgson.

We have young Rua Ngatikaura coming up through the ranks, I believe this kid has something special to offer, he reminds of Brandon "the Cheese" Smith the way he plays. We also have Will Smith, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a swap on the cards.

 

[Demps]

The Brown swap from Parra is real, the suggested that they would release Brown 1 year early from his contract, if we are prepared to give them a player in return. They have signed Josh Hodgson from Canberra as their hooker for next season, Josh has suffered 2 career threatening Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries, in 2018 and 2020, on both knees and at 33 he is a big risk for Parra. So they inquired about us releasing young Jake Simpkin to them as a back up for Hodgson.

We have young Rua Ngatikaura coming up through the ranks, I believe this kid has something special to offer, he reminds of Brandon "the Cheese" Smith the way he plays. We also have Will Smith, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a swap on the cards.

Will Smith for Nathan Brown.

 

[The-moP]

Don't write this guy off either, he's tall, rangy and very athletic, he just might be a "smokey" for us. (Ben Houston)

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[Red88_Tiger]

Don't write this guy off either, he's tall, rangy and very athletic, he just might be a "smokey" for us. (Ben Houston)

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Has anyone seen his tackling style. Does he drive in with his shoulder or pillow hug

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Elias changed the hooker role, then Andrew Johns played that role for Australia and nsw
Robbie was terrific but do think Elias was a better number 9 than Robbie

Agreed - Elias brought with him the skills of a halfback to the hooker forward role. Farah continued the line of very talented hookers with halfback skills at WTs. Koroisau is similar as well.

Let's hope Farah is working with our young hookers to have them develop a kicking game. It takes the pressure off the halves and offers another focus of attack.

 

[Hbom]

Bad business to swap Jake Simpkin for Nathan Brown.

 

[Westsboi2019]

Don't write this guy off either, he's tall, rangy and very athletic, he just might be a "smokey" for us. (Ben Houston)

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Hope he pulls through and shines but our recent rugby converts haven't done much. But, here's hoping 🤞

 

[bptiger 0]

That was 2 years ago, a lot has changed since, Brown is not the same physically now, otherwise Parra wouldn’t be shopping him around, especially after losing 3 back rowers.

Arthur is getting rid of him because he ask why his son was in the 17

 

[tony soprano]

Bad business to swap Jake Simpkin for Nathan Brown.

I remember someone saying Jake has impressed.

 

[fainty]

No way we swapping anyone for Brown. The eels don’t want him, have told him he is free to go. Not your free to go if we can swap you for someone.

 

[sleeve]

Agreed - Elias brought with him the skills of a halfback to the hooker forward role. Farah continued the line of very talented hookers with halfback skills at WTs. Koroisau is similar as well.

Let's hope Farah is working with our young hookers to have them develop a kicking game. It takes the pressure off the halves and offers another focus of attack.

I remember when Elias came into 1st gde, Ian Walsh, test hooker and i think captain of Saints, in the days when hookers hooked , and then just plodded up the middle,said that he would be lucky to last 6 games. He revolutionised the game, and the rest is history, As Turvey Mortimer the test and Canterbury half said, he is one of the best footballers he ever played with.

 

[Asu Kepaoa's #1 Fan]

No way we swapping anyone for Brown. The eels don’t want him, have told him he is free to go. Not your free to go if we can swap you for someone.

Would you swap Simpkin for Dylan Brown?

 

[gregjm87]

Arthur is getting rid of him because he ask why his son was in the 17

I doubt that is true. I'd heard of Brown and Arthur having a falling out before J Arthur was getting regular first grade.
I think Brown would be a handy addition to the team, but not at the cost of Simpkin.